I'm looking into getting myself a front and rear bumper set from e-auto. This seems to be the most cost effective choice for me because I can get front and rear for under $600.( 07 12 Jeep JK Wrangler Rock Crawler Heavy Duty Front Rear Bumper System Combo | eBay ) This works because I already have a winch laying around and funds are extremely limited due to full time college student (VT, go Hokies).
I know there has been talk and warnings out there that some come to your door messed up, and they don't always bolt up that easily, and the paint job is crap and the welds aren't all that either. But then again I'm getting a lot of steel that is pretty much to where I want it for under $600.

What I want to do is:
1. Order this set
2. Strip the existing paint without sanding (hopefully someone has a chemical solution idea)
3. Reinforce/modify the welds, add safety hooks on the rear, reinforce the winch plate and etc. (my stepdad has a welder and grinder and all that other jazz so I could learn some hands on fabrication magic)
4. And then finally paint and install (my stepdad has connections to a great painter buddy)

So my main question is what would all of you experienced diy-ers suggest when it comes to ridding the crap paint off the existing bumpers (also i don't have a sandblaster, so thats another reason I don't want to deal with that) so I can give these bumpers some custom help?

Btw this is my first,... well i'm pretty sure this is my first post, so any extra info i left out lemme know and I'm sorry if there was a better forum section to post this to. And please don't get on this thread to tell me this is a stupid idea. My goal is to improve a product for my vehicle's sake and learn/mingle with some fun steel fabrication so If I have some time this winter break this is what I plan to do.

 

I used a grinder with a wire brush wheel and it took the finish right off. I primed it and used rustoleum enamel which has been holding well. I'm also in college and understand where you're coming from. I have the rear bumper tire carrier version that I bought off a forum member for cheap. It wasn't perfect but it did what I needed it to do. I removed the existing latch assembly and welded on a better one to remove all squeaking. They are solid pieces of metal and with some tweaking they do the job just fine.

 

Thanks bud, its good to know the ole wirebrush will get the job done. But I still think if there is a chemical I can just lay the bumpers in and just walk away that would be the most time effecitive for me. Hitting two full sized bumpers up with the wire brush I imagine is a a whole lot of surface are to cover. Especially inside and out. Id rather not if I can get away with it! Haha

Sent from Hokie Nation

 

Easy off oven cleaner is what we used to strip motorcycle frames before we would polish them.

 

You may be surprised at how well its welded. I bought front and rear bumper with tire carrier. They bolted up perfect with no issues.
Paint does chip easy. I just touch up with rattle can paint. Have used hitch tow loaded motorcycle trailer and hard points to yank my ass out of a bind.

Good Luck with your project.

Ernie

 

I say go for it. I have heard that the shipping time on these can be crazy long or crazy short. Just be prepared to wait a long time.

Wire brush and a drill will probably do what you need to do. Self labor is always cheaper than paying someone else to do it, which is why most of us build are Jeeps that buy them ready made.

 

Here you go , I used this to strip powder coating
Auto Paint Chemicals Aircraft Remover Product Page

 

I think you'll learn that powder coating is hard to get off. Like real hard.

I would just bedline them from the beginning, in fact that's what I did. Some of my bed liner has chipped about a year later, this weekend I plan to re-coat. And do this until I can spring for that AEV bumper. I am real happy with them so far.

 

Had mine for 2 winter looked like total shit. Steel pitted and pretty much all the powered coat was gone. Had it blasted primed and re powered coated looks better then new. And it is a durable bumper meaning the welds I pulled my bro full size truck back from hanging over a wall sitting on his frame and it held fine. Welds aren't the prettiest but they serve there purpose. Had the bumper and my KC slim light bezel blasted and re coated cost me 200 which I thought was a good price.

 

I'm happy with my front/rear e-autogrilles bumpers. Good enough for me, but I'm not picky. Welds are decent. If you live in the rust belt then I would strip it and bedline it. However, powder coat is tough to get off not as easy as some think. If not, leave it be. I have some minor surface rust on around some welds, but I think that is because I live near the ocean.