Mid engine class 3 buggy

[holycaveman]

More work on the chassis. All that is left are the shocks, 3 link, and motor mounts I think?

Besides cleaning up the splatter from my junk flux welder. LOL

[holycaveman]

Chassis length is 14 inches. Wb is only 13. So it's a little longer than I wanted.

Width is 5.5" height is 5". I wanted 5.25 wide but I would rather be safe than sorry on the chassis rules in class 3

[Szczerba]

What color you going with? I have been having luck using header or motor paint and baking it in the oven. Did my tow truck and baked my C3 chassis last night.

[holycaveman]

Have not thought much about it yet? Was thinking maybe black or white. Silver maybe?

What temp and how long do you bake? I may try that thanks.

[Szczerba]

It started by me looking for a flat red paint for the tow truck chassis build I was doing. I couldn't find any flat red until I went to Autozone and finally found some, so I bought. After I had already sprayed the chassis and started putting it back together. Paint was chipping off easy, so I finally read the instructions and remembered it was high heat header paint. This particular flat red had me bake at 200 for 30 mins, cool 30 mins, then 400 for 30 mins, then cool 30 and finally 600 for 30 minutes. I didnt wanna go to 600 for in house safety reasons, so i did the last bake at 450. Smell wasn't too bad, just don't open the oven alot.

This blue gloss only said to bake at 200 for one hour but I have already baked it for two 1 hour sessions. This the most recent color I am doing. VHT Paints/Old Ford blue high temperature Engine Enamel SP153 at AutoZone.com


So, each can will tell you what to do. With the red chassis, there was a noticable difference of paint durability before and after the bakes.

[holycaveman]

Awesome. Thanks for the info. It would save me having to ship it out.

[holycaveman]

A little more work tonight. I think the stance is pretty decent. 2 1/4-1/5 belly height. Tread to tread is 10 5/8" wide and overall height about 7.5". Pretty happy about that.
The shocks have a full 1 3/4" of travel when you don't run any springs. With this build being full droop and fr/r winch. We won't be using any springs....

I have got the 3 link geometry down pretty well. No binding at all even with that much travel. 3 links are tricky to dial in. More difficult in my opinion than a 4 link.

The hr shocks are horrid stock. I have mods I do to them that make them velvet!

I have high expectations for this rig. A few more days and it will be ready for test and tune. Then i will work on the interior /paint and every thing else.

[holycaveman]

[holycaveman]

And no the front cattle guard (aka steering link) is leaving.

[tedo]

Nice looking stance!!

[holycaveman]

Thanks. I am trying the 1:1 method of relying on the winches for limiting straps. And with 1 3/4" shock extension I sure hope it works! LOL

[hotwheels000]

I cant wait to see this rig in Colorado.

[EeePee]

I'd worry a little more about his driving more than his truck. As long as he can stay relaxed (hint hint). He can really pull off some pretty sweet stuff. One Lug Wonder™

Guess that implies someone is worried. Didn't mean it that way.

[holycaveman]

Well it's a roller. Kind of. My rear knuckles have not got here yet. Links are just mock up.
Belly height is 2.5". Shocks extended are........well let's just say I hope the front and rear winches do their job

[holycaveman]

Figured I would throw a LOL picture in for kicks. But i wanted it to be just like the 1:1 design. I hope the winches are up to their tasks.

It's either going to be awesome. Or a pain in the butt to control.

[Szczerba]

Really liking the proportions of this rig.

[holycaveman]

Thanks fellows. I know you are laughing. LOL

I figure if this is too tough to control I can always use limit straps to keep it low.

But i am hopfull to raise the bar..........or fail miserably

[Szczerba]

nah, do what you do. Better to try and fail then to not try at all.

I ran about 3" belly clearance on my XTV and it was too low for the rocks I had it on in some situations. I was running big bores and mini-t springs. I am jumping to full size springs and a little taller ride height and see how that goes but will be bringing the mini-t springs to CO just in case!

[holycaveman]

Ride height is 2.5" as it sets. But at full extension it's 4" so I may lower it another 1/4".

The sprung weight should come in a 2 lbs with interior and all electrics. Unsprung weight is about 3.5lbs. So on paper it should rock. But often times reality is a bit different.

I have not had a truck that flexed this much. So this whole concoction is relying on two cheap winches. LOL

[josh6575]

I am thinking about trying a sidewinder micro for a winch controller. The benefit of drag brake may help with using the winch for limiting. I have a winch on my wraith that drifts and is not holding. I think this might be the cure.