98 TRD 3.4L Turbo , Methanol , LT

So I finally started on my front bumper. Got everything bent and a piece bent for my rear bumper too when I do that. I've had this on my to do list for a while now so I had at it. Got a good chunk knocked out. Getting everything to line up perfect took quite some time plus figuring out where I wanted to mount it. Most is just tacked for now. Still have bracing and plate that I'm going to be adding. It stepped up my trucks game big time. That old plastic bumper I had was doing no good. I'm really pleased with where and how it's headed.

 

You have a bender for that tubing? Looks cool. I don't see rectangular much.

 

Crazy truck!

 

Had people i knew bend it. Pretty cool they completely filled the tube with sand to prevent any kinking in the rectangle. Stuffed rags in the end to keep the sand packed. Came out good. I followed the curvature of the OE bumper lines minus the extra for the fenders.

 

Slowly plugging away on the bumper. Grinding out my stick welds lol. Also figured out how I'm going to mount a hitch point to the front. I want a hitch mount to have a portable winch that I can keep in the tool box and be able to mount front or in the rear.

 

Looks awesome dude! You gona add any steel to protect the intercooler more?

 

Gio!!!!! Hey buddy.... I'm undecided still. Thinking I'm going to leave it as is. What do you think? I had to get the smaller intercooler. My old one was just too big. I'm hoping it won't take quite as long to charge the pipes too.

http://m.ebay.com/itm/28-quot-x-7-q...R-AND-PLATE-/121101537474?txnId=1747133662002

 

Hi!
Yeah I would. My tiny intercooler keeps my intake temps at up to 30 degrees higher than ambient in the winter and 20 above in summer (not sure how that works) at the very max, so a smaller one wouldn't hurt anything.
On an unrelated note, I've been messing around with e85 and I really like what 4 gallons per full tank is doing for my truck. Less popping at idle and better response in and out of boost. The acceleration in vacuum is much more powerful and my butt dyno says WOT hp is at least 5hp higher than normal. AFR,s are unaffected since the truck learns how to adjust to stoich.

 

Dunno what u have planned for ur skid but i had a good relationship with a fab shop and the had some scrap 3/16" sheet left over from a job and i asked for it and told em what i was doin, the took a measurment and even used their break to get it sized and shaped for me for free. This is a crappy pic but its all i have on my phone. Might be a cheap/free easy thing u can do if u havent got anything lines up

 

Only thing preventing me from doing a full skid is I need good airflow through my intercooler which sits right where a skid would be. I've been thinking about doing some sort of a half skid .

 

Just do some holes in the top half or a cool cut out. Provides some rock protection

 

Make a skid out of bars or plates like I did and connect them on top and bottom. Plenty of air will make it in there

 

Yeah i have to take a plasma cutter to mine so the IC gets some air.

 

Or get ahold of some sheet metal, and bend up some ducts to direct airflow to the intercooler. Plus, holes in your skid make it a sieve instead...

 

A sieve, how so? For dust?

 

No, if you are making a skid, you want to keep rocks and stuff away from the delicate radiator, and in your case, intercooler. Putting holes in your skid plate will defeat some of the usefullness of a skid.

 

You can put enough of a skid under the intercooler to have a fully functional skid and also give your intercooler enough airflow at the same time. I'll post a closeup pic or 2 of my bumper when I get home