[pwnzor]

Very nice, you got the Hard Dog along with an actual dog. 🐶

Yep, the passenger seat mostly sits in my office so Addi can have the fluffy cushions that she likes on the floor. In this case, it's actually half covered by a dog bed from Costco, and the other half is an actual cushion from her couch in my bedroom. Yes, she has her own sectional couch.

 

[pwnzor]

 

[DrFries]

You still have storage space, but the bin doors have to come off.

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This last photo is obviously the passenger side, same thing on the other side behind the battery. It's a pretty involved job to install this thing, super glad I didn't try it myself.

Holes have to be cut underneath the car, and welded shut again
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Your third photo where you show the bracket behind the alternator. That bracket should be behind the seats facing the inside of the cubbies. The reason I bring it up is because the plate that should go there doesn't need to push up the seam on your firewall like it did. Where the bolts that go on the inside of the cubbies installed? I don't know how you would have installed them without those plates.

 

[pwnzor]

That bracket should be behind the seats facing the inside of the cubbies.

You're saying that this bracket should be inside the car?

Here's what's inside the car at that location. Fits perfectly, nothing pushing up any seams

 

[DrFries]

Yeah those two backing plates go behind the seat in the cubby area.

Here is a photo in the hole I'm pointing to.

The ones in the engine bay don't have captive nuts and only have three holes.

I just bought my bar so maybe they changed the design?

 

[Tayxas]

Yeah those two backing plates go behind the seat in the cubby area.
...
I just bought my bar so maybe they changed the design?

When I installed mine a year ago it was like yours. Either they sent the wrong plate or OP is using the wrong plate in that location.

 

[pwnzor]

There were "extra" pieces in my bag of parts when I bought the rollbar. I peeked inside that hole, there's some kind of backing plate in there as well, but I can't see very well inside.

I know my installer spent time cutting sheet metal and welding it back shut from underneath when the work was being done and no parts were left over.... so.... there we go.

 

[DrFries]

There were "extra" pieces in my bag of parts when I bought the rollbar. I peeked inside that hole, there's some kind of backing plate in there as well, but I can't see very well inside.

I know my installer spent time cutting sheet metal and welding it back shut from underneath when the work was being done and no parts were left over.... so.... there we go.

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Good to hear that it sounds like it was just a different part that was shipped!

As for your installer welding in those cuts that was the one thing that I wish I was able to do. I cut flaps underneath squirted in expanding foam and then bent the flaps back. After that I put aluminum tape over the whole thing and covered it in rubber under-coating. A good weld would have been so much cleaner and would have lasted a lot longer.

I just did my first drive with it yesterday. I was surprised with the amount of squeaks and rattles disappeared when it was finally installed. Even bumps on the road feel less harsh. I saw someone say that the car was less 'crashy' when going over bumps and I totally agree.

I see that you have Phat's breastplate installed and I actually have one in the box waiting to be installed. I think tonight might be the night for that one!

 

[pwnzor]

Some noises went away, but others have emerged. Partly because I have poly motor mounts now, so there are new vibrations everywhere. The car definitely hooks up in a more positive fashion, but then I went and blew a tire and had to buy cheapo tires that were available in the middle of nowhere.

I'm not one to waste a set of tires, so I raised the coilovers 2.5 inches to get enough clearance and now I feel like I'm driving a Subaru. Taking it to the mountains tomorrow, we'll see how these all-weathers handle on Blood Mountain.