BlackBetty Alterations Thread

[97BlackBetty]

Im going to, I just needed the truck back together since its my only transportation. I dont have any wheeling planned, so by the end of the week it will be fixed and put together the right way.

 

[Ranger44]

Hey....how'd I miss this thread?

Good progress. It sucks when your project is your DD. Downtime is a bummer!

 

[97BlackBetty]

Yea, I am going to stop and take a look at a gen 1 ranger today. If its in halfway decent shape I might pick it up so I have something to drive while I redo sum booty fab work on the truck,

 

[BII302]

front hitch mount

When you bolted through your frame, did you put spacer tubes inside? I need to do a similor thing to the hitch on the back of my BII.

 

[97BlackBetty]

When you bolted through your frame, did you put spacer tubes inside? I need to do a similor thing to the hitch on the back of my BII.

No that is part of the booty fab that needs to be fixed. I have list of things to be done. Eventually I am going to cut off the crash section portion of the frame and place a fully boxed section in. When I do that it will recieve cross tubes to help with the structural integrity. For now, I needed the clearance.

 

[97BlackBetty]

Well, I went to the Dog Party on Saturday at Twisted Trails Off Road Park in Copemish Michigan. I had a blast, unfotunately I didnt get many pictures of the wheeling, but I did grab a few of the damage done,

I bent the main steering link, so now I am looking for the superrunner sterring upgrade.

I also grenaded this hub. I am proud of this one, it went to hard it put a dent in the trucks door that was next to me.

 

[pickuptrucker]

nice good shot!

 

[BlackBII]

The pic of the exploded hub looks familiar...

Seen that a few times on my truck.

 

[Kyle M.]

This summer we should meet up and go wheeling somewhere...I just noticed you were in michigan too.

Build looks good BTW.

 

[97BlackBetty]

Hey Kyle M, I am down for wheeling anytime. You should look into coming up for Dog Party II which I believe is March 21st, and I am planning on going to the opening of Rocks & Valleys ORV for their grand opening May 1,2,3. Hell I need to post this info in the regional forums.

 

[exbass94]

I'm pretty sure that steering link is supposed to have that bend in it. I'm almost positive my Explorer has that same bend in that exact spot, and it's never been off-road. Also, here is a stock steering kit for a TTB Explorer. Notice that steering link also has that same bend in it.

 

[Kyle M.]

Where is the Dog party at? I might be down for going

 

[97BlackBetty]

Kyle M, the Dog Party is at Twisted Trails in Copemish. Its about 30-45 minutes north west of Cadillac.

I got my new coil buckets made, as well as new u-bolts for the rear so I can finally run a full leaf pack in the rear, I have been short a leaf for a while now and the rear is just to spongy for my likeing.

 

[97BlackBetty]

I'm pretty sure that steering link is supposed to have that bend in it. I'm almost positive my Explorer has that same bend in that exact spot, and it's never been off-road. Also, here is a stock steering kit for a TTB Explorer. Notice that steering link also has that same bend in it.

A stock steering link does have that bend, I replaced it with a spare that I had. The picture isnt doing the increase in bend justice, when I had it on the bench I measured the bent versus the replacement arm and it had ~4-5 more degrees in it. It also bent the passenger side TRE, which I did not notice at the time. If I had taken a picture of the truck from the front you would have seen how toed in it was. That drive home sucked.

 

[metalmacguyver]

Funny, my steering link looks very similar......