Project "Constructive Deconstruction"

[John D]

There has to be somebody nearby that has a bender and is willing to do the work for you. Get a coat hanger, brake line, 1/4" rod or whatever, bend it the way you think it needs to be and take it to them. They shouldn't charge too much for the work. I did this with my lower arms (2x1/4" DOM).

 

[Smash Hole]

Move the ram. Duh

 

[VAhasnoWAVES]

thats a whole nother round of cutting/grinding that i want to avoid right now. but is what will probably happen.

 

[VAhasnoWAVES]

Red Neck Ram stuff came in... now if only i could order time in boxes instead of jeep parts. just applied for a mortgage, jeep is going to need to be a roller soon.

 

[VAhasnoWAVES]

fabbed up a trackbar mount using one of my link mounts. plenty of clearance at full lock. should give me pretty parallel geometry to my drag link. almost the same length too. i think i measured ~1" difference. it will get stitch welded to the stiffeners as well.

boxed in the trans crossmember. it just needs two holes drilled for the transfer case skid.

and i plan to use the offset trackbar bracket as a link mount after some chopping. so once i did the frame side upper control arm bracket i used some of the offset bracket to make a gusset. dont think its going anywhere.

time to start making links.

 

[VAhasnoWAVES]

had to slightly modify the trans crossmember. removing it and reinstalling it took longer than the actual modification.

lower links are tacked and in. upper fits great. should get to bend up a trackbar on wednesday!

 

[Smash Hole]

If you didn't reinvent shit that's already been thought out you could of made it to WF.

Nice Clayton knockoff.

 

[VAhasnoWAVES]

if i hadnt gotten the materials so cheap, buying the clayton stuff would have been the way to go. oh well... its pretty much wrapped up now.

 

[VAhasnoWAVES]

big success today. i had bought shocks from a guy on greatlakes4x4 and he had a buddy bring over his bender. was the first time i met him but he seemed happy to help. i need to get me one of these... i was looking at this model actually.

one bend... and it was in.

beleive it or not... there is clearance there. lol. and i will have to mock it up, but i might be able to sneak the ram in there too! might be able to get the front end on its own weight this weekend, baring house shopping doesnt get in the way. might even get to flex it!

 

[616_97xj]

big success today. i had bought shocks from a guy on greatlakes4x4 and he had a buddy bring over his bender. was the first time i met him but he seemed happy to help. i need to get me one of these... i was looking at this model actually.

is that a manual model 32? or am i just missing the cylinder? much less if it is manual, how the hell did you guys get a pull on it? on my model 3, the handle would have been in the truck bed... or out running directly into the tube to be bent...?

weird, made it work regardless.

616 'I need more dies' 97xj

 

[VAhasnoWAVES]

is that a manual model 32? or am i just missing the cylinder? much less if it is manual, how the hell did you guys get a pull on it? on my model 3, the handle would have been in the truck bed... or out running directly into the tube to be bent...?

weird, made it work regardless.

616 'I need more dies' 97xj

yes, its a manual 32. with the handle actually in position, we could easily get a swing without hitting the bed/tail lights. a guy pushed from one side while i pulled on the other and watched the gauge... but i feel i could have pulled it myself, even on the .250 wall.



the guy had 6 dies. lol.

 

[vt98xj]

I have this conversion

http://www.swagoffroad.com/SWAG-Formed-Tubing-Bender-AirHydraulic-Ram-Mount_p_53.html

you just need to get the cylinder from harbor freight, it is not the fastest thing but it works pretty good.

 

[89eliminator]

i put the same thing on the club bender. made bending much easier.

 

[VAhasnoWAVES]

they had one at their display at KOH. its pretty cool. but considering it too me all of 20 seconds to do a 20 degree bend on .250" wall... i think id be ok with doing it manually. i eat my wheaties. doing a cage might make me reconsider.

 

[616_97xj]

I ran mine manual for half my cage...then switched to air over. Made a stand, used HF ram and went vertical with it. Only becuase im working in a tight space with a tall ceiling.

 

[VAhasnoWAVES]

I ran mine manual for half my cage...then switched to air over. Made a stand, used HF ram and went vertical with it. Only becuase im working in a tight space with a tall ceiling.

makes sense. other than it being slow, i havent seen anyone who wasnt happy with the product.


finally had a rewarding day in the garage... links and trackbar are all tacked and in. mounts axle mount is tacked. been flexing it, and think its right where it is going to stay. but i want to weld up the axle, put coils under it, and adjust caster before i burn the links home. but of course i had to put wheels on it and make it flex. it was pretty dark by the time i cleaned up, so i will report back.

for now here is a teaser at full droop.

the PAC racing springs are super long, and my limiting factor (so far that ive found) is the drive shaft at the case. even with the travel, i dont think they will actually unseat. pinion angle stays beautiful during the whole range of motion. i also have no issue with the upper link and drive shaft hitting, nor do i need to clearance the crossmember for the drive shaft.

 

[VAhasnoWAVES]

 

[banderso]

Picture is kind of a teaser. Everything fully welded? It's a roller? It's a driver? What's left to finish?

 

[VAhasnoWAVES]

spring perches are fully welded. the circular pads are just tacked at the moment, but arent going anywhere. full bump has been established.

ive dialed in the castor, and am ready to fully weld the UCA mount and control arms. it is fully welded on one side so that i didnt break the tacks while flexing, and i wanted to get a good weld all the way around it.

the shocks i got fit about perfect (though i plan to sqeeze a 14" travel shock in there. )

the last thing i am trying to do is fit the ram. once thats in i will pull the axle, finish fully welding and clean it up. but man, is it proving to be a pain in the bottom.

measured for limit straps as well, and figured out where i am going to mount them.

i also need to modify the track bar bracket, it rubs the coil... so i am going to pie cut it and hammer it home.

 

[BRIANHO13]

If you didn't reinvent shit that's already been thought out you could of made it to WF.

Nice Clayton knockoff.

That's what the off road community does to each other, no matter the relationship someone is always trying to undercut someone else.....