Project "Redneck Rock Rod"

[Hokie_YJ]

Well I went and picked up my next project today. I found a deal on my favorite chassis design that was just too good to pass up. I picked it up as a rolling chassis. It's been built for several years, but it's never been wheeled. It will most likely be a slow build as I plan to keep my other buggy for now also.

I've been in love with this chassis design ever since I saw this buggy several years ago.


http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e102/boomboom33/Project%20Redneck%20Rock%20Rod/848354664_BDF4M-L.jpg



Hopefully when it's done it will look something like these. The first pic is actually the same buggy as above, it's just been updated and re-skinned.
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e102/boomboom33/Project%20Redneck%20Rock%20Rod/851948626_Uq6Df-L.jpg

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e102/boomboom33/Project%20Redneck%20Rock%20Rod/DSC_4703.jpg


Specs:
-'05 SXOR rear engine, single seat chassis
-empty flipped 609 housings (rear does have 35 spline shafts and the front has Dodge unit bearing outers with factory stubs)
-3-link front, 4-link rear with .250 wall links
-14" SAW air shocks
-New SXOR Liberty hood and lexan skins

Plans:
Drivetrain - Hopefully 6.0/TH350/Atlas
Axles - 35 spline center sections, either spools, Detroits, or some combination of the two. Also will probably swap to Superduty unit bearings for the ability to go 35 spline and run lockouts or drive flanges
Steering - Definitely full hydro with DE ram
Wheels/tires - Either 37" or 40" Trepadors on Raceline Monsters

Here's a couple quick pics. I'll get some more detailed ones up soon.

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e102/boomboom33/Project%20Redneck%20Rock%20Rod/P1000638.jpg
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e102/boomboom33/Project%20Redneck%20Rock%20Rod/P1000639.jpg
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e102/boomboom33/Project%20Redneck%20Rock%20Rod/P1000640.jpg

[Bluegill]

Cool!!! :kewl:

[Hokie_YJ]

More pics.

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e102/boomboom33/Project%20Redneck%20Rock%20Rod/P1000641.jpg

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e102/boomboom33/Project%20Redneck%20Rock%20Rod/P1000642.jpg

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e102/boomboom33/Project%20Redneck%20Rock%20Rod/P1000644.jpg

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e102/boomboom33/Project%20Redneck%20Rock%20Rod/P1000645.jpg

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e102/boomboom33/Project%20Redneck%20Rock%20Rod/P1000646.jpg

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e102/boomboom33/Project%20Redneck%20Rock%20Rod/P1000647.jpg

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e102/boomboom33/Project%20Redneck%20Rock%20Rod/P1000648.jpg

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e102/boomboom33/Project%20Redneck%20Rock%20Rod/P1000649.jpg

[BroncoMike]

Pretty sweet man!

[Hokie_YJ]

And more.

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e102/boomboom33/Project%20Redneck%20Rock%20Rod/P1000650.jpg

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e102/boomboom33/Project%20Redneck%20Rock%20Rod/P1000651.jpg

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e102/boomboom33/Project%20Redneck%20Rock%20Rod/P1000652.jpg

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e102/boomboom33/Project%20Redneck%20Rock%20Rod/P1000653.jpg

[tnzuk]

this is one of the coolest buggies I have seen. I will be following this build!!!

[HANO]

Dood!

[Marty G]

:kewl:

[Country Boy]

Window decal in top pic was not part of the deal?????? looks good!

[Hadfield4WD]

Ben that's sweet.

[Jeep07]

nice.. SXOR has always had a really good looking chassis.

[Hokie_YJ]

Window decal in top pic was not part of the deal?????? looks good!

Unfortunately no. :icon_lol: I probably would have paid double if it was.

Ben that's sweet.

Thanks, it came from Jamie in Charlottesville. He said he had heard of you. :icon_lol:

[Hadfield4WD]

Unfortunately no. :icon_lol: I probably would have paid double if it was.


nope you can't afford that.:cool:

Thanks, it came from Jamie in Charlottesville. He said he had heard of you. :icon_lol:

Pretty sure he has an ftoy.

Are you going to move your drivetrain over? You going to just build this one slowly?

[Hokie_YJ]

Are you going to move your drivetrain over? You going to just build this one slowly?

No, I plan to keep my other buggy together at least until this one is done. And yeah, I'm just gonna do a little to this one when I have the time and money.

[Mountain Ram]

Good Start!! Can't wait to see it on the trail!

Todd

[barnee]

:love7: I hope to get to build something like that one of these days, maybe in 20 years when I retire LOL! Happy for ya Brother!!

[SamuraiGuyTN]

were those yota axles under it?

[Hokie_YJ]

No, they're 609s.

[Tiny]

Is it just me or does the top link on the front axel looks like it will bind if the drivers side droops out? Sorrry if Im wrong but it sure looks that way.

[Hokie_YJ]

I don't see it being a problem, but if it does it's an easy fix. This one is set up identical though and it works perfectly.

Redneck wheeling at it's best! :icon_lol:
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e102/boomboom33/Project%20Redneck%20Rock%20Rod/851978624_AHvCJ-XL.jpg

[Hokie_YJ]

No "real" progress to report, but I have picked up a few parts for this thing this week. I ended up buying a set of shafts from the PO that were already cut for this front axle. They are Moser 35 spline chromo inners, and CTM 300m custom made Dodge unit bearing style outers. Inners and outers are clearanced for 50* steering. Also, just today I found a smokin deal on Pirate on some lightly used 35 spline 9" Detroits. I picked up two of them for about $100 less than the price of one new one. They should be here by next week.

