Custom Bumper Project

[nfpgasmask]

I'm sure he's feeling a lot of personal satisfaction right about now over his accomplishment. He's done a great job of customizing his ride ... even if it's not to the liking of the majority of VX owners. Wouldn't most Caddy owners in the 60's cringe at the thought of what George did to the Bat Mobile. He did it anyway & now it's a classic modded ride.

You certainly have a point Tom. There are a lot of die-hard Australians who HATE to see their beloved Aussie coupes get turned into Mad Max replicas, much less exported to the US. And I suppose, I have similar feelings for the VehiCROSS. It's such a rare, unique, and wickedly cool PUV, that I hate to see it modded to the point of no return in an attempt to turn it into something it was really never meant to be. You know how I feel about your VX!!!

But I think it goes beyond that, and beyond personal satisfaction. Again, IMO, the problems with the bumper are more related to the apparent lack of planning/practice/tools/skills/etc, that should have been done/acquired/etc PRIOR to the project getting started. Like I said before, I probably would have a completely different opinion if it seemed like there was more forethought and practice put in place before this VX was...ahem...raped. But again, this is all just my lone opinion. In the grand scheme of things, it means absolutely nothing.



Bart

[tom4bren]

"I, for one, am not beating up on your idea, Chris... just the results thus far."

Yeah, who woulda thunk you could turn a Jeep bumper into a differential bracket.

"the problems with the bumper are more related to the apparent lack of planning/practice/tools/skills/etc, that should have been done/acquired/etc PRIOR to the project getting started."

You obviously have NO experience with how Army Acquision works

[nfpgasmask]

You obviously have NO experience with how Army Acquision works

Perhaps, but from my 12 years of gas mask collecting, I do know that the US military would test several gas mask models made by several different companies first. Then, using the test results, they decide on a single design that fits the need. Then, that design goes through several prototype phases until the definitive product is perfected. I'm not sure how it works for other things, but I am fairly sure that's how it works for gas masks.

Bart

[tom4bren]

Nice try. That's the logical approach tho. It REALLY don't work that way.

Need Statement - Development Specification - Solicitation - Source Selection - Award to low bidder - Accept hardware that meets half the requirements @ twice the price.

Marlinstein Approach:

Need Statement (I want it) - Development Specification (mental image) - Try it - fix it - Try it - fix it - Try it - fix it - Try it - fix it - Try it - fix it - Try it - fix it - Try it - fix it - Try it - fix it - ...

[Marlin]

Marlinstein Approach:

Need Statement (I want it) - Development Specification (mental image) - Try it - fix it - Try it - fix it - Try it - fix it - Try it - fix it - Try it - fix it - Try it - fix it - Try it - fix it - Try it - fix it - ...

Very true statement. As for Bart's planning, designing and blah blah blah, that is definitely not my style. I am more of a doer...obviously. It has also givin me something to do for the last few months on the weekend mornings before the family is up and about. Basically, from 0630 to 0930, I play in the garage with my toys. Then its off to the aquarium or whatever with the wife and kids.
As for raping my VX, I did not modify the VX itself, so if it really had to go back to stock, it could, so more of a molestation than a rape. I would have to fab some brackets for a few things that were rusted beyond repair...no biggie.

This whole project started after seeing the junk factory tube crumble when I went to replace my horn.
I had access to the materials for free (tubing) so figured, why not.

I picked up the gasket material for the lights on the way home from Day of Caring volunteer event I worked on. The bedliner is done. So I should be able to finish the barbaric raping device before lunch. I will make a video at night of the lights.

[nfpgasmask]

Very true statement. As for Bart's planning, designing and blah blah blah, that is definitely not my style. I am more of a doer...obviously.

In the past I did a lot of things like this. My mom always told me when I was a kid, "Haste Makes Waste". And I believe she was right. Sure, we all get impatient from time to time, and mess up somehow and have to re-do it. But I guess for me, its the scale. When doing something of this magnitude, I try that much harder to have a solid design and execution plan. As with most good projects, the longest and most important stage is the planning stage.

Bart

[Marlin]

In the past I did a lot of things like this. My mom always told me when I was a kid, "Haste Makes Waste". And I believe she was right. Sure, we all get impatient from time to time, and mess up somehow and have to re-do it. But I guess for me, its the scale. When doing something of this magnitude, I try that much harder to have a solid design and execution plan. As with most good projects, the longest and most important stage is the planning stage.

Bart

I agree with you 10000%, but again, its just not me. As for scale, you make it sound like I cut my VX to pieces, I didn't really do anything to my VX, just something that is bolted on to it, no welding on the frame, no new holes...not that I haven't put enough in her already.