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View Full Version : Buggy cutting the front clip


whitfield
01-13-2006, 05:55 PM
What do you do with an UGLY dead sammy and a beat up virtual lift front clip.

Let your imagination run wild ofcourse...

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a53/whitfimb/01080601.jpg

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a53/whitfimb/01080607.jpg


The color matched but the clip was butchered and had previously run YJ flares from the paint mark looks. With out the YJ flares it was an ugly sight.

This Sammy needs a clean clip to liven up the looks and ever since Art started that thread about Chopping up the Popsicle I just can't get that buggy look out of my head. I've gotta try it...

So today after work I got the extra front clip and began masking lines with tape. I finally decided to run the masking tape along the lower edge of the pin striping and use the lower edge of the masking tape as my line. This worked well until I got to the front headlight are where it is a complex curve. Here I decided to stop the cut and try to bend some of the original front grill side sheet metal back along beside the grill for additional support. This part didn't bend up as nice as I'd hoped but not bad for the little room I had to work.

Also note that once you cut one side the front fender looses all of its structural integrity. This makes cutting the opposing side more difficult. Ofcurse all of my cutting was done off of the truck, on the truck it might not have been an issue.

For the wheel well arc I just followed the lines left from the wrangler flares. Only measure ments i took where the starting point of my cut on the lower bottom edge (4.75" from the door/fender edge seam).

For cutting the fenders I used Sheet metal shears for 85% of the work. This is slow because the metal doesn't fold up correctly and I had to cut 60+ little triangles to get the shears to fit around the arc correctly. Sore hands and arms from the holding & cutting. For the inner fender to top of fender supports and the inner fender behind the headlight I used a mix of the 3 finger Air-chisel and the Sawz-all.

I'd like to have innerfenders but the originals are a long ways off in this application and I feel that new fabbed inners is gonna be the way to go. So the original inners got the AX!

Doing this Mod will require you to address the fact that the Battery Box is no longer their. you can adapt a Jeep Fire wall mounted batter Box Like Sammy Davis or you can remote mount your battery elseweher on the vehicle. (Battery's produce hydrogen gas, Very flamable) Batteries also leak acid and can cause sparks in a crash /roll. Think it thru ask advice of other & be safe...

Practice makes perfect... :smokin: More you cut the better ::)

Still for sale too! $250 Whitfimb at Hotmail (Central VA / no title)

8 vehicles & 2 trailers in a 3 car driveway. Somethings gotta go!


http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a53/whitfimb/0113061.jpg

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a53/whitfimb/0113065.jpg

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a53/whitfimb/0113062.jpg

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a53/whitfimb/0113063.jpg

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a53/whitfimb/0113064.jpg

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a53/whitfimb/0113067.jpg

Hvy_Chevy
01-13-2006, 07:12 PM
why not just lose the whole front clip and start from tube? would look a shit load better (wouldn't take much to do that - look better that is)

zuknstien
01-13-2006, 10:15 PM
ugh that thing is ugly.

NC Zuk
01-14-2006, 05:15 AM
ugh that thing is ugly.

Yea, but you don't know Mike. That dude can make just about anything work well.

whitfield
01-14-2006, 10:05 AM
why not just lose the whole front clip and start from tube? would look a shit load better (wouldn't take much to do that - look better that is)


I like the tube look but I've got (3) other projects waiting on parts & sucking funds right now.

I've wanted to try cutting a clip like this, It was free and less then 4hrs.

Ugly... Yes, but it now has potential...

Just imagine it on 36's with a trimmed rear, full cage and fresh paint.

It still isn't gonna be a looker but it's got potential.

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a53/whitfimb/0113065.jpg

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a53/whitfimb/popchop.jpg

Don't Kill another clean daily driver for that trail only bugy project... Save the Sammies!!!

NC Zuk
01-14-2006, 11:49 AM
LOL!! You officailly suck Mike! :D

So I assume you think i'm nuts for doing it huh?

whitfield
01-14-2006, 12:30 PM
You have a very nice Zook, I like the look.

I know it will make a better buggy but once you do it their is no turning back.

It's all about priorities, riding Moab on a 2-week get away with your son in the buggy will be awsome, but to do it will you sacrafice riding around town on those warm spring days....

I would take this one back to 33's with slightly stiffer coils / sammy axles, and build a buggy.

I think you need two Sammy's but I think everyone should have 3 or 4.
I'd rather see you cut up an ugly truck then the clean lined sammy you currently drive.

If you can only have ONE then cut it up, But if their is room for two cut a donor...


The JX I just got 1.6 16v on Toyota's, the BODY is SUPER CLEAN...

I want to run 36's but I don't want to cut it up. I hope to get it painted next week but must decide, to cut or not to cut....

whitfield
01-14-2006, 01:05 PM
This one was Ugly

http://photos.zuwharrie.com/users/whitfimb/BeaterFront.jpg

But it turned out Ok (for an east coast trail rig 5-years ago)...

http://photos.zuwharrie.com/users/whitfimb/dd2.jpg

http://photos.zuwharrie.com/users/whitfimb/dd3.jpg

Justin got that Rig featured on Beaters.com