My new build thread ...

[patooyee]

I really didn't want to start a build thread this early but I promised Jimmy at Essentially Offroad that I would once I got the chassis together. This is going to be a very slow build over the course of a year or so for a couple reasons. As many know, my last buggy was wrecked in a double endo in harlan that fractured 5 of my girlfriend's vertebrae and rearranged my life priorities a little. (IE, spend less time at the shop, more time doing things with her.) Also, I wasn't planning on building this buggy for quite some time. The wreck made that time come faster and I wasn't fully prepared yet. Finally, I want to pull out as many stops as I can afford on this buggy and want to do things my way and on my time. I want to enjoy my time in the shop and get everything perfect as oppossed to hurrying up and getting it done so that I can wheel again.

I have most of the parts already. I willnotate what I don't have in case someone wants has them that they are selling.

Chassis: Essentially Offroad 321 Chassis.

Engine: 2005 LS2 out of an SSR with 23,000 miles on it. Will cam it and program it with some custom headers. Hoping for about 450 hp. Will get used to that much power before I go any further with it.

Trans: TH400. Want to keep it auto. Will probably make a custom shift gate to allow quick shifts into rev. (Looking for a torque converter.)

T-case: Lomax NP205, 32-spline outputs, 1410 everything. Of course, it will be air-shifted, one of the best mods I've ever thought of.

Front end: Steering Rockwell with Ouverson 8-lug hubs, Ouverson 16-spline shafts, and Ouverson chromo locker. Surplus Center DE ram for steering. (I had the shafts from my last build, so I'll run them for now and get the 2" shafts if I ever break them.) Running my own pinion brake setup with a 12.2" rotor from Wilwood and a Toyota caliper. I will sell the brackets once I get some testing done on them.

Rear end: Steering rockwell with Ouverson 8-lug hubs, Ouverson 2" shafts, Ouverson spool. Haven't decided yet on steering. Same brakes as above.

Wheels: 17" Stazworks 2-piece double beadlocks. Same ones I've been running for years. Best rims I've ever had.

Tires: 47" LTB's. Stock for now, may cut them later.

Steering: Custom industrial gear-pump system rated to to 30 gpm.

Fuel cell: Probably RCI.

Suspension: All 1.25" Midwest Control joints, 4-link front and rear with 14" FOA coilovers front, 16" SAW airshocks rear.

Radiator: Be Cool with dual fans and trans cooler.

Here's the few pics I have for now:











That's it for now!

J. J.

[ChestonScout]

gonna have to subscribe

[the freeak]

Subscribed!

I liked your last one...can't wait to see how this turns out!

-Chris

[camo]

I like your style. suscribed

[draggbody]

Originally Posted by camo

I like your style. suscribed

[derail] its a tennessee buggy that you seem to despise[/derail]

anyways i like it, do you think the front shafts will hold up??? about where is the front axle in relation to the engine... we could probably find some over the counter headers for it, or do you think I will have to build a new set again...

[smewhtguy]

Love the chassis, hope the girlfriend recovers(ed) all right.

[rgivenspi]

Patooyee,
A quick question - you seem to be going with quality stuff (good, not cheap) for this build, but I notice you specified a Surplus Center DE ram for steering the front. Can you elaborate why you chose a Surplus Center ram over a POS or PSC ram?

Thanks,
Stewart

[spidr]

That is a nice looking Chassis

This Should be good.

[MadRam]

Originally Posted by draggbody

anyways i like it, do you think the front shafts will hold up???

Last time I talked to Randy he said he had only 1 person break his Chromolly 16 spline shafts and it was one of the Mud guys with an 8k pound truck.

[ItsaCJ6]

Damn JJ I can't wait to see more.

[cicero]

Looks like a great start!!! Hopefully my 321 will be done in about a week or so and ready to tear down and paint!!! Looking forward to watching your's come together.

[imagineer]

Looks like a good start J.J. How did you ever make out with solidworks?

-Lucas

[motofast28]

About time J.J. (JOKING)

[Bones]

Suspension seats I assume this go around? Looking forward to this build, I realy like the lines of the 321 chassis.

[blue p.o.s.]

that chasis is first one of them i've seen i think. after seeing the aftermath of the last roll in person, great to see you back into it, damn your old buggy looked twisted to shit when we got there!

