Re: Project: Tow-Rat (Lil' Blue)
Tell me more about this carrier bearing.... When I stretch the Jeep more I want to build a two piece front drive shaft so the front and rear shafts are interchangeable.
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Re: Project: Tow-Rat (Lil' Blue)
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http://branikmotorsports.com/branik-...-bearing-1410/ https://torqueking.com/product/99108...1dhd-np241dld/ my YJ was built with the same CV shaft front/rear with a 2pc front. but a WAY cheaper junkyard build. i took the front output shaft from a roached NP231, radially cut the gear off, and turning ground whole thing to 1.5". just the seal dia the whole shaft back. that slipped into some 1.75" x 0.120 wall DOM leaving half the shaft exposed. i then slipped a cheap pillow block onto that remaining 1.5" OD and mounted that to the frame. the stock 231 1310 CV yoke will bolt on/off. nice and rebuildable with basic bits. a stock TJ slip yoke also uses a 1.5" seal so it slipped into the other end of the DOM to complete the mid shaft and go to the d300 with a standard joint. only issue is the angles aren't set up right and will vibrate bad at speed if i don't unlock the hubs. the 55 however has precisely set angles ;) https://i.imgur.com/vgxKmP9.jpg |
Re: Project: Tow-Rat (Lil' Blue)
That's a great idea! Will there be a need for the short shaft to the transfer case to get longer or shorter a bit with the flex of the motor, even if it is like only 1/4"? Just a thought.
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Re: Project: Tow-Rat (Lil' Blue)
no issues so far! my engine/trans are on a more firm mount than factory, and i didn't make the carrier mount super stiff so it could absorb every so slightly a shock load.
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Re: Project: Tow-Rat (Lil' Blue)
mocked up the air compressors with the new backing plate, just need to make the tabs that weld into the fuel tank mount channel.
got the throttle pedal in, and the high beam foot switch in. also got the steering in!!! I've been wanting to see this together for a while. it's super close to the engine mount bolt and the shock tower, but clears by enough. it's also like 1/2deg before internal contact in the joint at the column, but is still smooth. the heim mount shouldn't flex much :lol: EDIT: ... i'm going to have to clearance the shock tower for chassis flex clearance ... Edit 2: change flex to torque twist at launch :lol: https://i.imgur.com/JIfUvDt.jpg https://i.imgur.com/3tQIRnr.jpg https://i.imgur.com/Ih06Mep.jpg https://i.imgur.com/dQfwOb9.jpg https://i.imgur.com/0O8RdAN.jpg |
Re: Project: Tow-Rat (Lil' Blue)
A whole lot of great fab work goring on over there....Nicely done..
Marc |
Re: Project: Tow-Rat (Lil' Blue)
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Re: Project: Tow-Rat (Lil' Blue)
well, started a new project/adventure on Monday. a new accessory for the 55 when she's finally ready to tow!
1970 23ft Airstream Safari that my grandfather bought new. it's been about 10 years since it was used, and he stopped using it after it had fallen to such bad repair. well i've had it for about 8 years, and it's been about 6 years since he passed away, so it was time we dropped it off for a partial restoration at P&S trailers. SUPER excited not only for the family trailer to be useable again, but to be able to adventure with it. far left https://i.imgur.com/W8nFzj8.jpg |
Re: Project: Tow-Rat (Lil' Blue)
Great work on the rust repair. That Airstream doesn't look too bad. It's cool you got it and I'm sorry to hear about your grandfather. That is going to look great behind your truck!
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Re: Project: Tow-Rat (Lil' Blue)
The Airstream will look right at home behind the Tow Rat.
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Re: Project: Tow-Rat (Lil' Blue)
That's so cool, I love the old air streams. I saw an old air stream motor home on the highway last year, didn't even know they made them.
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Re: Project: Tow-Rat (Lil' Blue)
small updates, but lots of summer fun. got my exhaust hanger brackets cut and placed, that's a 4" inlet to an adjustable 4" exhaust brake, and then 5" out thru the 5" muffler. hopefully when the bolts are tight she'll hang a bit higher, or i'll end up with a bar or something to hold up the middle.
spent Saturday trying to brake the jeep again, but she held together. then Sunday took one of the wife's friends and her b/f out on the ski boat for a day of proving we weren't too old for this sh!t. :lol: these are the exhaust rubbers i used: https://www.summitracing.com/parts/wlk-35296 https://i.imgur.com/PyQkZgN.jpg https://i.imgur.com/VO1fSLV.jpg https://i.imgur.com/LJ02VG9.jpg https://i.imgur.com/sOpUmQY.jpg |
Re: Project: Tow-Rat (Lil' Blue)
The exhaust looks great. I like how tucked up high it is. I used some similar hangers on mine. They work great.
