I did all this work at the beginning of November. I was hoping to b farther along than i am, but we all know how that goes.

SO far my plans are this:
Dana 44 front, ARB, 5.38R&P
Highsteer
SOA Rancho 44044
Bilstein 5150 long travel shocks(dont know how long yet)
37x12.5x15MTRs(thanks Matt for pushing me to that size haha)
Welded rear 12 Bolt 5.38R&P
I already have the front axle and springs, also the metal for the front spring hanger and the two flat top knuckles i will need.


The front Spring hanger is going to be a 7 inch extension to the front of the frame made out of 2 inch square, 3/16th inch wall steel.

Im sorry about the size of the drawing. I dont know how to resize it..



http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c175/spacecab90/front_top_view_front_spring_hanger.jpg
made this a link to control page-width- Randii

Do you all think my spring hanger will be strong enough? Or should i use 1/4 inch?

Please feel free to tear me apart, if i am doing something you all see as unsafe, or not strong enough.

I do plan on driving this thing out to Moab in May.

I know that its not goign to ride like IFS and all that, and i am prepared for that.
I have this for a DD now.....


not a good pic.. but yah its the sweetest car ever hahaha but for 500 bucks you cant beat it..

Thank you all in advance.. It will probably be after Christmas before i get another update. Everything i have asked santa to bring me, relates to this project so hopefully i can finish faster than i had originally planned.

Peace

Joel

good times! i want to find a 1st gen spacecab. i love them. Oh and the DD--my little bro got the same for $600 and it kicks butt!! does yours have the oscillating vents? <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Joel, I nominate you for The Best 4x4-Related License Plate EVER! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />


<img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" />
<img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

3/16" should be sufficient, the factory frame rails themselves aren't 1/4".

However, whats more important than the guage metal you use is how you join your extension to the frame. if you do enough bracing and have enough surface area, 3/16" will do just fine.

-Rob

Well my plan is to have the 2 inch square tubing on top of the two side frame rails, going back 9 inches on the Pass side and 4 inches(steering box in the way)on the driver side. Ill also gusset the middle over and under the front crossmember.

I was also wondering if it is neccesary to plate the front cross member with something a little thicker, before welding to it. I just can't see the walls on that holding up to much abuse. i have a bunch of 1/4 inch flat bar that i was thinking about fishplating it with, but i do not want to waste my time if this isnt neccesary

Smiley thanks for the kind words, I have gotten quite a few comments about that plate at gas stations and parking lots. Mainly, "what does your license place mean," but there have been a few that no what it means.

And Yes the Mazda has the ultra cool oscillating vents, and quite a few other features i have never had before, like A/C and Cruise control haha.


Peace
Joel

LOVE THE PLATE <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />
Looks good, keep the photos coming.

John <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />

I have gotten a little bit closer to the end. Here are some new photos. Please let me know if there is something that concerns you, that i need to address. Everything is just tacked together for now. Does that axle placement look about right? it is roughly 6 inchs forward of the original position. This coming week i am going to weld everything up and get the shackles mounted. then comes the fun task of the steering.
I am using Matt's (from Independent4x) steering kit and highsteer arms.
If anyone has pictures of draglink placement, with the 2.6l and a SOA sas that would be much appreciated <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Peace

Joel

Here are som pictures of my recent progress, even with a giant gash in my face hahaha, ive been wearing the face sheild though!!!
Caster set to 6 degrees Negative...probably gonna have to rotate the knuckles.. and i did set the caster with the weight on the axle..


Holy crap thats a lot of lift... thats with one leaf removed, and all the weight sitting on the tires, guess its time to take more leaves out... and check out that insane driveshaft angle.. CV it is.. haha

is that how you read caster? you're correct about weighting the axle, but the truck needs to be at ride height (ie level), not with its nose up in the air. leveling it out is going to change your numbers.

and you should really run a wooden dowel through the upper and lower balljoint holes, and read your angle off that. you're really making an assumption that that surface is perpendicular to the line drawn through upper/lower bj's which its probably close, but you're not garunteed I don't believe.

-Rob

Hey Rob, thanks for the concern... I did everything you said, that cheapo HF angle finder just happens to be sitting there.. I was actually using that just to see how bad my driveshaft is going to be. I have a liquid damped angle finder i used to set the caster, with a wooden dowel through it(as per your past posts i have seen). I think that thing reads something like 15* right there, i think that would be bad, yes? hahaha

Peace
Joel