Project Mazzuki

[Jim Oaks]

Do you take pics with a phone or camera? They always seem a bit fuzzy.

Looks like another interesting project to watch.

 

[Will]

That stinger is cool. I'm going to make one. I use my Bobcat for that type of thing most of the time but it's hard on the asphault and can only pick up 800# and can't go up the hill. That big rock I moved--I could have picked it up, driven it right up the hill and set it where I wanted it.

Full marks for the stinger/gin pole thing.

 

[Loanranger]

Do you take pics with a phone or camera? They always seem a bit fuzzy.

Looks like another interesting project to watch.

Most of the Fordzuki build was shot with my phone, but everything since christmas has been with a Kodak 8.1 MP digital. So any fuzzy pictures now are just me shaking. It seems the harder I try to steady the camera, the worse it turns out.

That stinger is cool. I'm going to make one. I use my Bobcat for that type of thing most of the time but it's hard on the asphault and can only pick up 800# and can't go up the hill. That big rock I moved--I could have picked it up, driven it right up the hill and set it where I wanted it.

Full marks for the stinger/gin pole thing.

Thanks. That means alot coming from you, Will. It was something I had dreamt of, and just got a wild hair one saturday and started welding scrap together. I'd like to make another one someday that lifts a little higher, and make it a little stouter too.

 

[Loanranger]

Finally got a chance to work on this thing again.

I got a couple plates made and welded on to reinforce around the motor mounts. We all know it's gonna need it.

Had to cut off the old motor mounts and the bumpstop perches, and got the frame all cleaned up.

Made some 1/4" plates to reinforce.

3/4" "strap" on the top?

I'm gonna plate the outside and underside too, just need to round up some more steel.
That's all for tonight, I'm gonna try and get the ramdatsun pulled up to the shop tomorrow, get the cab off, pull the motor/trans/tcase and get them set in the zuk frame so I can start making mounts.

 

[Loanranger]

Progress! IT FITS!

Started this morning by rigging up a different fuel tank, so I could drive it over to the shop.

Got the front clip cut off, and went to town yarding the body off.

Forgot all about this.

Making the ranger work for it's parking place.

Motor/trans/tcase out.

And it fits.....mostly....

Need to notch the starter a little....

And grind an 1/8th inch or so off the end of the clutch fork.

I'm hoping to be able to drop the front down about 3-4 inches, to keep the COG low, but keep a decent belly height too.

 

[Loanranger]

It's final home.

 

[Loanranger]

Ok, so I've been working on motor mounts, I was torn between hard mounting it, or rubber mounting it, and decided on rubber bushings.

Now I just need to copy that for the drivers side, and make some tabs and gussets for the frame, and we'll have some motor mounts. I've been looking at ideas for the bellypan/crossmember, as well as a couple bolt in crossmembers around the engine/trans.

I ended up having to cut a window in the drivers side framerail, for starter clearance. The starter was resting against the framerail, and the positive cable at the solinoid was a little too close for comfort. I'll end up making a dished piece to fit in the hole, and plating the top, bottom, and outside anyways, so it should be plenty strong.

 

[Loanranger]

Finished up the passenger motormount, and got a good start on the drivers side.

Drivers side.

 

[Loanranger]

Ok. So it's been a while since I updated this, so here goes. I finished up the motor mounts. I don't seem to have a picture of just the drivers side, but if you look in the following pictures, you'll see both sides complete.

I started in on the cradle for the tranny and transfercase, wanting it to be a skidplate as well as a trans crossmember, also with the ability to add another mount in the future when I hang another case back there.

I had to start by reinforcing the frame, I used 1/8th inch steel, and plated the outside and underside. 1/2" rosette welds every 6 inches or so on both the outers and unders.

Using a template i made, I cut it out with the plasma.

Drilled the holes, and made a bend in the plate where the frame bends, and clamped it up.

 

[Loanranger]

more...

 

[Loanranger]

Well, no pictures tonight, just a bunch of welding. I got the cradle and plating all welded up, and the start of the frame patch by the starter. I made a template out of cardboard, cut the piece out of 1/8th inch plate, and set it up in the press, with a 3" chunk of round billet steel as the top die, and chunk of steel on either side on the bottom, to give the piece the inward roll I needed. I got this piece welded in, I just need to cut a couple cat eyes and give them a little roll, and weld them in.

 

[Loanranger]

The starter recess is done. Well, I still need to add some plating around it, but the recess itself is done.

Made the roll with this in the press.

 

[Chance]

I love your builds man, good work as always

 

[doorgunner]

Great..........just plain great!

 

[jonx4x4]

LOVING the build man! Wish there were more builds like this out there.

If you can find a 90's model Nippondenso starter, its much smaller. You might actually be able to remove it without lifting one side of the engine up above the frame rail.

Its what I had to do to stuff the 318 off in my 69 Nissan Patrol.