[patooyee]

Thanks for the compliments ya'll.

Ashley (my girl) is recovering slowly. After much ado with her insurance company we finally got her seen by a specialist whgo diagnosed her with 5 fractured vertebrae. She's in a full body brace at least until the end of the month, they'll reevaluate then.

Corbeau suspension seats are already in the shop waiting to go in along with SFI approved cam-lock 5-point harnesses. The interior will also have an abundant amount of roll cage tubing and some helmet hangars.

I already have the Surplus Center ram and it has never let me down so I'm using it again. I may get another one for the rear. No point in spending 2 - 3x as much when the results are the same, IMO.

Don't know about engine/front axle position yet. The front end will surely be in front of the engine and that's about all I know at this point. We'll see about the headers when it comes time. I've got enough space with this chassis to try and work aftermarket headers into it. If not I may try doing them myself this time to save you (or me) a trip.

As you can tell, some details are still in the air. That's the beauty of takign your time ... you can afford to leave some int he air for the good deals to come along. I'm not a rich guy which is why the list of these parts is what I consider "pulling out all the stops." I've got to save where I can. (Surplus ram.)

I've become pretty good with Solidworks now. I just picked up a Torchmate 1 CNC plasma table on eBay last night. I hope I can put my new Solidworks skills to some use with it once I get it set up.

I'm shooting for 120 - 125" wheelbase.

J. J.

[patooyee]

Originally Posted by cicero

Looks like a great start!!! Hopefully my 321 will be done in about a week or so and ready to tear down and paint!!! Looking forward to watching your's come together.

I was looking at 321 chassis for a logn time before you posted your thread. Your thread is what sold it for me though. Jimmy should thank you.

I am told that I am the first person to actually buy a 321 kit and put it together himself. Everyone else has had it put together by Jimmy himself for the most part. (Almost everyone has modified it afterwards.)

The kit went together pretty easy. Definately saved me a ton of time over fabbing my own chassis, wich I am too busy to do these days. His instructions say in bold print that the chassis isn't meant to just snap together, that some fabbing skills and tools will be required. There were some tubes and notches that had to be adjusted to fit right. I don't know how else you would do a pre-fabbed chassis kit anyway. But take it from me, someone who ahs fabbed 2 - 3 chassis for himself before, that it was way easier and quicker to do it this way. The chassis is fairly easily workable also so that you can modify it to suit your needs once you get everything in place. I'm hoping to keep everything very low.

J. J.

[Fl-Krawler]

Originally Posted by MadRam

Last time I talked to Randy he said he had only 1 person break his Chromolly 16 spline shafts and it was one of the Mud guys with an 8k pound truck.

I have broken one too.I lauched a 6000lb buggy with 49's vertical about 3ft off the ground and landed with the throttle still wooded.

JJ, buggy is looking good

[SBChero]

nice. cant wait to see it.

-that does not look like a th400.

and yes the air shifters were brilliance. i still love mine. to you for the help.

[jhama78]

Best wishes for a quick recovery to the lady.

Love the lines of that chassis, especially the double b pillar looking forward to seeing this build.

Are you waiting on one or more joints in the top pic? I only count 15? and 18 threaded inserts as well as 34 misalignment spacers?

subscribed

[Pdaddy]

Looking good, Because I have seen your old rig in person, overall length of the 321 compared to your old one. How much difference would you say there is ? I still havent seen a 321 up close and personal , but I agree for what it is its dead sexy !! I love the lines of them .

[RockJeep]

Why do they use rectangle tube for the frame rails? Is it just for ease of mounting other shit? Have you bought your 47's yet? Also are you up for making me and my club members some parts with that table? When are you coming up towards the ATL again? I'm getting hitched and need to ask you a question.
Later,
Bobby

[rajincajingt]

looks good so far JJ

i am looking forward to what you come up with, as camo stated, i like you style

[Gutter Runner]

Looking forward to this build. This thing is going to be sweet!

[sceep]

Originally Posted by patooyee

This is going to be a very slow build over the course of a year or so for a couple reasons... I want to enjoy my time in the shop and get everything perfect as oppossed to hurrying up and getting it done so that I can wheel again.

good luck. looks bitchin so far