my new bumper

[tom4bren]

Orion,

That looks fantastic. I don't think I'd go with the yellow paint tho. IMHO, keep it black to blend in with the cladding.

Impressive work.

Tom

[CrnCnn]

Winner Winner chicken dinner.

I like that. It doesn’t intrude on the lines of the VX and looks stout. Any chance you will be offering replicas for sale?

[ZEUS]

There ya go! Good work, Greg... good to see function coexist with form like this. Bending square tubing isn't all that tough, getting the cuts straight and the seams to fit tightly is the toughest part and it looks like you did a great job with that! THUMBS UP! It'll be good to see it with some paint!

new bumper is 4x2 11ga steel tubing, notched and bent to follow the now cut in half cladding.

I will be adding led turn signals in the round holes cut in the steel. the old turn signals in the lower cladding will house driving lights. I'll be adding a skid plate from the steel bumper to the front of the skid bar front plate. should have every thing done by the end of the week.

[nfpgasmask]

I think just goes to show that you Proton guys are the most daring.

I personally, could never imagine taking a cutting device to my front cladding!!

But, this looks clean, and well planned. Nice job!

Bart

[nfpgasmask]

You know, Greg, I was just looking at your photos a little closer.

Now, you plan to attach the lower cladding piece under the bumper. Have you considered trimming the lower cladding piece so that it looks a little close to the original size/proportion of the front end? I think it looks a little "fat" up there the way you have it, but if you cut it down to just below the turn signal holes, it would probably be about the same size as original. I suppose then you would need to integrate some sort of turn signal hole in the metal bumper, but just from an aesthetics point of view, something to consider. I have no idea if that would interfere with your plans to attach the lower peice. Anyway, just a random thought.

Bart

[Triathlete]

I think just goes to show that you Proton guys are the most daring.

I personally, could never imagine taking a cutting device to my front cladding!!

Bart

"Us" Ebony guys did that part a long time ago...

I think that bumper would look good in black chrome. Of course plain old flat black is much easier to touch up when the rocks start to remove the paint!

[ZEUS]

BED LINER ALL CLADDING!

[nfpgasmask]

"Us" Ebony guys did that part a long time ago...

Yeah, but Billy, you did that because you got in a wreck, right?

BED LINER ALL CLADDING!

Hmmm, now I think you might be on to something there!

Bart

[tom4bren]

BED LINER ALL CLADDING!

The more I live with the LineX'd hood insert, the more I think about doing all the cladding.

[Jolly Roger VX'er]

Nicely done Greg!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ! Keep us up to date on the finishing touches!

[orion]

The lower cladding is still in the planning stage. i will likely trim it down some to get the lines to match better.

I already plan to line-x the cladding some day. I'm leaning towards dark gray metallic for the bumper, some color as my wheels.

and Marlin, your doing just fine for your first fab job, I'd like to forget my first attempt. it was a monstrosity of a brush gard on an AMC Eagle wagon. i think i burned the pictures.

[Jolly Roger VX'er]

I already plan to line-x the cladding some day. I'm leaning towards dark gray metallic for the bumper, some color as my wheels.

If you decide to paint the steel bumper dark gray to match perhaps check out Kubota's dark gray spray paint for the tractor frames they paint. I bought some a while back and was thinking (not out loud...lol) that not only would the color look good but it seems quite durable and has an almost "plastic" like feel to it.

[LittleBeast]

WOW, nicely done! I would drive the VX to you to have this done for sure. Great job!

[Knivx]

It's as if you did exactly what i've been envisioning and wanting to do ever since i bought my vx! If you do ever plan on mass production put me on that list! In my opinion i'd leave the lower cladding off and somehow convert the fog lights into turn signals. That was always my plan.

[Triathlete]

It's as if you did exactly what i've been envisioning and wanting to do ever since i bought my vx! If you do ever plan on mass production put me on that list! In my opinion i'd leave the lower cladding off and somehow convert the fog lights into turn signals. That was always my plan.

For turn signals could also sink 4-6 led's in each side of the bumper. Flush mount them and they would hardly be noticable.

Yeah, but Billy, you did that because you got in a wreck, right?

Yes...crash! But I have a brand spanking new piece sitting in my garage!