The time has finally come for me to make some major changes to the buggy. I bought this about a year ago and figured it was a good platform to start from. It wasn't exactly what I wanted, but cheaper and faster than buying the parts buy themselves. I took it out wheeling a few times and quickly realized stuff had to change.
Here's what I started with
Factory tubular formula 1 chassis(kickin' it old school)
37 inch crawler stickies
4.3 vortec
4l60e or 700r4 I don't remember which
231 from a chevy with a SYE
HP dana 60 front 4.10 gears and welded
sterling 10.25 rear 4.10s and welded
triangulated front and rear suspensions
18" fox air shocks at all corners
108" wheelbase
double ended hydraulic steering
high steer arms
belly height of 22.5"
aluminum fuel cell
stuff I have already changed
gears 4.10s to 5.38s
tires 37s to 40 inch mtrs
wheels stock dodge steelies to wider aluminum
added a winch
broke the orbital valve mount and changed it for a ratchet strap
broke the radiator mount and changed it for a ratchet strap
I think that is the major stuff
On the first run at a real trail greenday/lockjaw I found out I would power out on big ledges. I decided to go with some lower gears. So I had 5.38 put in the diffs. was at 34 to 1 now at 45 to 1 which isn't too bad with an auto. I has made a difference for sure. I still want lower gears, but need to save for an atlas. that part of the problem being addressed I moved on to the next big challenge.
My suspension is built with a ton of anti-squat. The rear end jacks up like crazy. poor suspension geometry and poor air shock angles are the culprit so they are getting changed. After speaking with several of the buggy guys on here and some research of my own I decided to not do it myself Carl will be giving it the once over with my help(mostly me getting in the way). When we get it all taken care of I will post the new pics and hopefully some build pics in stages. We will be changing the angles of the links front and rear as well as the separation of the ends of the links. Also, 16 inch air shocks instead of 18 inch to lower it some.
Those of you with questions or suggestions let me know. Especially those who saw my buggy in action. The pics are not recent I will get those up in a bit. The pics on the grass were when I bought it with the 37s. The rest are just for fun but it has the 40s on. I will get pics of the stuff I am thinking of changing.
Here's what I started with
Factory tubular formula 1 chassis(kickin' it old school)
37 inch crawler stickies
4.3 vortec
4l60e or 700r4 I don't remember which
231 from a chevy with a SYE
HP dana 60 front 4.10 gears and welded
sterling 10.25 rear 4.10s and welded
triangulated front and rear suspensions
18" fox air shocks at all corners
108" wheelbase
double ended hydraulic steering
high steer arms
belly height of 22.5"
aluminum fuel cell
stuff I have already changed
gears 4.10s to 5.38s
tires 37s to 40 inch mtrs
wheels stock dodge steelies to wider aluminum
added a winch
broke the orbital valve mount and changed it for a ratchet strap
broke the radiator mount and changed it for a ratchet strap
I think that is the major stuff
On the first run at a real trail greenday/lockjaw I found out I would power out on big ledges. I decided to go with some lower gears. So I had 5.38 put in the diffs. was at 34 to 1 now at 45 to 1 which isn't too bad with an auto. I has made a difference for sure. I still want lower gears, but need to save for an atlas. that part of the problem being addressed I moved on to the next big challenge.
My suspension is built with a ton of anti-squat. The rear end jacks up like crazy. poor suspension geometry and poor air shock angles are the culprit so they are getting changed. After speaking with several of the buggy guys on here and some research of my own I decided to not do it myself
Carl will be giving it the once over with my help(mostly me getting in the way). When we get it all taken care of I will post the new pics and hopefully some build pics in stages. We will be changing the angles of the links front and rear as well as the separation of the ends of the links. Also, 16 inch air shocks instead of 18 inch to lower it some.Those of you with questions or suggestions let me know. Especially those who saw my buggy in action. The pics are not recent I will get those up in a bit. The pics on the grass were when I bought it with the 37s. The rest are just for fun but it has the 40s on. I will get pics of the stuff I am thinking of changing.
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