Topic: Gotrocks Buggy Build. Engine transplant!!

[gotrocks]

I thought I'd just start a new thread and just get straight to the buildup.  If you want to see the "gotrocks dream build" thread here you go.  It'll explain why and how I decided to build this buggy. http://board.marlincrawler.com/index.php?topic=24415.0

General Specs.

SN Fab chassis: DOM 1.5" .120 wall
WB 107"
4 Link f/r with Fox 14" Airshox
Engine: 98 4.3 Vortec
Tranny: Turbo 350 Manual valve body
T-Case: Atlas 4.3
Axles: F/R D60. Chevy Kingpin Front 5.38's Detroit  Yukon gears and cromo axles with Longfiend superjoints, with SN Flange kit. Cut 1" shortside and 3" on the Long side 6 lug conversion. Rear semi float 35 spline Cut and turned to match front. ARB 5.38's. 1/2 ton rotors and calipers.
Wheels and tires: (rocks) 39x13.50x17 Comp Krawlers on 17x9 Trail ready Beadlocks (snow) 37x14.50x15 toyos on 15x12 MT Classic II
Seats: PRP comp highback
Fuel Cell: Summit 15 Gallon
Winch: Warn 9.5 TI
Body: TJ front clip for a while then hopfully a FJ clip soon



Phase one. 

Just a pile of tubes.  Its hard to belive that you something actually can come out of all that bentup tube.

[gotrocks [OP]]

Mine is a different design than the rest of the frames they've built.  I wanted more room in the back for camping gear and a larger fuel cell so if you look closely you'll see that the upper rear wrap around tube is different.

from this


to this



and they lines really flow well from the side profile

[gotrocks [OP]]

I just got back from S&N Fabs shop and this is where it sits now. They should be done with the firewall, floor, roof, Exhaust, and d-shafts by Monday.  I'm going back over to pick it up then the chaos begins.  I will have a rolling chassis but will need to finish up the fuel lines, brake lines, and electrical.  Trevor at S&N fab is going to weed through my harness and get out all un necessary wiring that it has.





this gives you an idea of how tight the front suspension is and how much it travels up.  The lower harmonic balancer is below the top of the axle

[gotrocks [OP]]

I'm not using this front Liberty clip but it gives you an idea at least a front clip with the body lines.




and my wheels and tires that i mounted up when I was there. 



I'm really excited to see how the comp krawlers work.  Its not easy to get these because they are only sold to the guys on the race program under BFG.  The krawlers taht you can buy are street legal. Compition Krawlers are a retread tire and become very porous and are almost like glue on the rocks.

I bought them off a guy who is a customer of S&N Fab and just got on the race program with Maxxis and is not running the Creepy Crawlers.

[olivedrab85]

Damn that thing is lookin  . Nice build, gonna be ready for MCR5?

[gotrocks [OP]]

thats the plan

[mudaddict]

how much is s&n charging you to build that just curious if you dont mind me asking.

[gotrocks [OP]]

the chassis start at around 2500 and it all depends on what you want from there.  If you ever wanted one just call them and they could figure it out for you.  I was origonally going to have them link the 84 ex cab that I had and truggy it out, since I didn't have any tube bending experience or linked suspension experience and once I started to add up all of the stuff it was almost less expensive to just build a buggy and sell my truck.

[Shamb]

looking sick dude, can't wait to see it rolling. Hopefully you'll have this thing going by MCR5. 

[Hottrod81]

That's a good looking rid.  Keep up the updates

[gotrocks [OP]]

well I talked to the guys yesterday and they said that it would be done at their shop on monday and that the their exhaust guy would be done tuesday moring.  I can't wait to get this thing home.  I've been waiting for this thing since May.  The other buggy that they are building got put to the side so that they could finish mine in time.  I told them that it needed to be done by this next monday a few weeks ago and it didn't look to promising.  Crazy enough it was only a chassis last thursday with nothing mounting.  Now its almost done.  So hopfully tuesday night when I get it home I can get it all stripped down for the paint, and start to wire it up.

[mudaddict]

thats awesome dude looks good cant wait to see this at the round up.

[MR_DIY]

nice man.  that's bling for sure. you are not helping my case of buggy fever at all.
keep it up.  I'd use the Liberty clip before the TJ clip but I'd use anything else b4 the heep parts 

[gotrocks [OP]]

well I want toyota clip more than anything but I'm still trying to find a FJ hood and grill.

[toynorcal]

Lookin good man, thats alot of progress in a short time. Hope we get to see this thing on thee trail.
 

[Matty]

love the lines of the tubbing.  cant wait to see this thing done and in action 

[gotrocks [OP]]

ok got an update for you all.  I just took it to the exhuast shop today and I should be brining it home tomorrow.  All I have left to do when I get it home is the wireing (only 4 wires to run the engine) fuel lines and brake lines.  I also have to strip it down to paint it.  I won't worry about putting the front clip on or side panels before the roundup because I want to just worry about getting it running.  There is a possiblity that I will get to take it to SEMA, but I will find out if its going in about a month or so.

[gotrocks [OP]]

and the pic from the way to exhaust shop

[Ramrod]

nice and low

[gotrocks [OP]]

well its sitting on the bumpstops right now but its not going to be much taller.  The shocks have to be charged still.  I'm gussing it will sit about 5 inches taller.  They told me that I could fit 49 at full stuff and full lock because it has that much clearance .  The links run flat with the suspension at ride height

[Ramrod]

sick why not run 49" then?  there is a dude I see at the con with a samurai buggy on dana 44s that runs 49" iroks in the winter and he said that it floats if he trys to drive through deep enough water and that he hasnt broke anything with them yet

[gotrocks [OP]]

no way, 49's on a D44, even in the snow I wouldn't try that.  One of the guys they built a buggy for was running the 49's on his D60's with cromo axles and he was snapping Yukon axle shafts.  He now is running unimog protals.  Jason one of the owners said he ran those 49's in the snow and no one could even could keep up in his tracks even with 44's.  I am going to run my 37 toyos in the snow.  They are fully siped and I have them on 12" wide wheels.  They float really well

[gotrocks [OP]]

oh and another reason I don't want 49's is because I'm running 39" Krawlers for the rocks.  I don't need to run bigger tires, they stick like glue.

[Shamb]

looks fug'n awesome dude. we'll be at trailhead around 9:00pm Thursday night. When you plan on cruising in?

[gotrocks [OP]]

probably around then.  Do you guys mind if I meet you and cruise in with you guys this is my first trip to the rubicon

[Shamb]

thats fine, i'll PM you my number. We're planning on camping at trailhead Thursday night and getting up Friday morning to hit the trail.

[gotrocks [OP]]

sounds good I'll be tired from driving 12 plus hours

[locktup]

Looks Great. 

[gotrocks [OP]]

thanks

[gotrocksgirl]

Hey Gotrocks, looks great babe! Wish I could have picked it up with you. When do I get to drive it?  I'm excited for the roundup!