- Location
- Grantsville, Utah
Sausage links
The "trophy husband" pro mod buggy build
- Thread starter N-Smooth
- Start date
Well now I'm hungry.
The aluminum tube is for coolant. I decided to go this route rather than run the coolant through the chassis tubes. I'm doing -16 fittings and lines from the motor to the aluminum tubes under the driver side floor, to the radiator. It will hopefully turn out pretty slick 🤞
The aluminum round stock is to sleeve the rocker tubes. It's kind of an old school trick. I had originally planned on sleeving them with 1.5" DOM but decided this would be more fun. It's actually only about 1/4 lb heavier per foot than the DOM and obviously WAYYYYY stronger/more dent resistant.
Oh and I'm cutting a few pucks off to make into radiator mounts.
I got the seat mounts straightened out and burned in just now. It’s nice to be able to sit in it and not have the seats falling over and sliding off of stuff haha
I’m still going to add a small tab and one bolt on the harness bar to keep the seats tight against it and avoid them bouncing off of it. My Jeep seats do that and it makes me want to MURDER! Also using Kirkey’s is new to me and I’d like to keep them rigid. I’m going to add another small tab to each seat on the outside underneath the lap belt access hole. There’s a boat side tube right there so it will be easy peasy.
For the front mounts you can see I drilled out the middle two holes so the bolt heads fit in them. This is because I did my own nut strip on the backside with welded nuts and those two bolts hold it in place. I’m pleased with how it worked out considering it was a random idea I had. I’ll probably switch to allen head bolts like the rear mount and it will be even nicer.
One thing that sucks is that the front tube can’t span the whole chassis when all is said and done. For one, I have to be able to remove the transmission through the top and two, it’s right in the way of the Atlas shift rails. It’s fine though, I’ll support it with a vertical tube from the belly on each side and then chop out the middle, pretty much from the inside edge of the seat mount tabs. When the floor and shifters are in it shouldn’t be very noticeable. I still think this is the best route for seat mounts in my application.
I know my posts are weird because I could skip these little updates, especially for something stupid like seat mounts... but since this is the biggest project I’ve ever had (and hopefully ever will have) I’m keen to document it. Also if I can talk somebody else out of building a buggy it’s worth it! Lol
I’m still going to add a small tab and one bolt on the harness bar to keep the seats tight against it and avoid them bouncing off of it. My Jeep seats do that and it makes me want to MURDER! Also using Kirkey’s is new to me and I’d like to keep them rigid. I’m going to add another small tab to each seat on the outside underneath the lap belt access hole. There’s a boat side tube right there so it will be easy peasy.
For the front mounts you can see I drilled out the middle two holes so the bolt heads fit in them. This is because I did my own nut strip on the backside with welded nuts and those two bolts hold it in place. I’m pleased with how it worked out considering it was a random idea I had. I’ll probably switch to allen head bolts like the rear mount and it will be even nicer.
One thing that sucks is that the front tube can’t span the whole chassis when all is said and done. For one, I have to be able to remove the transmission through the top and two, it’s right in the way of the Atlas shift rails. It’s fine though, I’ll support it with a vertical tube from the belly on each side and then chop out the middle, pretty much from the inside edge of the seat mount tabs. When the floor and shifters are in it shouldn’t be very noticeable. I still think this is the best route for seat mounts in my application.
I know my posts are weird because I could skip these little updates, especially for something stupid like seat mounts... but since this is the biggest project I’ve ever had (and hopefully ever will have) I’m keen to document it. Also if I can talk somebody else out of building a buggy it’s worth it! Lol
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- Location
- Grantsville, Utah
I like the detailed updates. You can't talk me out of it.
RockChucker
Well-Known Member
- Location
- Highland
I think you should just leave the seat tube as is. Roll the dice that you have one of those fancy “lifetime” fill transmissions that will never have a problem. #livedangerously 😂
but seriously, looking good. Seat mounts are not small in my opinion. They play a huge role in how comfortable you are and are the foundation for getting the rest of their ergonomics to control the buggy. After all. You do plan to drive it for extended periods of time...might as well be comfortable doing it
but seriously, looking good. Seat mounts are not small in my opinion. They play a huge role in how comfortable you are and are the foundation for getting the rest of their ergonomics to control the buggy. After all. You do plan to drive it for extended periods of time...might as well be comfortable doing it
Thanks but you should really reconsider your life choices if you get to the point of building from scratch
To be honest there are potentially a few tubes that will have to be cut to remove the drivetrain. I can measure and plan all day but without actually testing the removal it's hard to say. I will just try to cut nicely and add couplers or flanges if it comes to that.
Thank you. That's why I wanted them done, so I can start visualizing the interior panels, trans shifter, Atlas shifters, cutting brakes, switches etc.
