Ians Buggy Build

[Drivermod]

Originally Posted by 67fastback

looks like the top bar to the rear axle might bend if it does not get some more bracing...

Not likely, it's 0.250 wall 1.75 tubing but I am going to add a piece of tube directly under the link mount.

[Drivermod]

Drove it around the parking lot today. Man, what a good feeling. Still need to bleed the steering and brakes a little better but it was pretty cool. Today was day number 37 (according to my wife, apparently she's counting:)) of actual work on the build. So close I can taste it.

id like to see it in action. thats one hell of a rig

[Drivermod]

Drove it around offroad a bit. First big hill I pulled up to I thought the transmission was slipping...forgot it still has manual hubs and they weren';t locked in. Having some steering issues but we'll get em ironed out soon enough. Here is a walk around video taken while we were figuring out the drive shaft carrier bearing placement.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d7l09GC_qnY

[drmeece]

Ian that is too cool...Good job

[JeffK5]

Good lookin ...that rear spoiler thingy is cool..

[Drivermod]

Thanks. That was an after thought. I didn't like how the rear ended up so I added the "spoiler". I kinda dig it.

[Drivermod]

Ready to ride. Come on nice weather...

Winch will be in place this weekend. Air bumps and limit straps and seat covers to come in the next couple weeks. Chains are temporarily in place in case I get a chance to get it out.

[timido]

60 degrees this weekend

[biggin69]

Looks good!

[Drivermod]

Originally Posted by timido

60 degrees this weekend

And rain. Not in the mood to deal with the mess this time of year. Winter wheeling is when I miss the Jeep. It would be different if it was summer time.

[Drivermod]

Laid some paint on it this weekend and got it mostly back together. Was shooting for a charcoal gray but it turned out closer to silver. I still like it with the black panels and red accents.

[Coppertop]

Looks great Man ...I'm diggin' the full size cherokee in the background.

Nick

[Drivermod]

Originally Posted by Coppertop

Looks great Man ...I'm diggin' the full size cherokee in the background.

Nick

The Cherokee is a really clean piece. Getting the tranny rebuilt and scrapping the quadratrac transfercase for an NP205.

[coachholland]

Jeebus Ian, that's gorgeous. When and where is the maiden voyage?

[Drivermod]

Originally Posted by coachholland

Jeebus Ian, that's gorgeous. When and where is the maiden voyage?

Thanks. Probably do a couple local runs on either private land or at one of the local parks, i.e. Big Rock, very soon. Hope to schedule a couple Harlan trips in the next few Months. Something in mid April and then maybe late May.

[Nuts]

I like this style better than all the new chassis you guys are putting out. These are a little diferent than everything out there, the new ones are starting to look alot like all the jimmy smith rip offs

[Drivermod]

Originally Posted by Nuts

I like this style better than all the new chassis you guys are putting out. These are a little diferent than everything out there, the new ones are starting to look alot like all the jimmy smith rip offs

Thanks, I like this style better too. I'm a fan of having panels to keep some of the mud and rocks off of ya and it is nice to look a little different. There is a long waiting list to get a Smith chassis so Todd is just tapping into that market while it's hot. Selling like hotcakes. Makes good business sense.

[Nuts]

I understand that, and I do like the new ones too, just like these a little more.

[Drivermod]

Got it on the dyno at Cincy Speed today. I highly recommend anyone bulding one of these get on the dyno and make sure the engine is running top notch. The guys at Cincy Speed specialize in GM tuning, especially late model LS based stuff, but they can tune other makes as well. Got it all dialed in and took it back to the Spegal farm for some offroad fun. Climbed the steepest hill I've ever been up right off the bat. Started having steering issues again after about a 1/2 hr of playing. Aparently I have some junk in the system and the valve in the pump is getting stuck. We'll get it taken care of. For now I'm just extatic that I was able to sling some mud around and for the most part every thing is working great. Just in time for riding season.

[twiztedzuki]

awesum! did they say % of power u lose through tranny and tcase? wifes pump on her buggy did same thing, just had little dirt in it sumhow

[Drivermod]

I think a commonly accepted loss through the drivetrain is about 40% on these big tired offroad vehicles. It put down 241 rwhp so thats about 400 hp at the crank. Not bad but I was expecting a bit more. It'll get the job done.

[nshefbuch]

40%???? I think that's way to high. I've spent a lot of time around engine and chassis dyno's and never seen a 40% loss of power. If your putting out 240 Hp at the wheels the motor is more than likely pushing 300-325 max. Should be more like 20% loss. The transfer case and large tires won't make up an extra 20% loss. Granted automatics lose more than manuals but its a difference of say 7% -10%.

[underpowered]

as a rule of thumb i was always told by dyno guys a manual has 10-15% loss, and an auto has about 20% power train loss.

40% does sound very high even with your big tires.

[Drivermod]

I drag raced for years and spent lots of time around chassis dyno's as well. As an example there is a thread on Pirate where one of the Ultra 4 guys posted up his flywheel numbers and at the tires. Both verified on a dyno. Difference for him was 37%. Top of the last page of this build thread.

http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/gener...a4-car-23.html


The engine in my buggy is a 406 with Brodix heads, Holley Stealth Ram injection and a fairly large flat tappet cam. It better have more than 325 hp or something is seriously wrong. You'ed be surprised how much power all this heavy weight drivetrain sucks up. Wanna race?