Project Southern X-Posure

[rswords]

It's been about 6 years since I've had a play toy so when a buddy offered up this 85 he just picked up I jumped on it.

85
305 SBC
TH350
NP205
Bed bobbed 14"
Welded rear
detroit in the front
rear springs up front and Chevy leafs in the rear
8k winch

Gotta get some decals made up...

When every weekend was ending this way the longfields came quick...

Comp cut the fenders

And got the cab gutted to put the cage in. 1.75" DOM

Got the GF to help out...

All loaded up and ready to head out to Chris at RockWorks Fab to get the Cage.

 

[rswords]

Got some 4xInovations tube doors and got them hit with some primmer to keep them from rusting up around all this salt water.

Also pulled some spare axle housings out the storage shed and took them to the shop to start the rebuild.

 

[rswords]

Cage is done. Kinda wishing I would have went through the dash but oh well. It will serve its purpose well!

 

[rswords]

Also picked up some used Crow harnesses for $50 for the set. Now just need to order some seats.

 

[rswords]

So took the truck to the shop to use the forklift to get some measurements for the front shocks. big flex.... like 7" total travel...
Also found out that the RUF's are not really rear springs... Who knows what they are so that gets added to the list to do. Here are some poser flex pics. The rear seams to be working well but the front sucks...
Front springs go negative pretty quick... Also shackle angle blows

 

[rswords]

Got Marlin Crawlers new Heavy Duty Knuckle Bracing Kit installed. Very nice kit, required minimal grinding to the axle housing. I really need to practice my welding more...

Got the old axle out of the truck with some help from the girlfriend and tore it all apart and cleaned it up.

 

[rswords]

That weekend we spent the weekend at Crozet, Had a blast! Broke the lock right first thing saturday, it would pull both tires fine in forward, nothing but clicking in reverse. Also sheared 5 of 6 hub studs sunday morning.

 

[rswords]

While working on putting a IFS rear in.... Found this

I thought I busted some teeth off when I broke the u-joint... Confirmed....
When I got the truck I knew that the frame was rusted out, a few to many wheeling trips finished it off...
Looks like a back half has moved up on the priority list...

 

[rswords]

So we move on to this pile....

Ruff Stuff Kit, 2"x.250" links, 2.5x18" kings...

Numbers

While its apart might as well pull the POS 305 and drop in a vartec 4.3... So I need a parts truck... This should do.

 

[rswords]

After being put on hold and back burner MANY times due to , life, funds, ect. I started the back half today. trying to keep it as compact as can be.

I loving this damn Baileigh Industrial RDB-050, Never bent tube before do nothing to compare to but this thing is smooth, easy to use, and fucking BEEF! Got the main bar bent up before work got in the way again today.

 

[rswords]

Spent a good bit of time trying to get a odd complicated notch figured out. Think I got it and once past that progress should move pretty quick.

`Here are a couple awesome skilled MS paint pictures to give you an Idea of the rest. I'll add more bracing then this but you can get the idea...

And as it sits today.
Coming along slow but steady. Provence came out and helped with the notching and head scratching.

 

[rswords]

Still plucking along!

Tossed a shock on real quick., with 8" of shaft showing it will fit perfect. That will give me 8" compression and 10" of drop.

the only problem I'm going to have is the driveshaft will go right through the crossmember/link mounts. Once I get dual cases/planetary box it will clear but until then I'm thinking about running a two piece rear shaft with a carrier bearing mounted on the link cross member. Thoughts?

 

[rswords]

Knocked it in half, not sure on the lines and if it will be strong enough. I'll add gussets but i'm not sure if I need more "main" tubes. Thoughts?

Frame conection

Also got the 4.3 cleaned up

 

[HAPPY]

I like the way the back turned out. Pretty cool.

 

[rswords]

Thanks, I've been trying to keep it compact as possible.

Got the axle cleaned up and the horse collar cross member cut out. Added some fish plates to the frame where the crossmember for the lower links will go.