As far as driving for extended periods of time... if it's not comfortable I just have to endure it for 10 minutes at a time
that's a sad thought so it better be moderately comfortableSweet! Well, you're going to get them whether you like it or not but liking it is a plus for sure
Pile of parts
Well-Known Member
- Location
- South Jordan
Is there a reason you wouldn't just use couplers for the parts that may need to be removed?
www.ruffstuffspecialties.com
RuffStuff Specialties: Tube Couplers and Clamps
RuffStuff Specialties manufactures top-quality off-road parts for 4x4s. Explore suspension kits, steering kits, disc brake conversion kits, bumpers and more.
www.ruffstuffspecialties.com
I'm already using a few of those for the front motor mounts and have a few more on my shelf. For the front seat mounts they won't work since the tube is in the way of the Atlas shift rails but I'm sure I'll put them to use somewhere. That's what I was trying to describe above.Is there a reason you wouldn't just use couplers for the parts that may need to be removed?
RuffStuff Specialties: Tube Couplers and Clamps
RuffStuff Specialties manufactures top-quality off-road parts for 4x4s. Explore suspension kits, steering kits, disc brake conversion kits, bumpers and more.
I’ve been reasonably productive today so that’s good.
My hardware order arrived so I was able to get the upper seat mounts on. They were already really rigid but this just finalized things. I’m happy with it.
I also switched the front mounts to Allen bolts. I love it.
Front housing before.
After measuring and calculating like a billion times.
While I was sanding the tube ends the sander grabbed and pulled the housing off the stands. Neat.
That was an unexpected issue but @skippy told me to put on my big girl pants and fix it with a file or whatever. It’s going to get dragged over rocks constantly and it’s just the seal housing anyways. I reluctantly cleaned it up and it’ll work fine with some RTV around the seal.
I fired up the ol BBQ and heated up some delicious C’s and then beat the hell out of them with my hammer. Annnnnnd here we are. My arms are tired.
My hardware order arrived so I was able to get the upper seat mounts on. They were already really rigid but this just finalized things. I’m happy with it.
I also switched the front mounts to Allen bolts. I love it.
Front housing before.
After measuring and calculating like a billion times.
While I was sanding the tube ends the sander grabbed and pulled the housing off the stands. Neat.
That was an unexpected issue but @skippy told me to put on my big girl pants and fix it with a file or whatever. It’s going to get dragged over rocks constantly and it’s just the seal housing anyways. I reluctantly cleaned it up and it’ll work fine with some RTV around the seal.
I fired up the ol BBQ and heated up some delicious C’s and then beat the hell out of them with my hammer. Annnnnnd here we are. My arms are tired.
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- Location
- The Land Northward (Bountiful), Utah
Oh man! That sucks. You were just telling me how you didn't want that to happen!
That’s actually the rear axle I was warned about so it’s funny it happened on the front 🤦🏼♂️
It’s not funny
I picked up my aluminum sheets today, unloaded them and then just sat there staring at this thing. When I’m unmotivated I clean so I did that. Then after cleaning I saw the hood hanging up in the corner of the garage and thought hmmmm maybe I should play with that. So naturally I did the messiest thing ever and cut some lexan... Oh well, it’s fun to look at.
It’s a TJ hood so that adds some perspective to the size of this thing. Clearly I need to do quite a bit more cutting, add some wheel arches and cut out the grille area. I’ll be doing a flat plate grille for sure. I’m actually pretty happy with the rake where it’s sitting right now but I’m sure I’ll mess with it quite a bit more when the time comes. There’s a solid chance I’ll shorten it front to back too. It depends on how the proportions look.
It’s a TJ hood so that adds some perspective to the size of this thing. Clearly I need to do quite a bit more cutting, add some wheel arches and cut out the grille area. I’ll be doing a flat plate grille for sure. I’m actually pretty happy with the rake where it’s sitting right now but I’m sure I’ll mess with it quite a bit more when the time comes. There’s a solid chance I’ll shorten it front to back too. It depends on how the proportions look.
- Location
- Grantsville, Utah
Those look pretty burly and seen to have a deep offset. How much backspacing are they?
- Location
- Grantsville, Utah
I had to buy a mixer for the neverending tile job. The tile store had this massive drill/mixer combo for $99, so I went with that. It will definitely be used with a notcher when I get one.
Goldblatt Electric Mixer | Floor and Decor
•9A Electric Mixer•Soft Grip: For improved comfort & grip.•Lock-On Switch: The trigger can be locked in the on position for easy continuous operat
www.flooranddecor.com
It was $40 but yeah we’ll see 🤣
They’re SUPER burly. I have Racelines on the XJ and these are beefier in every way. 3/4” thick rings and 3/8” bolts vs 1/2” and 5/16” on the Racelines. I’d have to measure but I’m thinking the wheel mounting surface is beefier on these as well. That being said I would’ve 100% gone with Raceline again if they didn’t try to dick with me on the pricing. I’m simply not dealing with that.
It’s just the angle of the shot or something. 9” wide, 4.75” backspacing.
I can hook you up on those pro comp wheels if your in the market.