4Crawlin Build Thread

[chevycrew]

The links are the biggest pain when doing a front coil/coilover setup. Then you get into cost, and reliabilty.

With leaf springs, its 2 springs and 2 shocks. Link front, you have a minimum of 4 links, plus coils, and shocks. Thats twice as many parts to fail.

Im a big fan of links, but Im learning simple may be better.

I dont know if the "kit" is going to take shape, Im limited on time to get this done.



Coil buckets wont work for me either... (axle is moving forward.)

[fishsticks]

I'm interested to see how the steering comes together.... that's the one part I haven't been able to put together in my head. The steering is what's making me think more about modding the IFS rather than doing a SAS... plus the fact that this is my second 4x4 rig ever and my first one that I'm into balls deep on the mod side.

Get on this shit. You're my hero BTW...

[chevycrew]

Dont worry, I have some concerns over steering too.

Ill need to strip all the protective covering off the shaft to see how its put together, joints, angles, etc. Drivers motor mount may be in the way as well. But I think with a redesign, it will clear.


Anyone have any pictures or links that show how the steering from the column to the rack is assembled?

[fishsticks]

Live pics tomorrow during the day if you want them.

[chevycrew]

You beat me to it by 2 minutes!

Least I didnt get told to go look at compnine again...


I just went out and looked at mine again, with the picture for reference. It looks like Ill need to move where the shaft goes through the firewall up a ways, to get the correct angle to run to a steering gear box.

[madmanvillain]

Did the back hatch close with the hitch reversed like that?

[OkieBlazin]

Man, sounds like you got your build under control. Cant wait to follow your build, U gonna keep the 4.3L or you going bigger with that as well? Welcome to the Club

[Diacom]

Man, sounds like you got your build under control. Cant wait to follow your build, U gonna keep the 4.3L or you going bigger with that as well? Welcome to the Club

You mean 4.2L???

[bartonmd]

Man, sounds like you got your build under control. Cant wait to follow your build, U gonna keep the 4.3L or you going bigger with that as well? Welcome to the Club

Wrong platform.

[chevycrew]

Did the back hatch close with the hitch reversed like that?

Yeah, the rear hatch closed without a body lift.

[chevycrew]

Man, sounds like you got your build under control. Cant wait to follow your build, U gonna keep the 4.3L or you going bigger with that as well? Welcome to the Club

Nope 4.2L is staying, I didnt want to do a motor swap on this project. It should be plenty of power.

[The Roadie]

It should be plenty of power.

Exactly my feeling as well. I've NEVER been thwarted on a trail due to lack of torque, especially with the automatic. Crawl ratio could be better, but it's not the killer. Ground clearance and traction have been the limiting factors, and airing down takes care of as much of the traction as is possible to take care of, unless you need all four tires biting in which case articulation is the limiting factor.

[chevycrew]

Um yeah, Powers that be, feel free to delete those last 3 posts...


Update:

4-4-11
1" body lift installed (Total cost, $55)

Id post pics, but its a 1" body lift on a rig with no bumpers... Not very exciting.

[janesy86]

1" body lift installed (Total cost, $55)

Nice! So was that for longer bolts and the 1" blocks? No steering extension needed with just 1"? Wouldn't mind even 1" extra clearance for my rig...

[chevycrew]

1" body lift installed (Total cost, $55)

Nice! So was that for longer bolts and the 1" blocks? No steering extension needed with just 1"? Wouldn't mind even 1" extra clearance for my rig...

I spent:
$15 on 10, M12x1.75x120 bolts, hardened grade 10.9
$10 on 2, 1/2"x7 bolts, grade 8 course thread.
$30 on 10, 1" pucks from performance accessories.

I should have ordered 12 pucks, (oops). Since the long metric bolts werent available locally I ended up drilling and tapping the captive nut at the core support up to 1/2" and just using a standard bolt.

The steering shaft has a built in slip, Im not concerned with extending it 1"

I really cheated on the radiator, I just slipped some rubber hose between the mount and the top of the radiator, then tightened the front mounts down, snug, and no extra fab time for brackets.

I did not address bumpers...

[chevycrew]

Body lift on, exhaust still hanging^^^

Exhaust cut off just behind the last hanger (more mods later)

Here is the cut I had to make to access the captive nut above the rear body mount. The nut broke free and was just spinning. Cut it open, stick a 7/8" wrench on it, and take out the bolt. I put it back together and tighened it up. Ill weld up the cuts later when I have the welder out.

[HARDTRAILZ]

I believe we had to open up Hatchets rear mount as well to get a wrench on it. Pain in the ass at the time.

[chevycrew]

Thats problem on that rear mount. They left it open for water to enter, but didnt put any drain holes in.

[chevycrew]

Here is what Im up against:

[HARDTRAILZ]

Those dont look like 15 in width, but I love the height. I want 37 or 40, but low slung on 37s with decent flex would be sweet. 42 is a lot of tire, but I guess once you head up you may as well get all the clearance you can.