Marc |
Re: Project: Tow-Rat (Lil' Blue)
i feel like this could be a polarizing subject, but lets hear your thoughts either way.
Seat Belts / Harnesses i went for bright orange to contrast the blue n white, and still thinking i'd like to do an orange firewall after seeing the Backyard 55's red. i just love the accent contrast. but that's not the touchy subject. so i got 5pt harnesses and will be installing them as a 4pt. my goal is to be better off than a 3pt kit, not race-ready. legally i could have none, but that's stupid. i don't think anyone would hate on just a lap belt cuz that's easy and way better than nothing. however with the steering wheel close i wanted more than just the 2pt lap. so i was researching 3pt and it just didn't seam like enough. (there's a reason new cars also include air bags with a 3pt) between the belt stretch, ratchet time to catch, give in the cab corner steel even with a giant weld-washer, my weight as a big dude, and the proximity of the wheel, i just didn't think it would really help enough. i run a 5pt harness in both jeeps and love em, so that's what i wanted. however trying to get a harness bar in the cab when i'm already basically leaning on the back wall was a rough fit. i saw guys who had a tube welded from cab corner to cab corner, but i'd be leaning on the tube all the time. then i thought about cutting out that whole inner structure below the glass for more space, or running a tube behind it, but the seat leans on it and that low is a dangerous mounting angle for the shoulder belts. another option would be to just bolt the harness tabs flat to the cab structure, but they aren't designed to function in bending and still just a single mounting bolt to the sheet metal. even with a big weld washer. so here's my solution, the harness plate. it's 12" wide with more bolts to spread the load out over a lot larger area. it's heavy enough to withstand the perpendicular belt mounting, and it let me mount the belts up into the glass area for proper angle off my shoulders. should be nice n solid around town, and any accident hard enough to bend/pull the cab structure right below where it welds to the outer skin in the window, was hard enough it's all fawked anyways. should hold me up better than a 3pt for sure, but obviously not good enough for any form of racing. https://i.imgur.com/PO28BYX.jpg https://i.imgur.com/1dH57cd.jpg https://i.imgur.com/Wen6N9o.jpg |
Re: Project: Tow-Rat (Lil' Blue)
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i'll also end up wrapping the whole thing to keep the heat in too. |
Re: Project: Tow-Rat (Lil' Blue)
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Re: Project: Tow-Rat (Lil' Blue)
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i've done the whole self-clearance thing for fenders vs tires, but never tried to "polish the bottom smooth" :lol: |
Re: Project: Tow-Rat (Lil' Blue)
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Marc |
Re: Project: Tow-Rat (Lil' Blue)
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That Jeep trail looked fun. I did the Great Lakes Jeep Jam myself... in a monsoon. It looks like the rain all stayed plenty notrth of you guys. |
Re: Project: Tow-Rat (Lil' Blue)
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current plan will just be 4 manual switch paddle valves from ThorBros |
Re: Project: Tow-Rat (Lil' Blue)
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it's getting cut from 1/4" plate, and my thought was that even flat it would be enough stronger than the cab sheet that the cab would give before the plate would bend. i'd love to tie it further around to the door frame structure or tie the plates together, but that's where i run into my shoulder again. i think this is the best i can get without MAJOR surgery. i think i met the goal of better than a 3pt, but to be race-ready i would basically have to cut off the back of the cab and add 12". an extended cab would be better in a lot of ways. |
Re: Project: Tow-Rat (Lil' Blue)
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Marc |
Re: Project: Tow-Rat (Lil' Blue)
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Re: Project: Tow-Rat (Lil' Blue)
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Marc |
Re: Project: Tow-Rat (Lil' Blue)
I'm a visual person. I am looking forward to seeing the plate and how it mounts to the truck. I like the idea of the 4 points. I have a big back window and don't have a lot of room for a 3 point belt. If the plate works out well, you may end up selling some :)
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