Have you body-lifted a sport trac?

[brianjwilson]

Good! Maybe you can help me out then
Finished the body lift tonight, everything is back on and looks good! I did notice that the A/C line rested on the the tensioner pulley, so it is held back by a few zip ties until I find a more permanent solution.
Anyway, on to my problem...
I can't seem to get the front 'outer' bumper sitting right. All six 'tabs' on the header panel are pushed through, the bumper is generally on straight, except of the rear most part where is 'sliders onto the fender. The tab is slid over the little knob, and the bolt in front of it was started, but doesn't go all the way in now. It stops at about halfway (both sides), and I'm 97% sure that is is the right bolt, I remember it being really long on the way out. So it won't go all the way in, and there is a gap between the lower bumper and the fender (small, less than 1/4").
Maybe someone knows a trick to getting it on right? Or should I just take the bolt out at the hardware store and get a shorter one, and call it a day?
Also, what have you all done to hide the new bumper brackets and stuff up front?
Thanks,
Brian

edit - I'll try to get some pictures tomorrow

 

[John_Rock]

Also, what have you all done to hide the new bumper brackets and stuff up front?

black paint???

 

[John_Rock]

I don't remember having problems with those bolts. At least not that day. They have eventually broken on me. I think I have zipties in there now.

If I recall, it was a bit of a pain to get the front facia on. Those bumper lift brackets pushed the front reinforcement bar(I call it bumper, but my insurance buddy says its called a reinforcement bar) out more.

Here's my day after picture.

But maybe about a month later I cut off the lower portions of the front facia and the reinforcement bar.

It's up to you on how much you are willing to cut off or modify.

Yeah, that A/C line will get cut through by the harmonic balancer if you don't secure it down. I used some universal muffler bracket attached to the bracket that holds the power steering fluid cooler. I will see if I can find a picture of it.

 

[John_Rock]

My home made bracket to hold down the A/C line from the harmonic balancer.

 

[brianjwilson]

Cool, thanks John. I've been contemplating removing the lower half of the outer bumper in favor of a 'half' tube bumper. Maybe I'll just get shorter bolts for the side pieces, lol.