" REPLICATION "
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They say that "Replication is the purest form of Flattery" - So let's try it with my JEEP
How about tossing in a little "first-year flair" to the 00' TJ Wrangler?

HOW you say? - EASY.. Just remove some plastic !
( Sorry this page is loaded with pictures )

Cleanup of the frame-rails out front started with a wash from the hose after the bumper was removed.
( Both bumper end plastic-things were retaining mud inside the bumper rail )
It was then allowed to dry in the Sun - Then sanded and painted in FLAT-BLACK

The rust is not bad but let's remove what we can and get it all in FLAT BLACK fast !

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Not bad on this side either...

Again but from the front...

This is my "Replication" - Simply remove all the plastic stuff OFF of the front bumper.. Sand and paint it in Military GREEN

Add a large hook that has been on a shelf in the Garage rusting away ( Because you have one and its FREE ! )

Put the factory hook back on the other side (since you only have one of the larger units)

Step back and take a picture before painting the OEM Hook... ( or bolting it down for that matter )

Try the plate on the bumper... ( I think it looks really stupid with no supports )
NOTE: Hook is painted and now bolted-IN...

Another shot...

I think the Bumper itself look great considering the Sahara is also GREEN but it needs some Rope wrapped around it in the midde and a better location  for the license plate... - More? ADD some stenciled ID numbers on the passengers side front in the STENCIL FONT in YELLOW like any AMMO-CAN have had on them since the beginning ( like most Vintage JEEP's had )

The larger Hook looks good here.. The originals were OK but this one was on the shelf calling my name... 10 minutes ago it was a block of rust. But the rust helped in a way as it flaked-off all the original chrome it "once had" - Me? I sand-blasted it to bare steel then primered and painted it in GREEN...

Just by removing the plastic and adding a little paint we have a Military-looking bumper like the 1943 I drove a few weeks back at my cousin's daughters Graduation Party.. - COST ? Just $12 Bucks ! ( The spray-bomb paint cost me $6 a can )

Everything is now painted and awaiting the new license-plate frame to be bolted-up on the drivers side ( Let's go make that one now )

like I said earlier... The license-plate was just "floating" and I bent it once at the Car-wash.. So it was it dire-need of a beefy bracket.. After not finding anything at the store that impressed me I decided to first make the backing support and worry about a cover of sorts that is Military-Relative later on... Say MARINES? ( My Dad's the Vietnam Marine, and a great-great Uncle raised the Flag at Iwojima ) - Rene' Gagnon

Now that's a WELD !!!... ( Small tube welded to the drivers end seen below ) This new bracket overall is 12-1/4" wide by 6-1/4" tall. - Holes were marked and drilled using the original AMMOMAN plate and a Sharpie Marker on all  four corners to insure that it was marked, pin-punched and drilled corretcly...- Up the side is a scrap of square steel I had that is to serve a purpose.. ( I'll show you later on when its mounted ) - The picture below shows you how small the added tube is that goes UP the right side of the frame... ( Bear with me now.. You might actually LIKE IT ) -  This picture show's a more realistic view of the MILITARY GREEN I went with...

I have another idea to ADD something but it wont happen until I get some of them from the AMMOMAN himself... I also have a hand-grenade (diffused) thats just got to go SOMEWHERE on the JEEP.. But where? ( NO not as a shifter.. Sorry ) I also have a grenade canister from the Junkyard thats round and REAL...

That's it for now.... Tune in tomorrow night when I add pics when the plate is mounted....