buggy frame buildup

[IndyZJ]

Even if it's a bit harder to put the motor in, which still wouldn't be a big deal, it's a hell of a lot better than pulling the threads out or cracking the block.

[ATL ZJ]

I like the diagram. My motor is mounted both ways... the first style on the passenger side and the second style on the driver side. I did it that way because of the way the passenger side is set back farther on the LS style motors and I had a much tighter clearance with the header on that side. I know you have seen my dark crappy pics, but here they are again for illustrative purposes.

Passenger


Driver


Honestly I wouldn't worry too much about the larger moment. I did tie into a 5th threaded boss on the motor on the passenger side to help compensate for the additional leverage, but even without it, I think my mounts would be on par with what most guys are running in tube chassis rigs. The main thing is getting into the habit of checking torque on important fasteners like these periodically.

Both styles can be made to work, so just build whichever fits your rig better, is quicker to build, and gets you closer to wheeling that thing one day. layer up- working outside this time of year sucks.

[Jeeptech01]

I meant for your concern of getting the motor in and out. Like the oem style clamshell block mount. Or a set of moroso engine mounts make for solid frame pads. Then just use your round bushing on the end of your frame stands. Sorry if I wasnt clear.

[paulkeith]

No worries mate. I've already got the mounts built as pictured in the top picture. The frame end mount is only the holes.

[Jeeptech01]

10-4 Cant wait to see this thing on the trails!

[Kraqa]

what ever you do tie the motor mount togetherunder the block.

i have mounted my motor both ways and i found the bushing at the frame lasts longer due to motor block temps.

i've seen that bushing oozing out of the casing when i was racing.

[paulkeith]

nice. i had settled on that myself; bushing at the frame for disassembly ease, strengthened by connecting the sides.

thanks for the tip!

pics + update pending in a few days...

[Jeeptech01]

Bring on the pics

[paulkeith]

barely got anything done. argh!

all work done was tearing the blazer apart. remainder of the time was spent fitting the bullbar on the 5.9, bleeding the brakes on the 5.9, chasing the MIL on the 5.9, and welding some d-rings onto my dad's trailer for him. oh, and some family christmas bullshit somewhere inbetween.....

all went well until the last minute of yesterday when i was setting the engine down to tarp it up and store it. engine hoist was in soft dirt (ton of rain lately) and over it went....engine landed on its side, bent the d-side header and snapped the slave cylinder mount off the bellhousing. Fawk.

anyway, i snapped a few pics of the blazer teardown, but no cool progress pics. pretty frustrating.

first pics start on the 2nd day of the teardown, top and front clip off:





front clip:



interior stripped down to get harness + ECU out:



took all the body mounts loose, wrapped a tow strap around the body and drove the other way with our john deere tractor, off the body went:



pulling engine:



bare frame:



pulling axles out from under:



beginning of plasma destruction:



finito:





and left behind, we finally have:







another day's work of loading the shit on the trailer, and we have:





took it to our local recycling yard. 2,300lbs. Got $94.40 for it.


one of my christmas presents a few days early:



that's all i got. hopefully i can get a weekend or two to make it back to SC and get some work done. only need another 2-3 days and i can have everything under the chassis for the first time ever. then it'll FINALLY, after 4 years, turn into noticeable and satisfying forward progress.

later,
paul

[ATL ZJ]

You are the posterchild of delayed gratification.

Keep it up! it's impossible to not be inspired by your patience.

[Jeeptech01]

You are the posterchild of delayed gratification.

Keep it up! it's impossible to not be inspired by your patience.

WOW!! Bookmarking for future use!!

Hang in there Paul. All the bs just makes forward progress all the more satisfying.

[paulkeith]

so for funsies I did a little tallying.

I've worked on my buggy on the following dates:

May 21 - May 30 2005

May 23 - August 10 2006

Nov 18 - Nov 24 2007

Nov 26 - Nov 29 2008

Dec 24 - Dec 29 2008

Feb 6 - Feb 9 2009

Dec 2009 was blazer teardown, so not real work on the buggy but,

Dec 22 - Dec 28 2009

That equals a little over 3.5 months of total work days. Since may 2005.

Fawk. Me.

[Jeeptech01]

Are you trying to give yourself a pep talk? Its better than nothing I guess.

[paulkeith]

.....no? motivation isn't exactly the impeding factor in me making progress.

just thought it was interesting how little time it adds up to.

[Jeeptech01]

Yea I know what you mean. I've been building the Buick for 4 1/2 years now. At least its almost done. But if I had the time and money I prolly could have finished it in like 3 months at the same level of quality.

Kinda makes me wish I was born rich instead of good lookin.

[paulkeith]

Orders placed:

Ballistic Fab: Various tabs, trick tabs, mini trick tabs

McMaster: socket cap button head and standard head, weld nuts, tap

Heleta: Cutoff x10, flap x10, grind x2, sand discs x3 (gonna try em)

weldingsupply.com: .030 wire and tips, recessed nozzle

Mid-Carolina Steel: 3x 1.75 .120 DOM, 4'x8' 18ga, 4'x8' 14ga

Vacation approved Mar 1-5.

Turns out going wheelin in someone else's junk is awesome motivation.

Let's see what I can get done.

[OverkillZJ]

Haha, GSSE-W lit a fire under your ass, didn't it?

[Pearce]

Orders placed:

Ballistic Fab: Various tabs, trick tabs, mini trick tabs

Dont be surprised if that order shows up 4 weeks late. I see you took vacation time for building so I'd keep track of that one. And I think the tradition is set that you get to test run it at one of the GSSE's.

[ATL ZJ]

Haha good thing you didn't stay through Sunday or you probably would have bought the LS1 off Kirby's trailer too

[paulkeith]

Dont be surprised if that order shows up 4 weeks late. I see you took vacation time for building so I'd keep track of that one.

yeah, i'd read a lot about their inability to anything in a timely fashion lately. bummer for them. they're some of the simpler parts so maybe/hopefully they're on the shelf and will go out within a reasonable timeframe.

luckily the parts in that order are not mission critical at this point. the things that are are the steel and welding supplies....and the welding supplies already got delivered and the steel will be ready for pickup tomorrow....about 4 days before I can get to SC anyway.

i think i'm low on shielding gas, but i'll have to check that out when i'm there. funny how the simple things get complex when you're trying to do logistics on a build 260 miles away.

[ELLLLLIOTTTTT]

I guess you're going to pull a real Cam with this build huh?

I smell a new reality show. Build a fully functional rock crawler in less than a month. Good luck!

[ATL ZJ]

I guess you're going to pull a real Cam with this build huh?

I smell a new reality show. Build a fully functional rock crawler in less than a month. Good luck!

I'm not sure what that means but I think I watched it happen on monster garage several years ago.

[SirFuego]

Turns out going wheelin in someone else's junk is awesome motivation.

In so many words, I heard this same thing about 20 times this past weekend from Overkill

Good luck with the build.

[paulkeith]

I guess you're going to pull a real Cam with this build huh?

I smell a new reality show. Build a fully functional rock crawler in less than a month. Good luck!

fully functional? hardly. I would like to knock out most of the 'macro' fab though.

In all reality GSSE-W '11 would still be an absurdly tight deadline for what I've got to do and when I'll have time/funds to do it. GSSE '11 is probably more like it.

Paul

[zjeepin]

fully functional? hardly. I would like to knock out most of the 'macro' fab though.

In all reality GSSE-W '11 would still be an absurdly tight deadline for what I've got to do and when I'll have time/funds to do it. GSSE '11 is probably more like it.

Paul

haha, well good luck with the build man. looking forward to seeing your progress on this thing