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Project 80: Codename Grey Ghost
- Thread starter Chris
- Start date
Very light Gary. Not a great deal more than the 2 fibreboard things that I took off. Not really planning on it being needed but stuff can get flicked up and ruin your day so knowing your underparts are protected is good. And it really wasn't expensive. Not for what it is and how well it fits.
Weekend coming and you just know that will bring an update. Slow progress though at the minute with other things going on, bad weather, setting up computers for MIL and now some rather urgent repairs to my off roader. Doh.
But I am smiling now as Postie popped round today with this little baby from Blue Sea Systems. Resettable too. I just wanted a little bank of switches. Well everyone has to have a little bank of switches don't they? Lighting, water pumps, fridge, 12v sockets, inverter, USB charger, compressors ...
Hang on. 1,2,3 .... Oh bugger.
It has a -ve and +ve bus so connection will be nice and easy. I picked up a neat Albright solenoid to cut power to the inverter too so that I don't need to use the on off switch on the unit itself. Do I really need an inverter? Weeeeeeellllll, I've got one so it's going in and that's that.
But I am smiling now as Postie popped round today with this little baby from Blue Sea Systems. Resettable too. I just wanted a little bank of switches. Well everyone has to have a little bank of switches don't they? Lighting, water pumps, fridge, 12v sockets, inverter, USB charger, compressors ...
Hang on. 1,2,3 .... Oh bugger.
It has a -ve and +ve bus so connection will be nice and easy. I picked up a neat Albright solenoid to cut power to the inverter too so that I don't need to use the on off switch on the unit itself. Do I really need an inverter? Weeeeeeellllll, I've got one so it's going in and that's that.
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OOoooo Matron!!!!
It's 110 x 160 and it's a PERFECT fit on the little side wing of the African Outback drawers. I was going to put it in the inner rear wing plastic panel but the end of the drawers is tooo perfect to pass up. It's a DO5 according to the sticker on the back. They do a 12 gang too, but honestly, 6 is enough. I can run a small fuse board without switches if I needed an extension. I could spit the BUS if I needed to and have some switches only live with the ign if I wanted.
It's 110 x 160 and it's a PERFECT fit on the little side wing of the African Outback drawers. I was going to put it in the inner rear wing plastic panel but the end of the drawers is tooo perfect to pass up. It's a DO5 according to the sticker on the back. They do a 12 gang too, but honestly, 6 is enough. I can run a small fuse board without switches if I needed an extension. I could spit the BUS if I needed to and have some switches only live with the ign if I wanted.
Bristol at the moment Gary. Wrong end of the M4 really. I fancy that Paul is lining up to collect it from there and take it to ...... Not sure yet. Depends what he's back hauling I think.
Many thanks but don't think you'll be able to help on this occasion.
Damn isn't this just the best forum ever?
Many thanks but don't think you'll be able to help on this occasion.
Damn isn't this just the best forum ever?
Gary820
Well-Known Member
No worries, yeah bit far down the M4 without a big diversion!
Enough about transporting fridges do some work and take some more pics
OK so first, the things that went really well.
I popped the switches out so I could mark where to cut
Cut out the end wing panel to mount the Blue Sea switches in. Fine.
Mounted the panel.
Moved the -ve BUS with some piggy back connectors so that I can use a proper crimp connections on the wires from the appliances. I have one of those roll crimp tools which makes factory style connections. You won't find any of those horrid little insulated crimps on anything of mine!
Looks nice. Even the current Wife approved.
Then I decided to fit my headlight loom upgrade. It was really warm and sunny so why not.
Ran it under the front trim so it was out of the way.
Then mounted the relays and tidied up the excess cable.
Sorted.
Then onto the stuff that didn't go as well and I wish I hadn't started.
On a whim I decided to fit my new winch. That was a mistake. I didn't plan to do it, I just figured I was bored and would do it on impulse.
The Come Up really is very very nicely made and beautifully finished and comes cabled up with 50mm not the usual 35mm.
The bolts holding the end on where the free spool sits are stainless. There are proper gaskets in all the joints too. So, in my impatience, the first thing I did was rotate the Freespool. That was OK then I tried to drop the winch in. With the steel rope on, inevitably it got away from me and I dropped the bloody thing. Then I scraped half the coating off the bumper and bashed the winch again. I decided to pull the cable off. This had me going halfway down the road outside dragging the rope off against the friction of the drum. That nearly killed me. Then I tried to get the winch back into the bumper only to find it WOULDN'T fit. The ARB bumper has angled plates inside which mean that the gearbox and motor hit the inside of the mount. The winch mounts feet first in there but that doesn't make a difference really. I considered trying to fit a winch tray but in the end opted to make some spacers out of thick bar to stand the feet off the mounting points.
Success. Got some longer bolts and after a battle with ratchet straps got the damn thing bolted in. Then I noticed the little specks of rust starting on the ARB bumper. Jeez, what a crap quality finish. The paint must be porous.
Then I had to find some way to mount the solenoid.
But more on that tomorrow. Maybe. Grrr
I popped the switches out so I could mark where to cut
Cut out the end wing panel to mount the Blue Sea switches in. Fine.
Mounted the panel.
Moved the -ve BUS with some piggy back connectors so that I can use a proper crimp connections on the wires from the appliances. I have one of those roll crimp tools which makes factory style connections. You won't find any of those horrid little insulated crimps on anything of mine!
Looks nice. Even the current Wife approved.
Then I decided to fit my headlight loom upgrade. It was really warm and sunny so why not.
Ran it under the front trim so it was out of the way.
