4-link and a turtle?

[fletch4x4]

Well, this past weekend i got home and was able to do a good mock up of the KPcomponents weld on 4 link. I just want to say that they are are great company and clint is a great guy. UPS ripped open the box my 4-link came in, so the next day he sent out the missing parts. He said dont worry he will take care of the cost of the new parts and shipping, and that he would deal with UPS for me. Awesome company!

Ok, so i got started working and it looked more or less like this


Everything was cleaned up and i was checking and re measuring for a few hours. This is the first serious suspension and frame work I have done, so i took it slow and still made some mistakes, oh well you learn.

Then i got everything tacked up once, noticed some of the bolts were impossible to get out so i had to take it off again and re tack everything.




and at one point in the afternoon downpoor, this fella wondered into the garage and went back out, he looked cool though!

[bigred66]

looks good!

[N2TRUX]

4 link looks good. Nice red eared slider too...

[bagged74]

Are you sure that notch is big enough?? j/k Everything looks good!!

[smbrouss70]

I'm thinking about 4-linking my blazer and I have a few questions if you don't mind.

1) Are you tig or mig welding everything?
2) What made you decide to use the KP components versus the others?
3) Do you think that where the front brackets weld to the frame (what looks like 2x2 square tubing) is strong enough for hard daily driving? Or would it need some additional gussets?
4) What type of bags are you going to use sleeved or double convoluted? Which do you think would ride better?
5) Are you going to mount your bags inside the frame or outside? I was thinking that outside would give it more stability, but in turn lose some room for your wheels.
6) How wide are those wheels that are on it, and how much room is between them and the 4-link bars?

I know I'm asking alot of questions but I've never done anything like this before and just want to be sure I'm doing the right thing for me before I jump in. Thanks in Advance!

[Shane]

nice turtle

[fletch4x4]

Hey, I dont mind answering a few questions, I know I had/still have a bunch

1) Are you tig or mig welding everything?
Mig, its all I got

2) What made you decide to use the KP components versus the others?
I looked at all the others, suicide doors etc and everything was around the same cost all said and done. kp came with a panhard bar already, and I heard great things about them. I am also really glad that I did because of the UPS thing.

3) Do you think that where the front brackets weld to the frame (what looks like 2x2 square tubing) is strong enough for hard daily driving? Or would it need some additional gussets?
If you look at their kit it has some additional gussets/frame mounts if you needed to drop it down. I dont really see a problem with mounthing it right to the frame like it is. I may end up adding some more bracing though.

4) What type of bags are you going to use sleeved or double convoluted? Which do you think would ride better?
I have heard great things about slam specialities, so I am going to have RS72's on all 4 corners. I also got them at 69 a pop from fbimini.com, this is my first expirence with bags so I will find out.

5) Are you going to mount your bags inside the frame or outside? I was thinking that outside would give it more stability, but in turn lose some room for your wheels.
I havent compleatly decided yet, but it will probally be inside the frame on a bridge that goes between the notch.

6) How wide are those wheels that are on it, and how much room is between them and the 4-link bars?
Ill check on the wheel width and the dist. this weekend when i go home and work on the truck some more.

I know I'm asking alot of questions but I've never done anything like this before and just want to be sure I'm doing the right thing for me before I jump in. Thanks in Advance!

Hey i dont mind answering any questions that I can. I know it took me a long time to figure out what I was going to do. And I still keep changing my mind everyday. Good Luck!

[AirMale]

more turtle pics please

[DTerry]

Originally Posted by AirMale

more turtle pics please

Is that original paint on him or did you do it?

(D)

[fletch4x4]

Its the orig. paint, cant you see its a little worn on the edges

[Shane]

turtle needs flames & some ol' skool pinstripes.

[smbrouss70]

any updates? progress?

[fletch4x4]

Yea, ive gotten more work done. There is a bridge now, and the notch had to be reworked a little bit to make sure it would lay frame.

Letely I have brought the truck to just the frame for some other mods, like more clearence in the main crossmember for the driveshaft, and making a new tranny mount so its not the 1st thing to hit the ground.

I also have the front crossmember taken off so i can get ready to section it.

[project76]

Did you go with the c-notch from KP? I like the fact its made for our trucks, but the price is pretty steep. You said you had to rework the notch so it would lay out, what did you have to do differently?

Thanks
Brandon

[fletch4x4]

I didnt buy the notch. I made it, but the axle needed an extra inch of travel so I had to cut up into it. Thats why the bridge is ontop of the notch not attached to the sides. Im hoping to have it all welded up nice and ground down so it looks like one big smooth picece of metal.

[N2TRUX]

Progress looks really good. BTW- Hows the turtle?

[project76]

Any new updates?

[fletch4x4]

Well, i got some time with the holiday and all. Ive been working on the front crossmember some, getting ready to section 1.5 inches out of it. I cut up and re-welded the center crossmember so the driveshaft can now clear and its flat with the bottom of the frame.

Ill get some more pics up later tonight or tomorow

[fletch4x4]

Some updates... got the center crossmember all welded up



Previous owner did some interesting welding in this but its all cleaned up now, ill get a better picture later.

Boxed the rear in


had to modify the bed a little more


and for the money shots with the bed on sittin pretty!



and Now im starting to work on the front crossmember section.

[fletch4x4]

Got a post goin on the main forum. But i toss some more pics here anyway

Crossmember cut 1.75


Frame sandblasted


Rear notch all smoothed out and frame painted


How it sits right now

[SCOTI]

Those bags will never work the way you've got them mounted .

[EyeH8the24]

any progress

[fletch4x4]

Unfortunatly no progress lately besides getting some parts in. College and a division 1 sport take up all my time untill the summer. Im planning on getting it back on the road early summer though, so it should be fun. The truck hasent moved under its own power since last aug.

[CochinoFilipino]

Good thing you 've got the XJ to drive for the time being.

[fletch4x4]

Well, yes and no.... Its been kinda crazy latley vehicle wise. I do have an XJ, 2 now actually the one in the avatar now looks like this...



and I have a new to me 96 with a 5 speed. I plan to swap everything over from the old one once i get the chance....time again keeps me from doin anything