presented with a grand total of 0 comment.

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Following too close?

 

all I'm going to say is I have no idea how I'm going to put another bumper on it....I broke it good this time. No idea how to fix the front of the frame other than twist the hell out of the brackets with help from a torch, because i know the frame won't bend back. I thought i broke the column because the key felt weird...then i looked at the key...

I drove it back to the shop no problem. Took the plastic part of the bumper off to clear the tire and left the metal part since it's pretty much stuck where it is. Condensor is punched, so I'll have to replace that with both airbag modules and the clockspring. Boss is willing to work with me on the parts. I may sell off the HID system, think I'm going to go lampless on the next iteration.

If I had an econo car as a daily driver, I'd just leave the airbag modules out and 4 link the back and call it a race-only truck.

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That's where you bite the bullet and take it to a competent frame shop.

I didn't think the frame on the front of our Cougar was bent any, but the guy took about four hours, tweaking it, and ... since it's driven SO much better than before! Turns out it was just a bit tweaked off from a previous owner, and could be aligned around it ... but a straight and true unit body with properly aligned subframes is SO much nicer!

RwP

 

I dont think the frame itself is bent, the huge crossmember under the motor wouldnt allow it. I just have to figure out how to get the bumper off and a new one on.

 

So I priced out doing the exhaust relocate and the rear-mounted fuel system.

Right now I have the 22 gal tank (138.6 lbs), a Jaz 16 gallon (100.8) 25x17x9 plastic tank will fit where the spare was. That removes 38 pounds total and shifts probably 25-30 pounds off the right front and put it on the right rear. Total cost for tank and fittings and hose is $450 or so.

Cutting out the rear exhaust system and going to a front dump will take a 45" glasspack, some couplings, and some bending of pipe. Roughly $100. Ditching the stock mega-muffler should cut another 10 pounds or so.

Both airbags, clockspring, grille, and bumper $700 total from LKQ. Dealer quoted me $650 just for the spring and driver airbag.

Worked on some more wiring on my SPOD ( www.4x4SPOD.com ) . Have 2 green switches for lights, 2 amber switches for methanol fuel pump and transmission fan, and 2 red switched for radiator fan and electric water pump (which is also powered by ASD, protected by a diode).

Still looking for an idea on what to do for front runners.

Once the stock tank is out, I'll get a battery tray welded there with a ford solenoid and a small battery for an onboard jump-start system (The SPOD is supposed to shut all electrical down at 10.8 volts, but having a small buffer never hurts), as well as a 2 gallon air tank and a 1 gallon methanol fuel tank. So that will add the removed weight back.

 

Glad you're OK Magnet.

Not to give you any more bad news but "If the driver airbag has been deployed, the clockspring and the steering column must be replaced."

 

I'm not sure why the column has to be replaced. But i did get a complete used column from LKQ if I need it. As of right now I plan to steal just the clockspring out of it.

 

The smart *ss answer is because Dodge says it has to.

I don't know why they say it either. I bet most are not changed.

 

So nowhere in the FSM does it mention replacing the airbag module after deployment...I just read online that it has to be replaced as well. And apparently the clockspring must be replaced because the high trigger voltage will melt the wire in the clockspring.