"Big Darla" Build Thread

[Josh40601]

Prerunner style front bumper?

 

[XionicWaste]

Im not sure on a bumper style right now, maybe a small prerunner bumper (short). I like the top portion of this style:

or this:

I shouldnt be thinking about bumpers... SAS time.

 

[Josh40601]

The second one look better IMO. SAS won't take you long.

 

[kroussinoffroad]

get it all done at once. that's what i tried to do to the explorer

 

[XionicWaste]

Tonight I got another hour of work on the truck done.
I only removed the pit-man arm guard and put the bumper back on but I raised it a bit. Only a pic of the removed guard however.

I also climbed under the truck and did a lot of thinking and I know how I am going to move the steering box and also my tranny cross member/control arm mounts.

 

[XionicWaste]

Okay time for an update:
We got alot of snow so I went snowmobiling and I had to take a picture, gosh I love that look! You can see the raised front bumper too:

I also took out a rear leaf because I felt it was riding too rough in the back:

She is sitting a little lower in the back than the front now but I think when I put my new coils on the front I will lower the truck a bit. I have 10.5 inches of up travel in the rear (until I hit my fender) and 9.5 in the front as is. I dont need anymore lift, If I want height I will gain it with tires, I see 37's in my future!

Tonight I made a new tranny cross member and this is what my control arms will be going back to also. I started off with some 5/16ths plate, cut it to my frame width about 3ft, the plate is 12" wide. I then cut up my original tranny member:

The cut center section was too short so I raised it with some angle iron:

I welded the whole thing but my pic must not have saved on my phone, here is a whole plate shot:

I then cut some holes in the back of the plate for tranny bolt access:

Drilled four 1/2" holes in the new crossmember/skid and also through the frame, bolted it up and now I have a true flat belly skid! I have about 20" of clearance under the truck as of now:

My rear drive shaft flange (transfer case side) is pretty close to the cab crossmember now, Ive got about 3/4". The truck also makes a bit more noise in the cab from everything being closer to the cab.

I plan on cutting the plate like this, or something like it to clearance the front drive shaft:

Thats all for now!

 

[Josh40601]

You're in Petersen's this month

 

[jesse93]

truck looks great!! i like it alot, i just wish i could have a place to wheel like that. in florida there's mud and more mud..lol

 

[XionicWaste]

You're in Petersen's this month

Yeah I know! I just flipped through the issue and didnt even see anything and my buddy was reading my issue and he told me... Im really excited about it. Now I just need to be on the cover!
Heres a pic:

truck looks great!! i like it alot, i just wish i could have a place to wheel like that. in florida there's mud and more mud..lol

Hey thanks! If you can make a trip out to Moab, UT do it, you wont regret it.

Well Ive been working on the truck and its time for an update:
I decided to regear the axle myself so I purchased a dial indicator and micrometers and I was ready to go!
I got the bearings pulled by napa and it made me realize how handy a press would be. I made my "set up bearings" from the old ones.

Spool:

Setting up the gears was pretty easy actually. Ive seen a little bit of the process done before and I read Billavistas gear setup article: Clicky
Heres my drive side pattern:

Heres the coast: (they say its okay to be a little toe side)

Both patterns turned out great and I was only 180 into regearing it myself plus I have the tools to do it again!

I threw on the new diff cover and shes all sealed up!

Today I worked on making my control arms and I got a great idea for Kyle M's build. Clicky

First I cut:

Then I welded:

Right now Im working on getting my lower spring perches attached. (The old studs broke off when removing the old perches so I am redrilling and taping them)

 

[kris97ranger]

your going to run a spool in the front?

 

[XionicWaste]

your going to run a spool in the front?

Yep I had to get a new carrier anyway (3.92 and up) and a spool was 60 bucks more than an open carrier. Im running a powertrax locker right now and it NEVER unlocks so its basically a mini spool and I never have troubles with it. Plus I only lock the drivers side hub on the road so I can still turn. I accidentally ran around fully locked one day and it was scary around corners, the truck wouldn't turn at all.

 

[kris97ranger]

cool. im running a power trax in the front of my sammi now with a welded rear. but havnt gotten out yet. ive heard they never unlock... not looking forwards to that if its the case

 

[XionicWaste]

cool. im running a power trax in the front of my sammi now with a welded rear. but havnt gotten out yet. ive heard they never unlock... not looking forwards to that if its the case

Well my powertrax used to unlock but then it exploded from having the wrong powertrax (differences in ABS and non ABS axles, I was sent a non ABS powertrax and the guy who put it in didnt realize) I made my own spacers so my clearances, I'm sure, are off. I doubt the locker will come unlocked in the snow however because there will be no load on the tires to unlock it. Good luck though!

 

[XionicWaste]

Just purchased some of these from parts mike. 40 degrees of movement for 40 bucks. The johnny joints with 40 degree articulation are 100 bucks per!

 

[Josh40601]

That's a good deal buddy. Keep at it and you're truck will be on the cover before you know it!