Addicted Offroad's Project: "Always Smooth". Toyota based U4 buggy

[AddictedOffroad]

Well, I got my harness back from Panos today. Completely untouched, so I will just being doing my harness myself. I should be able to make it work. It sucks though as I was really hoping for a plug and play setup, but Nick couldn't do it.

Oh well. I'll get back on this rig in a few weeks when we get done moving and I get my new plasma table up and running

 

[AddictedOffroad]

So, I haven't even had time to touch this thing in the past few weeks with moving the shop and all. But that will be changing soon. The full hydro setup and gears should be here next week. Then I leave for CA to pick up my new plasma table. Anyway, once back, I plan to spend some time on this thing getting it finished up. Otherwise, I'm going to lose a entire summer of wheeling.

 

[AddictedOffroad]

Picked up my new toy this week. Drove into SoCal and loaded this up. It should make working on the buggy a little easier being able to build everything I need from scratch.

 

[AddictedOffroad]

Got a hold of Tina today and she said that RCV is supposed to ship the shafts today. We'll see.

I was able to mock up a few more things today. Overhead tubes are laid out, as are upper dash tubes. I mocked the brake booster(yes power brakes) into place. Its the Lexus booster and master which is a 1" master and was designed for 4wheel discs.

I also decided to run adjustable brackets on the upper links mounts. This will help to adjust the anti-squat. I will run the same ones up front as well.

 

[sixstringsteve]

lookin good!

 

[brandonlmb]

Loving this build

 

[zukijames]

Are you going to make the steering so its double sheer ? Have you tried to put your wiper seals on yet ? The wholes in my knuckles were not tapped kinda annoying

 

[Herzog]

Glad to see more updates.

 

[AddictedOffroad]

Trying to make some progress everyday after we close for a couple hours.

The orbital and steering column are tacked in. I order one of the Speedway quick release steering wheel setups and a cheap Ebay wheel as well as a 3hole to 6 hole steering adapter. The Speedway splined quick release seems like a really tight fit with no slop. We'll see how it does over time.

Then I got a hair up my ass and started cutting the floor panels. An hour later the floor was done.

FWIW, I grabbed one of the dual cut saws from Harbor Freight a while back, and they make cutting these panels a breeze. Literally, they cut like butter through aluminum.

 

[benjy]

Looking great!

Are you going to do any sort of shield for the steering valve? I keep going back and forth about bringing my orbital in the cab for simplicity of mounting...

 

[blznnp]

looks good, what is the gauge on the floor panels? Might have to pick up a dual saw for future sheet metal work

 

[AddictedOffroad]

looks good, what is the gauge on the floor panels? Might have to pick up a dual saw for future sheet metal work

.120 wall/11ga.

Side panels will be .090 wall

 

[AddictedOffroad]

Looking great!

Are you going to do any sort of shield for the steering valve? I keep going back and forth about bringing my orbital in the cab for simplicity of mounting...

I'm not sure its needed. My old buggy ran the orbital there as well without an issue. Usually the fittings on the orbital don't have failures. Its usually the push lock fittings that have the issue. I guess I could build a catch tray under it if I had to. It would definitely suck to have hot fluid running down my legs though.

 

[AddictedOffroad]

Are you going to make the steering so its double sheer ? Have you tried to put your wiper seals on yet ? The wholes in my knuckles were not tapped kinda annoying

I haven't done squat with the axles other than getting it to a roller for the move.

Jury is still out on the dual shear too. My lower arms were cut off when I got them, so I will need to find other arms if I am going to.

BTW, be glad you got your 30 splines when you did. They are no longer on Longfield's site. I ordered mine three weeks ago, but it doesn't look like I will be receiving them. You may have one of the few sets that were made.

 

[blznnp]

the saw cut through 1/8" with ease huh, sounds like a good investment to me

 

[AddictedOffroad]

the saw cut through 1/8" with ease huh, sounds like a good investment to me

Yes. With ease

 

[AddictedOffroad]

Cut some of the firewall panels yesterday.

 

[zukijames]

Looking good! I bet they are just takin care of the snap ring issues and will re release them again .

maybe I will call Tina tomorrow

 

[Coco]

Looking awesome as always Scotty!

 

[zukijames]

Talked to long today was told website had issue and shafts are still available