Builds Build up: Rusty Mustard (1 Viewer)

[Tapage]

dude .. awesome proyect and huge improvements for your cruiser .. so one question why use a mini truck axle and not the Cruiser axle . ?

 

[Isotel]

I made a Mini truck/Cruiser Hybrid Axle.. It uses Minitruck Shafts and the outer parts of the mini housing, and uses the Cruiser Center section of the housing, and a Cruiser 3rd member.
https://forum.ih8mud.com/showpost.php?p=986585&postcount=9

Although if i was to do it all over again, i would not hesitate to put in a stock Mini truck Axle. Id keep the Drums(that way i would have a parking brake), and the minitruck 3rds hold up to alot of abuse.. Gears are cheaper, and spare parts easier to come by, plus you get a bit more ground clearance..

thanks for the compliments guys, i have alot more work do do Before Cruise Moab!

 

[Isotel]

Skid Plate

This weekend i got some time in on the cruiser.. i got a little 110 welder and this is what i came up with.. The frame is made from 3/16" flat stock, and the bottom is 1/8" sheet.. its still light enughf that my Skinny ass can put it in by myself

The Rear is 2" square tubing that i will attach to the frame with a couple of more bolts, it will make a good spot for my wrap bar to attach to!

the square part in the rear is where the t-case hangs low

 

[Isotel]

this is how it attaches to the frame, w/stock mounting bolts

It sits 1" below the frame
the little gussets should help protect the mounting bolts from getting taken out

ignore the booger welds..

 

[awp_cruiser]

Good idea! The flat bottom is sweet.

You might want to put in a cross bracing between the ribs. Those will want to fold over if there is much pressure on them. Simply add a strip across the top and tack in place on each rib to keep them from buckling. Will make that much stronger while it might add 1 pound overall...

And drainage, poke a few holes for water to drain...

 

[Isotel]

thanks, good ideas on the drain and cross support!

 

[awp_cruiser]

Your welcome. Hope you don't mind when you see a similar creation under my rig!

Andy

 

[camcruiser13]

nice work on this

 

[fyresq]

thanx for sharing this buildup with us - it has answered a few of my long sought questions.........I have a 89 donor truck with a new gm crate 350 mated to the 700r4 and have been wanting to swap it but have limited fab skills but with your thread and some pro help I may be able to pull it off. Any regrets with your setup?

 

[Isotel]

Any regrets with your setup?

I wish i had 4.88 or 5.28 gears.. both on the street and offroad

The Lokar Shifter SUCKS.. id rather have an Art Carr or somthing, still have issue with it, it wont go into 1st gear

Hope you don't mind when you see a similar creation under my rig!
Andy

not at all!

 

[Man Jerk]

Looks good Trev. Sorry I couldn't make it over but I was elbow deep in a stupid car all weekend.

 

[bustanutley]

looks good but why 1/8"? If you land on that thing once and it is going to be f-ed

the stiffeners should help a lot but still

 

[ksigkrawler]

i love the flat belly. i got hung up on my t-case guard pretty bad at roundup. the truck looks awesome

 

[Isotel]

Thanks guys, its getting there..

Nutley, I almost went 3/16", i guess time will tell.. As long as my Tranny/t-case are protected im happy..

a Bit of Progress..

I found a new PS Box - 4 turn this time around.. Rebuilt it and Taped it for Hydro Assist.. Put Plugs in for now.. but when i decide i need it all i need to do is pull the plugs and connect the lines..

All my parts are in for my Wrap Bar.. just need to build it..

I finaly sourced a Door and have everything i need to fix the tub on the passenger side!

Should be getting access to a plasma cutter this weekend so i can chop out the bad section and the rear sill..

 

[Isotel]

Wrap Bar

pretty basic, i used 2" square tube, 3/16" wall..
3 bushings, an axle bracket, and a Flex Joint.. - from Ballisticfab

i made the shackle with some 2" flat stock i had.. 9/16" bolts

the flex joint attaches to the rear of the skid plate..

oh, and i need taller jackstands (im just using it to unload the suspension)

 

[bustanutley]

If I were you I would push that JJ off the skid until that shackle is straight up and down. How it is now it will still get wrap. If you climb a ledge and your tires lose traction you are going to get some wicked hopping.

Looks really good otherwise.

 

[LT]

Yeah my current traction bar has the shackle at an angle and my wrap is terrible. Moab made it really clear that my traction bar wasn't set up right. All that will go away with a 4 link

 

[Isotel]

All that will go away with a 4 link

maybe next year

If I were you I would push that JJ off the skid until that shackle is straight up and down. How it is now it will still get wrap. If you climb a ledge and your tires lose traction you are going to get some wicked hopping.

Looks really good otherwise.

So your saying, Push it back to make the Shackle 90Degrees with the frame rail??

The way i did it, i put it at 90 degrees to the plane of the center line of the axle up to the top of the shackle.. I knew i should have gone to Engineering school

BTW these photos are taken with the truck lifted up about 5" above where ride height is.. When the weight of the truck is set back down on the axle it dose go forward a bit, but not all the way..

 

[bustanutley]

Ideally it should be tangent from the circle from the center of the axle tube. It may be ok, run it and see, just thought I would mention the possibility. The connection point on the frame side is a bit high for my tastes giving it a high antisquat # but you don’t really have much option.

 

[Isotel]

thanks Zach, thats what i was aiming for, Its hard as hell to get it dead on without the use of an adjustable link on the frame side.. ill shoot a pic when i get everything back together at ride height.. im putting in some new rear shackle hangers to fix the Bootyfab, and my shackle angle..