Project RATROD...AKA...LOWRIDER. ...new pics--->11-17-08

[isuzufool]

Man, those pics are such a tease!

[Bansil]

sorry to tease but it's slow going outside with only one person

I did lower the seats and move them back about 6" but there not bolted in yet and the mounts are somewhat getto.........but strong

[isuzufool]

I know all too well about working by yourself on these trucks! It sucks sometimes!

[Bansil]

The weather sucked this weekend heres some pics.

I worked on the seats and the lightbar.

Lightbar mocked up to get compound bends into side plates.




Mount mounted to body

mounting bolts


Mounts hidden by weatherstrip.


Pic showing corner brace mounts

More pics later today.

[bigpoppax2]

Looking good Doug, that's going to look nice when it's all cleaned up and painted.

Joe

[Smiley]

Those trees aren't gonna know what hit`em!


I can't wait to see the seats mounted! --- Doug called yesterday and informed me that the passenger seat is now located far enough back that his feet won’t quite reach the firewall slope of the floor board... sounds like I shouldn't have any legroom worries now


Good Gawd, this thing is gonna be a Sexy Beast!


Cheers!
Smiley

[Bansil]

ok more
seats moved back and down.



In this pic the bolt on the raised part is factory mount for front of seat(sorry no red circles and x's )



some pics of rear suspension.

These are haphazardly placed pics,sorry don't have more

Stock the suspension didn't move very good,the stock short shackles didn't swing enuff,and I didn't want to lift it with longer shackles so..
..... I went with a 3/4 elliptic setup.

I cut an extra main spring out of a 2wd Amigo in half,and then drilled a new center pin hole in it.
I built a captured type of mount to contain the spring and attach it to the frame right behind the bump stop.














Then I made a cradle out of a pc of pipe,cut into ~120* pcs.This let's the stock spring eye have a place to sit,and strengthen the frame at the same time.I had seen pics were the spring eyes would dent and collapse stock frames.


I bent up some new shackles so they would reseat themselves even on extreme angles.I have actually made several sets of shackles experimenting but this is similar to what I have now.
Oh and no I didn't tie them together so they can move a little free'r






This setup is alittle noisey on the trail when the springs hit the pockets,but what the heck.

[Smiley]

Sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet!

[jdstuf]

The rig is lookin great Bansil! The leaf spring setup you're running is interesting, I don't know too much about leaf setups so I'm not familier with it. Anywhere I could find some more info? I'm curious as to how it works.

[Joe Darlington]

seems like a lotta work just to beat my ol' 99 Rodeo

[Bansil]

seems like a lotta work just to beat my ol' 99 Rodeo

HAHAHa.....

actually it's to beat all the other rigs too




and we needed another build thread also......vroom,vroom......let's go..


oh Joe

and since you'll be behind me you might want to bring a gas mask

I figured I'd start the trash talking later but you beat me to that


As for the springs it just lets the shackle drop down more,kinda like revolver shackles and missing links etc. but since it's a spring it doesn't unload as fast (scarey ) going down hills like the others do.

You can read about stuff like that at places like Pirate but search alot and read alot before asking what others would consider stupid questions.

[Triathlete]

[quote="Bansil"]
You can read about stuff like that at places like Pirate but search alot and read alot before asking what others would consider stupid questions.[/quote

Aw, come on, there no such thing as a "stupid question" on the Pirate! They love that kind of stuff!

[88bronzetrooper]

Looking good doug. Cant wait to see it again this summer. Good luck at the races.

[EHess]

Aw, come on, there no such thing as a "stupid question" on the Pirate! They love that kind of stuff!

Especially on tuesdays

[ChrisJ]

Why no monocoil? Or monoleaf?

Bet you could flex 4 tires with that setup

RaceBronco are you out there?

[lowzone]

DUDE WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU....i know gas prices are high but that thing belongs in a Road Warrior movie F'ING SICK.....i would just find a cliff and roll it down it to see if anything gets SCRATCHED.....like the mountain side
jeez.......keep up the good work. i want one now. drive that in NJ traffic...people will move!!!!!

[Smiley]

seems like a lotta work just to beat my ol' 99 Rodeo

I figured I'd start the trash talking later but you beat me to that

Joe – you need to get Marc on here… that way he and I can pull the two of you apart, just like the Trainers do with the Fighters before a Boxing Match.


[b][i]“Let’s get ready to Rrrrrumble!â€

[Bansil]

HAHA

I spoke with the "97Cherokee" at Callantee a few weeks ago when I met him and Sean D.

