Bumper surgery.. I did it!

joejjeeep · **Posted:** Thu Jul 21, 2005 8:22 pm

Yeah I have a TJ and newly acquired KJ for the wife which will be lifted but that is a really nice look. Go for it man. I like the fact that you can see the tire tread really well and the suspension makes it look bigger i think and not so wimpish.

hoss75 · **Posted:** Mon Jul 25, 2005 10:43 pm

What it normally looks like:

and here's my pathetic attempt at photoshop..
IMG #1

Looking at this I'm not so sure I want to do it now.. that middle section looks odd without the sides.. thoughts?

Tokyojoe · **Posted:** Mon Jul 25, 2005 10:58 pm

Looks odd to me, but it is all about what you think. You have to live with the decision.

hoss75 · **Posted:** Mon Jul 25, 2005 11:01 pm

ok, here's a couple other options that I think look much better...

Removed from the line up.

hoss75 · **Posted:** Mon Jul 25, 2005 11:49 pm

Ok I think I"ve got it...

IMG #4

hoss75 · **Posted:** Tue Jul 26, 2005 12:04 am

darn, now I'm not sure which one I like:

IMG #5

(sorry to all the 56kers for all the pics)

longarm · **Posted:** Tue Jul 26, 2005 1:03 am

I'd leave it alone. Thats just my opinion though.

KJ04 · **Posted:** Tue Jul 26, 2005 5:42 am

Img.#5 looks good to me, and gets rid of the low hanging plastic for trailing.

Troysterr · **Posted:** Tue Jul 26, 2005 9:09 am

I'd leave it alone, personally, but 4 and 5 look pretty cool.

FreedomKJ · **Posted:** Tue Jul 26, 2005 9:20 am

Don't forget that the blinkers on the '05s don't wrap around to the side like they do on older models and you have that repeater on the side of the bumper for that reason. If you take that off it may act as though a bulb isa burnt out, and people to your side will not be able to see that you have a blinker on.

Steakgoddess · **Posted:** Tue Jul 26, 2005 10:08 am

I am really digging #5.

hoss75 · **Posted:** Sat Jul 30, 2005 4:42 pm

Ok, I went ahead and did it! I modeled it after Image #4. I can still go to #5 if I want but for now this was less of a drastic change and doesn't require relocation of the washer bottle like #5 would.

I really like the way it's opened up the front end and exposed the suspension, makes it look more Jeep like to me. Took me a while to decide which tool to use. Thought about using a saws-all or a Jig-saw, but I ended up using the ole' reliable Dremmel tool with a Heavy Duty cut-of wheel. Worked great. Then I used a sand-drum to smooth everything up a bit.

Edit: Just noticed a couple of added benefits... The oil filter is going to be MUCH easier to access now and it's also much easier to clean off the front end. You wouldn't believe how much dried up mud was inside all that plastic I removed.

Something wierd going on showing pictures between here and cardomain, so here's a link if you're having issues with the red X of death:

http://www.cardomain.com/ride/782559/7

KJLoKi · **Joined:** Fri Jul 08, 2005 12:39 am **Posts:** 51

Looks great! I was really diggin a mix of #1 and #4... but you did an excellent job! So it worked well w/ a dremel huh.....? hmmm........ :twisted:

My baby may be in for a lil' surgery!
-Lance

FreedomKJ · **Posted:** Sat Jul 30, 2005 7:43 pm

That looks 100x better than stock! When I first saw pics of the '05s I thought the shape of the bumper made it look really low, but now that looks perfect!

KJ04 · **Posted:** Sat Jul 30, 2005 9:05 pm

Adam,
I can't see it, the red x no workie for me. Shoot me an e-mail pic!
Later,
Nick

misterzero · **Joined:** Fri Jul 08, 2005 3:37 am **Posts:** 117

Well, it turned out pretty good. Get rid of the rock rails though! :lol:

hoss75 · **Posted:** Sat Jul 30, 2005 10:15 pm

Yeah I'm waiting for my BBs to come in.

Steakgoddess · **Posted:** Sat Jul 30, 2005 10:53 pm

Very awesome!!
Glad you took the plunge!!

Troysterr · **Posted:** Sun Jul 31, 2005 11:15 am

That looks awesome. Nice job. Now, why couldn't DC have figured that one out? :roll:

Bumper surgery.. I did it!

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