Hitch and Skidplate - Great Lakes XJ

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Date: Jul 17, 2009

Hitch and Skidplate	Permalink

96 XJ... basically stock and stuff... 1. I'm just wondering... do the fuel tank straps go on the OUTSIDE of the factory skidplate, or on the inside? I swear they were on the inside, holding only the tank in place, before the fuel pump needed replacement, during which I discovered an awful rust hole in the trailer hitch, which brings us to our next question. 2. Those weldnuts... are they on a strip of metal? None are attached to the frame anymore, and all seem connected. To install the hitch I'll have to a) dump the skidplate, or figure out what's interfering with the hitch and do something about it, and b) fishwire bolts through the frame and use nuts to hold the skidplate and hitch in place. This brings us to our final question... 3. How do you remove the rear bumper? Is it somewhat easy, or a complete pain in the balls? I see nuts/bolts to a mount, to the frame... somehow I feel like I'm in for a lot of frustration, profanity, and flying wrenches. I'm actually considering taking it to a shop. Any help is appreciated. -Matt __________________ My Fleet 1996 XJ "Snowball"- 3.5" lift, bunch of little mods. I hate pegleg rear axles! 1974 AMC Javelin "Jade Grenade"- 360v8, 4sp, green inside and out. Underfunded Project. 2009 Kawsaki Vulan 900 "Rocket III"- Summer DD

LEAD_NOT_FOLLOW

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Date: Jul 17, 2009

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1) Straps go on the underside (inside) of the skid plate. The straps hold the tank on, and the skid plate goes over everything.

2) The nuts are held on by a nutstrip, attached to a piece of metal that goes into the frame rail. The only way to remove it is to remove the rear bumper.

3) The rear bumper is held on by 4 bolts per side. The easiest way to remove it is to remove it where the brackets are held onto the body; thus leaving the brackets onto the bumper itself.

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ChevelleSSLS6

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Date: Jul 17, 2009

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any special tips with the bumper removal? I'm sure I can handle it... being the rust belt and all, I suspect PB-ing the s%^& out of it for about a week will help. Or did they come out without much drama?
-Matt

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My Fleet
1996 XJ "Snowball"- 3.5" lift, bunch of little mods. I hate pegleg rear axles!
1974 AMC Javelin "Jade Grenade"- 360v8, 4sp, green inside and out. Underfunded Project.
2009 Kawsaki Vulan 900 "Rocket III"- Summer DD

aci4369

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Date: Jul 19, 2009

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I have not taken off the rear bumper, but I have taken off the front. If you look at the bolts, I think that they should have both the nut and bolt exposed. SOO I would just go to town on them, if they brake or snap from the rust, just buy new. It would probably benefit you to do this anyway, to make future removals that much easier. If it were me I would get a huge breaker bar and pop 'em off real quick and be done with it.

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Topic: Hitch and Skidplate