Middy strength 2.0
- Thread starter sprungupcruiser
- Start date
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- Thread starter
- #122
Yeah mate, at that stage I was running on LPG so the original tank had been removed.
Cool. Thanks for reply.
It appears there's going to be a battle for real estate between upper link tower and the fuel tank, but wasn't wanting to have a fuel cell in the rear cargo bay.
I was hoping you'd come up with something creative!! Ha.
About to start chopping mine, but trying for a clear, concise plan prior to breaking out the sawzall, and the fuel tank has me stumped.
Hoping to keep rear tub and thinking the only way to do is following your cut lines.
Can't see a way to "comp cut" without having to redo and keep it a full body.
Thanks for reply!!
- Thread starter
- #124
Not sure on how it would work out but could you run your uppers parallel out side the fuel tank and get your triangulation from your lowers? I'm sure it would do some funky things to the way the car handled but it might be worth putting the numbers into the 4 link calculator. You could always just make a fuel tank to fit under the car but still work with a traditional style 4 link.
- Thread starter
- #125
G'day guys, got a couple of little things sorted out recently. I've welded on some tabs for the belly plate and added some tube for sump skid plate, added some braces to the lower link mounts back to the chassis I didn't get photos of that stuff but can if anyone wants to have a look at it.
I've got the fuel filler sorted. The tank end is just the original cap with some alloy pipe welded to take 2" hose and the fill end is a boat fuel filler with the key welded in for ease of opening.
I have also got the coolers mounted. On the left is the steering cooler on the right is the tranny cooler, it's a cooler for an agitator off a concrete truck.
I've got the fuel filler sorted. The tank end is just the original cap with some alloy pipe welded to take 2" hose and the fill end is a boat fuel filler with the key welded in for ease of opening.
I have also got the coolers mounted. On the left is the steering cooler on the right is the tranny cooler, it's a cooler for an agitator off a concrete truck.
- Thread starter
- #126
Progress has been a bit interrupted lately with projects on the house, mainly the back deck. I've still been able to knock over the jobs needed to get it to the stage of pulling it all apart for final weld.
CNC brake master cylinder mounted
Front and rear recovery points. Laser cut from 10mm plate.
Alloy rear quarters finished off by my mate Brett.
Additional roof bracing to meet CAMS specs
LED light ar and HID spotlights mounted
This is how it sits at the moment. The cage is all welded and just needs tidying up then I will move onto removing the cab and finish welding out the chassis. I just have to finish the deck first....
CNC brake master cylinder mounted
Front and rear recovery points. Laser cut from 10mm plate.
Alloy rear quarters finished off by my mate Brett.
Additional roof bracing to meet CAMS specs
LED light ar and HID spotlights mounted
This is how it sits at the moment. The cage is all welded and just needs tidying up then I will move onto removing the cab and finish welding out the chassis. I just have to finish the deck first....
- Thread starter
- #127
The deck is all done! Only a few trims to add around the post and I'll be happy, I will get around to that eventually. The wall with the fiber cement sheeting will be home to a water closet and a laundry cupboard in the not too distant future. The other wall will have some sort of buffet table and BBQ on it. I've been enjoying watching the cricket out there since its been done and it catches the breeze quite nicely.
I will re-level the ground to bring it up to the top of the unpainted pine rail. It help reduce the height of the step and give me some nice new soil to get some turf down on.
As you can probably guess the car hasn't seen as much attention as I would have liked but I still manged to squeeze a few days work on it over the last couple of months.
This is how it is sitting at the moment, almost everything is welded up. I got about 30 minutes into welding today and ran out of gas so I will have to wait until more gets delivered tomorrow.
Before Christmas I managed to get around to modifying my Artec high steering arms.They were going to rub on the tyre when going into corners so it was either this or get different arm or different wheels.
I also had to make this contraption. With the size of the deck it made it too difficult to back the trailer into its spot beside the shed, so I made this as the alternative. It uses a 4000lb atv winch and some sprockets I got from the motorbike wrecker. It works well but it is damn slow and the solid rubber tyres are already buggered. I'm thinking some larger tyres and wheels of a little quad should do the trick.
I will re-level the ground to bring it up to the top of the unpainted pine rail. It help reduce the height of the step and give me some nice new soil to get some turf down on.
As you can probably guess the car hasn't seen as much attention as I would have liked but I still manged to squeeze a few days work on it over the last couple of months.
This is how it is sitting at the moment, almost everything is welded up. I got about 30 minutes into welding today and ran out of gas so I will have to wait until more gets delivered tomorrow.
Before Christmas I managed to get around to modifying my Artec high steering arms.They were going to rub on the tyre when going into corners so it was either this or get different arm or different wheels.
I also had to make this contraption. With the size of the deck it made it too difficult to back the trailer into its spot beside the shed, so I made this as the alternative. It uses a 4000lb atv winch and some sprockets I got from the motorbike wrecker. It works well but it is damn slow and the solid rubber tyres are already buggered. I'm thinking some larger tyres and wheels of a little quad should do the trick.
- Thread starter
- #129
Needs more triangulation.
View attachment 1187009
In seriousness, if that's even the proper term....realize y'all get no snow, but does the wind ever blow in Oz?
sorry mate, didn't get a notification for some reason. Yeah it sure does blow, but its all engineered and rated for a category 3 cyclone, the highest is 5. I was a bit concerned and movement initially but the only time its moved is when I was walking around screwing off the roof, its actually pretty solid.
- Thread starter
- #130
G'day guys, I've been going at the truck flat stick the last few weeks and have made some good progress. Here's some updates!