Sad to say they said no ramming on the trail something about daily drivers and mad spouces not being able to open tailgates etc



Oh and it's Tuesday now

And any stock modified has to use "Stock type" suspension so no 4linky yet.

I might try some of the tuff truck things this summer and fall,dunno. and the rear really works good as it sits.

[ZuCruTrooper2]

This is too funny... I can just imagine the deadly Amigo striking down all the Heeps in its way...hehe

[Smiley]

...The leaf spring setup you're running is interesting, I don't know too much about leaf setups so I'm not familier with it. Anywhere I could find some more info? I'm curious as to how it works.

Here is a write-up that more clearly shows what a 3/4 elliptical spring set-up looks like:
http://members.aol.com/onebdyj/bds.htm

Although, if you compare the two, note that Doug’s ‘Cradle Design’ addresses and solves the problem of the spring eye hitting against the frame (which would eventually crush-in the frame member).


Cheers!
Smiley

[jdstuf]

Thanks Smiley...that's pretty cool.

[Smiley]

Is it time for more photos yet?
Is it time for more photos yet?
Is it time for more photos yet?
Is it time for more photos yet?
Is it time for more photos yet?


And this time can we get some close-ups of the custom micro-camo paint job... errr, I mean, the itty-bitty kitty prints?


Cheers!
Smiley

[Bansil]

Ok

Got some done this weekend.Not much happened during the week thanks to mother nature,tuesday was nice 58 degrees,woke up to this wesnday morning.............7:30.....right after I called in to work,there was about 7" or snow covering 1/4" of ice.......notice the coffee cup lid left over from Sunday morning.



I worked on the lightbar abd oh crap handle after cleaning the building for a couple hours.

Momma wanted to play in the front yard after lunch,so I cleaned her truck off and let it warm up.



Her she is trying to spray me with snow.


She played for awhile doing dohnuts and such.
Then or son wanted to snowboard....




Momma showing off her skidplate



Pic of me coming home friday night.....45 min to go 3 miles......had to air down to 15 pounds and crawl it..........



Saturday morning it was bright and muddy.....pulled my tube bender stand into position in the back yard.



Cow crap and mud is slick as goose crap.....




Got to use my new used old tool.Two vises attached in line with each other,I can now cut tube without holding both pcs.This rocks and is the shiaat for someone working by their self.










Oh yeah I building a truck........




Oke dokey.....yes all the tubes on eachside are different and bent/mounted "crooked" for a reason.....





After a few hours of cutting and bending.....walla...driverside door bars.



Halo support bar,two bends to clear evrything,like my hands etc.



Ok as you can see,everything is for a reason,gotta keep stock door panels,just cause....


So lower tube bent and mounted to clear the seat recline handle,gotta be comfy.Oh and I had to barely notch the door pocket,I gotta have a place for cd's.


Top tube clearanced for door pull,and inside door handle.

Front halo support bar bent to allow window operation.and still support the "node"

Back verticle bar clears everything,like armrest and door while still allowing an easy full weld.

There isn't a middle bar mostly because it's easier to use the cage as a ladder to get in and out w/o it,but can be easily installed later.



another pic of halo support



ugh just a pic



tubes bent to get most room around seats



ok passengerside did a few different things here.

front halo support was pushed back a few inches,for some reason it's easier to get in and out with foot placement,it is easyier for me atleast to use the front as a step,dunno but it works....



This shows the tuck put into the bars to get as much room as possible.Also kinda shows the rear/back verticle door bar,I bent it at ~15* this gives more hip/pocket room for atleast righthanded folks,thought of this after doing driverside,oops.



Inside passenger shot shows that everything still fits.



Outside shot





another shot


Well that's it for now,I have a few more braces to put in and then drop it down to finish weld a few top pcs..............raise it backup and mount it to the frame.

[Smiley]

Forget the driver and passenger -- All I wanna know is how the #%@$ you keep getting the *seats* in and out ???


Kathy just saw the above photos…
I think now she feels a whole lot better about our prospects of surviving a 40+mph chance encounter with a rock, tree, oncoming semi truck, run-away freight train, etc.


Cheers!
Smiley

[Bansil]

All I wanna know is how the #%@$ you keep getting the *seats* in and out

Actually pull them up and turn 90* and fold them up and they come right out, altho' I thought at first I'd have to take them apart after I tacked everything up,but it's all good.