What kind of work am I looking at?

[LT.]

Folks, I am frustrated with my Beater. I know what I want but I am having a hard time deciding on what I want to do. I know I want the front tires to be the leading edge of the vehicle, I also want the rear tires to be the trailing edge. I want somewhere between 112" and 116" wheel base, and I want it to seat four. I may end up making the wheel base longer to fit the back seat in. The 440 is solid as well as the axles and transfer cases (NP 203 and 205). Tranny is solid as well and I really like the old hot rod look. You know, raked stance, chopped roof line, low to the ground, and mean looking. I also want to be able to see what I am driving over and I also want to see what is coming up. This means visibility needs to be there as well. Everything I have drawn up is nothing like what I have to work with. Should I just ditch the factory frame and body on the Beater and start over? What would the rest of the RME'rs do?

LT.

 

[Mope]

I don't know exactly what you have drawn up, but I definetly wouldn't ditch the body on your beater. There aren't that many of them around wheeling. If you do that it becomes just another buggy imo.

 

[Chevycrew]

Sounds like links front an rear, narrowed and lowered nose, narrowed and comp cut rear.

I dont know how to get the hot rod look into a crawler, other than starting with a old rod body...

 

[ChestonScout]

It seems to me like you are looking for a buggy and trying to make the Beater look and perform like one. Its just not going to happen.

The beater is awesome and I think you should keep it and build it. Like was said before...not many out there.

When you get your link suspension done you are going to be amazed at the difference it will make.

As for the hot rod look.........why dont you chop your top and rake the front end of the windsheild down? Of course your glass would be obsolete but it might give you the hot rod look? Take 2" out of the front and leave the back the same height for head room.

Its just the classic story of not being happy with what you have. If you remember I was ready to scrap the Scout a couple months ago because I was frustrated with it.

Just keep plugging on it and things will fall into place.

 

[turbosniper1]

Mr. LT... SIR....
Here is a proposition for you... how about you get your suspension done the way you want it to be done and then bring the Beater up to me and I will take care of the body work for you. I can bob and dovetail the rear for the ultimate departure angle and clearance while also allowing visibilty and body protection. Then for the front I can work with that as well. I could chop the grill at the same time as narrowing the front (dove-fronting if you want to call it that). That would angle the hood downwards as it gets closer to the front of the vehicle, and the narrowed fenders along with the lowered hood would allow for better vision as well as body protection from obstacles and trees and such.
You could put the wheelbase where you want it to be and I could build the body around it to fit the way you want for approach and departure. And finally for the raked hot rod look you are referring to I could chop the a-pillars of the top a couple inches to achieve a raked look of the top and if you like I could also work the sheet metal of the top to make it into an "eye brow" looking effect that would complete the package.
Allow me to photo shop a little to show you what I am referring to if you are interested!
Hope that helps to add a little to the vehicular modification quandary you are in at this time!
Brother Matt

 

[LT.]

That does not sound like a bad idea there Turbo. I am just not sure of what it would look like. I really do want to eat my cake and have it too with this project. Great visibility, good looks, aggressive stance, amazing capabilities, and I want it to be street legal here in New Mexico (turn signals, head lights, tail lights the works). I will be using Trail Ready beadlocks and I really would like to use the Creepys but, I do drive this on the street to and from the trail so I am not sure if the Creepys would be the smart choice, considering their expensive price tag. There were a lot of folks who said I should go with the Creepys or the runner up was the Pitbulls. I know the wheels so that is what I will be ordering and then I will make up my mind on the tires at a latter date. After the suspenson I will be ordering the transfer case doubler and trying to get that together. Unless someone else has a better idea, any suggestions?

LT.

 

[turbosniper1]

Well... I got bored.... so here you go...
As it currently sits(well sort of):

Then here is what it would look like with the rear wheel base extended about 8" or so and chopping about 10" of body out of the back:

And then here are the new ones with the stretched front wheelbase and simulated narrowed fenders to shorten the overall length of the front end a little:

And here is my best effort at chopping the windshield a couple inches for the hot rod look to have a little bit of a rake to the top while still maintaining visibility:

It will take me a little bit to work up the chopped grill for the extra visibility, but this is what I could come up with in about an hour.... so I hope you like what you see so far....
Anyone else's vote on it??? Look bad, look good??? Input??
I will work up the modified/chopped grill in the morrow when I am a little more awake and can focus a little more.
Hope you like the work LT!
Later brother!
Matt

edit: I say go with the Pitbulls. They offer the best in all around great tire while still achieving maximum trailability!!! Great tire and won't tear themselves apart on the road going to and from trails. Just my $.02, and I would go with either a 42 still to maintain ground clearance for the 14 bolt or go ahead and step up to the 44 and build the suspension around it and I can build the body around them as well!!! Keep ground clearance in mind as well as trail performance when making the decision. That 14 bolt does hang VERY low!! Additional info for your intellectual quandary!!

