While our camera was under the XJ's back end, we shot one of the finished Fabtech rear bumpstops.
The race Jeep will use these Fabtech Dirt Logic remote reservoir shocks in conjunction with Skyjacker 6-inch-lift coils. The front shocks are 10 inches long, the rears are 14 inches long; both have 2 1/2-inch-diameter shock bodies. One trick feature: LaFortune had Fabtech engrave the shocks with his "TMR" logo.
Daniel Demonteverde (left) and Karl Armbrust modify the stock front bumper so it will fit onto the XJ behind the brush bars. The bumper mounts are made of mild steel, not chromoly (which the rest of the cage is built from). That way, if they get hit, they'll fold or crush and not do more damage by being shoved backward into the engine bay.
This was the day we really started to see fatigue take its toll on all the guys, not just poor Armbrust. Everyone was moving slower, and jobs were taking longer. Next month: Will they finish in time?