Bravada Buggy Build

[John-e Bravada]

Well I guess it was just a matter of time. The old girl has done me well but I've had bigger plans then a full body rig all along. The constraints of the factory frame and sheetmetal has finally pissed me off enough to start over. It's time to tear down the old rig and start the buggy, so here's the plan.

All the hard parts will be the same:
Shaved, ARB'ed, narrowed, 5 bolt, D60/14bolt
TPI 350
700r4 eventually to be a TH400
231/241 splitter box
Flipped, twin stick, 4:1 low, 31 spline output, Dana 300
2.5" balanced ram full hydro
Beadlocked 39.5" TSLs

The new parts will include:
Fr and Rear triangulated 4-links
Walker Evans 14" remote res clicker coilovers
Aluminum fuel cell
Poly seats
hydro boost
dual cutting brakes
suck down winches
You know the usual....

108" WB, 22" belly height, 90deg approch and departure angles. The items still up in the air are 2, 3, 4 seater and front or rear radiator. I hope The buggy is as capable as the old rig.

Time for tear down!

[jwjeep]

why did you feel the need for a diff temp guage?

jeremy

[John-e Bravada]

When I had an Auto Meter rep tell me to make a dream list I started picking out gauges till I had 13 reading 20 different sensors. The diff temp had a switch for front and rear Those are one of the things I'm looking to get away from. The buggy will stick to the KISS principal. Tach, oil pressure, water temp.

[InstaGator]

You could'nt have started this build the 1st week of August 2006? That would have worked better in to my schedule I'll be watching closely on this one.

[jmhinescj]

not nearly enough gauges and switches on the old rig

[jwjeep]

well, even for a kiss buggy, i like having volts and trans temp too. as well as a fuel pressure gauge, whether it be in the dash on right there on the motor. tachs i never run, but thats me.

jeremy

[Pdaddy]

Originally Posted by jmhinescj

not nearly enough gauges and switches on the old rig

No shit... your old guages and switches intemidate the shit outta me !!

[John-e Bravada]

InstaGator not a chance RTCC was a blast!

I will have an inline fuel pressure gauge up on the rail. The Trans Temp is up in the air. If it's slipping and on it's way out then it's already too late. I might reuse the air pressure and trans temp but I haven't gotten to the dash layout yet.

Here is a concept pic for the buggy.

[IntrepidXJ]

i remember when your bravada was in nice shape (but i guess i can say the same about my XJ, too)

gotta post these pics up







good luck with the new build

[John-e Bravada]

Here are the Buggy concept models.
Those Pics are from when it was a driver!

[InstaGator]

Am I seeing that right? Are you thinking rear steer? Are you going to build the chassis from scratch or order a pre built one. I know your a do-it-yourselfer but I figured I would ask just in case.

[John-e Bravada]

Prebuilt? What is that? If I can make it I do so I have a pile of gray gold laying in the garage, 300ft of 1.75 11ga tubing ready to be bent and knotched!

I'm laying it out for rear steer but the rear steer 14bolt will have to be another build

[darkstar]

Originally Posted by John-e Bravada

the rear steer 14bolt with home made portals and rocket boosters will have to be another build

fixed it for you

[forewheeler]

cool.

four seats. ummm, remember??

it was great meeting you last weekend, you and your wife are good peps.

[joez]

I can't believe that you are tearing down the bravada. I remember that thing well when it was on mismatched 31's and a dana 30 up front. I guess its all progress though, good luck with the buggy, ill be watching this thread.

[John-e Bravada]

I can't believe it either! It works so well I hope I don't screw that up building the buggy. It has gotten to be a point and shoot rig

[John-e Bravada]

Well it's official she's gone! I got my $161.00 at the scrap yard this morning and walked away Man I hope I don't screw this up!

[InstaGator]

Balls!!! I can't say that I would have the cahoons to do that. I think you have the skill to pull it off though.

Side note, since your rig is no longer with us, does that make me the new number 1? Well, it was worth a try.
Lator....

[darkstar]

RIP Blue Light Special

[wngrog]

That has got to be the Bravada I saw on Four Wheeler TV last night on the Tough Truck thing....there MUST be only one

[Dhmoto111]

damn i only get $60/ton here... wish i could get $160 for a body

[Nordic1]

I'm dropping my ZJ off at a junker shortly and its going to look just like that

[abig84]

its always sad crushing a old mudder, i snaped a bunch of pictures of my first truck going into th smasher. whyd you go with a bravada anyways? was it just one of those price was right thing?

[John-e Bravada]

InstGator I still have the award but if you want to claim #1 till the Buggys is up and running go right ahead

Although I thought the Four Wheeler TV coverage sucked, yes that was the same Bravada. I bought it originally for the t-case. I was building an AWD S-10 street truck. After I swapped the t-case I ended up with a Bravada shell and an S-10 NP231 so I put them together. Last year after not touching it for 3 years I sold the S-10 for cash and an 85' F-350. The Bravada started out on a D30/D35 set up from a 90' Cherokee on 31's. After driving it all the way to Moab and back it got a Ford 8.8". I distroyed the D30 in Northern WI and built a HP D44 from 5 parts axles. I then switched to 35"s. Just before RTCC I sapped in the D60 and 14bolt. After I went to full hydro and 39.5" TSLs. It's been four years and four different axle sets, three tire sizes and countless suspension changes. I have done all that I can with the stock frame and body restrictions so now it's time to go all out! I really do enjoy the tech and fabrication as much as the wheeling. I'm sure the buggy will be ever changing as well.

Dhmoto111 the final scrap weight was 3220# @ $100/ton. I emptied out all the scrap tubs and spare Bravada/S-10 parts I had in it and sent it all off to the Crusher.

[abig84]

lol you need to make a set up and stick with it. cant wait to see the end result.