The Brass Dodge

[KINGJB]

Time to make the suspension fully functional.

I used styrene to make the shackles since the parts are so small it is easier to work with.

Started by cutting a bit off of a strip and drilling holes



Then I did some trimming to make them look like this



I also had to make the shackle mount, of course it would need to go right where one of the support pieces attaches.



Now to mount it up and see how it works.



For now I just have the strips cut for the other side. But somewhere along the way the shackle mount got mounted to far back.



But that's an easy fix. Just a little heat and it moves forwards.





and now they are both mounted.



I also decided to remove one of the leafs in each pack because they were going to sit to high. I think I might still need to fiddle with them a bit.

[KINGJB]

I remounted the supports and roughly mounted the front axle up. I also shaved the front axle a bit by cutting some of the bits I won't be needing.



Here are the supports remounted.



This is the axle roughly mounted, I say roughly because I need to find a better way. But for now this will work just fine for going on to the next steps up front.



Here is how it looks



Doing its thing







There are some adjustments need, like the front leaf spring mounts need to be move inward a bit, things like that.

[R2j]

Cool build! I'm working on build a 2.2 version from a Ramcharger body. I always loved the 1:1.

[TexasJeff]

Nice fab work there. What are the plans for the rear suspension?

[quinn_thercdude]

Awesome work man,

it's sick to see these things getting built because a couple of months ago i scored a free 1976 Dodge club cab long bed 2WD W150, she's a street truck now, but man. great work!

[Tru3Racing]

Sick, can't wait to see it done. Its my favorite gen of dodges too.

[KINGJB]

Originally Posted by TexasJeff

Nice fab work there. What are the plans for the rear suspension?

The rear is going to be a three link setup.

Originally Posted by quinn_thercdude

Awesome work man,

it's sick to see these things getting built because a couple of months ago i scored a free 1976 Dodge club cab long bed 2WD W150, she's a street truck now, but man. great work!

thanks.

Originally Posted by Tru3Racing

Sick, can't wait to see it done. Its my favorite gen of dodges too.

Thanks to you too.


I've had to put working in it on hold for bit because of work and school. But this is my last week of classes for this semester so in the very near future im going to be able to dedicate more time to this.

[bird8oy85]

that cage is sweet ! good work

[KINGJB]

So I redid the front setup.

The front springs just weren't going to cut it. I needed something more robust to hold up the weight of this truck.

So I went with a bigger pull start spring.



It was way to wide though so I more or less cut it in half



Then after some heating and bending I got the eyelets just like before.



Then I needed to readjust my shackle mounts and such, but I got everything remounted.







I am much more satisfied with this result.

I also picked up some filler to fill in gaps in the body and smooth out rough spots in the chassis, like where I had the shackle mount previously mounted.

[Clod Killer]

This thing is ****ing awesome!!!

[KINGJB]

I think so too.

[obzelite]

jeebus, as this goes on its just crazier.

i'm lacking the skills to go a straight body swap with out my fat fingers destroying everything and your scratch building a car.


respect

[rik]

this looks really good. nice job

[koreanjeep]

Very nice build!

[KINGJB]

Well I decided to set the rear suspension up.

The rear is going to be a link type setup, so I started by making the lower link mounts on the chassis.



They started like this, later I will clean them up and shape them better, but until then they will be fine like this.

I then had to mount both sides, also here you can see the ball stud installed.



For mock up I will be using old mini t turnbuckles for the links.







Then onto the upper links.

They started here by trimming down the top of the micro crawler axle then drilling a new hole.



Next I will be making the upper links chassis side mounting location. Then I need to find threaded rod small enough for these links.



I also have a question er a couple.

Is there a better wheel nut than what comes stock with a micro crawler?

I have also seen wide modded axles, I am curious how to go about this.

[dockman]

Originally Posted by KINGJB

I also have a question er a couple.

Is there a better wheel nut than what comes stock with a micro crawler?

I have also seen wide modded axles, I am curious how to go about this.

Yes there are better wheel nuts, I bought some from The Toyz. They are Mini Z nuts from what I understand, either way they are listed under the Micro Crawler section.

To widen the track people have been using wheel spacers, non are available right now that I know of but Don at BWD is in the process of making some, if he gets them done when he plans to should only be a few weeks.

Killer job on the truck btw, been keeping an eye on this one.

[KINGJB]

Originally Posted by dockman

Yes there are better wheel nuts, I bought some from The Toyz. They are Mini Z nuts from what I understand, either way they are listed under the Micro Crawler section.

To widen the track people have been using wheel spacers, non are available right now that I know of but Don at BWD is in the process of making some, if he gets them done when he plans to should only be a few weeks.

Killer job on the truck btw, been keeping an eye on this one.

Thanks for the info.

[MGCrawler]

I just ordered a set of wideners from crawlerX. Can't remember how much but blade offers some.

[KINGJB]

Now the suspension I had planned before simply didn't work. So I did some reworking using stock components so the suspension at least works.

Here is how the rear will now be set up.

I removed the rear chassis rod and replaced it with a plate which I attached the stock lower link mount too.

This is looking from bottom



This is looking in though the front window




This is the mounting bracket for one upper link. Cut for size and ready to go, just some rounding what not to do later on.



Now here it is mounted.



Then cut and mounted the other side.



Here is the suspension all hooked up. Just some minor adjustments to links length to be made so it all lines up perfect.







Then I remounted the front suspension to see how it looks.









Now I just need to figure how to make these work.

[KINGJB]

It stands by itself!





Pretty simple mounting location





Some flex









now to mount the tranny



Pretty simple



drilled a few holes and there it sits.