Kays Commando

[Scrambled]

We had talked about building a rig for Kay for some time. After some searching and alot of discussion on what she wanted in a rig we decided on this.

http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj266/Scrambled1983/Commando020-1.jpg
http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj266/Scrambled1983/Commando004.jpg

73 Commando with a CJ front clip and tube fenders.

http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj266/Scrambled1983/Commando011-1.jpg

Did some trading and a lil cash to get rid of the wheels and tires it came with. Thanks Matt and Josh.
Installed the 37" MTR's and Beadlock Specialty rims we picked up along the way to get from TN.

http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj266/Scrambled1983/Commando006.jpg

Has a rebuilt 304 V-8 with less than 1200 miles on it.


http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj266/Scrambled1983/axlesandsnow015.jpg
http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj266/Scrambled1983/axlesandsnow016.jpg

Been collecting parts for it slowly since we brought it home.

So far we have a set of Dynatrac axles.
Dana 44 front with an ARB,chromoly shafts,CTM U-joints, 4.56 gears, set up for spring over and CJ width at 60.5"

Dana 60 rear axle with a Detroit,semi float chromoly axles,4.56 gears,disc brake conversion with parking brake provision,set up for double triangulated 4 link.

700R-4 transmission with HD rebuild ,shift improver kit, and a custom 1800 rpm stall converter from B&M,23 spline output adaptor from AA to mate it to a Dana 300 T-case.

PSC steering box and hydro assist ram. Power brake booster and MC from a wagoneer.

Plan is YJ springs up front, 4 to 6 inch TJ springs in the rear with a 4-link,finish the cage for more protection in the rear for the kids,new seats,Howell TBI kit for the 304.

So far plans are to tear into it after the first of the year.

Questions,comments,and ideas are welcome.

Later
Sean

[xjmudman96]

sounds like an awesome set-up. Now all you need is another tow-rig and trailer :D

[YJeXtreme]

We got to finish your mom's car so we can have room to finish both crawlers. Mine and Kays. I'll help with the heavy lifting since your a bit more gimpy than me :harhar: I'll even work something out for my YJ front springs, as I'll be picking up waggy springs from Chris soon.

[drakan1908]

Is your mothers car the one we put in the "clean" garage? And you still haven't fixed it? hahaha Let me know if I can give you a hand after the first of the year, I need to build some credit....I have a rather large project coming up (probably take a Sat.) and I might need a hand if you are interested. If not give me a call anyway I don't mind helping.

[Scrambled]

Yeah Brian sad to say I havent touched it yet. LOL Finally got the parts for it last Sun. You know the old saying about time and money never seeming to cross paths . . . Im living it. LOL Gonna wrap it up just before or after the first of the year.
Be happy to help with your project call or PM me the details.

Later
Sean

[Scrambled]

Way overdue for an update on this. Have a Lowmax 4:1 kit as well as a HD output shaft upgrade from AA for the dana 300. 2" 3/8 wall DOM for the lower links. Thanks to Matt and DC got a pair of Teraflex rear 4" coils for the rear as well as a few other odds and ends. Engine adaptor kit from Novak to be ordered finally in the next day or 2. Sold the Beadlock Specialtiy rims and picked up a set of 5 Champion Beadlocks. Been working on design for custom rock rings for the new set.

Still need to source Yj front springs hangers shackles etc. Starting the tear down Sept 25.

Pics to come.

Later
Sean

[Big Red 95]

That thing is beautiful already i can't wait to see it all set up with the new stuff. do you plan on doing a shackle revers on there too?

[Scrambled]

Thanks man but we still got a LONG way to go on this one. LOL Always prefered stock locations with boomerang shackles to prevent them from folding over on a large obstacle. Never really liked the quirky handling of shackle reversal kits for a rig that sees a good amount of street as well as trail time.

Plans are to use YJ springs for general mock up and build, budget allowing run Alcan orbit eye springs up front.Heres a link if you havnt seen them yet. http://www.alcanspring.com/orbit-eye.htm
was planning on using Johnny joints at the shackle mounts to get close to this idea when I saw these that went out the window. LOL

Taking my time with this one and doing it once for a change, alot of math left to do.

