Builds Spy Photos - Spaceghost

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.

Still got plenty of little stuff to do: Spool the winch rope, finish the hood pins, fab new crossmember behind Atlas, and reinstall skid plate, touch up paint, and apply all the decals. Oh and something I knew but really didn't think about during the build. Electric fans act as generators when switched off. I wired the fans to the switched side of the Reactor relay (shown below), along with the dash lights and ignition. When I shut it down it continued to run till the fans stopped rotating. I need to isolate them from each other with another small relay or a diode.
sg180.jpg
 
Last edited by a moderator:
The only thing I see missing is a fresh LSLC decal.

Butch
 
[quote author=SpaceGhost link=board=12;threadid=10545;start=msg129795#msg129795 date=1080687979]
The drivelines sponsered by "da man" Jesse at HighAngle. The amount of work he puts in to make sure the customer gets what he needs, is the epitome of "customer service". Besides Jesse is a hell of a nice guy, anybody that gets shafts elsewhere is depriving themselves!
[/quote]

Next time you get a wheel sponsor, I want those Robbie Gordan's!
 
[quote author=wngrog link=board=12;threadid=10545;start=msg129967#msg129967 date=1080701476]
Next time you get a wheel sponsor, I want those Robbie Gordan's!
[/quote]

I already called them as a kickback for all my time and work :flipoff2:
 
[quote author=bigdude link=board=12;threadid=10545;start=msg130316#msg130316 date=1080752672]
I already called them as a kickback for all my time and work :flipoff2:
[/quote]

I thought that year's supply of McD's gift certs would be enuf? :flipoff2:
 
FYI: All photos I could recover for this thread have been re-added....there are 4-5 in the "early" stuff that are still missing, might have those stashed at home...but at least MOST are re-attached!
 
i got a chance to ride in Mikes buggy-

When Hoosier Cruisers had their wheelin' day back in June, I got to ride in SpaceGhosts buggy and man was it

SOOOOWEEEET!.

Absolutely made my day, month, summer, year. Only problem was that I began to totally rethink my FJ45 project and came home and started taking off pieces to go beefier and more capable, Thanks Mike for making me spend more moolah,. Anyway, justm y $.02.
 
Today the Cruiser is looking rough. Both rear wheels bent, all the sheetmetal is scarred and haggard. The cage has been repaired twice from rolls earlier this season. One of the rear "high bling" aluminum Wilwwod calipers is junk because it got bounced off a big rock, and ripped the thread insert out of the fitting bore. The "purty" hood has been beaten back into shape all season long, only to have me reintroduce it to bigger rocks each time. It is beyond repair now, and might find a home hanging on a wall at Claude & Annie's. The second (and freshly installed last Wednesday) Griffin radiator is sitting cockeyed in it's mount as I type. Hopefully I can salvage it for SuperCrawl.

But I'm not discouraged, in fact quite the opposite, even after a rough weekend in Jellico! Yeah it rained up there in those mountains, turned the dirt into the thickest, gooiest mud I recall ever spending time in. The comp was even delayed for an hour it was so heavy. The spectators were drenched, the spotters beat down from carrying the extra 10lbs of mud that collected in the treads of their boots.

So why am I so stoked? Well, after a few dissapointing showings this season, we managed to finish 4th in the series standings. Qualified for SuperCrawl, with far less to do than last year to get ready. But the big boost was a special surprise I got in Jellico. Uroc hooked me up with Spike TV, which had a crew on site to tape for a NEW tv show that airs in January. (Thanks Tim and whoever else was in on this bonus!) Many details weren't available yet, but they intend it to be part of the "Power Block", similar to Trucks with a host that builds extreme rock crawling machines. They attached an on board camera on my rig, shot lots of film from the roving cams, and concluded the weekend with over an hour of tape,interviewing me, letting me ramble on about the sport, the excitement, and getting lots of info about my rig, and the things that competitiors use to be safe and competitive. Woody knows getting me to shut up is a challenge once I get wound up, and these guys didn't even try, they just changed the tape and kept shooting. I'll be sure and post up as info on the show is made available.

