Gt-12

[superds]

What would happen if you just took one spring per side off? That would leave you with 2 toal springs for the rear suspension.

 

[gwaii]

i had thought of that,and actually tried it to see what would happen(i got it to move,but not at the proper rate).the thing i didn't like about it is that there is one spring on each side of the suspension arm,creating a balanced load.with only one,there is a torque load on the arm,which may or may not be a problem.

in any case,i have already completed cutting the springs and reinsalling them,and am happy with the results.as it is now,the suspension has settled about half way between the full extension and ride height position,and if i jump on the rear frame it goes pretty close to ride height.this gives room for the other things that need to go on still(gas tank,battery,body,etc)and if it's too soft i can shim for more preload.

 

[superds]

You cut them the proper way with a torch, right?

Well, glad it worked out.

 

[gwaii]

You cut them the proper way with a torch, right?

Well, glad it worked out.

sure

no,actually a zipcut.but a torch was used-the cut top of the coil needed to be laid flat so it would seat properly on the shock,so i clamped the end of the coil down and heated half a turn back till it laid down,then reheated the area to cherry red and quenched it.
done this trick lots,works pretty good for doing minor reshaping on the ends of coil springs.a little grinding on the face finishes it off for a flat seat.

 

[gwaii]

here you can see a little more bracing has been added around the diff,but not too much else.the wheels should show up any day now,and the components for the front suspension will be here soon too.

i'm not in too much of a hurry,as long as i have it rolling(not complete)by spring,i'll be happy.

 

[AgPete139]

Very cool.

Subscribed.

 

[gwaii]

Very cool.

Subscribed.

thanks.progress from this point in may be a bit spotty,as i have all winter to work on it-but i'll be putting up what i come up with.

 

[Stxrangerbumper]

wow nice your truck... I hurry to see her ride

 

[gwaii]

figured it was time to get the firewall/cowl/footwell area started.those that have been following the ranger build might remember that fancy aluminum floor i built for it .now,that is just material on this project.

this is the part that went across the back of the cab.it happens to be just the right width for the cowl,and the profile is good too.


the passenger side floor,about to become the firewall.

the firewall rough fitted

and the cowl piece clamped in.

i'm starting to find out just how tight this thing is going to be-i tried sitting in it to see where the pedals would need to be.i need to be sitting right on the floor to clear my head,and the footwell is just wide enough to get both feet in there,but not move them around.this means that i will need to drive with my left knee bent just enough to bring my foot out of the way of my right foot,so i can work the brake and the throttle.good thing it's an automatic.and no long trips for this,it's just good for a summer town cruise,as the exhaust will be trying to cook my feet as well.


should be fun!

 

[martin]

What you need is smaller feet or perhaps stick one leg out the window. There's no room in those things when everything is stock.

 

[gwaii]

There's no room in those things when everything is stock.

tell me about it!hard to get a grasp of just how tiny this car is until you try to stuff yourself into one.sharing that space with a v12 and a th400 gets real tight.

 

[gwaii]

bling!

sure wish i could afford the tires now.oh well.

it thought something looked different on the rear...

then i realised what it was-theres no brakes visible,since the jag rear has inboard discs.

also,i finally had to cut the header as i'm building the firewall and the collector was in the way.

but a little rearranging of the parts gets it pointed in the right direction.

the firewall/footwell area is shaping up....lots of bits to fit together.

 

[WoodyB2]

those rims look sweet man!

 

[gwaii]

those rims look sweet man!

i wasn't sure at first about going with the 17'',thought 15'' might be better.glad i went the way i did.

 

[superds]

It's coming together nicely. I think the 17s were a wise decision also.