rube bonet
Adventurer
Thanks! I love that body style of chevy! Just give me a call if you ever want to stop by! I'm in NW Peoria...
1976 Scout Traveler, Ultimate Expedition Build
- Thread starter rube bonet
- Start date
Thanks! I love that body style of chevy! Just give me a call if you ever want to stop by! I'm in NW Peoria...
rube bonet
Adventurer
Here is a pic of the drivers side at full compression, checking clearances. You can see the bump stop mounts bottomed out at metal to metal. In the interests of budget and simplicity, poly bump stops will be used. The steering box was rebuilt by Benchworks, a good shop here in Phx, and upgraded for a faster steering ratio. I also reinforced the box mounts onto the frame, and positioned the bilstein shocks.
All in all, I ended up with 10" travel in the front, should feel pretty good for its intended use. I also left plenty of room to step up to some 2.5 if he feels the need to later...
Suspension at full flex
All in all, I ended up with 10" travel in the front, should feel pretty good for its intended use. I also left plenty of room to step up to some 2.5 if he feels the need to later...
Suspension at full flex
VanIsle_Greg
I think I need a bigger truck!
very kool build... nice fab work.
Following this thread.
The Scout '78 Traveler was my first vehicle. I wish I could have it back 345 ci. Auto tranny, and auto and manual 4wd. Could engage automatically or could lock the hubs. Cruise control and A/C still worked!
Sheet metal was so solid I could stand on the middle of the hood w/o any ill effect. And the way the rear seat folded foward I could sleep with the rear closed. Fully stretched out at 6'6".
The Scout '78 Traveler was my first vehicle. I wish I could have it back 345 ci. Auto tranny, and auto and manual 4wd. Could engage automatically or could lock the hubs. Cruise control and A/C still worked!
Sheet metal was so solid I could stand on the middle of the hood w/o any ill effect. And the way the rear seat folded foward I could sleep with the rear closed. Fully stretched out at 6'6".
rube bonet
Adventurer
It is amazing how vehicles can bring back memories. I grew up in landcruiser, the aroma of the interior of a hardtop FJ40 brings me back instantly to my childhood...
The scout is HUGE in the back with the seat folded, more room than my fj60.
rube bonet
Adventurer
Alright, I just got back from vacation, time to get back on the Scout...or at least finish catching this thread up to present time...
The front axle is actually out right now, being completely rebuilt and stuffed with ARB, alloy axles, and CTM u joints. I will finish up the front suspension pics once I get this axle back in...
The next thing that I started to take care of was the roll cage. I personally feel that any offroad vehicle being used seriously should at least consider a cage, and one's with fiberglass convertible tops, it should be mandatory! The last thing this customer wanted, however, was something that took away interior space, or "made it look like a racecar". He wanted something for very basic roll protection, something to bring his truck up to a little more modern safety standards.
We decided to do a simple 6 pt cage, mounting the seats and belts off of the cage.
Main structure is built out of 1.75 .120 dom.
A pillar mocked up. All the factory switches still work, glovebox is fully functional, ebrake and kick vents still work. The a pillar actually welds down the cowl, and sheet plates tie it to the body to stiffen everything up.
Final product.. All of the floor plates are 3/16, and tie into all of the factory body bracing/ body mounts.
Seat mount
The front axle is actually out right now, being completely rebuilt and stuffed with ARB, alloy axles, and CTM u joints. I will finish up the front suspension pics once I get this axle back in...
The next thing that I started to take care of was the roll cage. I personally feel that any offroad vehicle being used seriously should at least consider a cage, and one's with fiberglass convertible tops, it should be mandatory! The last thing this customer wanted, however, was something that took away interior space, or "made it look like a racecar". He wanted something for very basic roll protection, something to bring his truck up to a little more modern safety standards.
We decided to do a simple 6 pt cage, mounting the seats and belts off of the cage.
Main structure is built out of 1.75 .120 dom.
A pillar mocked up. All the factory switches still work, glovebox is fully functional, ebrake and kick vents still work. The a pillar actually welds down the cowl, and sheet plates tie it to the body to stiffen everything up.
Final product.. All of the floor plates are 3/16, and tie into all of the factory body bracing/ body mounts.
Seat mount
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Vegasrandall
Banned
You could learn a lot about your electric system if you help the guy put it in. It makes troubleshooting a whole bunch easier. If you don't go overboard on electronics it should be a simple install.
rube bonet
Adventurer
I agree, on my projects, I always like to be there while he is working on it. I've done enough of my own harnesses to know how much cheaper it is to pay the good guy, rather than waste my time trying to learn what he specializes in...plus, he has cool electrical widgets!
.
rube bonet
Adventurer
Thanks, mostly mig, some stuff here and there is tig.
I'm "lucky", my parents are hoarders:smiley_drive: They still own a 77 FJ40 and an 83 FJ60 they bought new. I've had my eye on the 40 for a long time now...
.
fasteddy47
Adventurer
Your Next project is sitting in my driveway :costumed-smiley-007
Skills.....
Arizona is not that far.... How long is your waiting list
Skills.....
Arizona is not that far.... How long is your waiting list
rube bonet
Adventurer
Your Next project is sitting in my driveway :costumed-smiley-007
Skills.....
Arizona is not that far.... How long is your waiting list
Always looking for new projects!:safari-rig:
Here is the B pillar back, you can also see the tabs that are the start of the roof rack mounts.
Here is a shot of the seat belt mounts and roof rack mount
rube bonet
Adventurer
The roof rack is mounted with 4 9/16 bolts clamping a DOM steel sleeve penetrating the double walled fiberglass roof, solid mounting the rack to the cage. The orange stuff is high temp silicon that seals the hole and provides "suspension" for the roof, allowing the roof to move freely separate from the cage and rack.
Top side of the mount
I then built a framework out 1.5 .090, and "rolled" it to match the contour of the roof
Close to the end. Does anyone have experience with running a wind deflector on the rack? Does it make a big difference as far as noise/ fuel economy? Still pondering...
The cross braces are 1.25, and 2x2 wire mesh welded in.
I still need to make mounts for the stuff up there...but I need to get the "stuff" first.
Top side of the mount
I then built a framework out 1.5 .090, and "rolled" it to match the contour of the roof
Close to the end. Does anyone have experience with running a wind deflector on the rack? Does it make a big difference as far as noise/ fuel economy? Still pondering...
The cross braces are 1.25, and 2x2 wire mesh welded in.
I still need to make mounts for the stuff up there...but I need to get the "stuff" first.