 

[sixb]

Wow turbosniper that does look good and it looks like you put some effort/thought into it. That's a heck of an offer LT. Man I wish you were closer turbosniper I just need a little rust repair on my money pit.

 

[LT.]

I guess all this over time is going to get in the way of me getting anything done. It will help me get the parts a little bit sooner though. The next things that I need to order is the mis-alignment spacers, tubing, and the transfer case doubler with the rebuild kits. I am toying with the idea of using tractor brake peddles for the front brakes and the rear brakes with a triple stick transfer case set up. An idea that I stole from Bart.

Turbo, I think I like the pictures. No, I like the pictures but, it still needs something. I am not sure what else but I think I want the grill lowered a few inches and maybe some 50's or 60's flames on the rig. What do you think?

LT.

 

[turbosniper1]

I guess all this over time is going to get in the way of me getting anything done. It will help me get the parts a little bit sooner though. The next things that I need to order is the mis-alignment spacers, tubing, and the transfer case doubler with the rebuild kits. I am toying with the idea of using tractor brake peddles for the front brakes and the rear brakes with a triple stick transfer case set up. An idea that I stole from Bart.

Turbo, I think I like the pictures. No, I like the pictures but, it still needs something. I am not sure what else but I think I want the grill lowered a few inches and maybe some 50's or 60's flames on the rig. What do you think?

LT.

Definitely agree with you LT on the lowering the grill... I haven't been able to get to the photo chop of the lowered grill yet... but I will definitely get to it in the next couple days here for you! So I am glad you like what you see so far and I will keep up the chopping and posting the pics for you brother!
Have a good night and don't work too hard, and be safe!
Matt

 

[LT.]

If I am working hard then something is wrong, I will be the first to know and then the rest of the southwest will know about the same time. Trackin'? Catch ya' later Bro.

LT.

 

[ChestonScout]

yup!

The beater needs a flat black primer paint job with some BRIGHT flames. That with the chopped top and chopped grille and you would have a Hot Rod Crawler my friend!

 

[turbosniper1]

This would be the most Unique RamCharger out there!!!

Alrighty then ladies and gentlemen... After about 2 hrs more of photo chopping (only because I am using Paintbrush program and don't actually have photo edit software), here is what I have come up with.
I think that this would definitely make one of the most unique... if not the most unique.... Ramchargers out there today!!!!
For comparison sake I will throw up two of the old pictures again:
Here we have the bobbed and stretched wheelbase in the rear only:

Here we have the bobbed rear and stretched wheelbase front and rear, along with the chopped windshield for the hotrod look as requested:

And now the crowning touch... My pride and joy is the all of the above as well as a chopped grill to lower the angle of the hood for improved visibility! This could also be incorporated with doved fenders in the front for even more improved visibility and keeping the ride height lower..

Since the plan is to dovetail the rear anyway it would look fitting and even out the body to dove the front fenders. Also as I stated in the picture description, if the front fenders are doved like the rear it would allow the body height to be lowered a little bit since the tires would be outside of the body anyhow. Or keep the current height and run a 44! That would be about the perfect mix of clearance for the 14 bolt, tire size for offroad use, and fitment for the fullsize!
Hope you like it!
Matt

 

[ChestonScout]

very cool Matt!

 

[LT.]

I am really digging the last picture. After some thought it may be too much work to lower the roof line some. After all it is just for looks and does nothing for performance. The lowered hood line would give me a better view of the trail and by lowering the radiator coolant tanks and such it may help with the center of gravity. Not much but every little bit helps. I could see lowering the roof line some if I was to ditch the factory roof and just make it part of the cage or something like that. That may be the best idea. Why should i keep the factory roof and windshield? It is already cracked and needs to be replaced any how maybe I should think about removing it, and maybe even cut down the doors like I was thinking about in the first place. I don't know.

LT.