User Tag List

Results 1 to 8 of 8

Thread: Rachael

  1. #1
    Dave G.'s Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2012
    Location
    Houston, Tx
    Posts
    17
    Post Thanks / Like
    Mentioned
    0 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)
    Rep Power
    0

    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:





    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.





    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".



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



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



    After the first Saturday of working on it


  2. Thanks PondSkum thanked for this post
    Likes PondSkum liked this post
  3. #2
    RunninKurt's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2012
    Location
    Cypress (Houston)
    Posts
    80
    Post Thanks / Like
    Mentioned
    0 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)
    Rep Power
    12
    Dave, where are you building this monster?
    "We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit." Aristotle

  4. #3
    TXRED is offline Chapter President Bryan/College Station Chapter
    TXRED's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2012
    Posts
    206
    Post Thanks / Like
    Mentioned
    4 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)
    Rep Power
    13
    Sweet build, can't wait to see it turn into a mega bad King of the Hammers destroyer.

  5. #4
    Dave G.'s Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2012
    Location
    Houston, Tx
    Posts
    17
    Post Thanks / Like
    Mentioned
    0 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)
    Rep Power
    0
    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:






  6. #5
    BagBat's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2012
    Location
    Tomball, Texas
    Posts
    1,173
    Post Thanks / Like
    Mentioned
    21 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)
    Rep Power
    10
    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!)
    97 TJ 4.6L Stroked, D44s, 488s, 37"MTRs - 'Roxy'
    09 Dodge 3500, 6.7Cummins, Extended cab, full WB 35x12.5 Grapplers - 'IronHide'

    http://newforum.tx4wd.org/image.php?u=2&type=sigpic&dateline=1328845878

  7. Likes PondSkum liked this post
  8. #6
    Stouttrout's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2012
    Location
    Sour Lake, Tx
    Posts
    335
    Post Thanks / Like
    Mentioned
    2 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)
    Rep Power
    13
    Wait.....What? you going to try for the hammers this year? Going solid on the front too I see. no IFS?

  9. Likes PondSkum liked this post
  10. #7
    Dave G.'s Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2012
    Location
    Houston, Tx
    Posts
    17
    Post Thanks / Like
    Mentioned
    0 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)
    Rep Power
    0
    Quote Originally Posted by Stouttrout View Post
    Wait.....What? you going to try for the hammers this year? Going solid on the front too I see. no IFS?
    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.

  11. Likes PondSkum liked this post
  12. #8
    rkik's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2012
    Posts
    46
    Post Thanks / Like
    Mentioned
    0 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)
    Rep Power
    0
    The progress so far looks awesome Dave!!!

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •