Hey,

Got the crewcab up and running today, ran it up and down the road, did some circles in the field next to the shop and generally had a great time tonight.

Heading to dinner then back to the shop.

Lots to say about it, but no time, so there.

:flipoff2:

what are the specs on the 350 in that again? how well does it pull?

sounds lik a major step for you, congrats. i still would have done a big block though :D

Woohoo,

Way to go man. I know exactly how you feel:flipoff2:

Are you gonna bring it back down to Vegas so I can climb all over it?

Billster

just wondering, whats wrong with a nice small block? I dont think he'll even need the HP/Torque available with that setup!

Originally posted by FrankenRover
Woohoo,

Way to go man. I know exactly how you feel:flipoff2:

Are you gonna bring it back down to Vegas so I can climb all over it?

Billster

Thanks Bill.

Sadly, it needs to stay in Paso one more week. I have commited to those guys that regardless of what can happen next week I'm coming out next weekend and bringing it to Vegas Sunday night, a week from today.

Timm and Mathew both have a laundry list. Short, but meaningful. So, here's the last final push from those guys before I get it from them to finish the electrical and trimming out the interior. After that it's off to Kenworth to get the Red Dot ac/heaters running and then they're going to paint it too.

I brought my LT-230 back though Bill, so instead of crawling all over the crew cab, you get to slide all under my LWB!!!:flipoff2:

Be sure to bring your coveralls, gloves and some sort of flip-flop sandals to work in. Hehe.

9V, I don't have any specs on the engine. It's nothing special (other than the only small block into a crewcab LR conversion in the world). :flipoff2:

Pulled well in the DEEP sand, low-low 1st felt really good, chugged right up everything I pointed it at today. Actually did some 4-wheeling in it today. Shot a lot of pics, too many to edit and post tonight, so I'll throw some up tomorrow.

Got home about 15 minutes ago. LONG weekend. Good, but long.

*yawn*

Ok, ok, I can't sleep. 7 hour drive will do that to you.

Here's one pic.

Another.

Now it's really time for bed!

Super Sweet man,

I like the body work on the extra holes in the front wings by the headlight surrounds. Are you going to leave the black plastic covers off?

I will be in Vegas at 6:05pm Frontier flight 781.

I am writting this trip off as a business expense cuz I will try and drum up some "clients" for the plastic surgeons I work with :eek:

Crawling around under a LWB sounds great, although I sadly have to leave the coveralls and flipflops at home this time. If you bring a truck out to Houston to work on, I promise you will get the "Deliverance" experience. "You look mighty cute with that pony tail" (read with the deepest backwoods crawfish eating, no bath taking, married your cousin, southern drawl).:flipoff2:

See you tonite in Vegas man,

Thanks,

Billster

You got it!

Ahhhh, young Padowan learner, I see you are only familiar with the Defender version of the front wing.

The black fascia plate on the US spec defenders hides those two large extra holes, which you know about.

Series II-early 110/90 have the little metal bezel that surrounds the light only and doesn't cover the front of the wing. I just painted that bezel black.

Next weekend that other wing comes off, slap some bondo on and cover it with paint. The drivers side wing is finished, the passenger is not.

I look forward to the 'deliverance' experience. Should I cut my hair????

Watch out SEMA here we come! :flipoff2:

Mike,
Looking pretty swell. Are you planning some sort of round the world trip with that thing?
-Congrats
-Ike

Dig that crew cab candy striper rear drive shaft!

How much weight are you planning on carrying in the rear - any worries about the front end being too light ???

TallBrad,

Your sig line is the funniest damn thing I've seen in a LONG time.

LOL!!!

Loads in the rear will vary. I don't plan on carrying a TON of gear back there, but it will be loaded pretty full. Luckily the items I plan on carrying will be light, but somewhat bulky.

The front end has the small block 350, two compressors, the ARB and Series 12 commercial winch, lots of heavy engine components, 1/2 the weight of the extra frame (body,roof, etc...). Roof will have a rack and a rooftop AC/heater unit, which is also kind of heavy.

Hmm.....I honestly hadn't thought about the front end being too light. I really don't think it will. If it is, I can always fill the ARB bar with lead fishing weights.

