Custom Bumper Project

[Marlin]

Hahahaha.... riiiight. Maybe the Russians would pay that, but not us. I got mine for just under $3k years and years ago. It's no $6k Kenny Bell, but it's a gem for it's rarity. Probably the only thing in my VX that I could sell for a profit right about now, heh.

Plus install? Was it really worth it?! Did it go 3K dollars faster? I just can't imagine it being that much of a difference. Especially now, I could get another VX for what it would cost to get a S/C and parts...

[AlaskaVX]

With a S/C there is no need for lockers LOL




And yes, it feels $3000 faster, I love it, but for the big rocks.... lockers are the way to go.

[Marlin]

With a S/C there is no need for lockers LOL

And yes, it feels $3000 faster, I love it, but for the big rocks.... lockers are the way to go.

I thought you were working on an engine swap? Can't remember where I saw that. But it wouldn't be just 3K, it would be closer to 4 or 5 I would think, after all the other changes you gotta do...and what not? But I honestly have no idea.

[AlaskaVX]

Man I swear every time I post now thats the first response I get. Yes engine swap still in limbo, no garage, looking for a house, nothing I am interested in within my price range.

Engine swap costs more than the SCer unless you get a hell of a deal on a motor. I got the SCer kit for $2600 i think (Tones Christmas special) and had a shop install for $750, total <$3500 with shipping. Hard to find a V8 and fab/install for that price.

Stock on the 1/4 mile track I ran 16.5 and with the SCer I ran 15.2. curious what the N/A LS1 will do but I don't expect much/any faster.

[Marlin]

Man I swear every time I post now thats the first response I get. Yes engine swap still in limbo, no garage, looking for a house, nothing I am interested in within my price range.

Engine swap costs more than the SCer unless you get a hell of a deal on a motor. I got the SCer kit for $2600 i think (Tones Christmas special) and had a shop install for $750, total <$3500 with shipping. Hard to find a V8 and fab/install for that price.

Stock on the 1/4 mile track I ran 16.5 and with the SCer I ran 15.2. curious what the N/A LS1 will do but I don't expect much/any faster.

Gotta be faster than that, my stock 07 expedition does the 1/4 mile in a little over 16sec. It weighs close to 6000lbs.

but I started the thread...does that make it ok?

[Riff Raff]

.......looking for a house, nothing I am interested in within my price range.

I got the SCer kit for $2600 i think (Tones Christmas special) and had a shop install for $750, total <$3500 with shipping.

Stock on the 1/4 mile track I ran 16.5 and with the SCer I ran 15.2.

Holy Cow, $3,500 for a 1.3 second improvement in the 1/4 mile. That's a hell of a deal..............................NOT!!! You'd be better off to use that $3,500 towards the purchase of your future house; I'm sorry, IGLOO.

ZEUS--- Yes, you nailed it on the head of the pin-- having the appropriate tires for the appropriate terrain is key. The reason why MARLIN was so successful at MOAB over Ldub was because MARLIN has the infamous 44 lb lightweight Grabber AT2 tires which go anywhere in all conditions; including sand, and yes mud. The Grabber AT2 is a jack-of-all-trades tire and highly capable in mud with its cavernous 17/32nds tread depth, whereas the mud tires are only a master of one but are worthless everywhere else (oh yeah, I forgot M/T tires "look good" LOL, tsk tsk). Lesson learned, class dismissed.

MARLIN--- I concur the SC route is a total waste of time and money on the VX. The VX-SC seems to be more of a novelty and opens a can of worms for other periferal things to go wrong with its proven unreliability. If the factory Isuzu engineers thought a SC was a worthwhile feature for the VX, then they would have included it from the factory.

Finally (back on topic), your bumper project is coming along nicely. I really like the squared-off front bumper design. I think the rest of us are just waiting how you plan to "blend" the bumper project by filling up the empty void underneath the headlights, etc. I imagine the expanded-metal treatment will be coming soon. I continue to be blown away that all of this work is being performed in your frickin' driveway. Your neighbors must simply shake their heads in disbelief. Good job, keep it up.

[pbkid]

riff raff....once again you fail to see the application....
i hate to break it to you...but the 'infamous' grabber AT2 is not the best application for moab....may be for a person that doesnt understand rock crawling...but all-terrain tires are not exactly designed for rock crawling applications...
hence is why professional rock crawlers use a 'knobby' tire...like the Nitto Mud-grappler, or other tires with large 'knobs' for grabbing edges and pieces of rocks...

wouldnt you think something designed for it... like this buggy ^^^ would use A/T's if so???

ZEUS--- Yes, you nailed it on the head of the pin-- having the appropriate tires for the appropriate terrain is key. The reason why MARLIN was so successful at MOAB over Ldub was because MARLIN has the infamous 44 lb lightweight Grabber AT2 tires which go anywhere in all conditions; including sand, and yes mud. The Grabber AT2 is a jack-of-all-trades tire and highly capable in mud with its cavernous 17/32nds tread depth, whereas the mud tires are only a master of one but are worthless everywhere else (oh yeah, I forgot M/T tires "look good" LOL, tsk tsk). Lesson learned, class dismissed.

