While out Wheeling this weekend, a fellow wheeler broke his transfer case In his CH@#$ powered rockcrawler. His rig weighs at least 5500 pounds if it weighs an ounce. Well, guess who got begged to tow him back to camp, three large mountain ranges away? Yup, yours truly. Quite a load on the ol' girl, but I was pulling all the grades in 3rd gear! Hehehe! Needles to say, that was the subject of all the bench wheeling around the campfire that night. Ohh yeah, and this guy was the same guy who said I should "yank that Buick out an build a big block Ch@#$ for cheaper". Me, I was grinning ear to ear as that BBB sang up those grades! :bglasses:
Looks like that was the best way to get the last laugh!! Unfortunately, sometimes we have to 'earn' our respect!! Looks like he's singing a different tune now!!:grin:
mygrain, I've owned the Jeep since 1993. About 2 years ago, I did a ground up rebuild of it. I decided that restoration wasn't my goal, but that functionality in all types of four wheeling would be. I started by building the frame out of 2"X4"X3/16" rectangle tube. The frame is also used as a 7 gallon air tank, which I pressurize to about 165 PSI. I also built the roll cage, which is welded to the frame at the body mount locations I put Dana 60 axles in it front and rear, both out of a 1979 Ford pickup. They have 5.13:1 gears, ARB's and custom alloy axles from Moser. I have Disc brakes at all four corners.The front has Warn premium 35 spline hubs and CTM Ujoints. The differential covers are plated with spring steel to prevent them from getting dented by rocks. The drivelines are custom long slip shafts (For increased wheel travel) and use 1410 series u-joints (Commonly found in 2 ton trucks). The transfer case is an Atlas II with 4.3:1 low range, I'm using an SM 420 4 speed transmission, which can be found in most GM trucks from 1947-1967 from 1/2 ton to 2 ton. It bolts directly to my Buick bellhousing without any adapter, or machining. The 455 Buick came out of an 1974 Buick Electra 225, and I rebuilt it. I put an RV cam in it and an Edebrock manifold. I obtained a Q-jet and installed it backwards on the motor because they work best that way for Rockcrawling. I put a 100HP Edelbrock Performer Nitrous kit on it also for sand dunes and Cinders running. The old A-6 AC compressor is what I use to charge the frame up. It takes air in from the motor's crankase (At the valve cover). I run a 5 micron separator to try to catch oil and water before it gets into the frame. The air is used mostly for ARBs, but can also be used for air tools and tires. It has full hydraulic ram steering using a forklift orbital valve and a 2.5" ram. I modified my saginaw pump for more pressure and GPM, and housing for more capacity. The steering makes it super easy to steer in the rocks. I put a 20 gallon tank on it from RCI There's allot of little things I'm leaving out, but I don't want to bore you with those. It isn't pretty, but the only time you notice that is when they are sitting in your garage, or at a show. Otherwise, it seems to keep up with the pretty ones just fine on the trail.... The most important thing I get out of this vehicle is the satisfaction that it's unique, original, and I built it myself. I feel that way about it always, but it is amplified when I successfully drive an obstacle or trail. What a rush! Later.
Sounds like a very well built jeep. I also own a wheeler, 1980 toyota locked with dual cases and junk. If you would like to meet some Az wheelers you should check out www.pirate4x4.com They are a little rough on new guys because most of them ask ninny questions, but for hardcore wheelin tech and trails its the best you'll find. Or maybe you have found it already. Corey
Pirate 4X4 Yeah, been going there for a while now. Don't post too much, I lurk for entertainment value. Allot of those guys think they know more than they do, or they do allot of "Virtual wheeling". There are a few who actually know what they are talking about though. You can usually tell who's full of it and who's not. I know allot of Az wheelers, I use Pirate's more for research and information.
Man, that makes my 85 K5 Blazer seem weak. Its a silverado, lifted 8 inches with a kit, 4.56 gear stock axles with a posi rear and locking hubs in the front, 36" swampers and the stock 305/700r4. Its works well enough for me. ________ Paxil attorneys
Trust me, yldkat55, you are not boring me! Tell me more about the hyd steering. I have put a 1-ton Dana 60 with a locker in the front of my sub and the steering now completely sucks. It would be easier with manual steering, I swear. Don't get me wrong, I love the Sub and could move a building with the proper traction. It is locked front and rear with 4:56 gears. I am thinking about a 4:1 t-case in tandem with the factory t-case. Imagine the crawl ratio. 4 X 2.72 X 3.31 X 4.56 = 164.2:1. I love my 60' times with that 6K lb Pig. If only I had a BBB to throw in front of it all. Just a TBI 350 right now with 210K miles. Still nice to run the pig and embarass people with it. Send me an email or a PM on how I can get some info on the steering set up. I would greatly appreciate it.:TU:
Hi guy's I have a '74 F250 "highboy" that I bought 15 years ago and the first thing I did was get rid of the Ford power and put in a Buick 455. I then proceded to bust every drivetrain part on it! As each piece broke I replace or rebuilt it with something that will hold up. I have never been disapointed with this setup because there is nothing I can't pull or push if I can get enough traction!:TU: I once pulled a 45' semi flatbed frame and deck for my dad that he used as a bridge over a creek behind his house. It had no axils under it so I short chained to it and took off. I had 38" mudders on it at the time and off I went. The only thing that made me nervous was when I looked in the sideview mirror I could watch the bedrail bow as it dragged behind me.ou: The only weak spot that I still have is the Dana 44 front end that will not take it. I keep breaking the spiders. I am looking for a dana 60 that is reasonable to swap into it. These setups with the BBB are in my opinion the BEST for pulling and towing that you can ever have. There also fun to play with camaro's and mustangs in town light to light.:TU:
