Jason Scherer's New Buggy Buildup Campbell Enterprises, Gilbert, AZ Story by Lance Clifford Photos by Camo and Lance

POSTED 4/2/08 9:00AM WEDNESDAY

It was a little rough for everyone getting out of bed this morning. For some reason everyone decided to call it quits early last night, and get their drink on. So now we are playing a little catch up.

Nick is working on the upper front link mount, as Shannon welds up the chassis.

I have a video of Shannon discussing the plan for today uploading now. Stay tuned.

POSTED 9:10AM WEDNESDAY

Check out this video of Shannon discussing today's game plan for the rig.

POSTED 9:30AM WEDNESDAY

Nick knocked out the upper link mount quick! Of course there will be some more gusseting, but the main bracket has been designed and built to work around Jason's big Howe ram.

There were some questions regarding splicing tubes on the bulletin board, so I asked Shannon about it. He said that they use a 6" slug, and leave a 3/16" gap so that they can get full penetration on the splice. In the 10+ years he has been building high end rigs, he has never had a single failure of one of these joints. Typically he will do a splice where another intersecting tube will be welded, to increase strength. Note in the photo below that there will be a gusset placed right at the now almost invisible splice.

*edit - Shannon just walked up and said to erase the above, and to tell everyone that he only does splices to competitor's rigs so that when they crash, they are no longer competition. :D

Here are a few random photos of the progress...

POSTED 10:25AM WEDNESDAY

The UPS man just arrived, and unloaded a pile of trick parts! A sweet dry sump tank from Petersen Fluid Systems, sick brake and air lines from Crown Performance Products.

But you could see the frustration in Jason's face when the UPS man finished unloaded all the goodies and there were no seats...

POSTED 11:10AM WEDNESDAY

Kitchen works on hood pin mounts. These little tube benders are cool for making all kinds of cool little doo-dads.

Shannon is working on the floorboard, trimming his paper templates before he even touches a piece of metal.

POSTED 11:30AM WEDNESDAY

Don is working on the rear upper link mounts. Looks good so far!

Nick has the power steering pump mounted in its new home down low. Now he is getting ready to chop up the factory GM alternator bracket to make it fit in its new home.

Jason installs the new mechanical throttle body and air filter.

Jeff is notching tube and installing the cross bar.

POSTED 12:05PM WEDNESDAY

Shannon is cutting up the interior aluminum.

Jeff and Don adding more tubes.

Jeff, our backup Pirate4x4TV host, comments on the progress of the rig so far.

Click here to view the video of Jeff commenting on progress.

POSTED 1:40PM WEDNESDAY

The boys are all hard at work on bending aluminum. Kitchen and Don work on the cowl, and Shannon is building the firewall. I'm processing a kick ass 20 minute video of Shannon building the firewall. Stay tuned for it in about 30 minutes.

POSTED 2:30PM WEDNESDAY

We finally got a webcam online! Check it out...

** Click here for the LIVE Webcam!!! **

POSTED 3:00PM WEDNESDAY

Don and Kitchen are rolling up the cowl.

Jeff is working on shock mounts.

The front axle has all the mounts built, and are ready for welding.

The current status of the rig.

POSTED 3:10PM WEDNESDAY

The firewall has been installed, and the new Beard Seats have been installed!

POSTED 3:33PM WEDNESDAY

The Fed Ex man just dropped off a box with this awesome muffler inside from Coast Fabrication. We will bring you more on this awesome muffler and the insane headers that will be installed later in a video episode.

Wow, the "LA to Yuma" delivery guy just showed up with Jason's new Beard seats. Jason is a very happy man!!!

POSTED 4:30PM WEDNESDAY

Jason is tig welding the ends on his heat treated 4340 Poly Performance links.

The floor is going in quickly, along with the cowl!

UPDATE 5:00PM WEDNESDAY

** Check out this 20 minute video of Shannon building a firewall. Good stuff!! **

UPDATE 5:02PM WEDNESDAY

More cowl work is being done.

Nick works on building a rear upper link mount.

Cowboy Bob is working on installing the dry sump tank.

POSTED 5:30PM WEDNESDAY

Check out this video of Jason sitting in his rig for the first time!

POSTED 5:31PM WEDNESDAY

Jason decides he doesn't have enough leg room, and it's decided to cut out the cross bar behind the seat and kick the seat back an inch. A lot of work for an inch, but it's gotta be done.

POSTED 6:10PM WEDNESDAY

Ok, so Shannon and Terry cut the back bar out and repositioned the seat. Jason is much happier, and fits a lot better. They will build a new bar that will accomodate the new seat position.