derstine's willys

[mjderstine]

got it split... bout 4 dremel cutoff wheels, and when i almost burnt out the dremel it was the last 3" by hand holding the hacksaw blade with not handle.

will get pics later, going to braze it all together tonight.

[Big Mike]

Originally Posted by mjderstine

and when i almost burnt out the dremel it was the last 3" by hand holding the hacksaw blade with not handle.

Sweet.

At least you know when to quit! I gave up on Dremels, I'm too tough on them I guess. I'll melt the brushes every time I use one for heavy work like that...

[BigSki]

Good progress! As tough as the stock plastic chassis is, I'd do another steel frame in a heart beat. It just sounds so darn cool when it drags over some rocks.

[youngblood]

Next time you need to split one, hit me up. I have a band saw.

[Big Mike]

Originally Posted by BigSki

Good progress! As tough as the stock plastic chassis is, I'd do another steel frame in a heart beat. It just sounds so darn cool when it drags over some rocks.

Yea, that is one of the cool aspects of making the chassis from steel. Ultimate realism...

[mjderstine]

Originally Posted by Big Mike

Sweet.

At least you know when to quit! I gave up on Dremels, I'm too tough on them I guess. I'll melt the brushes every time I use one for heavy work like that...

i was giving my dremel breaks to cool off, but near the end i just stopped and used the hacksaw blade. made it take longer, but didnt want to completely kill my dremel.

Originally Posted by BigSki

Good progress! As tough as the stock plastic chassis is, I'd do another steel frame in a heart beat. It just sounds so darn cool when it drags over some rocks.

totally man. i like to make the frames, they are heavier down low, and super solid made from the 1/2" tube. hope to get a couple cross member on tonight so i can start mocking up some body mounts, and get the axles lined up.

Originally Posted by youngblood

Next time you need to split one, hit me up. I have a band saw.

will do man.! love those tools.

Originally Posted by Big Mike

Yea, that is one of the cool aspects of making the chassis from steel. Ultimate realism...

planning to make the cross members as real as i can without making it too hard to braze them on.

[mjderstine]

well got the frame brazed together. front has the start of a servo mount. got a little jib worked up with rulers, and magnets. its not as good as some things i have seen from BigSki's shop, but it works for me. measure measure measure measure measure. then it finally worked.

the got to work on the rear bumper. but a piece in half the long way, again. and bent up the ends to kinda match the stock plastic one. cut some slots to bumper for the frame rails to come through where i will be able to mount some d-rings.

whole thing lined up perfectly with the stock frame too. and lines up with all the lines of the body.

i left the front about 3" overhang incase i plan to have a longer than stock wheelbase. which i plan to do. that way i can mount a cool bumper or something up there.

here are the pics.

[mjderstine]

playin around with some wheelbase and tire options. kinda like the pits on here. they work out to 34.5" scale tires. lots to do here still.

also brazed a couple things on the chassis. ran out of mapp so gotta get some more tomorrow. but the angled braces are on like the real one. and put the rear body mounts on and drilled the holes. just gotta do the ones for the front tomorrow.

first two pics are what i am going for at the end for looks. also like that orange one too. might be a mix of both.

what kinda wheel base are you guys making?

[Big Mike]

This chassis is really coming together...

[truckbob]

Nice frame. Can't wait to see this thing.

[sellenk]

Nice, making some progress I see.

[mjderstine]

yup.


what kinda wheel base are you guys going with?

[BigSki]

Originally Posted by mjderstine

yup.


what kinda wheel base are you guys going with?

On the orange Jeep I pushed the front axle forward about 15mm from the stock location, this helped with tire turning clearance with the front inner fenders.

[mjderstine]

ok, i think i am just gonna wing it. probably come in around 13" or something like that.

thanks man!

[mjderstine]

havent really "done" anything, but am getting lined up to get the rear axle on. gonna be using my twin force 8.25" width axles. i think i am gonna have some rubbing up front with them. but i should be able to alter some things to get around that.

rear is gonna be leaf sprung. still need to decide if i want or need anti-wrap bars, but i probably will.

really want to see if i can get both axles all ready to go by friday. want to take it up to BobRocks in MD this coming weekend.

[Big Mike]

BobRocks is comin' up quick make it happen man!!

Lookin' good!

[mjderstine]

ordered my silver solder this morning. its priority mail so might get it wednesday or thursday at the latest. then its just fabbing up the motor mount, transfer case mount, linke mounts, front bumper. should be able to fab some of those things before the brazing stuff comes in. then it should just be turn the torch on and go.

[mjderstine]

got the transfer case mocked up. need to get the mounting tabs for the links done tongiht. gonna have to to some cutting for the t-case to fit. but won't be noticeable after some styrene work.

also need to mock up the transmission mount under the hood.

[mjderstine]

i want my solder. it didnt come in. ordered it monday. priority. from holmes. bummer.

[mjderstine]

new wheels for the jeep. got these at ECSC this summer as a giveaway raffle.

2.2 Mayhems. lots of bolts, but they are pretty darn sweet. drilled out the hub to 8mm to fit on my twin force shafts.