Builds Keeping it low with Rockwells (a.k.a. under the knife again)

[dtrain]

That shot from the rear looks SICK! Very nice work!

 

[redcorn]

THat is awesome!!!!

Get a shot with something to put it to scale......Maybe your wife or a Hooters waitress...............

How about that clocking plate for the 205....makes things a lot easier huh?

 

[Eskimo]

The clocking ring makes things easier, but made me have to do cable shifters to get them where I wanted them...

Without that ring, I was fawked.

Well, this was the last day of the 9-day vacation I took from work. Still lots to do, mostly plumbing & electrical, but looking back, I got alot done!

Today, I adapted the factory steering column to the orbital... I really like how it came out, and it let me put the wheel closer to me, a gripe I've had for a while. The mount was letting the column flex like crazy, so I slit some 1.75" tube to replace the rubber, and replaced the 1/8" with 1/4", and it helped alot. Worst case, I add a support from the ds=ash bar to the column, and it'll be rock solid. I really like keeping some factory stuff and adapting it for my uses though... (FYI- the steering shaft is 3/4" solid, easily adapted!)



Also installed the rear winch and toolbox, and tested the winch... works well. Can't install the cell until I plumb the multi-pickup system in.. I just need an AN to hose barb fitting I forgot.

 

[Eskimo]

Joined the transmission cooler and steering fluid cooler together, so the fan can blow through both of them.. Still need to finalize where they'll be mounted.



Lots of levers.. (cable twin stick is done!)



A shot from the rear with the taillights and box installed.. I like it!

 

[Eskimo]

A few of the twin stick.. It works very well.. very tight, plenty of leverage, and in a good spot! No more leaning over to shift. I reversed the levers, putting the front output closer to me, since that's what I use most.

you can see the shift rails in their various positions:

4hi:



4lo:



Neutral:

 

[72cruiser]

dang rich...looks way too good man. take another week off from work, ha ha

in this pic, do you have a panel that covers the right side of the center console? just wonderin about the fuse box...

malphrus

 

[Eskimo]

in this pic, do you have a panel that covers the right side of the center console? just wonderin about the fuse box...

malphrus

Yeah, I have side panels for both sides, and one to make to cover the rear of the console that I just never installed...

you can see it in this pic...

http://www.rnrfab.com/rich/fj/dpg10-05/images/4_jpg.jpg

 

[72cruiser]

cool cool... i figured you did but i couldn't remember seein 'em

 

[TachedOutOffRoad]

That rig is really realy nice and really really cool

 

[Colicious]

nice build up. how much do you have left to do?

 

[wngrog]

If you want to lower it, I would go with less weight on the top springs.

 

[Eskimo]

If you want to lower it, I would go with less weight on the top springs.

Hmmm, I'm 130 on the fronts and 110's on the rear.. pretty light already. Any less and they'd practically be tender coils.. ;p

I think I'm gonna wait till it's fully ready to run and re-measure everything. It might settle down enough to be good. And hell, 25" under the belly with 6" uptravel would mean I can get silly at a higher speed..

Edit 6/19: I see what you meant about chaning the uppers as opposed to the lowers - makes a much bigger difference.

 

[Eskimo]

nice build up. how much do you have left to do?

A few small fabrication items, and then plumbing (hydraulics, fuel, brakes), wiring, exhaust, & drivelines.

Edit: I've got 200-300psi left in the welding gas bottle, I hope it's enough.. it's a biotch to try and get to the gas place during the week.

 

[projektdotnet]

OMFG that is one sweet rig. I need to get a bender and a welder and get to work on mine I think...i just need money first

 

[Eskimo]

OMFG that is one sweet rig. I need to get a bender and a welder and get to work on mine I think...i just need money first

Thanks man.. I am seeing the light at the end of the tunnel now. Speaking of tunnel, I now have a wonderful case of Carpal Tunnel that's keeping a finger nearly numb during the day, and waking me up hourly at night for the past 3 days.. Hopefully it will go away quickly, I know it was just the 12 hour days in the shop that made it flare up.

I laid out a very detailed budget before I started, even including $200 for hardware, money for spraypaint, etc... Still went over by nearly 50%, which sucks, but better than most builds, where doubling your budget is a good start..

When the wife saw the receipt for the tires and about shat herself, she said "If you didn't even blink at that, I don't want to know how much this whole thing has cost, do I..." I said "Nope!"

 

[wngrog]

Jimbro's uppers on his springs are almost all the way compressed. Working as a tender coil is not a bad thing really. I would rather it be more "smashed" and have some adjustment on the top of the shock than have the adjustment all the way up and some coil showing on the upper spring.

Either way, I don't think your ride height is silly high either for a Rockwell truck. You are right though to get it all loaded trail ready and flex it out some before changing things in the springs.

 

[Tapage]

When the wife saw the receipt for the tires and about shat herself, she said "If you didn't even blink at that, I don't want to know how much this whole thing has cost, do I..." I said "Nope!"

I'm pretty sure that you already have a nice aniversary ring for this date this year .. ( just to make she happy and help to forget the cost of " the hole thing " )

 

[Eskimo]

I'm pretty sure that you already have a nice aniversary ring for this date this year .. ( just to make she happy and help to forget the cost of " the hole thing " )

Yeah, LoMax 3:1 gears are round, aren't they?


Funny thing is, I've got the cruiser, my motorcycle, and the tow rig.. She's got a '89 Celica convertible, and she's cool with it, and isn't big on jewlery.. Hell yeah I married the right one.

I have promised her, however, that I won't get a track motorcycle or any new toys until she is driving something from this century...

Back on topic though, I believe Dlux's spreadsheet is right, and the sprung weight may be correct... in which case, I'll have as much unsprung weight as sprung weight! Niiiice. It may not climb as well as a featherweight bash buggy, but I'll damn sure be able to give it hell trying!

 

[green73]

Nice work Rich. Have you set a completion date/wheeling test yet?

 

[Tapage]

I have promised her, however, that I won't get a track motorcycle or any new toys until she is driving something from this century...

Last chat .. It's fair .. and yes you got the right one, she's have a sister ?