I'm lucky enough to have a work mate who has a Sugar cane farm only 30 minutes from my place, he has his own sandblasting and painting gear that he was happy for me to use. For the cost of a couple of cartons of beer and a lot of sweat the chassis, roll cage, tub and a few other bits and pieces have all been blasted and primed, I also managed to get some top coat on the chassis.
I needed to sort out a good solid rear diff cover that would tie into the truss to help support it. Nothing is readily available in Australia, so I designed it myself and had it cut out up the road.
Added a filler/inspection bung, supplied by Dave at Design Fab
Bit of a hint towards what colour the car will end up being.
So this is where it's at right now. Engine, tranny and transfer are all mounted back up for the final time hopefully.
We only really hit one issue when fitting up the drivetrain and that was with the torque converter mating up to the LS1. I was under the impression that I had been supplied a torque converter design to go from the th400 directly to the LS, turns out not to be the case. The snout on the TC was too short to get anywhere near the crank so I made a bush to adapt that, it took a few goes but got a good snug fit in the end which I'm happy with.
Then there was a 9mm (3/8") gap between the flex plate and the torque converter, so we made up some spacers out of 5mm flat bar, giving 4mm off the oil pump to allow the torque converter to expand with heat. Finally when it came time to bolt the two together the holes were out by a bees dick. Not wanting to pull it all apart again I decided to elongate the holes on the flex plate by removing the sump and accessing it in situ.
So today I should be preparing panels and doors for paint, but Im being held up by KOH qualifying, it's not all bad.
I'm lucky enough to have a work mate who has a Sugar cane farm only 30 minutes from my place, he has his own sandblasting and painting gear that he was happy for me to use. For the cost of a couple of cartons of beer and a lot of sweat the chassis, roll cage, tub and a few other bits and pieces have all been blasted and primed, I also managed to get some top coat on the chassis.
I needed to sort out a good solid rear diff cover that would tie into the truss to help support it. Nothing is readily available in Australia, so I designed it myself and had it cut out up the road.
Added a filler/inspection bung, supplied by Dave at Design Fab
Bit of a hint towards what colour the car will end up being.
So this is where it's at right now. Engine, tranny and transfer are all mounted back up for the final time hopefully.
We only really hit one issue when fitting up the drivetrain and that was with the torque converter mating up to the LS1. I was under the impression that I had been supplied a torque converter design to go from the th400 directly to the LS, turns out not to be the case. The snout on the TC was too short to get anywhere near the crank so I made a bush to adapt that, it took a few goes but got a good snug fit in the end which I'm happy with.
Then there was a 9mm (3/8") gap between the flex plate and the torque converter, so we made up some spacers out of 5mm flat bar, giving 4mm off the oil pump to allow the torque converter to expand with heat. Finally when it came time to bolt the two together the holes were out by a bees dick. Not wanting to pull it all apart again I decided to elongate the holes on the flex plate by removing the sump and accessing it in situ.
So today I should be preparing panels and doors for paint, but Im being held up by KOH qualifying, it's not all bad.
- Thread starter
- #131
Things have been going full steam ahead in the workshop lately. The cab is back on, the roll cage is in and its all been tied together and back into the chassis. Here's a few pics.
Cage ties in to the chassis and to the sliders and cage pads
Cab and cage painted, the firewall, underpan and footwell are all coated in a stone guard paint. Just trying to decided on the finish for the alloy infill panels, I'm thinking polished alloy or gloss black. Thoughts?
Parts all starting to go back into the car. Good times!
Cage ties in to the chassis and to the sliders and cage pads
Cab and cage painted, the firewall, underpan and footwell are all coated in a stone guard paint. Just trying to decided on the finish for the alloy infill panels, I'm thinking polished alloy or gloss black. Thoughts?
Parts all starting to go back into the car. Good times!
- Thread starter
- #132
Update time! I'll get right into the pictures and let them tell the story.
Ive got the engine accessories and idlers sorted. I made the pulleys on the lathe at home from alloy and I also added a pre-tensioner pulley between the steering pump and the 12v alternator. The 24v alternator is off a Scania truck.
Cut out the holes in the bonnet to let some shocks through.
Ive got the engine accessories and idlers sorted. I made the pulleys on the lathe at home from alloy and I also added a pre-tensioner pulley between the steering pump and the 12v alternator. The 24v alternator is off a Scania truck.
Cut out the holes in the bonnet to let some shocks through.
- Thread starter
- #133
Lights installed
All the panels are now painted but wont be going on until last.
Wing mirrors
Billet switch panel to hold the important switches in the center console (front locker, wipers/washer, horn and winch in/out)
The flash roof scoop.
- Thread starter
- #134
G'day guys, long time no post as usual but plenty to update. The 'Cruiser is nearly ready to go, currently waiting on springs and triple bypass shocks then fix a few little things and we should be good to go for testing. Drive shafts proved to be the biggest issue due to operating angle and the room available in the front so there was a fair bit of waiting for them while it was all figured out. So the car is all working now, drives under its own steam, just waiting for parts!
Fuel surge tank
Had to have custom rear hubs made to match the width on the front
Quite tight in there, the front shaft had to be downsized to 2.5" because it hit the upper link mount at full compression, it now clears by about 2mm.
Exhaust all built at home, was pretty tight
How it looks at the moment
Video walk around
Video of it getting a bit of a rev, filmed on a potato
This is the new trailer I have built for carrying the truck.
Fuel surge tank
Had to have custom rear hubs made to match the width on the front
Quite tight in there, the front shaft had to be downsized to 2.5" because it hit the upper link mount at full compression, it now clears by about 2mm.
Exhaust all built at home, was pretty tight
How it looks at the moment
Video walk around
Video of it getting a bit of a rev, filmed on a potato
This is the new trailer I have built for carrying the truck.