So................. Plans are forming now for an all new rig for 2005. Waiting on the new rules to be made public then all hell is gonna break loose again! Watch here for pics of the progress, but here's a sampling of the wish list:

Aurora V6, some call it the shortstar, 904 auto which bolts right up to the Atlas, full custom frame, max 48" at the widest point, still a two seater, modified class rig. Reusing my current axles, shocks and links, steering, seats, and a few little pieces, abandoning most every thing else. Shooting for something near 2600 lbs, 102" wb, 23" belly clearance and overall shorter than I am now. I see a narrowed cruiser hood in my future!

Thanks to all those that helped out this season, especially AJ, and of course Badlands Machine Shop (Troy, Lisa, Robby, Brian, and Jesse) and those companies that supplied us essential parts and services: HighAngledrivelines, T-max winches, Blue Diamond ropes, BFGoodrich, Marlin Crawler, Green Filters, and Howell-Efi.
 
blahblahblahblah fully setup cruiser frame and cage for sale blahblahblahblahblahblahblahblah....

CONGRATS Mike.....that's absolutely awesome!!
 
Awesome. It'll be great to see some more rock crawlin' on TV.

While your working on your wish list for new rig, my plan to build that all aluminum V8 motor is being put off to the side. Might be just the ticket for your 05 rig. Its a newer alum rover 4 bolt main block, I have a 300 buick crank to stroke it out and buick 300 alum heads for more flow. I just have the parts now and an adapter to mate to 700R4...but if you are looking for light weight V8 power in a small package let me know.
 
cruiserrg said:
Awesome. It'll be great to see some more rock crawlin' on TV.

I haven`t seen any?

Look forward to seeing the sport and also seeing a cruiser competing.

Good luck with the Super Crawl........
 
ESPN2 has had 3 episodes on thus far....

UROC on ESPN2 schedule:

Episode #
Location Day
Date
Time

Episode 3
Cedar City, UT
Thursday
August 12th
4:00pm EST

Episode 4
Jellico, TN
Thursday
September 16th
4:00pm EST

Episode 5
Farmington, NM
Thursday
October 28th
4:00pm EST

Episode 6
St. George, UT
Thursday
November 4th
4:00pm EST

Episode 7
SUPERCRAWL III
Thursday
December 16th
4:00pm EST
 
Mike,

How is your front link system setup? I cannot tell if it is a 3 or 4 link.......

Auto in the new buggy...it was only a matter of time. 1% of the folks competing are running sticks, you are being penalized for that for sure.

What did you say that thing weighs now?
 
Full 4 link now. Changed it over the winter, had to loose the header and go back to a stock manifold for it to clear. To be driven on road, I'd HAVE to add a panhard, which I had with the three link.

Last trip across UROCs tech in scales was 3525. All 195 of me standing standing NEXT to it. Yeah the sm420 was a penalty, for reason most don't think of, like:

Auto's bring the power on easy, tires don't break loose when you begin to accelerate from a stop. When working it on a ledge the backlash causes the tires to load and unload, leading to hop and bouncing. Hard to climb like that. Most noticeable is the attempts to start in a higher gear than the motor can pull from, an auto torque converter is forgiving, a stock clutch isn't!

The motor and tranny for me has alway been about money. If I could've afforded other options, they would be there now. At this stage, it's not an option, but mandatory. Don't hate me (just yet) but not sure basing the skins on a Cruiser is the best choice. Still pondering this but thinking some small truck body skins would look good. Can ya say Taco? Now if I could get the ear of the decision makers at TRD, I would be kissing major ass for a 4.7, harness/ecm and a supply of skins to maintain my loyalty to the brand.

You making the trek to SuperCrawl Nolan? Salt Lake City, I'd love to hear from those that will be there, and arrange a bull**** session in the air conditioned, adult beverage parlor! Probably should start a new thread for that.
 
I doubt I will make it this year....saving my kitchen passes for Moab in November and the Cheeseheads in October.

Thanks for that weight....I thought it was in that range. Hard to get too light with a 2F.....

Cruiser skins are still cool....I think Twisted Customs has been in contact with TRD for their next set of buggys.....you might want to work that angle.
 
New Pics of Fresk skins 'n bling paint

Thanks to Bob, the new color is looking good! Of course AJ put in lotsa time getting it to this stage. We finished it up and hit rher 4x4 Jamboree here in Indy this weekend. Got some TV time on ESPN2 which will air within the next 45 days.

Here we are posing on the rock pile, hehehehe......
Jamboree1.jpg
Jamboree2.jpg
Jamboree3.jpg
 

Users who are viewing this thread

Back
Top Bottom