U-bolts, tow hooks

[tsm1@domain.elided (Tom Mandera)]

In light of the recent U-bolt saga (and my quest to find my clunk)..

Last night I installed some new tow-hooks on my '77, in preparation for this
winter.  While I was under there, I popped my torque wrench on the rear
U-bolts (did the front when I had the hub apart.. ONE was to spec), and
found *again*, that only ONE of my *REAR* U-bolts was to spec (180lbs?).  I
rechecked a few of my front bolts, and they each needed one or two good
shoves with the wrench to "click" at 180lbs.

I know the previous owner had swapped axles under this beast (and that 196
in..), and I'm assuming he re-used the bolts.  I don't know if he tightened
the bolts to spec, but only two or three of all 16 U-bolt nuts were to spec.
And some on the rear (can't remember the front) were WAY out of spec..
enough that my arm got tired from me laying on my back under the truck,
working the torque wrench over and over..

Tow-hooks:

On the front, I put longer Grade-8 bolts to replace the carriage bolts on
the front bumper.. note that I also have my SmittyBilt Bumper Thumper up
front, too.

I ran the bolt through the bumper thumper / bumper / mount then, on the
bottom, right through the *last* hole in the tow hooks, then tightened up.
I now have two tow hooks up front, hook up, inside the Bumper Thumper
uprights, just in front of the stock chrome bumper.

In back, I have the factory step-bumper, so I just removed one of the
horizontal mounting bolts (holds the step bumper to the mounting flange
which is then bolted to the frame), replaced with a longer Grade 8 part, and
put it through the *center* hole of the Tow hook.. on the rear, the hooks
are horizontal, with the "hook" facing outwards.

My $.02 for the day.. 

-Tom Mandera,  Helena, MT
http://www.tmcom.com/~tsm1/scout
'72 and '77 Scout IIs