Engine Bay Body Rips

[bernd]

homedadr previously said:

post 181 photo.....best shot i've seen showing the flex of the frame vs the body.....I'm so sure this is the problem

not when we have two stock bumpers poling yes at this point. I believe the bumpers might speed up the problem, but they are not the cause.

[Landrover]

Terahex previously said:

Thanks for the heads up Bernd

I have an OME lift, 285/70/17 Tires and stock bumper. So far no cracks or bulges that are visible. I will be sure to keep my eye on that area.

Once again this forum shows how awesome and supportive everyone is. I am proud to be a member

Just to clarify, you didn't vote right? The voting is for people who DO have bulges or cracks. Sorry to be so picky, but we do want to keep the poll accurate.

[toddunderscore]

Landrover previously said:

Do you have a lift or bigger tires todd?

Stock size tires with a DR front lift. Just enough to level it out. And no rock crawling.

[RoverGGM]

Landrover previously said:

I think in the end, it'll be the contact of the bumper with the body.

I concur, until proven otherwise.

[1983FJ60]

RoverGGM previously said:

I concur, until proven otherwise.

makes sense from the standpoint of the body being flexed into a rigid protrusion of the frame (bumper).

would it make a difference if the bumpers had a wide gap between the body to allow flex?

[homedad]

toddunderscore previously said:

Stock size tires with a DR front lift. Just enough to level it out. And no rock crawling.

Todd...I hate to do this to you ,,but....you bought your truck used...it had some pretty serious mods dome when you bought it....it may very well have HAD an aftermarket bumper BEFORE you owned it ..and the previous owner sold the bumper before he sold you the truck...they are worth $1,000 used...so we can't tell on YOUR rig.....still luv ya man and I'm ready for run tonight for the meteor shower....Kurt

[Bad Voodoo]

Can someone with a stock bumper do a ramp test for us? I'm interested in knowing if the frame flex causes that crumple seam to buldge regardless of mods.

-voodoo

[homedad]

1983FJ60 previously said:

makes sense from the standpoint of the body being flexed into a rigid protrusion of the frame (bumper).

would it make a difference if the bumpers had a wide gap between the body to allow flex?

Yes it will make a HUGE difference

[cruiserlarry]

bernd previously said:

not when we have two stock bumpers poling yes at this point. I believe the bumpers might speed up the problem, but they are not the cause.

I would say the bumper contact has a negligible effect on this problem. Bumper contact would cause damage to other areas before reaching the flex point at the rear inner fenders, and it would push the fender upward, flexing the inner well downward, bulging at the bottom. This does not seem to be the case in any occurence I've seen so far. My ARB has made no contact with the front body work, but my cracking is severe. The bumper might inhibit the side to side flex of the frame, amplifying the flex differential between the body and the frame, which might cause the cracking sooner. But I believe we'll see, as mileage and usage increases, this problem on more and more FJCs, regardless of their set-up. I'd still like someone who meets up with the Trails Team FJCs to snap a couple of pics of their inner wells - I can't imagine that they've escaped this issue....

[gnwhite]

Bad Voodoo previously said:

Can someone with a stock bumper do a ramp test for us? I'm interested in knowing if the frame flex causes that crumple seam to buldge regardless of mods.

-voodoo

stock bumper is not what you could call rigid. It flexes and bends, its plastic. I dont think a stock bumper can put too much stress on the body.