Search results

And a spring over axle conversion, spring swaps, steering mods, etc don't take time? Just sayin.....

Thank you. Yup saving the engine was good, especially on the 1st day!

I have seen heat damage on winches with internal drum brakes. The main issue seems to be when powering the winch OUT for long periods of time. There is more drag on the winch brake when in reverse and can heat up the drum hot enough to cause synthetic winch damage.

Less lift, more sheetmetal work. 5-7" of lift is kinda ridiculous for a 35/38" tire. I run 35s on my flat fender and it is lowered about 1/2" from stock on the suspension :D

The dodge 60 isn't a bad choice. I wish I had THAT kind of parts laying around. Off the shelf parts are good. Sometimes it's hard to find a group of parts that all works well together. SOA and low with leaf springs can be challenging. If your going to custom make the frame you could do some...

What year early dodge? It doesn't have to be super difficult, just as long as you keep the entire project in mind and don't build yourself into a corner.....that always sucks. Looking back on my little flat fender build I definitely used more parts that I had laying around than I should have...

It's an option for sure. The other thing I would really like to see is a modular hard top there the sides and door tops could be removed and stored out of the way in the vehicle. Having a hard top for security could be a nice feature. If it was modular it would be easier to replace a damaged...

A YJ/CJ is going to be more affordable for parts. The FJ has some neat stuff like that aqualu body, but every time you say custom I think you have to add about $1000-3000 :) I have seen some people use TJ tops on YJs with some success. You have to change the angle of the windshield and account...

I wouldn't worry too much about a title. Most states have good kit car laws. I chose the CJ/YJ cowl because its easy to get in a replacement part and allows me to bolt on the hood, windshield, etc. The body sides are also pretty easy to get in the YJ/7 length. I designed the chassis so it...

Yup, the easiest is probably going to be a Jeep CJ/YJ or a FJ40 style land cruiser.

Custom springs aren't free, but suspension joints, link material, etc aren't free either! I had an LJ idea I was working on a few years back. I basically settled on the idea that using air bag for the primary rear suspension could be an interesting way to go. They are pretty affordable. The...

I can see that. I don't have any complaints with the leaf spring suspension I built on the flat fender. You rarely see a leaf spring suspension with quality customs springs, great shocks, and good bumpstops. I would it could work just fantastic. I'm really digging on the idea of using a...

Is that just for simplicity and/or cost?

The back of the tub is basically a tube frame with heavy duty thick armor skins. It looks like it would be pretty durable...

Sounds like it. This is more full body....but basically a buggy under the skins. http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/toyota-land-cruiser/1028518-project-goin-big-fj40.html

I hear ya, don't give up on either through. We can make whatever threads we want! :)

Yup, I am in exactly the same spot pretty much. I tend to push the 'wheeling side of the 'expedition' thing more than most....

Speaking from experience, having an open top is THAT fun for THAT long :) I would plan on using a vehicle that can be enclosed easily with a top, doors, defrost, and wipers. The flip side of that is the more enclosed the vehicle is the more likely damage it is. I think that is the tragic...

Here is what my old flat fender looked like all packed up for the UA2014 trip. That was 13 days, 3150+miles, 4-5 days of hard 'wheeling, with two people, and it was a bucket of fun....

How about one of those new Aqualu stretched FJ40 tubs that fit on an FJ80/FZJ80 chassis? I think that could be a very neat package. I always wanted to take an FJ40 style body and squeeze it at the front of the door opening. That would make the body only about 55" wide.