Also I think I've had a change of heart on the motor choice. I believe I may go with the supercharged L67 V6. It's what the PO was planning to run and it even already has some of the mounts tacked up for it. Plus they're just plain sweet little motors!

Progress will continue to be slow as I'm still trying to buy a house, but once everything is done and I'm settled in it should hopefully move a little faster.

[Jeep07]

Supercharged 3800ii motors are awesome.

[Hokie_YJ]

I think it would be the perfect motor for this buggy.

[pplblazerdude]

My Dad has a pontiac bonnie ssei with that motor. They scream. I would love to have one in a buggy. Super powerful and torque monsters from go to wide open. Plus they came in so many cars so parts are not to pricey.

[Hadfield4WD]

Ben I can't wait to see you with more hp.

[KansasKrawler]

Man i love the small designs of the buggy just one question how well do you think the 3 link suspention design will hold up for as much flex and preasure that will be put on it from the chassi and the tires???

[Hokie_YJ]

I don't think it will be a problem at all. 3 link fronts are very common, and hold up great.

[Hadfield4WD]

3 link will hold up fine.

[Gubni]

A stock Bronco setup is a 3 link or also called 2 link and panhard. It has two arms going to the frame to position the axle and one from pass side axle to driver side frame to keep it centered. That setup has been the cause of numerous failures for me. The primary problem is mounting failures at the frame so make that mount crazy overkill.

[Hokie_YJ]

A Bronco is a radius arm with a trac-bar. This one is a true 3-link with two lower links, one offset upper link, and a trac-bar. The majority of the buggys you'll see have some variation of a 3-link front suspension.

The chassis and suspension of this rig was built by a very reputable shop with a long background of building rigs for all types of competition from crawling to XRRA and KOH. I have no doubt that it will hold up just fine.

[Gubni]

A Bronco is a radius arm with a trac-bar. This one is a true 3-link with two lower links, one offset upper link, and a trac-bar. The majority of the buggys you'll see have some variation of a 3-link front suspension.

The chassis and suspension of this rig was built by a very reputable shop with a long background of building rigs for all types of competition from crawling to XRRA and KOH. I have no doubt that it will hold up just fine.

Ok, so the bronco would be a 2 link with panhard and yours is a 3 link with panhard. That sounds better. So why go that way verses a normal 4 link?

[Hokie_YJ]

Usually it's because of space. With the way everything is so tightly packaged on these buggys there's not hardly enough room for two upper links.

[Hadfield4WD]

Ok, so the bronco would be a 2 link with panhard and yours is a 3 link with panhard. That sounds better. So why go that way verses a normal 4 link?

A traditional triangulated 4 link will eliminate the need for a panhard/tracbar. However there can be some binding and flex steer. Flex steer is when one side is flexed out and the other is stuffed and the axle will actually rotate in the chassis. This will cause it the chassis to turn. I'm not explaining it well. Like I said there can also be some binding.

If you are talking about a 4 link like on a TJ that is actually 5 links. 4 control arms and a panhard.

A 3 link is 3 control arms and a panhard. There is very little binding associated with this type of suspension. The packaging is much easier. This rock rod is narrow so it would make it that much more difficult to get a 4 link properly set up. Also chances are the upper link would not take a rock hit. But it will need to be strong and make sure your welds are good. If the upper link breaks your in for a world of carnage. That pinion will be able to rotate up or down without anything stopping it. So you'd lose the ujoint, panhard bar, possibly steering, driveshaft, etc. All this to say my xj will be on a 3 link eventually. They work very well. Also in tight vehicles they take up less room and you can work around stuff better.

A bronco is a radius arm suspension.

[HANO]

John (Foreman 1063) Runs a 3-link on his without issue and its on tons and 42's. Simple set-up and allows for a lower ride height as you have less issues with clearance regarding the oil-pan and some exhausts, so you can drop the rig down a little more.

[Gubni]

Thanks for the education guys.

[Hadfield4WD]

Ben this is the motor you want.

http://www.nc4x4.com/forums/showthread.php?t=116105

[Hokie_YJ]

Yep, sure is! If only I could justify spending the cash right now! :(

[Hokie_YJ]

Just a little update to keep this thread alive. I'm still slowly gathering parts. Hopefully in the not too distant future I'll actually have a place to get some work done on this project.

A couple months ago I picked up a transmission for it. It's a built Powerglide, with a Hughes Performance TH400 input shaft, Hughes shorty 27 spline output shaft, and Hughes full manual valve body. It's a brand new transmission, it was actually a spare for a KOH rig a couple years back. I also got a torque converter and an Atlas adapter with it.

Then this weekend I picked up a used set of Stazworks double beadlocks. They're 17x9, with 6" backspacing. They have a little rock rash and a couple of the rings have a small bend, but overall they're in good shape.

http://img.tapatalk.com/aefc9d52-ddb7-882e.jpg
http://img.tapatalk.com/aefc9d52-ddf7-40d4.jpg




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[BroncoMike]

Nice wheels!

[Hokie_YJ]

Thanks! I got a really good deal on them, and the guy was nice enough to drive 2 hours to meet me half way with them.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[SamuraiGuyTN]

This is a sweet build. And the time are gonna look good.