Things have changed...

Despite a few hold-ups, the suspension is gone on the Silver Raider.





Leftovers



The remaining crossmember will be cut out once a new one is fabbed in and final grinding will happen



Releasing the cat since the new drivetrain was delivered the other day.



The new build specs follow:

2006 5.3 Vortec with ~25k on the clock
4L60E from same truck
Jeep D300 with DD Stak RAC with twin stick cable shifters (contemplating 4:1)
4.56 D60 Front and Rear (contemplating traction aids)
RADFLO/Eibach Coilover front and leaf sprung rear with RADFLO emulsion shocks (figuring out springs)
37" tires
Full inner cage
Front Don bumper
Rock sliders
Rear drop down stinger with tire carrier
Pintle hitch (for custom all terrain trailer)

Anyway, the parts are almost all collected and the build is finally underway. Since I can't weld worth a flip, my friend Jason (new owner of the White Monty) is working diligently to get things done before June.

I'll update this as things move along since the old 4.3 build thread is gone at my request (thanks LandRaider).

Wow!!

Hows that gonna fit in there!?!?

you're gonna have 2 more cylinders than me.... <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/angry.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" />

DAYUUMMMMMM!!! What did the 5.3 run you?

I'd spring for 40"+ tires with a setup like that... <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/evil.gif" alt="" />

Nice so far. Been measuring for a 5.3 as well. Just haven't had the balls to go any further <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/notooth.gif" alt="" />

Deifnitely going to be watching this thread <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />

How are you going to CA smog it?

Thanks for all the comments. A lot of homework has gone into the development of this drivetrain and I expect it to work well. Now if I can drive it, I won't wreck it soon after my grubby hands get ahold of it! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/notooth.gif" alt="" />



It's got Oregon plates. However, the engine/tranny plan was run by the referee prior to selection to ensure smog compliance in CA in the event I win the lotto and can someday afford to buy a house in SoCal or Central coast. All the referee is going to do is verify that the year of the drivetrain is newer than the truck. He'll then pull his visual inspection checklist and start going over the emissions equipment to be sure it's all there (and I assure you it is). Finally, he'll plug in the dandy little electronic scanner to ensure the trans is the same one that came with the engine. After you get the stamp, you smog it, and when it passes, you're GTG.

I told you I did my homework (actually, in this case, the method to the madness came from the guy who sells the engines). He physically went and talked to the ref when he was building my package and programmed the computer to run outside of the vehicle it was intended to run in, but with all the smog stuff in place. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" />

Thanks - I can see a possibility for me getting another rig and doing very much the same thing. Mine is finally getting into the 95% range and with so much time/$/effort spent on this one I'd rather leave it stock (sort of) and seek another project.

I may ask for the info about your supplier sometime in the future.

Let me know when you're ready. He's in the high desert of SoCal and delivered mine for a great price. He's a supplier for offroad race rigs and does all the ECU programming/custom harnesses in house.

For those who give a rat's azz:

Side view of the newer Ford disc 60 under the rear of the Raider. The rear is already set up on flexy Explorer springs. It is spring over, but sounds like it's too high for my liking, so we'll be bringing the spring pack under the axle. Once we do that, though, there will be a good chance contact between the axle and gas tank could happen, so I'm exploring fuel cell options. I'll post pics of the rear setup when I get them.



Corner view:



Here's the inside with the dash stripped in preparation for the cage install. A new sheet metal dash reminiscent of an old Land Cruiser or CJ will go in the factory dash's place. I'll be installing a Mojave heater and all new wiring harness in the vehicle. The old one is pretty much stripped.



More to come...

Need a napkin for the drool <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/baby.gif" alt="" />

I'm so stoked to see how this beast is going to pan out. Good work Jon! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />