Builds Big Green Buffalo Build Thread (2 Viewers)

[eimkeith]

This thing is too cool.

One question regarding that chopping of the front fenders, i want to do it to mine but am worried having all that sheet metal removed and batteries on each inner guard will affect that strength and possibly collapse?

terrible spots for batteries, anyway, IMO. - way too much weight cantilevered on sheet metal for offroading.

 

[jcardona1]

thanks

There is plenty of sheet metal under and on 2 sides of each battery. I dont think there will be any risk of batteries bending or deforming that sheet metal under their own weight. There is no vertical wall below the battery bottoms anymore, but i cant imagine any senecio where that would be a problem.

Buy cutting out the inner finders and most of the radiator support the structural integrity of the front clip has definitely been compromised.
To what extent only time and wheeling will tell.

Cheers

It'll definitely crack. Mine already has. Maybe not directly under the batteries, but the entire front valance will need repair at some point. Here you can see where mine separated. @nukegoat did a nice repair job on his with additional bracing. I tried to fix mine with a few strips of metal ugly-welded to the front clip.

 

[nukegoat]

They crack even when not cut up. Toyota fail

 

[MrMikeyG]

I want to see a picture of the top secret fabrication area at that Lexus dealership.
Nice work all around @Wermz

 

[Wermz]

Okay, maybe ill keep an eye on that spot after all..

 

[WickedPickle]

Just fab something then you have a few buyers already lined up for the fox.

 

[Wermz]

Truck is broken, more on that later.

While im working on fixing the broke stuff i did big boy steering. Heres a few pictures. You can find many more pictures and some technical info contributed by a handful of members. Yes ill move the panhard bar..

High steer, slee vs hellfire, Hydro assist.

This may be long winded but i have a hard time finding a great thread on all of this information. Id love for this to become the @GW Nugget shock/spring thread, but for all things high steering setups. Here we go. Ok, i know theres a couple of you with slee high steer arms on your knuckles, and...

forum.ih8mud.com

 

[Wermz]

Tossed on my steering stabilizer and my painted spare tire, gonna paint the rest one by one as they get rotated in and out.

 

[Wermz]

Okay big update.

For the last few weeks, the truck has been undrivable. A couple of the rear suspension bushings were completely worn out, causing a fantastic Tokyo drift feeling when braking or accelerating as the rear axle moved forward and back, effectively rear steering the truck. After some research, parts shopping, advice from a couple guys, i came up with a bullet proof, adjustable, and fully flexible solution.

 

[Wermz]

These are 2” dom .25” wall, 1” heim with 1.25” threaded shank. Heavy bevel, root pass mig, fat cover pass and ground out any flaws and covered again for maximum strength. I talked with @jcardona1 about heims a while back, he was very helpful. He recommended FKf1 heims, i could not find them anywhere until one place had 6 in stock, i needed 8. I went the available and cheaper route with barnes4wd magnum heims. Maybe ill pay for that later, but for now the truck is back on the road and soon to be back on the trail.

 

[Wermz]

I had to take .170” out of 16 misalignment spacers to make them fit inside the factory mounting. Thats why i went heims over johnny joints.

 

[Wermz]

All grade 8 hardware bolts, washers, and nuts, about $300 just in hardware alone. Drilled all mounting holes to 3/4” for larger bolts, made sure the shuolder goes all the way through so we’re not riding on threads, very important! Had to open up the upper arm frame side mount to allow room for the arm itself, took as little as possible.

 

[Wermz]

Got it aligned, set wheel base, pinion angle, and thrust angle. Im surprised how well it aligned actually, this was the first time on the machine with the new steering too. I had to make it look foolish to do it properly. Haha

 

[WickedPickle]

I’ll need to hear more about this soon to be back on the trail. Nice fabrication and paint. The one wheel looks sick. Nicely done.

 

[Wermz]

 

[Wermz]

 

[WickedPickle]

I now know what my rig is missing....a big city off road sticker!

 

[Wermz]

I agree. I have 2 left, but im gonna order a new batch soon

 

[WickedPickle]

next time it comes in let's work something out

 

[Wermz]

Ive been painting wheels as well as other things..