ECORS Class A race rig build

[snipes243]

I have always heard great things about the chezy 53 inch springs. There is always 1/4 elipitical setup.

[broncosbybart]

Well, I have been working on it but hadn't posted much recently. Here are some more progress pics.

Beginning fabbing the radius arm mounts








Frame cleaned up and ready for some welding action:

[broncosbybart]

Layin' down some phat welds





I ended up welding some more 1/4 plate to the mounts to thicken the heim mounting bolt location to add some bearing surface. It also eliminated the need for any spacers and the heims fit nice and tight now.



Here they are tacked together:



A trial fit of everything:





Ended up being that the radius arms were 2" too long. The coil springs would have had a big angle in it from the lower coil buckets being too far forward. Since I didn't want to move everything up top, I cut 2" off of the DOM and re-capped the open end. Measure once, cut twice, right?

[broncosbybart]

It worked out rather well, as the frame was cut and spliced back together under where the new radius arm mounts are located, which will add a lot of strength to the area. The crossmember mount will be in the factory location and I did drill the new mounts to accept the stock mounting bolt pattern (that is the 4 bolts you might be able to see on the inside section of the radius arm mount). The mounts came out pretty good for having cut them by hand and grinding them to shape with the angle grinder.

Here is the front stuff, just about finished.















I still have to finish welding the radius arm mounts to the frame. I will also gusset the upper coil buckets and strengthen the trac bar mounting area and the steering box mount. Then it will be on to the rear. After a lot of pondering, I plan to run the 3.5" EB 10 pack springs I have laying around and will do a shackle flip on the rear hanger (but will raise and gusset the mounting location on the frame rail so as to not add lift). Hoping to get started tomorrow.

[firefighter2134]

let us know how that steering box conversion is. may keep it in mind for future mods...

[blazinchuck]

why are you doing a shackle flip? the idea behind those are to use softer springs while getting lift. the 3.5 11-leaf i have are awesome, plenty of flex and handling characteristics

[broncosbybart]

Just saw your post- a little late to the game there... I have 2 thoughts for doing the shackle flip.

The first is out of theory- that is that when the spring is below the shackle, it will flex easier due to gravity wanting to push the spring up, versus wanting to go back to the center like on the stock configuration.

Next is that when the rear shackle is flipped, I will be able to weld a nice piece of tube to the top of it (what would usually be the bottom in stock form) and reinforce it to the roll bar. Not sure if that is needed, but I'm a fan of overbuilding sometimes.

I don't have much in the way of progress. I did get a lot of parts in though. Hopefully will be able to get back rolling on it this weekend. Been converting the 68 crawler to full width axles. They are under it now. Should be done with it by Thursday or Friday. Will post pics of that project up soon.

[scbronco]

Looking good man! im planning something similar for my control arms, only with rectangle tubing. Looks good with round though, i might reconsider my plan.

[snipes243]

Got the 3rd member sandblasted and cleaned and the front limited slip taken apart and ultrasonically clean. The thing looks brand new inside and out.

[broncosbybart]

Looking good man! im planning something similar for my control arms, only with rectangle tubing. Looks good with round though, i might reconsider my plan.

FYI, that is 2" DOM. It would work well with 2" square tube, if you want to go that route. It is harder to find tube adapters for sqare tube though.


Can't wait to see those purdy parts all cleaned up. Don't do too good of a job- you just might earn some more parts to clean