Then mounted the relays and tidied up the excess cable.
Sorted.
Then onto the stuff that didn't go as well and I wish I hadn't started.
On a whim I decided to fit my new winch. That was a mistake. I didn't plan to do it, I just figured I was bored and would do it on impulse.
The Come Up really is very very nicely made and beautifully finished and comes cabled up with 50mm not the usual 35mm.
The bolts holding the end on where the free spool sits are stainless. There are proper gaskets in all the joints too. So, in my impatience, the first thing I did was rotate the Freespool. That was OK then I tried to drop the winch in. With the steel rope on, inevitably it got away from me and I dropped the bloody thing. Then I scraped half the coating off the bumper and bashed the winch again. I decided to pull the cable off. This had me going halfway down the road outside dragging the rope off against the friction of the drum. That nearly killed me. Then I tried to get the winch back into the bumper only to find it WOULDN'T fit. The ARB bumper has angled plates inside which mean that the gearbox and motor hit the inside of the mount. The winch mounts feet first in there but that doesn't make a difference really. I considered trying to fit a winch tray but in the end opted to make some spacers out of thick bar to stand the feet off the mounting points.
Success. Got some longer bolts and after a battle with ratchet straps got the damn thing bolted in. Then I noticed the little specks of rust starting on the ARB bumper. Jeez, what a crap quality finish. The paint must be porous.
Then I had to find some way to mount the solenoid.
But more on that tomorrow. Maybe. Grrr
Oh dear Chris, looks like you'll be the next one complaining about ARB front bumpers' effin useless protection coating. I'm the only one I've seen complaining, thought it was me. We'll see. Sorry you scratched the winch though, that does look a beauty.
I had to make some 12mm square bar spacers to go between the winch and the bumper to get it to fit far enough back not to foul where the bumper flares back. Who designs a winch bumper without some research as to what winches will fit (and the plethora that don't)
Mines a superwinch needing spacers. Yours is a come-up needing spacers. In fact I don't know of a winch that fits without spacers... sorry, not friends with ARB anymore...
I had to make some 12mm square bar spacers to go between the winch and the bumper to get it to fit far enough back not to foul where the bumper flares back. Who designs a winch bumper without some research as to what winches will fit (and the plethora that don't)
Mines a superwinch needing spacers. Yours is a come-up needing spacers. In fact I don't know of a winch that fits without spacers...
sorry, not friends with ARB anymore...
Scott
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Mar 17, 2010
- Messages
- 1,046
The switch panel install fits very nicely in there Chris, neat work as always. Yes, the angled sides of the ARB bumper mean you need spacers to mount low mount winches, annoying when you think that they would have designed it to take a winch as is, seeing as it's a winch bumper!
Winches are indeed very heavy with the steel rope on, even for a man of your muscular build! Seeing as the ARB is a feet forward mounting position it makes it even harder to get the winch bolted into position, but as you know, once bolted in it makes for a better spread of the forces through the winch and winch mount, when taking it to the limit.
ARB seem to like designing their kit so that you have to buy additional 'bits' to make it do what you expected it to do out of the box, especially at the asking price. The coating on their kit has always been fragile, and not very resistant to corrosion, a definate area where they could improve their product.
Trucks really taking shape, I look forward to seeing it in the fleash.
Winches are indeed very heavy with the steel rope on, even for a man of your muscular build! Seeing as the ARB is a feet forward mounting position it makes it even harder to get the winch bolted into position, but as you know, once bolted in it makes for a better spread of the forces through the winch and winch mount, when taking it to the limit.
ARB seem to like designing their kit so that you have to buy additional 'bits' to make it do what you expected it to do out of the box, especially at the asking price. The coating on their kit has always been fragile, and not very resistant to corrosion, a definate area where they could improve their product.
Trucks really taking shape, I look forward to seeing it in the fleash.
Scott
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Mar 17, 2010
- Messages
- 1,046
All low mount winches will need spacers, I think the Warn 8274 fits without spacers.Mines a superwinch needing spacers. Yours is a come-up needing spacers. In fact I don't know of a winch that fits without spacers...
Thanks boys. So I am not going mental then. I have fitted a fair few winches and never had to resort to this trick. So ARB stands for Another Right Balls-up?
I shall speak to the guys who import Come Up. I really am in a very bad mood now given the scratches and scrapes on the winch. I shall spray some lacquer on there.
I got a rope at the show last week for a very very good price. I won't mention how much or the adverts for very cheap ropes will start pouring in. But it was good. I'd rather put the synthetic on there and save the weight.
I shall speak to the guys who import Come Up. I really am in a very bad mood now given the scratches and scrapes on the winch. I shall spray some lacquer on there.
I got a rope at the show last week for a very very good price. I won't mention how much or the adverts for very cheap ropes will start pouring in. But it was good. I'd rather put the synthetic on there and save the weight.
It's the first thing I did with mine. The original wire rope is still hanging in the shed after 6 years! A virgin wire that's never been pulled
Gary820
Well-Known Member
Nice and tidy, agree about the wiring connectors make a much nicer job, all we use at work even to join wires where necessary (not allowed to solder)
Shame about the winch sure with a splash of paint it'll still have a better finish then a goldfish tds!
Shame about the winch sure with a splash of paint it'll still have a better finish then a goldfish tds!
The Goldfish takes a lickin' and keeps on tickin' but the finish is poor I agree. I have told David. But the parts are readily available to keep them running. It's always a compromise. But why? I have seen the CU winch in action and I was impressed. So much so I bought one.
