Finally....Da new rig..

So next onto the trans cooler. I found a sweet spot for it. I had wanted to tie both rear shock hoops together and the piece of tube was in the perfect spot. So I made mounts and walla the trans cooler. The fan will be reversed as a pusher as to not blow hot air onto the fuel cell and it still give me good access to the battery posts with it in that spot.

So the rear is really taking shape and now onto the front so I can get the front drive shaft figured out. I found where I think I wanted the front pinion angle to be so I pulled it out and changed the caster since the lower mounts are on the knuckle I wanted everything spot on.

So I talked with brian who is building my shafts and got some insight on the front shaft. So I took my old shafts and luckily I have a pile of parts and mocked up a front shaft. I am happy to say its going to work beautifully and tight as it might be her should be able to build me a front shaft thats going to be strong and fit nicely.

This part totally excited me--crazy how much more it looks like a rig with tires on it. Its now sitting on its own on full compression.

The reason for doing the tires is to check clearance on the front.

But damn I am loving the fact its to this point...

So I flexed the front and nothing hits. The front bumper pic is a bad one as I should have taken it looking down--but plenty of room. The rear is kinda close and might scrub the paint off but I was happy with the checked both sides and both are identical...

Now with knowing the front doesn't hit now I am onto the front and winch mount.

This looks SO good. It's a big change from the old one, but I think it's well deserved! You excited or nervous to learn to wheel a new rig?

~T.J.

Nice work Mike, If you need more clearance between the drive line and starter let me know and I can send you link to a powermaster starter that will give you another inch of clearance. (See post 68 in my build thread if so)Got it off amazon, was very reasonable in price also.

84Toyota4x4 said:

This looks SO good. It's a big change from the old one, but I think it's well deserved! You excited or nervous to learn to wheel a new rig?

~T.J.

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Ya Iain was looking it over when he stopped by on saturday and was in aw over it,lol.. Ya its a whole different beast for sure. Oh crap--I gotta drive it huh,lol.

PORTER said:

Nice work Mike, If you need more clearance between the drive line and starter let me know and I can send you link to a powermaster starter that will give you another inch of clearance. Got it off amazon, was very reasonable in price also.

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I should be ok mike and I recall that starter you used. My mock up was with 1 3/4" tube with 1/4" clearance on the link and my new one will be 1.5" so I should have wiggle room.

The corner of that man bulge looks like a low pressure flex sidewall cutter. Looking great Mike...now on with the vroom vroom noises .

Retoocs said:

The corner of that man bulge looks like a low pressure flex sidewall cutter. Looking great Mike...now on with the vroom vroom noises .

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The pic doesn't really show the room that it actually has--It should be aok.. Plus its all rounded at the end.

crash said:

The pic doesn't really show the room that it actually has--It should be aok.. Plus its all rounded at the end.

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Beautiful work.

What size tires are those?

TreeClimber said:

Beautiful work.

What size tires are those?

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Thanks Tony.. 39.5's or as the kids call them--40's :redneck:

Did ya measure your belly height since you were at full bump?

Jokenring said:

Did ya measure your belly height since you were at full bump?

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I think its around 14"

Why not use one of the Warn winch connectors to hook up your welder, run some cable to some place easy to access and mount the connector end. http://www.unlimitedtruck.com/warn-22681-winch-wire-harness-connector?fee=9&fep=4733

1982cj7 said:

Why not use one of the Warn winch connectors to hook up your welder, run some cable to some place easy to access and mount the connector end. http://www.unlimitedtruck.com/warn-22681-winch-wire-harness-connector?fee=9&fep=4733

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Why complicate something thats used only here and there plus doing it for 24v gets even more complcated with having to put both batteries in series..

Trust me I do know what I am doing with the flow of electrons

A series parallel switch with quick connects would be cool but just added weight and cost for as you said, something rarely used. On an overland rig it would probably be worth it.

crash said:

Ya Iain was looking it over when he stopped by on saturday and was in aw over it,lol.. Ya its a whole different beast for sure. Oh crap--I gotta drive it huh,lol.

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Yeah, he talked on the phone with me after he was there. He invited me to go with him, but I had other commitments at the time. I want to stop by and check it out myself at some point. Maybe when he picks his stuff up I can tag along.

~T.J.

ain'tstuckjustresting said:

A series parallel switch with quick connects would be cool but just added weight and cost for as you said, something rarely used. On an overland rig it would probably be worth it.

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On an overland rig it would be tits for sure..

So the rig now has a nose and one of those winch things,lol.