The Official Fraken80?Schedule80 Build Thread...

[AuburnFJsexy]

More pics

 

[TeddyBoy]

Franken-balls and area designated for T.I.T (Tent-In-Truck)



A boy and his toy(s)

 

[CID 96]

Looks great Nick. Really happy it is all coming together.

 

[AuburnFJsexy]

Looks great Nick. Really happy it is all coming together.

Thanks Sid! It was great to finally get it out of the garage



As for an update/recap from the weekend:

Josh was in town and got to help with some of the final welding and tear the front axle apart to install the Longfields. The front passenger side birfield was pretty tore up, which we were pretty sure it was broke because of how the truck was acting prior to cutting it all up. After installing the Longfields and finishing up the welding, we finally had to figure out how to connect the exhaust since running it pretty much straight off the headers was was obnoxiously too loud . We basically just connected in 2 pipes where the cat use to be and ran the exhaust through the stock muffler. Very Very quiet . After the exhaust was hooked up we tightened up the driver seat and backed in out of the garage. We were curious at whether the transmission would still slip like it was prior, but everything worked great. Apparently the broken birfield on the passenger side caused PARK not to engage and it caused the transmission to slip.

When I got the truck up on "the wall", we tested the flex on the front end and the rear end. When we flexed it completely out, the rear tires started to rub the rear tube. I will have to install some 2" blocks to the bump stops so it can keep the tires off the cage. When testing out the flex of the rear end, I was very impressed with how it performed. When we backed the truck on to the wall, by the time it was fully flexed, the front end was still very stable.

List of things to still do:
Shocks
Extended Brake Lines
Some fender trimming
Order/install 1 pass. side drive flange
Rear Tow Points
Install the middle console
AND a bunch of other little things

 

[Sam Stewart]

Looks awesome!

 

[schmitty]

First time I have ever seen someone use a sawsall inside the axle

I didn't have much going on Tuesday so I lowered your rear bump stops two inches. So that's one less thing that needs to be done before you can go test it out.

 

[AuburnFJsexy]

First time I have ever seen someone use a sawsall inside the axle

I didn't have much going on Tuesday so I lowered your rear bump stops two inches. So that's one less thing that needs to be done before you can go test it out.

I was wondering when that photo would get posted...i thought Ted took it


Thanks for putting those bump stops in, I ordered the shocks today and I am still on a mission to find good extended brake lines...

 

[4xsteve]

[URL="http://i1219.photobucket.com/albums/dd421/schmittyga2/Nicks%20truck/2012-03-24143958.jpg"][URL="http://i1219.photobucket.com/albums/dd421/schmittyga2/Nicks%20truck/2012-03-24143958.jpg"][/URL][/URL]

First time I have ever seen someone use a sawsall inside the axle

First time I've ever seen anyone with their fingers that damn close to an active sawzall blade!!!!! :whoops:

I bet something very close to this was said moments before this pic was taken: "Nick, I trust you buddy".

 

[rockabilly cruiser]

try earls speed flex line for brake lines. you can make it any length . look at summit racing for details.

 

[pillguy]

I would be more worried about the lack of safety goggles

First time I've ever seen anyone with their fingers that damn close to an active sawzall blade!!!!! :whoops:

I bet something very close to this was said moments before this pic was taken: "Nick, I trust you buddy".

 

[Sam Stewart]

First time I've ever seen anyone with their fingers that **** close to an active sawzall blade!!!!! :whoops:

I bet something very close to this was said moments before this pic was taken: "Nick, I trust you buddy".

That sounds like some famous last words like, "Here, hold my beer" or "Hey ya'll, watch this!"

 

[AuburnFJsexy]

I havent updated this in a while, so I figured I would give a summary of the Shakedown Run at Durhamtown....

Overall I was very pleased with how the Franken80 performed. On the first trail of "Slippery Nipple", I noticed how much more clearance I have now and how loud the suspension is when it is going back in forth flexing. The loud suspension is something to look at, but I am not sure what exactly to do to change it, because it is just how the rear springs are when they flex. The part of the shakedown run I was more impressed with was how it performed without the front locker engaged. I guess those 39.5" TSL's get some good grip and make a big difference. I did think I broke my front locker at one point on the trip, but I tested it last night and found it it had just popped out of being engaged.

Only casualty of the day was a weld that was holding the top mounts for the rear shocks. Go figure the stupid rear shocks were the only problem with the truck. Ted and I agreed that we believed the plate was probably just tack welded on and that is why it didnt hold up to the test run.

Conclusion:
-I think I want to take the front cable locker out and put an Aussie locker upfront, because of simplicity and reliability. The cables from the shifter to the locker keep getting bound up and are not very easy to use when I want the locker to engage.

The only pictures I have from Durhamtown are of Miranda and Ted driving, so some other people need to post some pics of the shakedown run too....


Overall, VERY IMPRESSED and look forward to many wheeling trips....Even Miranda loved it and did VERY well for her first real time driving...

 

[4xsteve]

I would HIGHLY recommend keeping a selectable locker up front if possible. Yes, they are more bothersome in every aspect of install, cost and maintenance, but you'll break less and steer more. Hey, you said yourself that its very capable even without the front locker. This is just my opinion, but I always leave my front off until I think I really need it. Helps keep up your driving skills and is much friendlier to all your front end parts.

 

[AuburnFJsexy]

I would HIGHLY recommend keeping a selectable locker up front if possible. Yes, they are more bothersome in every aspect of install, cost and maintenance, but you'll break less and steer more. Hey, you said yourself that its very capable even without the front locker. This is just my opinion, but I always leave my front off until I think I really need it. Helps keep up your driving skills and is much friendlier to all your front end parts.

I totally agree, but with the way my locker is right now, I cant get it to engage properly when I need it. I would love an ARB up front, but its just soo expensive ....

I am going to spend some time this week trying to tweek it a little bit and see if it helps...

 

[71-CRUISER]

I know everyone's opinions are different but I will NEVER run a non ratcheting locker in the front of anything (that isnt full time 4wd). When they are on you cant turn and when they are off you have no front locker. With a Aussie or Detroit there is no thinking at all. No fusing with the locker switch. No troubles turning, and you always have a front locker.

And with Longfields there is no more worry about front end parts.

ARBs and E-Lockers are for rear axles.

 

[AuburnFJsexy]

I definitely see both sides to the argument, but will most likely lean towards the auto locker. The reason being is that when I got the e-locker, I did not see myself putting 40's on my 80 this soon after. The factory e-lockers are very prone to breaking once you exceed the 37" tire mark and I think it will be inevitable that I will bust the locker before long if I keep it. I totally agree with Steve in the respect that having the selectable locker upfront helps fine turn your driving skills and you only lock it when you need it, but I cant afford the ARB and the e-locker is not a good option.

What I think I am going to do is try and sell the e-locker and find an open front third and put either a Spartan or Aussie locker in it...I just gotta find the parts


Anyone need an 80's factory front locker???

 

[julstirn]

awesome build!

 

[AuburnFJsexy]

Added some bling tonight...

 

[CID 96]

Now that is my kind of mod. I could probably install that one by myself.

 

[TeddyBoy]

didn't know Natty Lights came in a bottle