Project 4x4 Commuter Mazda

[88_Eddie]

i dont know if this has been discussed, but are you planning on locking them up? looks like they'll hold like $30 worth of gas (in california dollars)

 

[legoms013]

I do, and will, along with the spares too.

How about like $42 in gas? lol

 

[4.0B2]

not only would they have 42 in gas, but also the price of the cans!
how often will you keep fuel in them?

 

[legoms013]

Well, if gas keeps skyrocketing, I might be keeping fuel in them alot, being that the price of fuel can jump a quarter in a week it might be worth while to buy a total of 30 gallons of fuel all at once.

Otherwise not very often....hopefully gas levels off and starts dropping in price though pretty soon. They are mainly for when I go on a trip.

 

[legoms013]

Fueled up today. 27.59 gallons, $120 bucks.

Started my expo accessories look:

Fits like a glove:

Many options for different scenarios:

Commuter setup:

I hosed down the plywood OSB with 2 thick coats of boiled linseed oil. We will see how it holds up. I've seen 3/4" OSB last a long time out in the elements bare, so with the oil it should serve me well (especially b/c it was free).

My special e-track clip in ratcheting tie downs are on their way. These will allow vertical placement of the spares.

Still thinking about how to lock all this shiieet down. Any ideas?

Oh and these Jerry cans are the bomb. They simple don't leak, and I filled them to the brim full. Time will tell if the seals hold up and they don't leak after vast changes in altitude.

Currently researching Monstaliner and Durabak DIY roll on bed liners....not much left until I start searching for an explorer disc brake 8.8.

Locks for spare/jerriers---> DIY Bedliner ---> Back-rack/hi-lift mount ---> Backup/bed lights ---> EXPLORER FORD 8.8 ---> 4.56 gears for 8.8 ---> 31 spline No-Slip Powertrax ---> Extra D35 pig ---> 4.56 gears for D35 ---. Geared axles install.

 

[kroussinoffroad]

with everyone speaking of gas price's last week. A fully tank will last me anywhere between a weekend to a month depending on how much i go wheelin. i never have to drive my truck anywhere else.

company vehicle FTW

 

[legoms013]

with everyone speaking of gas price's last week. A fully tank will last me anywhere between a weekend to a month depending on how much i go wheelin. i never have to drive my truck anywhere else.

company vehicle FTW

Thatta boy.

I just recently jokingly proposed to my boss that the company should buy my truck off of me, and then pay for my gas. He just laughed.

 

[legoms013]

No new real progress as of late. Still haven't had time to get my bumpstops on. I've been real swamped with school/finals.

Today however the Mazda got a bath, and detail job.

Here is my latest obsession (I'll have a youtube video up a little later). Its a GoPro HD 960:

In the meantime my "ranger lean" is getting worse by the week it seems. Side to side difference is now a whopping 1.5", and my truck now sheds water to the left HARD. Its affecting my steering wheel alignment which really ticks me off.

I have found a solution though, and I will be putting a block of some sorts on the left perch.

Also throwing around the idea of ordering some shorter 12" travel Bilstien 7100's with resi's....since my 14" 5125's are just too damn long. I think I am going to wait until I get my ranger lean fixed first though. Anyone wanna call dibs on the 14" 5125's? They are basically new.

 

[kris97ranger]

how do you like that camera? dads thinking of getting one he wants to use it on the boat and when we're diving and such

 

[legoms013]

So far so good. I hear for underwater stuff the clarity goes way down due to the convex lense, however GoPro knows this is an issue so they will be releasing a special diving flat lense this summer. All in all though it works great, simple to use, and bullet proof.

Here is my first video I took, excuse the bright focus, overall length (I don't have editing software yet) and mount clatter on the rough sections. Filmed in 720. Out at the wheel it looks like about 4" of travel is used in typical road driving....far more than I would have originally guessed. Maybe that has something to do with the excellent in cab ride I have...

I plan on using the GoPro to diagnose a couple of problems that I have never been able to figure out (even with a helper). Mainly the metal on metal noise I get when turning right and this "clunk" I get when starting from a stop.

Plus it will make for some pretty cool shots either at high speed or slow crawlin...

 

[legoms013]

 

[4.0B2]

i wish i had front coils that did that..lol. mine might as well be solid...

 

[legoms013]

Lol. What brand coil you got under there?

 

[4.0B2]

its the ones from the RC lift, something like 540 ppi its a joke.. probably going w/ some Deaver's when I do my axle swap tho. or a jeep xj coil.. something around 300 ppi i think...

 

[legoms013]

That, or just do what I did: hang 250lbs of bumper/winch off the front and call it good lol

I think my coils are in the neighborhood of 415 ppi, and I run Bilstein's "lightly" valved 170/60 shocks. Plus the bumper. Plus its the 4.0L, plus its a Supercab....so basically the heaviest combo out there aside from V8 swaps.

Wow 540...that prolly rides like a tank I take it?