Would you remove the front frame support for a better WINCH bumper?

[pjmjr508]

I'm on my phone so Im not going to look for it but. But segorea or something like that the guy from Korea has a nice thread about removing that section and putting the winch in it's place and there is a WK that did to. So there's some pics out there someone can dropp in here to look at.

I think your talking about this;
http://www.theultimatejeep.com/showt...er-intercooler

[Sal-XK]

I think your talking about this;
http://www.theultimatejeep.com/showt...er-intercooler

Yup that's the one from Korea.

[pjmjr508]

I couldn't finds the one for the WK

[LWM]

I'd like to remind everyone (because i think a lot of guys may be new since we had this thread a while ago) that by cutting that crossmember like jon is suggesting, we can hopefully end up with a bumper along the lines of this (which is the best winch bumper ive seen for an XK yet):

This is EXACTLY where I am heading and the mount will be bolt on (no welding) so that you can attach a winch bumper or a non-winch bumper to it.

[Matt]

I couldn't finds the one for the WK

Omelet did it in his build thread on JF

[XK N00b]

I'd like to remind everyone (because i think a lot of guys may be new since we had this thread a while ago) that by cutting that crossmember like jon is suggesting, we can hopefully end up with a bumper along the lines of this (which is the best winch bumper ive seen for an XK yet):

This looks awesome to me. If your guinea pig XK doesn't want to cut his out for the mock up, let me know. Mine's available.

[cico7]

Omelet did it in his build thread on JF

Segon park did his Commander too...

[pjmjr508]

Segon park did his Commander too...

Covered that in post 31 with a link to the thread

[NeilSmith]

My thinking is that I wouldn't want to remove the center support in the uni-body. I think I have a little inside experiance dealing with the uni-bodies being in the collision business. I have a couple of concerns. Number one is structural integrity. These vehicles are designed the way they are for a reason. If you go messing around with it you could mess it up. But, you could also make it better. You don't know until you try, right ? Jon, you want to make a part that can be as simple of an install as possible. If the average guy gets the bumper and then he needs to do some cutting and welding on the uni-body then that could cause some problems. How many of you have a mig welder in their garage ? Now how many of you actually know how to use it and can actually run a nice strong bead ? You ever burn up an electronic system on a vehicle by welding on it because you didnt know what you were doing ? You dont want to be the one to do that. When we work on a vehicle that has been in a nice hard hit we have to be pretty precise when pulling, cutting, and welding the new part back in. If the new piece is not exactly where it needs to be, within a millimeter or two, then it causes problems elsewhere from the body panels lining up to the grille not fitting all the way to the front end alignment being off and wearing out tires. Granted, I'm referring to a collision repair here but when you cut out that support and weld in a new one it has to be right. My next concern is safety. The new piece that Jon makes will no doubt be stronger than the original part but is that what you want necessarily ? The structure is designed to crumple up and absorb the impact of a collision. Making it stronger may not be your best bet. Lets say you are in a wreck with another guy on the highway. It doesnt matter really who is at fault. If your vehicle has been altered and because of the alterations you cause more damage to the other vehicle than should have, can you be held liable ? What if the other person gets hurt because your big steel bumper ripped open his door like a sardine can where as an oem plastic bumper wouldnt have ? Believe me, insurance companies are really taking a hit due to replacing aftermarket parts like wheels and brush guards and such. They are on the verge of not covering the aftermarket stuff and even going as far as to refusing to cover the entire vehicle because of the alterations that the owner has done to it. I've seen it myself. I was told personally by a regional State Farm rep about the issue and some changes are on the way. So Im not saying that I wouldn't install one of the bumpers or even replace the center support. I'm just saying there are factors that must be weighed before you do so. On one hand , it would be nice to have it built like a tank and be able to pull on it without breaking it. On the other hand, do you want it built like a tank when you smash into another car and simply drive right through it ? God forbid something like that ever happens but it's something to think about. O.k. i'm finished. Jon, I'd like to have 1 bumper and a center support to go please.

[cico7]

Covered that in post 31 with a link to the thread

Great minds think alike!