Rachael

It's been a REALLY long time since I've posted a build thread on Tx4wd, so I figured I'd throw this one up. Many of you know I got the opportunity to race the King of the Hammers back in 2011, in my rockcrawler-turned-Ultra4 racer. That buggy got the job done, but was way too small to be safe at high speed, and the technology grew so much in my competitors vehicles, that I decided it was time to step up!

I'll be using many of the old parts from my last buggy, along with a few new ones:

6.0 GM LS engine with stuff, approx. 475 hp
TH350 with a TCS billet converter, and stuff
Ford 205 case
Spidertrax 9" up front, F-350 outers, 35 spl., spool
van 9" rear, 35 spl, spool
ADS Shocks - 2.5" 4-tube bypass shocks F/R, 2.125" coil carrier F/R - my new sponsors!!
39" BFGoodrich KRTs
17" Raceline Beadlocks
Sparco seats
Ron Davis Radiator
Jaz 22 gal fuel cell
PSC full hydro steering

Specs:
56" wide chassis (old chassis was 48")
115" wheelbase
18" belly height
18" front suspension travel
25" rear suspension travel
70" roof height at ride height

Here's the old buggy for reference:

http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f3...y/30c43f2b.jpg

http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f3...sBuggy108m.jpg

And this is the start of Rachael:

First step was to make the Ford 205 the same size as my old Atlas. That way, I can sink the drivers seat as low on top of the transfercase as possible, resulting in more headroom with a lower roof line.

http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f3...l/d19ab929.jpg

http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f3...l/9e01545a.jpg

With all parts laid out where I think I wanted them, and axles sitting at full bump, I started the subframe of the chassis. It is built from 1.75x.188" wall DOM, the thick wall on the bottom will resist rock dents better than standard .120".

http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f3...l/8b271994.jpg

On to the floor structure, and getting the front suspension links mocked up

http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f3...l/9c2ef6b7.jpg

Figuring out where the seat is most comfortable, and getting the rear links mocked up

http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f3...l/6e092ad2.jpg

After the first Saturday of working on it

http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f3...l/046cf34d.jpg

Dave, where are you building this monster?

Sweet build, can't wait to see it turn into a mega bad King of the Hammers destroyer.

I'm off of Steffani Ln., right at Gessner and Clay area. GAP Racing is the shop name.

- - - Updated - - -

Few more pics of how she sits now:

http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f3...l/f7ade74d.jpg

http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f3...l/1810f56f.jpg

http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f3...l/63883d24.jpg

You should bring this bad buggy to the Wheelers for Wishes event so we can all see it up close and personal!
(thanx for sharing!! Keep 'em coming!)

Wait.....What? you going to try for the hammers this year? Going solid on the front too I see. no IFS?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Stouttrout

Wait.....What? you going to try for the hammers this year? Going solid on the front too I see. no IFS?

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Definitely going to the Hammers this year, and I'm intending to race this car.

No IFS yet, for me. The only way I could afford to build myself an IFS racer, is to use parts that haven't been used/proven yet, and I don't think I can really afford to do that, make sense? Good strong IFS front systems that will handle 500 hp and 39" tires are in the AT LEAST $15K parts range still. I can put one together for about the same as what is in my Spider 9, but I don't know how often I'll be replacing parts. I know my front Spider 9 is strong and will handle pretty much whatever I want to throw at it (within reason), and I already have it. Hopefully with the suspension design on this buggy the front will ride much more plush than my old buggy, but still not in the same ballpark as IFS.

I have partnered up with a friend to build, in my mind, the Ultimate Ultra4 IFS racer. It is still in the very early stages of planning, Brian (partner) is working on drawing up the vehicle in CAD as we speak. I also have a buddies IFS Class 1/Ultra4 racer here that was started a few years ago in Reno. So, plenty of good go-fast stuff going on, so I didn't feel the need to go out on a limb on mine with parts that I didn't have faith in.

The progress so far looks awesome Dave!!!