ISKRA
Member
Thanks for the thread! This really helped me!
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Good luck and take lots of pictures!I just came across this thread. I'd hate to annoy the moderators by dredging up an ancient thread, so feel free to delete my post if it violates any rules, I'll not be offended.
Since I'll be tackling this mod tomorrow, I just wanted to make a couple observations.
It appears that the bottom of the bumper opening on our sport/express model trucks is wider and sits a bit higher than on other models. The hooks don't appear too be centered in the larger areas on either side of the bumper grill opening.
I intend to fabricate replacement brackets. The new brackets will rotate the hook a few degrees at the rear bolt hole, and raise it's relative position, centering it in the grill opening.
I have a small machine shop at my disposal, and a background in mechanical engineering, so hopefully I'll have little trouble fabbing up replacement brackets that are stronger than the originals.
Obviously, I'll be modifying the grill insert as well.
I think I'll blast and cerakote my hooks while I'm at it
No worries on adding to an old post Sir , I'm just glad you found it LOL , I was looking for this last week ! Ha ha I'm the OP and I had trouble finding this thenI just came across this thread. I'd hate to annoy the moderators by dredging up an ancient thread, so feel free to delete my post if it violates any rules, I'll not be offended.
Since I'll be tackling this mod tomorrow, I just wanted to make a couple observations.
It appears that the bottom of the bumper opening on our sport/express model trucks is wider and sits a bit higher than on other models. The hooks don't appear too be centered in the larger areas on either side of the bumper grill opening.
I intend to fabricate replacement brackets. The new brackets will rotate the hook a few degrees at the rear bolt hole, and raise it's relative position, centering it in the grill opening.
I have a small machine shop at my disposal, and a background in mechanical engineering, so hopefully I'll have little trouble fabbing up replacement brackets that are stronger than the originals.
Obviously, I'll be modifying the grill insert as well.
I think I'll blast and cerakote my hooks while I'm at it
I have h-series Cerakote in Tungsten, Flat Dark Earth, Earth Brown, Olive Green, Burnt Bronze, Cobalt and Gunmetal.
What would look best? My truck is mineral grey metallic.
Producing this type of structural part, a part that would likely result in injury or damage should it fail, for my own personal use has little personal liability. Producing it for resale, is a whole different animal.
As a business owner, before I'd incur the risk/liability of reselling these, i'd have to actually create a design on paper and do the stress analysis, FEA, etc.
I'd be willing to pull my hooks back off, draw up a print, do the stress analysis, make the necessary design adjustments, and solid model the part in CAD/CAM, then do a limited production run.
To do all this, the design aspect would take about 8ish hrs, production about 1-1.5 hrs per set.
For a limited run of about 10 sets, I'd need to price them in the neighborhood of about 30.00 per set.
I'm not sure there's be sufficient interest at that price point to be worthwhile.
It wasnt very hard though. You'd have little trouble fabbing up a set of your own.
At $30 dollars a set, you could sell A LOT of them! I'm in...Producing this type of structural part, a part that would likely result in injury or damage should it fail, for my own personal use has little personal liability. Producing it for resale, is a whole different animal.
As a business owner, before I'd incur the risk/liability of reselling these, i'd have to actually create a design on paper and do the stress analysis, FEA, etc.
I'd be willing to pull my hooks back off, draw up a print, do the stress analysis, make the necessary design adjustments, and solid model the part in CAD/CAM, then do a limited production run.
To do all this, the design aspect would take about 8ish hrs, production about 1-1.5 hrs per set.
For a limited run of about 10 sets, I'd need to price them in the neighborhood of about 30.00 per set.
I'm not sure there's be sufficient interest at that price point to be worthwhile.
It wasnt very hard though. You'd have little trouble fabbing up a set of your own.
At $30 dollars a set, you could sell A LOT of them! I'm in...
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Technically yes, the openings should be faced outboard...Is there a right and a wrong way to face the hook ends?
Not according to the directions. Some with the sport bumper do so for a little more clearance. There's nothing stopping someone from installing either way.Would you not want the ends facing inward?
I'm going to start on 10 sets Monday. As of now, I've had perhaps 5-6 ish requests. If all goes well, and the parts fit/function correctly, i'll keep the CAD/CAM data on file for future requests.
So far, there will be enough for everyone who wants a set.
Those who want a set, send me a pm with your name and email address. I'll send each an email when the brackets are finished and ready to ship.