Builds 97 on 40s Expo Build

[mudgudgeon]

Curious, with the 3 link, would there be room for the top link to go on the other side, i.e. from the left frame rail?
What would be the limitation in terms of physical space?

 

[ExpoMax]

Curious, with the 3 link, would there be room for the top link to go on the other side, i.e. from the left frame rail?
What would be the limitation in terms of physical space?

Yeah you could do it that way. @Apounder did it like that. Based on what I saw when I was doing it you can get a little more link separation mounting it how I did. But you definitely have options.

 

[joez]

Yeah you could do it that way. @Apounder did it like that. Based on what I saw when I was doing it you can get a little more link separation mounting it how I did. But you definitely have options.

How much link separation do you have at each end?

 

[ExpoMax]

How much link separation do you have at each end?

I started with nine, but ended up with like 7.75” if I remember right. Definitely not as much as I’d like, but been fine so far. I never even measured at the frame. I’ll measure that later today.

 

[ExpoMax]

Leaving for Moab Thursday so Iv been doing a ton to the truck.

• Finished up the driver side rocker chop
• Braced my Panhard after finding out it was totally cracked.
• Made some rear diff armor
• Replaced power steering fluid
• Replaced a few old tranny lines
• Replaced rear heater hose lines
• Replaced front shock bushings
• Made some coil retainers
• Fixed some welds on the rear bumper
• Painted some links
• Loaded all my gear in the truck

In the process of wiring up some amber lights, painting rear bumper, finishing passenger rocker chop and buttoning up some stuff on the interior.

 

[GW Nugget]

That's quite a extensive list...

 

[2fpower]

Can you post up pics of the rocker chop and your inner fender chopping. I have a bunch to do for The FOO. Portals have much bigger swing, so CHOP, CHOP.

Thanks,

 

[Nay]

• Braced my Panhard after finding out it was totally cracked.View attachment 1668233

That’s really interesting that the panhard mount cracked especially given it is braced to the other frame rail.

Seems more like torsional stress?

 

[mudgudgeon]

That’s really interesting that the panhard mount cracked especially given it is braced to the other frame rail.

Seems more like torsional stress?

not entirely unheard of.

@ExpoMax If you haven't already, check around the steering box for cracks in the frame also

 

[richardlillard1]

That’s really interesting that the panhard mount cracked especially given it is braced to the other frame rail.

Seems more like torsional stress?

not entirely unheard of.

@ExpoMax If you haven't already, check around the steering box for cracks in the frame also

I’ve cracked it twice. Pretty sure the next time it goes will start to rip the steering box off the frame like some of the Aussies I’ve heard about.

 

[ExpoMax]

not entirely unheard of.

@ExpoMax If you haven't already, check around the steering box for cracks in the frame also

I gave everything a pretty good visual check, and the only thing cracked or that showed any stress was that Panhard bracket.

That’s really interesting that the panhard mount cracked especially given it is braced to the other frame rail.

Seems more like torsional stress?

I was pretty surprised. My dad said he checked it a few weeks ago and it was fine. Also weird because all I have been doing lately is commuting so it must of cracked on the street. Only thing that has changed lately is the 3link and the fact the axle is pushed forward 2in. But I don’t see how that could add a lot of stress to the panhard.

 

[Nay]

I gave everything a pretty good visual check, and the only thing cracked or that showed any stress was that Panhard bracket.

I was pretty surprised. My dad said he checked it a few weeks ago and it was fine. Also weird because all I have been doing lately is commuting so it must of cracked on the street. Only thing that has changed lately is the 3link and the fact the axle is pushed forward 2in. But I don’t see how that could add a lot of stress to the panhard.

View attachment 1669210

I wonder if it’s the axle being forward 2” - that moves the panhard off its perpendicular plane so there is now force at an angle other than pure lateral where it is braced. Could also be entirely coincidental.

I’d think it started when wheeling, although it seems unlikely that you are maxing out joint travel. Are you using heims on both ends?

 

[NateMob]

I’d think it started when wheeling, although it seems unlikely that you are maxing out joint travel. Are you using heims on both ends?

If you are referring to his panhard bar it has oem style rubber bushings in it. I think the front end stretch is a likely candidate along with the extreme amounts of flex now on tap because of the 3 link. Hopefully the extensive bracing prevents any future issues.

Looking good Max!

 

[ExpoMax]

I wonder if it’s the axle being forward 2” - that moves the panhard off its perpendicular plane so there is now force at an angle other than pure lateral where it is braced. Could also be entirely coincidental.

I’d think it started when wheeling, although it seems unlikely that you are maxing out joint travel. Are you using heims on both ends?

Yeah I have Johnny joints on every end of the links, so I am definitely not maxing anything out. But good point @NateMob made. Having a lot more flex than stock will undoubtedly put more force on the panard. Hopefully won’t run into any other issues! Maybe not a bad idea to switch to a panard with heims or similar......or I should probably just move the axle back an 1”

 

[ExpoMax]

Something new I also got done yesterday! Finally finished my interior build. All the cabinets are on and all the wires are cleaned up. Probably stain the floor later down the road.

 

[NateMob]

But good point @NateMob made. Having a lot more flex than stock will undoubtedly put more force on the panard. Hopefully won’t run into any other issues! Maybe not a bad idea to switch to a panard with heims or similar......or I should probably just move the axle back an 1”

I'd keep the rubber bushed panhard and move the axle back an inch if it wont cause any rubbing issues. The extra cushion and isolation from the rubber is a very real benefit in my eyes.

 

[richardlillard1]

I gave everything a pretty good visual check, and the only thing cracked or that showed any stress was that Panhard bracket.


I was pretty surprised. My dad said he checked it a few weeks ago and it was fine. Also weird because all I have been doing lately is commuting so it must of cracked on the street. Only thing that has changed lately is the 3link and the fact the axle is pushed forward 2in. But I don’t see how that could add a lot of stress to the panhard.

View attachment 1669210

Yep, that’s exactly where mine cracked the first time. Globbed a bunch of weld on it and then this happened a year later.

 

[nukegoat]

No hydro assist and large wheel spacers / scrub radius puts a lot of load into the panhard bar.

I also suspect whoever programmed the robotic welder in the 90s burned those in too hot or something. Seems to be a lot of stress failures for folks there.

 

[ExpoMax]

Got back to Colorado from this recent Moab trip late last night. 3-link was awesome, but definitely need to figure out side hill stability. Hoping once I get better shocks that are actually valved for the 80 that’ll help some. But ideally need to figure out some sort of sway bar for the front that isn’t going to cost me a ton.

Did a lot of the fun harder lines I hadn’t tried before on this trip. Ended up running Hells revenge, Poison spider, Golden spike, Gold bar rim and some stuff at area BFE.

Consequences:

• Another scratch on the pass quarter panel from escalator on Hells revenge
• Twisted the spines on the steering box from trying the big boy line up above golden crack.
• Bent my passenger rear link badly and somehow managed to already bend my driver side 2”x.25” DOM link on the front!
• Also added more bend into my already bent tierod so now my links hit that just turning.
• Lastly my front fenders are now all wavy from desert racing the sh*t outa the truck. 3link is so much fun on the fast baja crap.

I was horrible with pictures this trip, but luckily I was with lots of people who were taking some! More to come for sure....really pushed the truck this trip and overall really happy with how it performed.

Only picture I have currently:

P.S say hi to Michael and his kid

 

[ExpoMax]

Little more mickeys action: