Tube Chassis CJ-7 build

[YJ_and_Corey]

I'm here to tell you that, without friends - you don't have sh*t. And I have some very good ones - I'm blessed in the friend department big time.

My 2011 attempt at KOH would have never happened, could have never happened, without the help of all my amazing wheeling buddies. They helped me build my TTB YJ rig, they raised money for me to get to SoCal, they made the epic trek from frozen northern Canada to the JV desert, they emailed me support from all over the world - they pulled wrenches for days on the rig to get it to tech - they made it happen for me.

I hate to single anyone out but one buddy helped me so much - that I told him I would build him a Jeep buggy for his troubles. He literally was my right hand man right from the earliest days of the build. This is the story of how Trent gets the best Jeep buggy I know how to build, and how it all goes down:

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I didn't put a TTB front end in my last build because it was the easy thing to do, or it was something I knew how how to do. I did it to challenge myself and try something new. It's a long read but here it all is: /forum/jeep-hardcore-tech/829346-yj-based-go-fast-juggy-build.html

I told Trent aka Graceful that I would build him a Jeep buggy but it would be built my way. I didn't want to build something that I had seen before, I wanted to try something new. I wanted something, when we were done, that would raise the bar a nudge or two.

But how? I've build up every flavour of Jeep over the years, had V8 Jeeps - Jeeps with tons - Jeeps with TTB front ends!

Ultra 4 (KOH) was conceived as a race class for 4x4 rigs that can do "everything" - IF (big IF) your "everything" only includes rock trails and desert. But what if your everything included rock, desert, SNOW, MUD, hill climbs, muskeg, sand drags etc etc.....? What would that rig look like?

I got started last week on the chassis, parts have been ordered, it's starting.

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Of course it all starts with a finally conceived ultra-precise plan - yup, I'm pretty high tech:



The sub-frame was made deliberately wide, to allow everything to live inboard. Nothing worse than a narrow sub-frame:



The belly needs to be flat - one thing I learned on my last build was that you can't have your panels too easy to remove. ALL the panels on this rig will be flat and easily removable in minutes:



Don't be shocked at my high levels of precision chassis building, it's just how I roll



Integrated boat-sides allow the chassis to be triangulated front top to bottom, it's a strength thing. And trust me - this thing needs to be strong.

Why so strong? Why 2" tubing for the main structure? I can reveal this much - for this build, 400HP isn't enough. Heck, 600 horsepower still isn't enough. Is 800 horsepower enough? Nope. MORE is better.



A custom hybrid "S9" from our good friend Chris Krediet of Lost Offroad Fab in Phoenix will handle the power transfer duties in the rear:



It was stripped from another project and was re-deployed - RuffStuff center section, Strange nodular third with a spool and 5.38 gears, and Sterling outers - pure beef (same as what I have in the TTB YJ):



The basic chassis is 6" narrower than my last build, and will have a 24" belly - but has Jeep lines and roof height because in the end it still has to look like a Jeep to be a Jeep:



Trent and his old man Ed are already smiling:

[FLTJ]

very nice start, can't wait to see more. if it turns out half as nice as your KOH rig it will be bad ass. whats the plans for transfer case and front axle.

[autoboy454]

awesome! can't wait to see the bad-assery brewing again out of this garage!

[shaggyk5]

Sub-frickin-scribed.

[primate60]

I love cj based rigs. cant wait.


whos funding the parts?

[2hi2c]

Looks good, sure you will have lots of people watching. Very true about having good friends, without them it can be challenging.

Interesting to see some new twists in this build, you seem to have a push for different.

Keep it going

[alehandro3]

sweet dude, cant wait to see how this comes together


Thats ALOT of ponies

[redrooster93]

Pure sex.

[super-5]

subscribed, allready loving this build.

[cjhaven]

After checking and reading your last build thread everyday for updates and trying to keep track of you, via the computer, during your KOH attempt, I feel like I do know you Corey and you that are a friend of mine (feel free to build me a rig) ha ha j/k. I guess I live vicariuosly through you and your builds and wishing I had the funds and abilities to create the rigs you do.

Seriously, I can't wait to read this thread and see what you will create in the end. I'm sure whatever it is it will be bad ass.

[bajaviking]

All I can say is that your buddy is a lucky man to have you build his rig and your a lucky man to have a buddy like that.
I have 2 CJ's, can't wait to see how this one turns out

[wallysheata]

make sure you replace that CJ-7 Frame

[APU]

your a lucky man Trent. congrats. it'll be a killer rig

[vwang]

looks like a solid plan.. good luck with it! can't wait to see how it turns out

[Optiskate]

Holy crap man... You are one hell of a friend. I wish I had more friends like you.

Cant wait to see what you do with this rig. Its going to be bad ass.

[BigFatRat]

yes!

[Sledfreak650]

Rock on man, way to help out a friend, and i'll be subscribing!

[HMFI]

Corey is just trying to save us from the welds that Trent was laying down on his juggy build.

This is going to be a gooder.

[Gracefull]

Originally Posted by HMFI

Corey is just trying to save us from the welds that Trent was laying down on his juggy build.

[Tyn Pow]

You boys up in GP don't fack around

Followed your TTB YJ build and Gracefull's monster XJ build, both kick ass.

Looking forward to this

[Sledfreak650]

so.... any updates?

[YJ_and_Corey]

Originally Posted by Sledfreak650

so.... any updates?

Sure why not.

I've been twisting this up in my spare time, and making good progress. Much of the build has been figured out on paper, and most of the parts have been chosen - much of them are already on order. This chassis has to be STIFF to resist the horsepower Tsunami (850+) the motor will unleash

I finished framing the "occupant area" of the chassis, I wanted a tubing dash:



An "x" behind the b-pillar, and I've started the rear portion as well. Our new suspension guru, Joel with Bilstein, wants as much weight behind the rear axle as possible...



The door openings are done, so are the roof and windshield spreaders:



It's coming along well IMHO

[85cj7boy]

Pretty sure the suspense is going to kill me. You seem to have elastic envelopes with how much you push and stretch them. Can't wait to see this develop.

[jpfrk2001]

Trent, you a lucky Man. It was awsome to meet you in person and share a beer. Your in good hands on this build. Really interested on the power plant of choice for this one.

[spidr]

Fuckin Eh