All-Purpose Scout 80 build

[MotoDave]

I'll pm you.

My original plan was to use jeep or early bronco coils with normal shocks. Packaging with the narrow-ish scout axles pushed me towards coilovers, and ultimately I'm happier with it this way.

Keep an eye out for used shocks, I got mine for less than half of New, they were spares for a jeepspeed race truck that never got run.

Good shocks like Fox, king, etc are very easily serviceable, and replacement parts (at least for Fox) are still available.

 

[superbuickguy]

I went through my boxes of spares yesterday... I use my screenname on several sites - and there are other builds of things that are not 4x4 - and I have a whole 4 bar set up that I was going to use on my 50 Buick - I ended up going with a 4 link because of the hp levels that car will see - so there's a spare 4 bar set up... it now has a home, just need to get a few more Johnny joints and change the bars to something a bit more substantial. On the rear, I probably will use coil springs and shocks.

 

[MotoDave]

I should have more of an update later in the week after I sort out some more details, but here's a sneak peek:

 

[superbuickguy]

just when I talked myself out of coil-overs, you had to bring up the articulation argument... drats to you Red Baron...errr... MotoDave

 

[MotoDave]

just when I talked myself out of coil-overs, you had to bring up the articulation argument... drats to you Red Baron...errr... MotoDave

You can get the same articulation out of a separate coil spring and shock too, but coilovers give you a much larger range of tuning options. I'm a shock dork at heart, its what I studied during college and even had an internship tuning ATV shocks for Honda, so I knew all along I'd end up with coilovers.

In my case packaging really is what drove me toward coilovers - as you can see the wide scout frame makes fitting everything in there with narrow axles "interesting".

 

[superbuickguy]

You can get the same articulation out of a separate coil spring and shock too, but coilovers give you a much larger range of tuning options. I'm a shock dork at heart, its what I studied during college and even had an internship tuning ATV shocks for Honda, so I knew all along I'd end up with coilovers.

In my case packaging really is what drove me toward coilovers - as you can see the wide scout frame makes fitting everything in there with narrow axles "interesting".

it's the packaging that would give me the articulation - if I used a coil spring and shock, the width would cause all sorts of issues with travel. I'm still planning on using coil springs on the rear - but in the front, there's a whole lot of stuff that has to fit in a very small space on my FJ40 not to mention that putting coil overs in the back would mean you'd see the shocks on the inside of the tub.

 

[MotoDave]

Hmm, so what are you thinking to do instead, work with the stock leaf springs up front?

 

[MotoDave]

Finished up the Solidworks model tonight, and it all pretty much looks the best with the shock tower where it is now on the face of the frame. Pushing the shock towers inward just means I have to notch more frame, and putting the lower shock mount on top of the knuckle doesn't eliminate the need to notch completely, means I have to build new taller shock towers, and may make clearance between the tire and the coil spring really tight.

I threw some coils on the shocks and its still looking pretty good. There is enough room around the bottom of the shock that I won't get into the knuckle when it articulates.

Lots of tire to shock clearance at ride height

The front edge of the fender is definitely going to need trimming, the back is OK since I pushed the front axle forward

And it even looks fine all the way stuffed

So, I'll finish up the second shock tower, notch and plate in the frame, and it should be really damn close to being a roller by the end of the week!

 

[jerdog53]

:Wow1: Looking good Dave!

 

[superbuickguy]

how long of travel shocks did you get?

 

[MotoDave]

12" travel, 5" in bump, 7" in droop.

 

[superbuickguy]

that sounds like very reasonable numbers.... may just have to copy it.... but first I have to get my heaven hated Land Rover 300tdi done...

 

[pappawheely]

Very Nice!!

 

[Woofwagon]

Digging this thread. I use SolidWorks in my engineering work as well. I've got access to our waterjet machines here at work and it's been a boon for making brackets and other support hardware. Are you planning on trimming out the fender wells/fences for better engine access?

 

[Scoutman]

Subscribed for updates. Maybe it'll help motivate me to get my Scout II project back rolling again...