tater's Ford XXLT18 [2018 Build-Off Entry]

I SECOND!!!  

Damn if I had that think I would use it as a daily driver.

Build is on hold for the next 3 weeks. I gotta get the shop cleaned up for a band gig. It is gonna look like this...



So I can do this...

Excellent.  Be cool to be a fly on your garage wall.

I am back on this one. Took a weeks vacation to do a bunch of spring crap. The weather is more like February than April, so I am doing inside stuff. I recycled my old PWC cart to get this thing off the ground so I can work on it. Laying out the suspension and lift and I have a question for the guys that use the mini bike/ yardkart shocks. I have used automotive type coil over gas shocks for the swamp donkey, but they wont fit on this one. The YK shocks I have seen seem to be a too weak and little to no travel for a mud tractor suspension, but I really need them for a sway bar kind of thing. Both axles will flex and I need something to keep it upright and centered. Dont want to blow $150 on shocks that I dont think will work to start with.

I bought $50 worth of shocks that , after doing some simple math, I am not sure they will work without doing some serious European horizontal cantilevered F1 bullship. I dont have room for that. 2" of travel = centered +/- 1". My target was +/- 5" at the wheels and decreases the spring rate by 500%. This could get interesting and make for one ugly axx front end.

So I'm completely lost on what you're building. I know you're using two hyrdos. How it your steering going to work? Are you going to have front and rear suspension?

actually it is 4 hyrdos and it will steer like a bobcat

interesting. I am curious to see how it's gonna work out.

That will be pretty cool!

I got the shocks in and checked them out. Looks like they will work good. Ready to start burning some paint now.

Here is a link to the shocks if anyone needs some. they are not new, but new take offs.
https://www.surpluscenter.com/Truck-Trailer/Trailer-Components/Brakes-Shocks-Springs/Coilover-Shock-Absorber-Assembly-28-1907.axd

Oh thanks, saved that link for when I go to buy shocks for the Belle.

I got the outboard pivot brackets done. The inboard stuff is gonna get tricky. I need to allow for belts and linkages. I am way behind for being 60+ days into the build, but it will go quicker once I get all the thinkin stuff done. (... and yes I am running the smoker in the shop. that forces me to be out there working on the build. Brisket flat and some homemade brats)

!0-24 on the brisket!!

Looks good! Very intriguing setup there, excited to see how it develops.

I like how those are real coil overs, they have oil in them and a spring too.  I'm buying two for mud rat.

This thing is so sick.

tater195 wrote:

Here is a link to the shocks if anyone needs some. they are not new, but new take offs.
https://www.surpluscenter.com/Truck-Trailer/Trailer-Components/Brakes-Shocks-Springs/Coilover-Shock-Absorber-Assembly-28-1907.axd

Excellent.  Those appear to be about the same size I have.  Good link to have.

I am still alive. Have not had time to do much on the xxlt. Work, mowing, garden, random free repairs for "friends" and a 10 day out of town vacation are keeping me too busy to do much on the build.
I got the bushings I need to mount the drive motor carriers, just have not had time to drill the holes. After that I can start on the jackshaft and clutch

not much progress on the build. Several 14hour days at work has loaded up the parts money stash and I am ready to start buying the required stuff for the belt drive. axle carriers are mounted. time to flip it over and work on the upper shock mounts.

Sounds good, I'm curious to see how your suspension set up ends up working.

So for steering are you using the brakes in the transmissions or the actual reversing actions of them? Or both?

reverse. they have brakes but not really used for stopping or steering

Ah yeah. I didn't think theyd be strong enough.

Got it flipped over to do the top shock mounts. Got enough done to get a few measurements. It will be 39" to the seat and 44" to the top of the hood. After a good cleaning and fresh oil in the hydros, the 22" tires should get it into the 8-9 mph range.