NEW BUILD!

[Kraqa]

well its time for a new buggy build. I want something thats going to be fast capable and have some real lockers.

LQ9 motor
TH400
atlas
9” or 14 bolt drop out rear (depending on what I get for my current rear axle) Straight axle.
2.5” triple bypass shocks, 2.5” remote res coilovers, 2” air bumps on all 4 corners
Front and Rear sway bar….YAA! finally
New chassis design
I’m going to start cutting tube tomorrow and pretending everything ASAP.

The way I see it. if I can get the chassis together in a month I’m better off building a new one then trying to get the motor in this current chassis. Let’s see if I’m right.

21” betty height, 74” roof line with a possible 8” of up travel on the shocks
28” belly width, 50” rocker width, 54” arm bar width, 51” roof width
105”-109” Wheel base
Drop our belly for tranny servicing

Bare bones design no fancy work just light and quick to build .
This is the idea:




ok so progress from today...about 50% of the tubes precut



the skid plate's cut and dimpled. remember this will have a drop out belly that will allow you to pull a tranny without undoing the links.



and the lower suspension link mounts



i'm gonna run a batch of random brackets on the plasma table tomorrow.

[Kraqa]

oh and no rear steering.......and yes it will be skinned like a ZJ.

[AgitatedPancake]

Fawkin A man! Looks like it'll be another nice one from ya, and the simplicity of the chassis makes me think it wont be all that heavy either. Any weight estimates?

[Kraqa]

aiming for 3400 LB wiouth the tire on the back.

16 gallon fuel cell
dual fuel pump set-up
37" tires.

the shocks and CO's add alot of weight.

[AgitatedPancake]

damn 3400lbs + an LQ4 sounds like a good time. I bet the coilovers and bypasses do add a ton of weight, there's a hefty amount of material and oil there. Any plans to come down to California again in Feb? And are ya still workin with Toyo?

[Kraqa]

Ya. I'm still with Toyo.

This motor isn't the lq4. It's the lq9 from a cadilac escalade. I will throw a decent tune into the PCM. Should make decent power.

I won't be comming down to Cali this feb. I'm saving for a wedding!

[SirFuego]

9” or 14 bolt drop out rear (depending on what I get for my current rear axle) Straight axle.

Are the Solid 14 bolt dropouts available to the public? Or do you have the inside line on them because of your racing background? I've only seem them on a couple buggies and all were big name racers.

Looking forward to the build.

[OverkillZJ]

I need to just pay you to build my next buggy..

[zjeepin]

lookin forward to this build... I don't think i've seen anyone but a chassis builder knock one out in a month but I've always been impressed with how quickly you work..

You planning to run KOH in this one?

[Kraqa]

I will definitely not build this in a month. I’m sure the chassis could be done in 2 weeks if need be. I’m going to build this a bit differently. I’m only building to the arm bars then I’m doing all the interior work shock mounts basically leaving the roof off….that way I have great access to the inside.

I have no idea if they are limiting the super 14 bolts to racers only. I wasn’t to worried about it for a few reasons. Its only about a 40% chance I will go with one….cause of price…and 2 I would pimp the hell out of the fact that I race. Not to sound arrogant, its just that honestly…you have to. If you want anything that is difficult to get from the top companies you have to work every angle, even if all you have done is a local beer challenge it helps.

I’m gonna bend the tubes tonight. Then I gotta get the frame table set-up and the buggy moved to start assembling. Fuck I can’t wait!

I will definitely try to run KOH in this one. Not this years race though. Money and time are going to get in the way. Next year will be a full forced push to run all the Ultra 4 events.

[zjeepin]

I was referring to chassis only in a month, i think it takes jimmy smith about 3 weeks to build one but his chassis are pretty tube intense.. I'm looking forward to seeing this come together.

so you're going to scavenge parts off the other buggy?

[Kraqa]

Ahh I c .

Ya I will be using parts off the old buggy.

Front axle, shocks, gauges, seats, belts, radios/comm system, fresh air pumper, Atlas, Fuel Cell, Fuel lines, Fuel pumps, fuel filler, Tranny cooler, Hydro system, Brakes, Hood pins.

The rest will need to be built.

My plan with this front clip is to make a one piece hood grill lights and a small section of fender similar to the Cadillac clip from Jimmy’s out of ZJ parts then turn it into a fiberglass mold. Should be a good lookgin front end. And unlike the current buggy it wont look like scabbed together ZJ skins.

[MoonWorks]

Maybe I missed something...what happened to the old buggy? Looking forward to seeing the new build come together either way.

[Kraqa]

I still have the old buggy. I just want something different. And the old chassis is 3 years old. For a race driven truck that's old.

[Kraqa]

I still have the old buggy. I just want something different. And the old chassis is 3 years old. For a race driven truck that's old.

[ATL ZJ]

Trey I would bet you or I could build a chassis in a month if we had a month or two to gather materials and plan. I will admit it takes skill and experience to knock one out that quick without affecting your job, health, etc. Still don't tempt me to take advantage of my new covered workspace before due time

Kraqa I'm still waiting for you to come down here to GSSE and wheel. Bring both these rigs and rent the old one out for the weekend and pay for your trip

[Kraqa]

i will do GSSE one day. especially if i'm gonna be travelling for racing alot more.

spent 2 hours tonight on it and got some progress tonight.

here is the work space...a bit of a down size from what i've built in before.



I scotchbrighted the tubes before bending. got them bent, and notched the ends.


i'm amazed how long shit takes to do when you are trying to be extremly accurate because i'm prebending and notching with no fitting. shit should go faster then i can start to assemble and have something to fit to.

[CrawlerReady]

Good to finally hear from you Kraqa! Can't wait to see this all come together....looks like it'll be one kick-ass buggy.

[Kraqa]

thanks dude.

i stopped by your ZJ on one of the trails at KOH. and then chassed after your tow rig as you were leaving.

i never did see you though.

this buggy shoudl be rad.

[Brad S]

here is the work space...a bit of a down size from what i've built in before.

Why are you not using the shop?

[CrawlerReady]

thanks dude.

i stopped by your ZJ on one of the trails at KOH. and then chassed after your tow rig as you were leaving.

i never did see you though.

this buggy shoudl be rad.

Damnit! I was looking for you (and Greg) the entire time and couldn't find where either of you were camped. I finally ran into Greg a few hours before I was heading out. I really wanted to meet you and check out the buggy. Next time you're down this way

[Kraqa]

Why are you not using the shop?

I finally sold my condo (1 year investment turned into a 4 year loss of 20K) then bought a house with a garage.

We sold the company I was working at, I planned on staying with the new owners but they turned out to be people I cannot work for. So I quit, well I gave notice so I still have 2 months left and I don’t wana start a project there.

[downtowncb]

So now what career path are you on to?

[Kraqa]

No idea. I haven’t figured that out yet. Right now Vancouver BC has a brain drain. There are more people looking to hire then there are people qualified for the job. I have mechanical design, project management and operations management. I consider myself a professional manager specializing in manufacturing. So something in that field. After doing a quick search I can find 10 companies looking for someone with my skills. But like I said…..i have no idea the specifics.

There is a good chance I will buy/start something of my own. After working for myself for so long I don’t think it would be easy for me to work for someone else….well not for long term.

[Kraqa]

got a couple of hours on it today...








and where it sits now..





i need to set the frame table up. i think after i eat dinner i'll get the mail frame rails and rockers in place.