Extreme 3rd Gen Build! Insane!
- Thread starter NotKewl
- Start date
NotKewl
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Thanks. Yeah, you and me both. I have a little over eight weeks left to get this thing running and trail ready. I'll worry about the cosmetic stuff (body work, paint, etc.) after Trail Fest.
URBAN ASSAULT
New member
Looks great Brent! Nice progress. Home stretch. I'm heading out to Adventure Off Road Park next weekend. Thurs-Sun if weather is nice. Sat/Sun even if bad weather.
Crawling for Reid ? A Charity for Reid Davis Underwood
You are welcome to a seat in my rig. In the process of finishing my cage as well. Should be ready to go.
NotKewl
New member
Sweet! Yeah, I'd love to go. I'll see what the schedule looks like and If I can get out there Sat or Sunday, I'll ride with you.
NotKewl
New member
Today was a major milestone in this project! The rear suspension is DONE! All mocked up, tacked in, cycled to check for binding or clearance issues, wheels put on. Then dissembled one last time to finish weld everything up and slap a coat (or 4) of paint on the links and rear axle. Tomorrow I start on the front links and do the same thing. By Sunday this beast will be sitting on it's new 4 wheels all on it's own. :reddance:
Bam! Let there be double triangulated 4-link!
Bam! Let there be double triangulated 4-link!
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NotKewl
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Well, I did it again! My perfectionism kicked in and I decided I was not at all happy with the rear frame the way it was. I cut it with my plasma cutter to narrow the rear, but made a mess of it and decided that instead of repairing the frame and adding fish plates to make it stronger, I'd just go ahead and chop it off and start from scratch with tubing. I'll still try to skin it with the rear quarters (my favorite part of a 3rd gen T4R). So, essentially I now have a Truggy.
This project has tested my skillset. A few months ago I'd tell you I hated cutting, bending, and grinding tubing. Today, it's fun. Once you get the hang of it, you can do it pretty fast without software, or a tube notcher. I just use a chop-saw (or bandsaw), plasmas cutter (for complex notches), and a grinder to make tight fitting notches like this.
This project has tested my skillset. A few months ago I'd tell you I hated cutting, bending, and grinding tubing. Today, it's fun. Once you get the hang of it, you can do it pretty fast without software, or a tube notcher. I just use a chop-saw (or bandsaw), plasmas cutter (for complex notches), and a grinder to make tight fitting notches like this.
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NotKewl
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Over the last two days, I've managed to get the rear portion of the cage welded up, the rear seat mounted (and brilliantly too I might add), and the rack for the fuel cell fabricated. Well, most of it anyway. In between cutting and welding, I did a little paint work to test out the new scheme. NO, I am NOT a Vols fan. In fact, me and most of my family went to UF. My favorite colors all my life have been Orange, Gray, and White. Mostly Orange, though. Then the Vols had to go and add gray to their colors last year! Damn you Vols, I had it first!
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spoonsports86
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coming out great. cage work looks awesome
NotKewl
New member
Thanks. Just a few more weeks to go till deadline day.
NotKewl
New member
My little kids fit just perfectly.
I even fit back there...errr somewhat. Wouldn't want to ride back there all day non-stop, but one or two trail rides back there would be livable.
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NotKewl
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Doesn't look like I'm going to have the time to go ride with you bro. My build schedule is getting tighter and tighter and I have some work travel coming up this month and next (Austin and Vancouver) that will also eat into my schedule. I'm going to have to pass this time so I can spend the weekend getting this thing further along.
NotKewl
New member
I guest lectured at the local college today, so I didn't have a whole lot of time this afternoon to do much work on the chimera project. I did manage to get the rear axle remounted again. Also, whoops, guess what, I forgot to install the rear link guards... or whatever you want to call them. So, I ground off some paint (ugh) and welded them on. Just a few stitches, though. That way when they get beat up BAD, I can cut the welds and add new ones. I was going to make these from scratch using 3/16" plate and my awesome press break but found out that Ruffstuff Specialties has these pre-made pretty cheap and I'm short on time so I ordered some. Also, since I was repainting the links again anyway, I decided to paint the steering ram to match the rest of the paint scheme. Turned out nice.
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NotKewl
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Got the front axle all finished up and the bump stops all around too. Started mounting the shocks, again. Tomorrow this thing will be sitting on its own four wheels hopefully.
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wake_rider
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I'm really blown away at your ambition and follow through on this project.
Quick question. What are the plans or the purpose for your shock hoop dumping off on the end like that? We don't get crawling buggies around Oklahoma because we don't have rocks to crawl on, so I'm asking this from complete lack of experience seeing this type of project.
Quick question. What are the plans or the purpose for your shock hoop dumping off on the end like that? We don't get crawling buggies around Oklahoma because we don't have rocks to crawl on, so I'm asking this from complete lack of experience seeing this type of project.
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NotKewl
New member
Thanks! I'm blown away at what this project is costing me in time and $.
Honestly, I just cut the tube too long. In the next set of pictures I'm posting you will see where I cut it off. 
NotKewl
New member
Spent the day (off) running to get more supplies (steel, shielding gas, etc.) and managed to get the rear finished and the front links mounted only to take them off when I (stupidly) realized the tires wouldn't clear the links at full clock. 
DOAH!
Well, now I have to make an extension to bring the lower links in towards the transfer case to help clear the tires. Sigh.
But, at least I did get the fuel cell fully mounted (removable of course).
At ride height.
At full droop. The limit straps are six-ply Trail-Gear units that are beefy as all get out.
Heh, heh, heh, heh... Bunghole! You know, cause it's called a bung. :biggrin2:
My buddy came over and gave me a hand today. By chance, he was off too.
DOAH! Well, now I have to make an extension to bring the lower links in towards the transfer case to help clear the tires. Sigh.
But, at least I did get the fuel cell fully mounted (removable of course).
At ride height.
At full droop. The limit straps are six-ply Trail-Gear units that are beefy as all get out.
Heh, heh, heh, heh... Bunghole! You know, cause it's called a bung. :biggrin2:
My buddy came over and gave me a hand today. By chance, he was off too.
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NotKewl
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Wheew! The front suspension is fully built and welded in minus shocks (that's tomorrow). By Sunday, this beast WILL be sitting on its own all the way around. This girl has legs and she knows how to use them! Just less than 6 weeks (2 weeks in terms of my availability in time) to go to get this rig done for Trail Fest 2017!
Checking for any binding... nope! Good to go!
Steering ram and control arms installed.
Sitting just above ride height.
Checking for any binding... nope! Good to go!
Steering ram and control arms installed.
Sitting just above ride height.
