new buggy build

[M4wdFab]

removed wheel adapters 8x170mm to 8x6.5
re drilled hubs to 8x6.5 and now 3" narrower. 

i used the wheel adaptor with studs pulled as a template bolted to each unit bearing and then center punched the new hole pattern.  center drilled and then drilled to size on Mill. 

had to turn down OD of unit bearing bore for 8x6.5 wheels (chevy bore) also on lathe.

probably about 2 hours of labor and 4 hours of machine work.  seemed like a lot of work but i guess wasn't too bad. 

swapped in 4340 stubs in the rear also while it was apart.

adjusted steering ram as now i only have 1/8" clearance in rear of tires to link at full lock   
everything else nice and tight. 


realized i turned down hubs much more than they needed to be as i forgot about where the rotor lives.  but now it would take chevy rotors if i wanted.  (had to drill Ford rotors to 3/4" lug holes to catch the 8x6.5 new pattern. 

wheels bolted on without issue like factory so i guess it was a success with the tolerances i achieved. 

[M4wdFab]

fixed steering hydro tank sight tube leak
fitted ecotec engine cover after taking a second look at it, i thing i like it

[gif]

its funny what feels like a lot of work now would have been " i just got to blah, blah" into the wee hours of the night and then wheel the next day.

removed wheel adapters 8x170mm to 8x6.5
re drilled hubs to 8x6.5 and now 3" narrower. 

i used the wheel adaptor with studs pulled as a template bolted to each unit bearing and then center punched the new hole pattern.  center drilled and then drilled to size on Mill. 

had to turn down OD of unit bearing bore for 8x6.5 wheels (chevy bore) also on lathe.

probably about 2 hours of labor and 4 hours of machine work.  seemed like a lot of work but i guess wasn't too bad. 

swapped in 4340 stubs in the rear also while it was apart.

adjusted steering ram as now i only have 1/8" clearance in rear of tires to link at full lock   
everything else nice and tight. 


realized i turned down hubs much more than they needed to be as i forgot about where the rotor lives.  but now it would take chevy rotors if i wanted.  (had to drill Ford rotors to 3/4" lug holes to catch the 8x6.5 new pattern. 

wheels bolted on without issue like factory so i guess it was a success with the tolerances i achieved.

[M4wdFab]

i still cant get use to only putting 2-2.5 gallons of fuel in the new buggy after a long day of wheeling instead of 10-12

banged together another set of 1480 shafts

sourced 30 pack full C clips for 1480/1550 joints

[M]

Do you miss the horsepower of the bigger motor? Or is it a different style of wheeling (more finesse instead of powering through)?

[M4wdFab]

at 150hp and 3150lbs vs 280?hp and 5500lbs i dont really feel a difference.  this car is gear lower with a max speed of about 35mph id guess also. 

but the biggest difference it has 3 times the traction and rock crawling ability than my other car, i have not needed any more than 1/2 the power this thing has yet.

way less frustrating and more enjoyable to me and others around i think ha

[M4wdFab]

pretty good performance this weekend,  2days rausch, 1/2 day AOAA

found out on comp course (full nose dive) fuel system sucks air, tank at 60% full id say.  need to think about that. 

also after long day of wheeling in 95degree, fuel vapor lock occured 1 or 2 times.  fuel temp was hot when i checked it lol

solid 20 minutes of red trail crawling/humping up hill, it got to 230 once and i stopped, let it recover running for 5 min then good. 

pulled apart a front air shock Saturday, needs real corner limit straps if continued dumb things are going to be wheeled. 


sourced 3 air shocks on FBMP and got them delivered to park, wheeled today

[M4wdFab]

16" 2.0 air shock shaft:
FOX-816-02-010-KIT

2.0 air shock seal kit
FOX-803-00-006-A

2.0 air shock lower end
FOX21301211C



for joe: 2.0 sway
2.0" Bump Stop / Air Shock
SAW-52400-102-1 : 2.0" Bump Stop or Air Shock with 1-3/8" shaft.

[M4wdFab]

3 air shock rebuild kits on the way
66' of 2" 12K lb webbing on the way to make 4 limit straps.

ordered a pair of 36" PRP straps i found on amazon at an odd low price of 19$ each (only quantity 2 avail) as backup but unsure of delivery date before next trip.



ready to wheel as of now but next hit list though when i get through the shop load later this week:

add 36" limit straps on 4 corners (16" shocks are 38" extended eye to eye)
add fuel cooler
add fuel walbro pickups or hydra mat
rebuild at least the one new to me air shock that has a few drips of oil after 4hrs of aoaa wheeling
install my superwinch and retire the bunker to a rear suck down.
fix temp wiring on in cab fan to more permanent
lean back seat as much as reasonably possible / relocate shoulder harness bar as needed
add some keys/phone/water/lunch storage

[M4wdFab]

working on some limit straps.  need to grab some more needles. 

shopping for a used industrial straight stitch machine haha

need to get some 210 thread and big boy needles also. but initial results not horrible with the HD thread i have a huge spool of.

3 layers of 12K recovery strap fine (red), 4 is pushing it (orange) on the singer 9410 Tom gave me. 

[M4wdFab]

3 air shocks disassembled, cleaned, leak checked.  two got new seals/rebuild parts.  so i have 7 good air shocks now and a spare rebuild kit. 

[M4wdFab]

4 walbro pickups installed.

shocks have limit straps now.

[M4wdFab]

FF update after 2.5 days of red trails:

-no fuel pickup issues.  some fuel vent leakage that may deserve larger/ better 3 sides and down venting
-Bunker winch found to be inop after a few successful uses then no engagement randomly.  disassembled planetary on trail, and re clipped loose C clip,  back in action. 
-Right rear ujoint cap found cracked- replaced with new caps and full C clips.  shafts in good shape.  good catch by MikeMike
-found nose up vertical limit on gate of Devels Bunghole- trans started leaking fluid out of vented fill cap.  Cap modified back at camp with up and down vent. replaced 2quarts of ATF

left at FF fully operational with truck and trailer for next weekend event again. hitched a ride home with MikeMike, riding out back with Joe Friday AM. 


Like to start thinking about fluids roll over as its enivatable.  PCV is just vented (turbo) so that deserves a 3 sides and down / catch can. 

[M4wdFab]

trying new rubber material for fuel cell cap gasket
have new 3/8" rope for bunker winch
need to fuel and load tomorrow AM

needs a bath.  has been put away used hard last few trips lol

[M4wdFab]

week5 no shipment of HQ 1550 joints- hopefully money comes back from those useless F's

hopefully cora can get some Branik joints headed here from ECG this week.