Project Fordzuki

[dogboy]

Looks good.

There isn't going to be much "LJ" left when you're down with it, haha.

The addiction has taken it's course, it's too late to turn back now. You aren't satisfied with just 4 linking the rear, now you have to tube the frame to get the same effect as before. haha.

 

[Loanranger]

The addiction has taken it's course, it's too late to turn back now. You aren't satisfied with just 4 linking the rear, now you have to tube the frame to get the same effect as before. haha.

Yep, It's just like crack, once you get started, it takes more and more to get the same effect.

I got the drivers side mount extended today, and also lopped off the bumper just outside of the front shackle hangers, and recapped the ends.
It was raining, so I did a little "garage wheeling" and flexed it out. I came up with another setback with the newfound flex. When the tires are turned to the drivers side, the draglink hits the spring at full stuff. I will be adding some bumpstops to keep this from happening, but I might also get a pitman arm with less drop to it.

The reworked shockmount

Full stuff

Draglink to spring interferance

41 inches of air under the back tire.

 

[mhughes165]

HAHAHAHAHA, im glad im not the only one that plans to be testing flex that way LOL

 

[Sunk]

Holy crap dude, that thing is flexy! Maybe I'll see that on the trails sometime...

 

[BlackBII]

Yeah, looks like there is a small amout of flex there, looks good!

 

[Loanranger]

Thanks guys. Small update, today I ordered the 6.5:1 transfercase gears and a transfercase rebuild kit, should be here either friday or monday, so I'll get some pics up of the install, and maybe a vid of how slow it is when it's done.

 

[dogboy]

I still like your idea of using a 4wd Ranger tranny and the divorced Sami transfercase. Or even better yet, use a 4wd tranny/ transfercase, and your 6.5 t-case. That would be some LOOOWW gears...

 

[Loanranger]

I still like your idea of using a 4wd Ranger tranny and the divorced Sami transfercase. Or even better yet, use a 4wd tranny/ transfercase, and your 6.5 t-case. That would be some LOOOWW gears...

Haha, yeah, I would have to extend the wheelbase even more. With the 6.5:1 gears, I'll be at 96:1 final crawl with the stock 3.73 diff gears. With a 1350 in front of the 6.5 case, it would be 238:1 Add sidekick 5.12 ring and pinion, and it would be 327:1 Or, like I was thinking, is I could get two sami cases geared at 6.5:1, and the sidekick gears, and be at 857:1 final crawl. I could also do the 2lo mod to the first case and run the front output from that as a pto. But all dreaming aside, with the power to weight ratio of the LJ, I think 96:1 final crawl will make it low enough. I just wish it would get here in time for this weekend.

 

[Boggin]

man i cant wait to see that in action, thats one flexy rig man

 

[dogboy]

My dad did the 2low modification to the tranny in our old Samurai. It was nice having 2wd low without having to get out and unlock the hubs.

 

[Loanranger]

Well, I got the transfercase gears in friday night, and made a run saturday, and couldn't be more pleased with the outcome. They work out great, most of the time I was running around in 3rd gear, except the technical stuff where I put it in first, and crawled right through, most of the time at idle or just above.

Next up is the rear disc conversion, I picked up a front axle and basically got 3 rears for free, plus another spare front longside shaft. So when I got them home, I tore down the front completely, set aside the caliper brackets, calipers, and rotors, and now I just need to get a set of the rear drums machined down into discs, which will bolt to the axle shafts, put the front studs in (longer), and the rotors will slide over those. I'll mock everything up on one of the spare rears, then when it's all ready, I'll install them on the existing rear housing.

I'm also going to be building some rock sliders for it here soon, which will be the start of the exo cage.

 

[maitee1]

You are my hero

You should send in a video and stuff to PowerBlock on Spike. Maybe even take over some Xtreme 4x4. Because that thing is mad crazy extreme.

 

[Loanranger]

The rear disc conversion is coming right along. I got the rear drums turned down into adapter plates and got one side all mocked up. I just need to get two of the old backing plates cut down into bearing retainers, and it will be all set to move over to the zuk. I've been mocking everything up on a spare rearend, and once all the parts are made, I can swap it all over the the rearend thats on the zuk, and weld on the brackets. Then I can get the rotors turned at work, and pick up some new pads. Here's a few pics for your viewing pleasure.

 

[mkpecor]

nice man.

 

[Loanranger]

Well, I got the rear discs done tonight. Got them all installed, and bled, but I think I need to bleed them out a little more. Heres some pics.