Builds Chicago builds a 40 (1 Viewer)

[locrwln1]

So for the front axle are you notching, outboarding the springs, adding the housing spacers? What did you decide? We need details man.

This is like a serial thriller, I can't wait for the next installment.

Jack

 

[rusty_tlc]

Not much...Scrapped the 1 ton idea and opted to stick with the original plan. Picked up a 60 series front from OrangeFJ45.
Blotch rig will be going bye bye in 2 weeks
However, that will free up cash to start buying the crap to get this project really moving.
Aside from that...BODY WORK!
Chopped the fender, was gonna cap it all in realized that I didnt have enough sheet to make the top of the fender well, so I decided to re build the door sill where it meets the floor pan...there were holes thorugh it, so I FIXED IT!

Ill post pics later.

Thanks for the interest Rusty!

Keith

I'm living vicariously through your build.

 

[chicago]

So for the front axle are you notching, outboarding the springs, adding the housing spacers? What did you decide? We need details man.

This is like a serial thriller, I can't wait for the next installment.

Jack

Out boarding. Seems to be the best/ safest way to go.
Gonna pick up the Ruff stuff kit, all that crap is included.

K

 

[chicago]

Replaced a section of the door sill. For the most part the rest is in tact, but this section was pretty nasty!

 

[Wile E Coyote]

Lookin good, Keith. It seems poppin your sheetmetal cherry on the Blotch paid off for this go round, eh? I probably overlooked where you posted it, but is Blotchy going to a fellow Mudder?

 

[chicago]

Lookin good, Keith. It seems poppin your sheetmetal cherry on the Blotch paid off for this go round, eh? I probably overlooked where you posted it, but is Blotchy going to a fellow Mudder?

Thanks brotha!
I was wondering what happened to you?
Yeah...that and a couple of doors that I chopped down for others.
Yeah, the Blotch rig is going to another mudder, thankfully!
He's supposed to pick her up next weekend. Bitter sweet for sure.

 

[DesertLake]

Holeee crap you work fast! I gotta check this thread more often. 9 pages since august for crap's sake.

 

[chicago]

Holeee crap you work fast! I gotta check this thread more often. 9 pages since august for crap's sake.

HAHAHA!
Ive been accused of a LOT of things, but working FAST is NOT one of them!

 

[D'Animal]

Any updates in the last week or so?

 

[chicago]

Any updates in the last week or so?

Not really...
Just more of the same ole body work stuff. Seems that information is not so interesting to folks, so Ive been laying off of the info on that. Its slow tedious work that bores even ME....
Got the DS fender well finished. Yanked the PS fender well.
One thing that Id like to mention that I used and was AMAZED at the job it did, was one of those rust stripper wheels that you put on a drill...YEAH! that thing worked AWESOME on the nasty floor pan rust.
Not quite sure what it is, how it works...all I can say is that IT WORKS for stripping rust off. Additionally, its not as invasive as using a flap disc sander on the underlying metal.
Sold my Blotch rig, now I still have to determine the best way to spend the cash on this rig.
On the fence on a few things...
Id still really like to run the 203/ split case doubler for the intermediate gear.
Then there is the 4 speed atlas vs 2 speed angle....
I could do the doubler IF is stretched the rear of the tub and frame. This would actually be quite easy to do, give me more precious cargo area and could POSSIBLY allow for better drive shaft clearance in the front secondary to the added length to the t case and I wouldnt have to mess with centering the rear axle.
The down side would be the extra expense of a custom roll cage, and custom soft top.
So Ill sit and chew on it a bit, get opinions that sort of thing!

Thanks for the interest Danimal!

 

[chappysfj40]

my 2 cents is go for the 203 doubler, i have that and love the middle gear as you put it. at SNT it was awesome just to be in 4low and not stupid low. strech it out a foot or what ever your comfortable with, it would a crazy cool looking rig, yes a few extra, but one of a kind for sure.

cheers

 

[chicago]

Finished fender well!
Glad that is over. Have one left to do, but after that...little odds and ends and then the MAJOR body work is basically DONE!

 

[chicago]

my 2 cents is go for the 203 doubler, i have that and love the middle gear as you put it. at SNT it was awesome just to be in 4low and not stupid low. strech it out a foot or what ever your comfortable with, it would a crazy cool looking rig, yes a few extra, but one of a kind for sure.

cheers

Thanks for the input brotha!
Im concerned with this as well just running the 2 speed.