Ike,

You're getting the right idea.....

www.tawayama.com

Love the sun roof....Factory?

Good going. Hurry up and finish so you can help me with my junk!

-Jeff

Originally posted by JSBriggs
Love the sun roof....Factory?

-Jeff

Yeah.....MY factory!

need an extra driver wrencher for the safaris? I'm offerring my services after 18SEP2004. Can't wait to see that up and running Mike. By the way that's a pretty nice website can't wait to see all of the "gear" posted up.

-ben

Looks awesome. Can't wait to see it in person sometime.

Way

VERY VERY VERY cool Ive been following it for a while now and its cooler than I imagined. My hats off to you.:beer:

......I'm the Ice Cream man, stop me while I'm passin' by.......VH


-Jeff

As always, a well done project! I am curious as to whether or not the roof will add much torsional stiffness to the setup? Also, what do you have in the rear of that thing, did you ever find spring inserts, or are you gonna try airsprings in the crewcab as well?

Nice,
When is it going to be down here?

Hey Jason,

I'll be leaving Paso on Monday hopefully before lunch. I want to make the drive here during daylight hours 'just in case'.

So, it'll be here late Monday afternoon. Come over Tuesday if you want the full tour! I can't wait to hear what the neighborhood association's gonna say!!! :flipoff2:

Originally posted by untrakdrover
As always, a well done project! I am curious as to whether or not the roof will add much torsional stiffness to the setup? Also, what do you have in the rear of that thing, did you ever find spring inserts, or are you gonna try airsprings in the crewcab as well?

The roof will add stability to the windscreen frame and the rear cab section. Torsional stiffness? I"m sure it will, there is a lot of structure and support in that roof.

The rear springs are special order OME HD springs for the military 127/Perentie's. I had to pull some strings to get them, as they don't sell them here in the states (no demand=no sales).

I originally concieved of the air spring replacement system specifically for the crewcab rear axle, so yes, it will be air sprung soon. Unforunately the bladder on one of the air springs in the LWB was cut two days ago and the air spring is now ruined. I had some rubbing against a SHARP edge on the frame I didn't see when I installed them. It's taken care of now, and one again I'm running one air spring and one coil spring in the front of the LWB. Interesting ride characteristics.

I did find some air bag inserts for the coil springs from Air Ride. They are for a Dodge pickup but fit in the springs kind-of well. Kind of not, but I think I could have made them work. The air spring conversion is a result of NOT being happy with the options I was finding commercially available.

Mike,
do you know the rate on those rear springs?
I am trying to decide if I want to put longer leafs on the front or just do full coils. But am worried about weight issues.
Pete with the 5500 pound 88. :)

Peter,

Are you looking for additional load carrying capacity? If you are, then you could put in a helper air spring. Would be very easy to do and not that expensive.

Firestone and AirRide both have good systems. I'm partial to Firestone now, but only because I'm starting to know those guys.

I picked up an AirRide catalog yesterday at SEMA. I can mail it to you if you want, or I'm sure you could get one from their site. Same with Firestone.

I don't know the rate on those OME springs. Sorry. :(

Originally posted by aloharover
Mike,
do you know the rate on those rear springs?
I am trying to decide if I want to put longer leafs on the front or just do full coils. But am worried about weight issues.
Pete with the 5500 pound 88. :)

I'm not Mike, but I have some experience with the heavier rates.

I carry a shitload of gear in/on my rangie, and use the 762 (old) and it is a 300-360 progessive. They are a little stiff, and with the short wheel base, you would probably feel the expansion joints and such on road quite well. However, they carry a load REAL well. (what they were designed to do - funny that). I have put an additional 1000#s in the boot, (load of granite) and could still cleared the 32's! ok, so I had a spacer too.

Anyway, they are rated for a 400kilo constant load over stock. I hope that helps.

johnny

Originally posted by redrangie


I'm not Mike.....



No, but we both love KimChee!!! :flipoff2:

I am currently running the 762 rear springs with spacers. I love the setup, however, I find the rear end sags quite a bit when I'm loaded down to go camping. I am thinking about switching to a 763 rear spring. Anyone have thoughts on this or have attempted it in a disco/rangie/