B2 on the Rubicon Trail!

[UrbanRedneckKid]

Yes the full width axles do give better articulation. Not because the tires have more room, because there is more leverage on the springs.

 

[4.0B2]

ok thanks 4.0B2 I was thinking that because the tires are outside the fender walls it will allow the tires more room to move around. I thought that is why the jeeps could flex so much because the wheels were outside the fenders. But stability is a good thing in the B2's mine is kinda sketchy when it comes uneven ground. So more stability is a good thing!

if you get OUTSIDE, it'll help some. Jeeps are easy to get high clearance with the fenders and stuff.

I suppose leverage would help to...

 

[jkufen]

Ok my dad found an early model bronco possible late 60's maybe early 70's not sure the years but all he said was it had no doors or roof and it looked like a Jeep. I am not familiar with the full size broncos but he is going by the people's house today to see if they want to get rid of it. I don't believe it has an engine because there is a tree growing through the engine compartment (shows how long it has been sitting there). I watched the episode of Fast and Loud on tv and he says it resembles that same body style. He wants me to get it and fix it up and wheel it. Hopefully I can get it cheap so it will help some with the total repair cost. I am still up in the air on what platform I will use for the build but I can say I am getting super excited the more and more I research and watch you tube videos. I didn't believe the broncos could move and flex the way they were. I also have a problem with changing my mind up so much it drives me crazy!

 

[4.0B2]

would be awesome... but be ready for the $$$ involved to fix it up to wheel.

you can buy a built rig cheaper than you can build one.

 

[UrbanRedneckKid]

Early Broncos are probably the most expensive 4x4s out there to do anything with.

I love love to have one though...

 

[jkufen]

Yeah my dad called and said he wouldn't come off it. He said he was going to fix it one day. The thing has been sitting there long enough for a tree to grow through the engine compartment, he isn't going to do anything with it. I just gotta make my mind up on what exactly I want the beginning platform to be either a b2, ranger, jeep, or whatever I gotta figure that out before I can really look at what it will take to make it a successful rock crawler. Just curious though how exactly would you extend the wheel base of a b2? I see on 4x4junkies 's b2 he stretched his to 98"s. Can you just simply move the axle brackets back and lengthen the drive shaft? What is the benefit to the slightly longer wheelbase?

 

[4x4junkie]

I am likely to build a custom frame just so I am not using a 20+ year old frame and then I can modify it as needed.

You're making this wwaaaaaaaaayyyyyyyyy too complicated.
Like said, the BII frame is more than plenty strong (same thickness as a F-150 frame in fact). In 20 years of twisting & contorting my Ranger and my BII offroad, I've never once had an issue with the frame (something I can't say about the spot welds that pulled apart on my Ranger's body at the rear cab mounts a few years into owning it).
I'm curious where it was you saw someone say the frame was garbage anyway... because they're FoS (or maybe they thought they were being funny by comparing it to a F-350 frame

You have your '99 Ex, keep that as your DD and build up the BII you have now.


For my wheelbase, I moved the rear axle back 3" (well, 2.9" or so actually) by moving the rear leaf spring hangers back that amount on the frame. The front axle I moved forward an inch by making my radius arms a hair longer when I built them. You can also shim the radius arms forward at the bushings with a few washers too, and a spacer of the same thickness for the nut to tighten against (or use Loctite and don't fully tighten the nut), this so not to crush the bushings with the washers in there.
Benefit is better climbing stability when running larger tires (less weight-shift to the rear when pointed uphill).

 

[jkufen]

Yeah it was about a towing question and he said that if I was snatched from the front of the truck it would warp the frame because they are garbage frames. Yeah I thought about doing that if the wife doesn't mind giving up her toy I might do that. That's probably the easiest without having to go out and buy another vehicle. I gotta do some work on the explorer before it's road worthy but that is the best plan. I'll just take the next year or so before the build and try and collect parts. I have been thinking more and more about an SAS but I am not sure exactly the list of parts I'll need. I have read the write ups in the tech library but they seem to be a more overview instead of a detailed write up and parts list. I will have to try and pull all my resources to do it because I do not have the fab skills to do it myself. There is a 4x4 shop here that does them but I want to build it so I can say I built it and I can learn for the next one. I just gotta figure out what I need to get to start out and just make a list and once I have a list I can start gathering parts. I'm hoping between now and then someone will make a nice detailed thread so I can follow it not throwing out any hints or nothing guys lol

 

[jkufen]

Rubicon/Moab in 2015 or BUST (Burn Up Stupid Truck)!

