"Big Darla" Build Thread

[XionicWaste]

So I have more time to update and here goes!

I extended my front drive shaft, I just sleeved it with .120 wall tubing:

Next I extended my steering shaft (from steering wheel to steering pump, only half done in the picture)

Shocks were next:
Full droop:

I had cut and reinforced the K Member earlier as you can see in this picture but I only had about 2 inches of up travel when both tires would stuff (speed bumps or high speed whoops, not that Im racing)

I remember reading a build thread where a guy cut his cross member and welded a .5" plate underneath... .5" is a little overboard so I was going to go with 5/16th but the metal place didnt have any but they did have 1/4" AR plate (Abrasion Resistant.) Its basically heat treated, I dont know if it was AR500 or less but non the less it worked great:
Chopped:

AR plate (labeled "NO SHEAR" because they would break their die if they did so) The lines are for clearancing the oil pan:

I burned it in and welded the K Member to the plate and I had MUCH more clearance then! (for the ones with sharp eyes you can see I had to run true dual exhaust because the drivers side exhaust hit the front driveshaft.

After that I made sure everything was tight and fully welded and I took it out to the RTI ramp:

I had an axle seal leak too... Depressing because that meant I would have to pull the carrier!

The story on the differential seal... I put the new seal in and all was good but then my axle shafts were rubbing on the inner knuckle so out with the shafts and the fix was one washer on the inside of the spindle, this pulled the shafts away from the knuckle enough not to rub. When I put the axle seal in I didnt pound it in enough so when I put the shafts back in I knocked it loose... a day before Easter Jeep Safari it started leaking again so out with the shafts and carrier to pound it in the full amount this time (hopefully for the last time)

I welded up the holes in the fenders and painted them too:

I changed my spark plugs and fuel filter before the trip too. The fuel was DIRTY! I also forgot to relieve pressure in the lines and got +70 psi of fuel squirted all over me.

Fancy plugs:

Next is the MOAB Easter Jeep Safari trip. Updates Coming Soon!

 

[RangerBoy94]

Whoa I TOTALLY missed the sas on this rig looks badass

 

[XionicWaste]

TO MOAB WE GO!

The first damage of the trip was my friend who's radiator plug broke and spilled fluid at the first gas station in town. Next was some caliper bolts on my buddys jeep and during the fix a lug nut broke but we got it off with a chisel and hammer. Next was me... My idler pulley bearing went out 10 miles from Moab. We flat towed it in town and got the parts we needed. We did some night wheeling on Pritchet canyon but no pics. The next day we decided to go to Area BFE and that place is AWESOME! We wheeled a trail called Green Day:

A guy was filming and my buddy just found the footage on youtube:


Heres the damage from after this one: sliders needed for sure! Fender got a lil jacked too:

Heres my buddys jeep, 12" section added to the center, with a 10" stretch front and rear. 125" wheel base. He didnt do this obstacle:

Next was my other buddy who has 35's rear 5" stretch (98" wheel base) and lockers front and rear: Gentle flop:

Next was my turn, Darla (my truck) walked right up it.

One of the guys on the trip getting super tippy on the bypass:

The next day we rand Metal Masher and I broke my drive shaft on this obstacle:

Looks normal from my angle! lol

On that trail we had 3 vehicles limping out on front wheel drive. 2 Jeeps broke their rear pinion yoke. They got theirs fixed, I on the other hand lost the 2 short parts on the trail (fell out my bed) and I had to drive home in 4 High. I had one hub locked and everytime I shifted or would let off the gas the truck would wander hard to one side of the road or the other. Once back home I noticed I lost half the tread on the tire that was under power... I guess Ill be upgrading to 37's earlier than expected
All in all the trip was awesome and my buddys rig (black one on 35's) and mine kept up with the big boys all weekend and out did them in some cases. My truck sits low but I have alot of clearance with that flat belly skid so my truck is straight crawler status! The front stretch and SAS did great in Moab and improved the truck so much on the stability front. Thats all Ive got for you guys! Let me know when you are doing a wheeling trip because I am interested to see and wheel with other rigs!

 

[Josh40601]

I envy the shit out of you right now. Looks frickin awesome brother. Moab again in 2 years. Next year I'll be in class, the year after is game the f on.