 

[rswords]

got my crossmember for the lower links in and the upper link frame and axle mounts tacked in place before running out of wire. I will say the Baileigh bender made quick work of the 1.75 .250 wall DOM I used for the crossmember. I love that damn thing!

Also got some 39.5" Iroks bye-bye ring gears...

 

[rswords]

It moves!

Well if you push it it moves....

This is at 2" or 3" above ride hight.

 

[cgm147]

Looking good!


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[rswords]

Thanks

Found some time to pull it out and check clearance with the forklift. the shock is close to the tire under full compression, I think I will toss a spacer on the wheel.

Ride height-ish

Full droop

Full bump

Flexed about 36" under front tire

 

[rswords]

hhmmmm lets see....

Started mocking up the fuel cell. All pics are at full bump.

My cell is going to be right above my yoke. Having alreadt spent 3 days in a ICU burn unit I don't like the idea of sending u-joint parts into my fuel cell, so here is what I'm thinking. All 3/16 plate.

Now for mounting it. You can see my little "plate" template to the tube coming from the frame. Not sure if I'm going this way or not. The cell must come out through the bottom due to the design of the tube work.

Also made a Baller on a budget Nitrogen Fill setup for sub $150.

New 20CF tank off ebay $75
Used regulator off ebay $15
Aircraft tire chuck (no leak) $15
Hydro Hose from napa $35
Tank fill $15

Filled the shocks at lunch, works like a charm.

Then after work it was on of them nights.... Took 4.5 hours to put my relocation brackets on the front spring perches pushing the front axle 1.75" forward and mount two 39.5 Iroks. I remembered how much I hate fucking mounting tires by hand but at least the 35's are gone.

 

[ObeseFieldMouse]

That's a good looking build! I like the back half. I would find something lighter than 3/16 for you fuel cell protector. That would be hella heavy. Links will protect it from rocks etc, so all you have to worry about is u-joint failure. I'd make a frame out of 1"x1" square tube and cover it with sheet metal. To make it removable, just weld some little 3/16" tabs on the side of the tank skid frame that would bolt to a tab welded to the cage. Then its removable without a torch. Just a thought.

Keep it going!

 

[rswords]

That's a good looking build! I like the back half. I would find something lighter than 3/16 for you fuel cell protector. That would be hella heavy. Links will protect it from rocks etc, so all you have to worry about is u-joint failure. I'd make a frame out of 1"x1" square tube and cover it with sheet metal. To make it removable, just weld some little 3/16" tabs on the side of the tank skid frame that would bolt to a tab welded to the cage. Then its removable without a torch. Just a thought.

Keep it going!

Thanks, I'm real happy how its turning out.

I've sent u-joints parts through light gauge steel. Not in a crawler but I have done it in a pulling truck. Plus the drive shaft has a chance, not a big one, of making it through the links and into the cell when a u-joint goes. Plus 19x19 piece of plate is only 20ish pounds so I'm not to worried. It will be bolted in. I'm not 100% how I want to do it. Kinda want it to flow with the rest of the build.

 

[rswords]

Got started on the fuel cell mount/skid.... Ran out of damn wire....

 

[rswords]

Got an idea for the fuel cell mount that need some bent plate. So I made a quick press brake and tossed a 6" piece of 3/16 in it. Worked great

Got the frame tie in done, braced the receiver hitch in the rear (recovery point)

And tossed a drive shaft up to get an idea on what I have to do.... Gonna be tight. Only got about 24" or so ujoint center to ujoint center for the rear shaft. The Carrier bearing/pillow block will mount on the "blue" tube. The red tubes are support going from the lower link cross member up to the frame.

Also still trying to figure out how I want the lines to go for the rest of the tube.... What y'all think of this?

 

[ORV design and fab]

How close is the airshock to the blue tape. Not sure how much that shock rotates when that side drops and moves closer to the inside. But seems to have good strength. I'm wanting to do airshocks on mine. How much do you think you have $ into 4 linking the rear and that whole setup. Looks awesome tho. looking forward to seeing the finished product.