 

[4.0B2]

I have been thinking more and more about an SAS but I am not sure exactly the list of parts I'll need. I have read the write ups in the tech library but they seem to be a more overview instead of a detailed write up and parts list.I'm hoping between now and then someone will make a nice detailed thread so I can follow it not throwing out any hints or nothing guys lol

if you want SAS info... go read thru build threads. Escort_gts has 2 nice ones. Kroussinoffroad has a good build. 88_Eddie or Mark, I always get them confused... one of them has a nice SAS B2 with some details. Look on other threads. Look at SAS builds on (dare I say is....) Pirate. LOTS of good info there. Most SAS builds will have good info regardless of it's B2 specific or not.


and about the frames... I've been pulled out a few times, winched out a few times, used my own winch a few times with ZERO issues. If you SNATCH on anything, something has to give somewhere...... be smart with your recoveries. Don't let someone snatch you, if you need that much use a winch or get a snatch strap where the strap does the moving.

 

[jkufen]

I have briefly searched pirate I'll have to go search a little more thoroughly

 

[bobbywalter]

unless the frame is overrun with rust, they are little brutes...flexy but way overbuilt for the original application....if you stiffen them then they are monsters. i left mine slinky for many many years and it has lived through full throttle 300 plus hp 44 in tire assaults destroying every drive train part...exploding t cases when i came back to earth...wasting leaf spring and ttb d35 beams and radius arms..... and when it was newer i rolled it end over end at 45 mph with 3 flips including the turn, and rolled it another time and slid 60-80 feet or maybe more down a steep climb on the roof....for most of its life its been overloaded from factory specs...generally weighing in over 7 k with tools and materiel for ten years or so. so you have to mind me taking exception when people question the platform strength.

that said...

i have busted my frame on occasion, but it was as much due to improper cutting to fit powertrain and suspension upgrades then anything else, i started rolling the frame rails when possible for clearance in the 90's when doing powertrain swaps because of that. i always knew better...but sometimes i just do shit for expediency instead of taking time to radius when removing iron to clear stuff..(only my personal stuff or trail trash)

anybody that says these are weak is an idiot or building a non streetable trailer queen or a 5 ton thing for big gay truck land.


i say this allot because its true. 4x4 junkie has constructed an easy to follow and repeat build that will do well in most environments, especially out west and is the benchmark for a b2 in my eyes.

i would hop in it and run it anywhere within its maximum capacities.

drive it to alaska or florida or the northeast from his home in cali without a second thought.


sure you might burn up a winch or two to go on many of the hi end trails, but those are not the intention for a daily drivable machine like that.

running the con in it would be easy though. i dont know what the soupbowl looks like these days but i bet it will make it look easy.


yeah i get carried away sometimes

 

[jkufen]

Yeah I have been snatched by the frame plenty of times and I have snatched my buddy's 2500 dodge and I haven't noticed any issues with the frame. I had to replace my alternator today because my winch burned up the old one and while I was underneath I noticed some rusted spot on my radiator support and the fire wall so I guess this build is going to be a frame up rebuild. I'll just take it down to the frame and replace everything that needs replacing and soda blast everything and paint it. If I'm going to do it may as well do it right once.

 

[jkufen]

So I know there is a big discussion or more of an argument between the d30 and d44 SAS but just a simple question. Is it any more work to do a d30 SAS and d44 SAS? I know the d30 will do what I want to do as far as durability just curious if its the same amount of work either way. I can find d30 locally for about $100 for the axle and I can't seem to find any d44 that people aren't wanting $500+ for. A new buddy of mine which inspired this build has a newer model JK with the d30 on it and he has the chromoly (or however you spell it) upgraded axles with 37" tires and Arb lockers front and rear and he hasn't had any issues with it. He is a strategy driver like me so we do our best to avoid having to jerk it or snatch it and hitting things wide open. Just a thought please don't crucify me just because I thought about the d30. I have read the tech library about them and searched some other threads but nothing specifically said which is more work.

 

[jkufen]

This is my first build so be easy on me lol