CottonLand,
I am looking for your advice/opinions on the best way to achieve my goals for the GunRunner...
In an effort to continue to wheel with my good friends and not force them to constantly spot me and pull winch cable, there are a number of mods I'd like to complete before the 2016 SCC.
1) 37" BFG KM2s: No. I'm not going SOA. It won't fit in my garage. I may go from +1.5" to 2 or 2.5" shackles if I have room. Extending bump stops is a must. The front tires are already rubbing big time on the front fenders and that needs to end. I have an old damaged set of fenders that could be chopped and only run as inner fenders when on the trail. So the fenders would extend only slightly if at all from the aprons. I may run a 1.5" - 1.75" tube from the bib, along the apron and down to the running boards. What thickness? Another option would be fabbing up some tube fenders. I have some very old school steel 16x8 wagon wheels. What is the best way to verify they are not seriously out of round? Weld on bead locks?
2) Armor to Protect Sheetmetal: I want to run a 1.75" - 2" tube spaced an inch or two out from my current 2 x4" sliders under my running boards. I also plan to fab an upper tub slider that will bolt to brackets welded to the roll cage. Tub slider will begin just behind the door opening and extend as far down the tub as possible and still allow the dual swing-outs to fully open. Replace/enhance rear plastic fenders with tube armor. I need to be able to lay the truck into a tree/rock/embankment without damaging the body.
3) Rear Locker & Diff Protection: I need to install my RuffStuff rear diff cover. I won it 4+ years ago at the Crawl. After MardiKrawl, my rear Aussie locker is popping a LOT more. It popped at least 5 times in a 45 minute drive last Sunday. It rarely, if ever popped before. What's up? How do I fix it while I'm in the process of installing the diff cover?
4) Power Steering: currently Saginaw box and pump with cooler. Turning left is very difficult at times. Steering shaft may be flexing and hanging up on the front shock tower to frame bolts. May need to adjust the angle and weld these on to eliminate the bolts/interference. Any chance my Sag box is bad? Turning 37x12.50s should be no harder than 35x12.50s, right? I think the 16" version is actually a little wider than 13".
I also need to change the angle/curve of my rear cage to frame tie-in tubes. It has been acting as a rear bump stop, but creates forward movement resistance as the tire rubs on it.
Anyone have any 1.75 - 2" tube? I have some from my previous cage. It is 2" but probably HREW, not DOM. It's probably enough to do the extensions down the running board sliders.
My current shocks are all toast and need replacements. Blistein? Both front and rear upper shock mounts need mods/replacement.
Let-R-Rip...
I am looking for your advice/opinions on the best way to achieve my goals for the GunRunner...
In an effort to continue to wheel with my good friends and not force them to constantly spot me and pull winch cable, there are a number of mods I'd like to complete before the 2016 SCC.
1) 37" BFG KM2s: No. I'm not going SOA. It won't fit in my garage. I may go from +1.5" to 2 or 2.5" shackles if I have room. Extending bump stops is a must. The front tires are already rubbing big time on the front fenders and that needs to end. I have an old damaged set of fenders that could be chopped and only run as inner fenders when on the trail. So the fenders would extend only slightly if at all from the aprons. I may run a 1.5" - 1.75" tube from the bib, along the apron and down to the running boards. What thickness? Another option would be fabbing up some tube fenders. I have some very old school steel 16x8 wagon wheels. What is the best way to verify they are not seriously out of round? Weld on bead locks?
2) Armor to Protect Sheetmetal: I want to run a 1.75" - 2" tube spaced an inch or two out from my current 2 x4" sliders under my running boards. I also plan to fab an upper tub slider that will bolt to brackets welded to the roll cage. Tub slider will begin just behind the door opening and extend as far down the tub as possible and still allow the dual swing-outs to fully open. Replace/enhance rear plastic fenders with tube armor. I need to be able to lay the truck into a tree/rock/embankment without damaging the body.
3) Rear Locker & Diff Protection: I need to install my RuffStuff rear diff cover. I won it 4+ years ago at the Crawl. After MardiKrawl, my rear Aussie locker is popping a LOT more. It popped at least 5 times in a 45 minute drive last Sunday. It rarely, if ever popped before. What's up? How do I fix it while I'm in the process of installing the diff cover?
4) Power Steering: currently Saginaw box and pump with cooler. Turning left is very difficult at times. Steering shaft may be flexing and hanging up on the front shock tower to frame bolts. May need to adjust the angle and weld these on to eliminate the bolts/interference. Any chance my Sag box is bad? Turning 37x12.50s should be no harder than 35x12.50s, right? I think the 16" version is actually a little wider than 13".
I also need to change the angle/curve of my rear cage to frame tie-in tubes. It has been acting as a rear bump stop, but creates forward movement resistance as the tire rubs on it.
Anyone have any 1.75 - 2" tube? I have some from my previous cage. It is 2" but probably HREW, not DOM. It's probably enough to do the extensions down the running board sliders.
My current shocks are all toast and need replacements. Blistein? Both front and rear upper shock mounts need mods/replacement.
Let-R-Rip...
