Starting out ?

[Fullsizexj]

What is the best way to go about getting into competition, I have been making some major changes to mine and am cosidering giving it a shot. Here is the thread about the current buildup
/forum/general-4x4-discussion/542365-buggy-out-xj.html
and the current specs which obviously are gonna change slightly
18" Fox air shocks
On All 4 Corners
Mid arm 4-Link front Suspension
Triangulated upper 4 link Rear Suspension
Dana 60 Reverse Cut Kingpin Front Axle
With Detroit Locker and 5:38 gears with 35 Spline Axles
Full Floating Dana 60 Rear Axle 35 Spline Superior Evolution series Chromo Axles
And Loc-Rite Locker with 5:38 gears
NP231 Transfer Case with Advance Adapters Heavy Duty SYE Kit
Tom Woods Drive Shafts Front And Rear
40 x 13.5 x17" Good Year MTR's
Trail Ready Beadlocks
Full Hydro Steering

All suggestions welcome

[Big Rich]

First off, check out our class rules, there posted at www.we-rock.cc

With a rig of that size I would drop tire size and run in the Pro Mod class, you really don't want to run against moonbuggies.

Before your first comp. I would help out another team or staff/judge an event to get your feet wet. It helps you learn the little things that might take a season to learn just jumping in.

Rich

[Fullsizexj]

Thanks Rich, I have been to a few of your comps and worked recovery at your first Columbus event,you might remeber me, you comented on the fact that I had a Cal 4 wheel cap on. I have been reading the rules you have on the website and already figured I would need to drop down to 37's, lucky for me you are allowing full Hydro this year or I would of had to go unlimited if I wanted to try which this just would not keep up with.

[Big Rich]

Originally Posted by Fullsizexj

Thanks Rich, I have been to a few of your comps and worked recovery at your first Columbus event,you might remeber me, you comented on the fact that I had a Cal 4 wheel cap on. I have been reading the rules you have on the website and already figured I would need to drop down to 37's, lucky for me you are allowing full Hydro this year or I would of had to go unlimited if I wanted to try which this just would not keep up with.

I thought that user-name was familiar...

Hope to see you out there

Rich

[Philly2Crazy]

I agree with Big Rich, your rig will be out classed in unlimited, but with the new full hydro rule in mod class, you could do pretty wheel and the east series are both a lot of fun and full of a lot of good people.

You also might want to look into the XRRA event at Paragon, its close enough and the last one was a lot of fun

[toddxrra]

or you could make sure it will pass tech for XRRA and come rock racing!!!!!!

[mudtruck44]

Originally Posted by Big Rich

First off, check out our class rules, there posted at www.we-rock.cc

With a rig of that size I would drop tire size and run in the Pro Mod class, you really don't want to run against moonbuggies.

Rich

Yeah, because moon buggies are the best!

I have a few questions about the build of the rig. Why didn't you just build a full tube chassis and why did you want 18" shocks?

[Fullsizexj]

I have Travis aka Tubehead from Roark Fabworksdoing the cage work for me, we have been building it according to the Promod rules as near as we can decifer them so far. we have allowed the 3" head room for bars and as near as we can figure the 2 support bars behind the driver on the b pillar, only one we are not totally clear on is the 3-d appearance of body panels, does it have to have the body lines or the appearance of them or is just skinned enough ?

[Fullsizexj]

I already had the shocks laying around and this was an easy enough route to take at the time funds wise anyways

[Lil' Rich]

Originally Posted by Fullsizexj

only one we are not totally clear on is the 3-d appearance of body panels, does it have to have the body lines or the appearance of them or is just skinned enough ?

It has to have the body lines of the proclaimed vehicle. So with your Cherokee, it should keep that cherokee look from the front headlight to the tail lights.

[Fullsizexj]

what about the boatside being higher than the original lower body line and the upper door edge is lower than the original upper bodyline
basically all I have left is the flat section of the body now anyways, so would just flat skins be acceptable in this situation

[Lil' Rich]

Originally Posted by Fullsizexj

what about the boatside being higher than the original lower body line and the upper door edge is lower than the original upper bodyline
basically all I have left is the flat section of the body now anyways, so would just flat skins be acceptable in this situation

We are allowing vehicles that are SUV's to not have to keep the back half of the roof so that it looks more like a truck. In doing so, we expect Pro Modified teams to keep their body lines. We'll have to work with your situation of your tubework taking out the body lines. My suggestion is to make your Rocker panel body lines higher up on the door at the minimum.

The Class Goal:
W.E.Rock’s Goal in the Pro Modified Class is to create a venue where all vehicles can be simply recognized through Manufacturer Association to bring Spectator Appeal. This class is based on the idea of classic competition between manufacturers. Example: NASCAR’s Ford vs. Chevy vs. Dodge. Individual make and model identity will draw the audience to this class, therefore competition vehicles will have a minimum standard for resemblance of a certain production or recognizable specialty vehicle. To ease course design strategy and event flow as well as demonstrating the full abilities of this class, the Limited competition vehicles will compete amongst, but not against, the Unlimited class on the world’s toughest obstacles. Where courses may pose extremely high risk of body damage, there is the possibility of a different line exclusive to Limiteds. As a comparison, these vehicles will be the “Funny Cars” of RockCrawling. A balance of recognition and performance is the central goal.

Now, using flat panels would not only not follow the goal of the class, but it would also detract from the "Value" of the class.

[Fullsizexj]

would setting the lower half of the door skin in a little more than the top work for giving the effect of the lower rocker panel line, this I think would give the effect of the boatside as being the rocker panel and the tube would in effect become the inset of the body line with the skin continuing up from there

[Lil' Rich]

This is what I would suggest:



You'll have the proper placement of the bend (example: left photo of your rig), you have the right bend in the panel (example: the side view of what the bend should look like), and it will come out like Joel Kelsey's Finished Product(example: Right photo).

[Fullsizexj]

dang, That looks nice, Okie Dokie, I will see what I can do