Update and wheeling pix

[ThatGuy]

Been awhile.
Switching internet providers has proved to be a pain in my a$$. No net for a week will make a man do crazy things.

To give an update on the EB coil swap, everything is A ok now. I have been on several rides in the past couple of weeks. I have also finally taken the Ex to get the prototype steering put on. It drives just fine now with no more lift in the front end from the tires trying to climb themselves. Getting ready for the SAS in the next little bit, but I will admit the TTB has suprised the heck outta me. I've beat on it with all i got because I got the HP44 ready to go in and it has held its own. Will make someone a good donor.

Lots of snow lately has made trail riding interesting to say the least. Figured I'd throw in a few pix to show whats been going on.
This happens when you ride with a group of Jeeps

 

[legoms013]

Wow never seen that type of steering setup before on a Ford TTB suspension, do you like it? What are the advantages? Does it work well? Sure does look cool...

 

[4x4junkie]

Last pic? Looks a lot like the setup Snowthrower made awhile back out of three passengerside stock links (welding the eye of one onto another, then the 3rd was the tierod to the driverside. Can't seem to find any past threads on it though... I wonder if it was before the big forum fiasco back in '07 and it all got lost ). It worked excellent as far as keeping the suspension in check, but still had some bumpsteer because the pitman arm itself was still out of line from the axle pivots.

Looks like you still had the misaligned steering in most of those pics. Did it feel funny at all when climbing those hills?

 

[ThatGuy]

Yes that is the prototype steering I'm testing. It works very well to be such a simple system when ran with a drop pitman arm. The pitman arm is approx. 1" above the pivot bolt on driver's side, the link is directly in front of the pivot bolt on pass. side. No more limit straps on the front to hold it down. Been driving for 3 days now with no problems. Haven't noticed much bumpsteer.
Didn't notice too much when in 4wd with the old setup. It seemed to help with the frontend pulling to keep it in check. The pix make it look a lot worse than it is.
Going wheeling this weekend to test out the new steering. I'm hoping it continues to work well but I don't know how the heims will appeal to most people as far as being able to market it.

 

[railman]

where were the pics from???

where ya taking it wheeling next weekend???

like the new set-up...looks cool...

l8r, John

 

[ThatGuy]

All the wheeling pix were taken at Windrock. I broke down and bought a season pass since I only live 7 miles from it so I will be wheeling there often. First 3 or 4 pix were trail 13 which I highly recommend, we rode that trail for several hours and I got a few new dents because of it. Others were Lil' Schoolbus (steep hill & flop on side) and trail 10, last two were next door to guy that done the steering so we could check for interference.

Couple more

 

[86 slo-vo]

looks good....have any closer pics of the steering?

 

[ThatGuy]

I will get some tomorrow. Just wanted to throw up the teaser pic. I'm going to the Duff shop tomorrow to let them have a look at it and see what they say. I've only driven on it for a few days now. Going wheeling this weekend.......Windrock anyone???

 

[4x4junkie]

Would love to go if I wasn't so far away

but I don't know how the heims will appeal to most people as far as being able to market it.

No TRE version in the works?

 

[ThatGuy]

Unfortunately no TRE version will be offered. The company that is doing it only deals with heims. Mostly off-road only trucks is what they deal with so everything off the shelf is with heims.
I will say that the system, if offered, will be over $100 less than anything else offered for the RBV.

 

[89PBR96]

Cool pictures man the ex looks good

 

[Bent Bolt]

Cool steering. I personally have no problems with rod ends especially on a non daily driver. In fact, I'm planning on building a K-link style steering with all rod ends.

 

[Mechanickid]

looks shweet

 

[BeaterMan]

looks like a real fun trail and that bronco looks exactly like a buddys of mine cept his paint isn't as shiny and is more oxidized. your ex seems to be quite a capable vehicle. show them jeepers why we drive the blue oval. lol

 

[ThatGuy]

Thanks for the kind words. I was told that if the beater wasn't so beat up it might make it into the next Duff catalog but I'm not putting a new hood and pass. fender on just to get a pic taken. Along the same lines, I doubt Duff will carry the new steering. Ms. Duff is dead set against heims and since she is the boss it will prolly have to come direct from the source. My Ex is a semi-daily-driver. I usually flip-flop between it and the Grand Cherokee but lately I've put way more miles on the Ex. It is a little less road friendly now with the spool in the rear though.
The Blue Bronco is a VIP Duff customer from Atlanta. He drove 3.5 hrs to Windrock in the Bronco, wheeled all day, then drove back home the same day. That's my definition of hardcore. All 4 vehicles--2 Broncos, my Ex, and even the Red JEEP with the big blue boner bar--are all Duff project vehicles sporting new suspension products.