Keep the comments,suggestions, and questions coming guys I need the motivation. LOL

Later
Sean

[evolution]

those springs are bad ass... my cuz has them on hes taco ex-cab with 60's and that thing will flex.. its got the shackle rev on it, running 39's and first time i saw the springs i was like what? goin to havet to run a track bar to keep it up, i was wrong... not sure what lift springs they are...

[Big Red 95]

Those are cool. do you have to use their springs or can you get those things just to replace you existing bushings?

[hadfield4wd]

I wonder how much they help. Like the teraflex shackles. Kinda hard to argue with the folks at Alcan though, they know leaf springs really well. I can get everything I want out of my leaves without those. How about flex testing with and without them? Just for techs sake. And I'm curious.

[Scrambled]

Matt the teraflex shackles were a good idea in theory but as we have seen on the trail they dont hold up in real world situations. That design focused rotational force of the leaf on a small pivot point that would fail. With your set up the leaves are in the rear as opposed to the front so they dont see the steering input force. Bushings limit the travel of motion from a standard leaf set up as well as shorten there life span and potential. The math and physics of the Alcan design is a brilliant solution in my opinion. With that said I like the idea of runnign it up the RTI ramp with A set of YJ springs then testing again.
The only real problem I can see is shock mounting that wont bend a shaft at full flex. Thoughts?

[Scrambled]

Those are cool. do you have to use their springs or can you get those things just to replace you existing bushings?

They are not a swap out to existing bushings unfortunatlly . . . but Im working on an idea. LOL

[hadfield4wd]

With your set up the leaves are in the rear as opposed to the front so they dont see the steering input force. Bushings limit the travel of motion from a standard leaf set up as well as shorten there life span and potential. The math and physics of the Alcan design is a brilliant solution in my opinion. With that said I like the idea of runnign it up the RTI ramp with A set of YJ springs then testing again.
The only real problem I can see is shock mounting that wont bend a shaft at full flex. Thoughts?

I know theorhetically how they work and what they are supposed to do. I'm just saying that I get a ton of flex out of my rear. Yeah I may have to replace bushings in a year or so.

If you do the test you'd have to run it up on the rti with the same spring setup one with the bushings and one without to be accurate, other wise its useless. Plus you'd have to break in the springs. I just don't see being able to get good data unless you wanted to buy a couple sets of springs. I also think Deaver has something like this.

http://www.deaverspring.com/products/bushings.html

There's go in normal leaves. Don't have to buy their springs like Alcan. This way you could test with you're current setup and then replace the bushings and test again.

Couple interesting threads on Pirate about these. Search "baja bushing". Good reading.

I'm not a hater, just a sceptic.

[cootees]

Trail-gear offers something similar to the orbit eye. Except instead of it pivoting on the spring side of the shackle it will pivot on the mount.
http://www.trail-gear.com/shackles

[evolution]

ive seen these in action, i beleive they was 4" lift springs... he had them front and rear and when flexed on one side the front part of the spring rotates different than the rear, it was twisting them... and with being brand new these dearched a ton..

[Scrambled]

I know theorhetically how they work and what they are supposed to do. I'm just saying that I get a ton of flex out of my rear. Yeah I may have to replace bushings in a year or so.

If you do the test you'd have to run it up on the rti with the same spring setup one with the bushings and one without to be accurate, other wise its useless. Plus you'd have to break in the springs. I just don't see being able to get good data unless you wanted to buy a couple sets of springs. I also think Deaver has something like this.

http://www.deaverspring.com/products/bushings.html

There's go in normal leaves. Don't have to buy their springs like Alcan. This way you could test with you're current setup and then replace the bushings and test again.

Couple interesting threads on Pirate about these. Search "baja bushing". Good reading.

I'm not a hater, just a sceptic.

Matt dont sweat it my friend I know your a skeptic. LOL All jokes aside I appreciate the point of view and input from others. Im really liking the Deaver Baja bushing idea!! That gonna be a hell of alot less expensive than the Alcans. Thanks for the link Matt.:2thumbsup: Phillip I was originally planning on building a set up like the trail gear version but I think I like the heim joint in the eyelet of the spring better. Chris can you get me in touch with your cousin I would like to see what he thought of the orbit eye set up.