[Marlin]

riff raff....once again you fail to see the application....
i hate to break it to you...but the 'infamous' grabber AT2 is not the best application for moab....may be for a person that doesnt understand rock crawling...but all-terrain tires are not exactly designed for rock crawling applications...
hence is why professional rock crawlers use a 'knobby' tire...like the Nitto Mud-grappler, or other tires with large 'knobs' for grabbing edges and pieces of rocks...

wouldnt you think something designed for it... like this buggy ^^^ would use A/T's if so???

I would have to disagree with you there Jack. I have watched various motosports, and most of the time, the new guys use the same thing as the old guys just because that is the way it has always been done, and I believe partially for looks. One day, a new guy shows up and stirs things up with a new design. Take a look at Monster trucks. They race and freestyle. Two totally different applications and almost all have the same "tractor" type mud tire. A few years ago a guy came on the scene with an AT type tread. He was a self sponsored truck. Blew them away in racing, and performed great in freestyle. Unfortunately, he broke some major parts and the truck disappeared for awhile, the cost of private ownership vs. corporate sponsor, once good jump and roll could cost you $50K.
I do think mud tires are great for the trail, certainly not for everyday driving, but AT tires will get you just about everywhere. As Riffraff said, a jack of all trades, but not really great at any one medium.

And Billy, I think you are exactly right about the tires at Moab. That buggy wouldn't look so cool with ATs. A huge disadvantage of the General AT2s: they are soft!! I was rotating the tires on the weekend, lots of gouges in them, and I just went and compared to my Procomps, which feel like rocks and do not feel soft at all. So that 44lbs a tire came at a sacrifice, but for daily driving, well worth it, hence my hunt to get some trail tires.
As for the bumper, I took some angle iron out last night, may weld it across the top and build little "towers" to weld it to on the outside. That would give me a point to stand on and keep the sheet metal in shape. Dunno yet.

[VX KAT]

ZEUS--- Yes, you nailed it on the head of the pin-- having the appropriate tires for the appropriate terrain is key. The reason why MARLIN was so successful at MOAB over Ldub was because MARLIN has the infamous 44 lb lightweight Grabber AT2 tires which go anywhere in all conditions; including sand, and yes mud. The Grabber AT2 is a jack-of-all-trades tire and highly capable in mud with its cavernous 17/32nds tread depth, whereas the mud tires are only a master of one but are worthless everywhere else (oh yeah, I forgot M/T tires "look good" LOL, tsk tsk). Lesson learned, class dismissed.

MARLIN--- I concur the SC route is a total waste of time and money on the VX. The VX-SC seems to be more of a novelty and opens a can of worms for other periferal things to go wrong with its proven unreliability. If the factory Isuzu engineers thought a SC was a worthwhile feature for the VX, then they would have included it from the factory.

OH NO, MR. BILL,... here we go again on the tires.............remember, to each his/her own....

[Triathlete]

Actually, on slick rock (Moab) AT's do quite well. The tires on that buggy are not so good on the rocks. Those tires are probably the best you can get for strictly mud. Most that do use those swampers for other options end up taking a tire cutter to them. For rocks you'll find nothing better proven (in comp.) than the BFG Krawlers and the Maxxis Creepy Crawlers...both of which also do exceptionally well in Moab also! My biggest concern with nearly all AT's is the relatively weak sidewall. Big, sharp rocks around here tend to shred/cut/tear them which is not a fun time in my book.

[Scott Harness]

Holy Cow, $3,500 for a 1.3 second improvement in the 1/4 mile. That's a hell of a deal..............................NOT!!!

In normal life,I'll agree with you.In racing,1.3 seconds is an eternity.
In a longer race that 1.3 seconds turns into an 1/2 hour!
ps...Happy Birthday!!

[rowhard]

The reason why MARLIN was so successful at MOAB over Ldub was.....

Riff, I got news for you, the reason MARLIN was successful was he was a mad man. Remember the scene in the movie '30 Seconds over Tokyo' where the swabbies were coming out to push the B25 over the side and Van Johnson wouldn't give up, yep, that's was our MARLIN.

[VCrossfan]

Riff, I got news for you, the reason MARLIN was successful was he was a mad man. Remember the scene in the movie '30 Seconds over Tokyo' where the swabbies were coming out to push the B25 over the side and Van Johnson wouldn't give up, yep, that's was our MARLIN.

Not being there and only seeing pic's, Didn't Marlins VX arrive at Moab on a Trailer? If so you can sacrifice and pound it more knowing it will have a way home no matter what. But when you drive them door to door you have to be alittle cautious. Ldub we all know your the MAN! !