Chris's Buggy Build

CSR

Active Member
Location
Mapleton
Well, it's time for round two. The Mosquito is a blast and I don't have any intentions of getting rid of it, but I've been playing with a new chassis design and it's time to build it. I made some changes that will get about 150 lbs. worth of mass down a lot closer to (if not in line with) the roll axis.

I wasn't sure what drive train I was going to use until I found a YJ a few days ago with a front Chevy 60/rear 14 bolt with detroits and 4.56 gears, discs all the way around, a 4.3 Atlas, and newish 37 inch Trepadors. So, as Goser in Ghostbusters said near the end of the movie, "The choice is made!"

The next day, I found a 5.3L out of a 2006 Silverado with 24000 miles on it for what I thought was a decent deal.

Here's the tentative build Parts list


  • GM 5.3 liter with LS1 intake and aftermarket harness
  • TH350
  • Atlas 4.3
  • Front 60 w/35 spline shafts throughout, 4.56 gears
  • rear disc brake 14 bolt, 4.56's
  • triangulated 4-link front and rear with Fox 2.0 Air Shocks at all 4 corners
  • 1 3/4 .120 wall DOM chassis, 2 seater
  • PSC full hydro steering with single-ended ram mounted behind the front axle
  • 8000 lb. Smittybuilt winch mounted to front axle
  • long spline drive shafts
  • and some other stuff that isn't coming to mind right now...
Here are some CAD renderings of the chassis and semi-completed machine:
 

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Last edited:

CSR

Active Member
Location
Mapleton
I'm not sure on the time frame. The Mosquito took six months, but that included cumulative several months of downtime waiting for parts and taking time off for Spring semester classes. I'm hoping I can knock it out in three months.

The belly height will be around 19-20". It's a little low, but I will take low center of gravity over ground clearance any day of the week.
 

I Lean

Mbryson's hairdresser
Vendor
Location
Utah
One question--why the long-spline driveshafts? :confused: You shouldn't need very much plunge travel, that's why I wonder.
 

toyota rockhead

Active Member
This think is going to be sick! I like the way the chassis looks and it looks pretty solid! Keep us posted and take some pictures along the way. Your mosquito buggy is pretty bad ass so im sure this one will turn out even better
 
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