Hey guys and gals, havent been here for a LONG time. Currently I am doing a internship at Bobcat. The trooper is going through a huge transformation, and I am spending all of my time and money on it. What am I doing to it you might ask? Well I cut everything off the front frame rails. I constructed a subframe for the lower sus arms. The lowers will only be roughly 5 inches apart, so darn near center mounted. The upper arms start above the headers. When its all over I should have around 22 inches of travel in the front, plus it should sit just a little over stock hieght anywhoooooo.

I want to brace the front spindels, (its not 4wheel drive anymore}, I was wondering if anybody has ever welded on the spindels, did it require nickel rod? How did it turn out.

One more question, and I know this has been covered before but I dont think we came to a conclusion. I want to make a fiberglass shell for the front fenders in the style of a pre-runner/desert racer. Has anyone worked with fiberglass? Is there a website that has info and or products that would be acceptible for a vehicular applications. Any info on fiberglass would be helpful, cause I know nothing.

Thanks again
Brady

Nobody has ever welded on the spindels? I find that hard to believe.

I don't remember you, but everything you are doing sounds pretty cool....except ditching the 4wd???

Any reason you are ditching it? Making it a prerunner?

I'd say you'd get a lot more interest if you were keeping the 4wd and getting 22 inches of travel.

Good luck on your project.

Joe

I'd proceed with caution here. i don't now what material they are construction from, but you will need to find out. Your welds and design here are going to be critical for strength. anything less could be dangerous. If they are cast iron, i wouldn't weld to them, not even with a nickel rod, not for the kind of strength you are talking about.

EDIT: thinking about it, i'm not sure exactly what you are trying to do. you wanna weld to the knuckle, not the spindle, right? because you increased the distance between the upper and lower control arms? are you using stock arms? I'm guess you made new arms if you're talking about increased travel.


-Rob

Hey brother, DO NOT, weld factory spindles. Not sure about Isuzu, but MOST factory spindles I have worked with, ARE cast iron.

You best be, would be to take the spindles to a fab shop..one thats trust worthy, adn have them make you some spindles.

Another thing, dont know if you have looked into this or not, is the ball joints. They only have a limited range of motion..so..I would recomend soem thing called Una-balls. I will try to send some pictures to you email(if you PM me with it). Cant promise when, but it should give you an idea.

HTH
Chase

And another thing, if I am not mistaken, he is talking about bracing from the upper and lower BJs, the TRE, and the spindle itself..though I could be wrong....

Amen! i'm not sure if the isuzu spindles are cast iron or not, but if they are, no welding to them, especially for something as strength critical as this part, not even with a nickel rod.

-Rob

I guess my other option would be to make those extensions like some of the lift kits for chevy's. Anybody have pics?

I ditched the 4wheel drive cause I would be impossible/impractical/a gagillion dollars to make it work. I am using uni-balls for the lowers, rod ends for the uppers and delrin bushings for the arms.
Still trying to figure out how I am going to cover my wheels (fender flares, or bulged fenders)
Thanks for the input <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" />
Brady

sounds like a cool project.



here's what Google turned up:

How To Make A Fiberglass Part

How To Make A Plug

Making Plugs & Molds

Mold Making

Mold Construction

Fibreglast

Freeman Supply

i have done alot of fiber glass work what do you want to know? what exactly are you doing??? it is easy if you make your molds right il give you two words plastaceen and release spray they will be you best frends pm me yor email and ill help where i can <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />

I don't fully understand the physics behind it, but a friend of mine that is a member of the Clarkson University mini-baja team indicated that the vehicle put together by the team last year had a tendency to roll over because the front wheel travel was greater than the rear. I haven't fully researched the issue, but I have noticed that all factory specs that I've seen for any 4x4 indicate that the rear wheels will travel farther vertically than the fronts. Just some food for thought... whatever your plan is. Best of luck. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/patriot.gif" alt="" />