Truck looks great. As far are rear driveshaft, I twisted 2 in half just like you on the Rubicon. After talking to a buddy, spend the money and get an aftermarket driveshaft. Jess at High angle can build you one. If I ever decide to go driver wheeler again, I will have him make mine. My buddy with his orange TJ can literally support his whole rig on his driveshaft. My explorer can too, but it's the most unbalanced thing on the road. Lol

 

[kris97ranger]

at this point id say screw sliders. theres nothing left to protect do boatsides

 

[n_bannerman]

What axle and springs are you running? Also what's the frame clearance under the cab?

 

[XionicWaste]

What axle and springs are you running? Also what's the frame clearance under the cab?

Im running an Explorer 31 spline 8.8 LSD with disc brakes, spring over set up and 63" late 80's Chevy 1500 leaf springs only running 2 leafs. Now that you mention it I bent one side pretty good while night wheeling Pritchet canyon. My clearance is 18.5 inches to the bottom of the frame (right at the transfercase) Good clearance for how low it sits.

 

[XionicWaste]

at this point id say screw sliders. theres nothing left to protect do boatsides

Ha ha yeah boatsides would be sweet but I like to keep the truck looking like a Ranger. Some day I'll make it a buggy.

 

[XionicWaste]

I envy the shit out of you right now. Looks frickin awesome brother. Moab again in 2 years. Next year I'll be in class, the year after is game the f on.

Truck looks great. As far are rear driveshaft, I twisted 2 in half just like you on the Rubicon. After talking to a buddy, spend the money and get an aftermarket driveshaft. Jess at High angle can build you one. If I ever decide to go driver wheeler again, I will have him make mine. My buddy with his orange TJ can literally support his whole rig on his driveshaft. My explorer can too, but it's the most unbalanced thing on the road. Lol

I would love to go to Moab with you! Hit me up when you get a date in mind! I dont think im going to do after market driveshafts just yet, I want to make a crawl box so I dont want to put money into something and then revamp the shafts later.

 

[Josh40601]

Oh yea. I'm sorry bud, I thought you already were rocking the doubler. You could always build a traction bar that hangs just a hair lower than your d/s. I think that's what Bray did.

It will likely be EJS 2014. I know there will be a shit ton of people, but I don't care. Just being there for that event would be frickin awesome.

Just sledge the rockers back down to where the doors shut, then build sliders.

 

[XionicWaste]

Oh yea. I'm sorry bud, I thought you already were rocking the doubler. You could always build a traction bar that hangs just a hair lower than your d/s. I think that's what Bray did.

It will likely be EJS 2014. I know there will be a shit ton of people, but I don't care. Just being there for that event would be frickin awesome.

Just sledge the rockers back down to where the doors shut, then build sliders.

Yeah rockers are back to normal ish... When I do sliders I will cut the bottom of the rockers and fenders and replace that cut area with steel. The XJ guys weld their body to the sliders and make it look super clean but they have a Unibody so the frame and body isnt on bushings like the rangers. Our bodys flex so I dont think welding them will work. Neat idea though.

If youre going to come from Kansas you will be there for the whole week yeah? We normally come for the last weekend but I would come for the whole week if you were. I know its a long ways away but Im excited already! I love Moab.

Questions on the doubler too... When I make one will my rear driveshaft flange be higher after the doubler? and how much shorter was your driveshaft after you installed it?

 

[XionicWaste]

So heres a before and after picture of what I would like to do:

Im pretty sure im going to do this mod. My only thought is I wont have side marker lights...

 

[XionicWaste]

Im also going to run XJ leafs. Those leafs are off set so I will be running the shorter side (23" long) to the rear. The long side is 29". I will have to move both hangers so I retain my wheel in the center of the well. I am going to re bob the back end of the truck and make a nice rear bumper and hang my shackles off the back again but set up a bit differently.

 

[Kage]

You're up for ORTOTM! Good luck!

And I still hate you. You're reall making me wish that I would have done a much smaller build!

 

[XionicWaste]

You're up for ORTOTM! Good luck!

And I still hate you. You're reall making me wish that I would have done a much smaller build!

HEY THANKS! Your truck is sweet too and you did SO much to it, dont envy mine too much!