I would do it cold if you can - working it cold makes the steel stronger, heating enough to bend it will anneal it and make it weaker.

 

If you've got a really strong vice then put it in there at the bend that you want to straighten and crank away.

 

bend it back! if your going to trash it let me know i will work something out with you for it. It looks like a nice piece so if it were me id bend it back. As Troy said do it cold. What about wrapping a chain around it and fixing it to the floor somehow and jacking up on the truck if you dont want to go buck wild with a hammer. I dont know but maybe at work or something? it might take doing it one side at a time or front to back but it could work

 

Sorry.

It is off. It will get bent back at some point in the next week or so. Cold. I meant a good idea of doing it after a bad day at work. Beating things with hammers is a fun way to spend time!

I will look you up this winter, as i'll probably be looking to off load it. You'll get it cheap. Possibly for a couple sixers. We'll see.

For now, it goes back on. Got more trails i want to do before i go to work on this beast, and need that baby covered. Thanks though.

 

Time to get some lift under that truck so you're not using that skid as much

 

thats the idea. Except it won't be lift. Lifting the guts. Not hard on a 4banger. waiting for dual to do it, so i can do it all at once.

 

If you lift the guts you may have to rework the front driveline CV.

http://www.4x4wire.com/toyota/tech/cvmod/

Not sure if you HAVE to but something to consider... ?

 

I don't think he's going to be lifting it that much - it IS still IFS after all, not like your going all the way down to a SFA.

 

doesn't matter as the dlines will be getting reworked anyway.

 

Off to find a press. Whacked the hell out of it with a hammer. Then put the entire weight of the front of the truck on it. Lifted both front wheels. Nothing. Flexed down, then right back to where it was. Suck.

 

You need a metal brake to bend it back correctly.

 

None of the brakes is have access to can bend more than 16ga.

Know a metal worker with a press. Going to drop it off with him along with some beer. See what happens.

 

Update.

It has been Ike fixed!

Got out the torch, cut it from both sides on the crease until there was only about 2 in left in the middle.

heated and bent it straight.

rewelded

ground it smooth.

welded 1/4" thick strap and 3/16" anle iron along the bottom. Should protect the bolt heads better now since i have hex head bolts.

Also cut a nice hole to use the drain plug.

 

Pics of the Fix:

 

I think you should let him know how great you think his product is.

new skid plate looks good.

 

Wow - how did you weld and grind that without lighting your carpet on fire?

 

Without lighting the carpet on fire? I just took the pictures where there was still existing carpet

Smartass.

As for contacting Bud, I'm not going to do that. I don't need to convince Bud that he has a good product. I don't think he'd sell them if he didn't. I think that convincing the YT community that his product is excellent is a better way of helping him out. More people will buy his stuff that way.