 

[handcannon]

Are you sure you don't have enough room for the 203? I just went back to pg 1 to refresh my memory and if you are still going the SBC route don't you think you will have the room for the 203? Place the SBC forward as far as possible and still have fan space, then move the rear axle back. It's been a while since I did the calculations but it seems like I figured it would be close but you could still have about an 18" rear driveshaft. The 203 doubler with AA adapter is only about 1 1/2 to 2" longer than the AA 4L60 to one pc TC adapter. I don't have all the info in front of me right now and am too lazy to go dig it up again, but if my memory can be trusted it will just fit with a bit of careful mods (this is in my plan for my 40).

Just curious.

Don

 

[chicago]

Are you sure you don't have enough room for the 203? I just went back to pg 1 to refresh my memory and if you are still going the SBC route don't you think you will have the room for the 203? Place the SBC forward as far as possible and still have fan space, then move the rear axle back. It's been a while since I did the calculations but it seems like I figured it would be close but you could still have about an 18" rear driveshaft. The 203 doubler with AA adapter is only about 1 1/2 to 2" longer than the AA 4L60 to one pc TC adapter. I don't have all the info in front of me right now and am too lazy to go dig it up again, but if my memory can be trusted it will just fit with a bit of careful mods (this is in my plan for my 40).

Just curious.

Don

Don...
Not 100% sure to be honest!
The way that the rig was set up when I got her (stock configuration, SUA) and maxed out the motor as far as shell go forward to still allow clearance for an E fan, the drive shaft was about 5 in long (give or take an inch or so). So that would be about 13 in that Id need to move the axle back. The WB as she sits now is 88 in. So, Id need the WB to be at least 101 in. to get that 18 in shaft.

 

[Mace]

You will want at least a 101" WB..

 

[locrwln1]

You will want at least a 101" WB..

I agree, but with leaf springs, which is what he is planning right now, he can only push the rear axle back so far. Pushing the front axle forward doesn't really help his situation.

So while hitting the magic 100+" wheelbase is desirable, he is really facing the problem of getting the rear axle pushed back enough for his use.

I hate to say it (not that I haven't multiple times) but he either needs to link it or build a 45 type truck to get the wheelbase that he should have. I was at 105" on my 4runner and it handled everything in the Sierras, JV and Moab that I put it through.

I know you work slow Keith and you just completed a ton of work on re-building the rear of the tub/fenders, but I still think you should shorten it up to a 45 style cab. Make a frame and have a custom soft-top made (shouldn't be that expensive), build a small bed and build the wheelbase to fit all of your needs.

JMHO.

Jack

 

[chicago]

I agree, but with leaf springs, which is what he is planning right now, he can only push the rear axle back so far. Pushing the front axle forward doesn't really help his situation.

So while hitting the magic 100+" wheelbase is desirable, he is really facing the problem of getting the rear axle pushed back enough for his use.

I hate to say it (not that I haven't multiple times) but he either needs to link it or build a 45 type truck to get the wheelbase that he should have. I was at 105" on my 4runner and it handled everything in the Sierras, JV and Moab that I put it through.

I know you work slow Keith and you just completed a ton of work on re-building the rear of the tub/fenders, but I still think you should shorten it up to a 45 style cab. Make a frame and have a custom soft-top made (shouldn't be that expensive), build a small bed and build the wheelbase to fit all of your needs.

JMHO.

Jack

So you think that running the doubler would be better than running the Atlas?
That is what this all comes down to.
I really wouldnt want to do a cab and bed type deal. Id probably just stretch the tub some...

 

[rusty_tlc]

Don...
Not 100% sure to be honest!
The way that the rig was set up when I got her (stock configuration, SUA) and maxed out the motor as far as shell go forward to still allow clearance for an E fan, the drive shaft was about 5 in long (give or take an inch or so). So that would be about 13 in that Id need to move the axle back. The WB as she sits now is 88 in. So, Id need the WB to be at least 101 in. to get that 18 in shaft.

Since your running an electric fan you could always mount the radiator in back. There is no rule that dictates it has to be mounted in front of the engine.
That won't help with the wheel base issue though.

 

[Mace]

What is stopping him from moving the rear axle back over 11" with leaf springs?