Author Topic: SquareD Part 2 Here's where we depart the rebuild and start the big change (Read 121116 times)

Flyin6 · « **Reply #300 on:** October 06, 2014, 01:46:01 PM »

some beefy stuff!

I think the rear mount is going to fall in here some where:

Flyin6 · « **Reply #301 on:** October 06, 2014, 01:46:37 PM »

And the front mount will be integrated into this cross member, the frame, and the exhaust hanger

Flyin6 · « **Reply #302 on:** October 06, 2014, 01:47:26 PM »

Here is the shackle that will soon hang from the front cross member

You will notice the rod end is already fitted to the lower end of the shackle.

The operation is simple. As the axle travels up and down, the shackle will move slightly fore and aft as the distance changes.

But once power is applied to the axle, as the tires rotate clockwise, the anti-torque reactive force is the axle itself moving nose up or rolling counter clockwise. That bending moment twists the spring into a slight "S"
As it reaches a point where it can resist the force it lets go, so to speak and violently rolls backward. We feel all this as a hopping up and down that not only loses traction, but can rip U-Joints out of the driveshaft.

With this simple traction bar, as the axle first starts to react to the torque of pushing the tires, it will push the front of the traction bar upward. If the force is sufficient it will actually raise the body somewhat. The action of the body raising pushes downward on the axle and tires with an equal force, thus planting the rubber even harder

Flyin6 · « **Reply #303 on:** October 06, 2014, 01:48:07 PM »

You guessed it, that pipe, or at least a small piece of it is going in there shortly.

I collected the pieces parts and started fitting things

Flyin6 · « **Reply #304 on:** October 06, 2014, 01:48:42 PM »

Earlier in the build, I had placed the primary exhaust system hangar on this very same cross member, so I loosened everything and moved the clamp forward, and rotated the band clamp out of the way

Flyin6 · « **Reply #305 on:** October 06, 2014, 01:49:22 PM »

Again, I'm going to utilize the preexisting holes in the frame, including these 4 beauties:

Flyin6 · « **Reply #306 on:** October 06, 2014, 01:50:51 PM »

...to fit this hefty 3/8" thick piece of steel angle, the lower portion of this new mount

Flyin6 · « **Reply #307 on:** October 06, 2014, 01:52:11 PM »

The top mount will likewise utilize the existing holes and even the muffler frame mount

Flyin6 · « **Reply #308 on:** October 06, 2014, 01:53:34 PM »

I trimmed up the lower mount, drilled the holes, then tapped them for a 3/8" bolt

Flyin6 · « **Reply #309 on:** October 06, 2014, 01:54:15 PM »

That plasma cutter does a respectable job!

Then the lower piece was bolted in as well

Flyin6 · « **Reply #310 on:** October 06, 2014, 01:55:17 PM »

Then a short section of the pipe was cut and fitted between the two Angles and tacked into place

Flyin6 · « **Reply #311 on:** October 06, 2014, 01:56:19 PM »

Here's a view from the left rear

Flyin6 · « **Reply #312 on:** October 06, 2014, 01:56:58 PM »

Here's the SOB (State of the build) tonight

Flyin6 · « **Reply #313 on:** October 06, 2014, 01:58:08 PM »

Quote:
Originally Posted by Cudakidd53 View Post
Love the traction/panhard bar Don! Question for you, how would this set-up effect a daily driver set-up as far as ride comfort etc.? Very familiar with race application on dirt, but comfort was not in my limited mental framework while trying to beat other rednecks going around in circles- smoothest ride I remember in a race car was being airborn down the front stretch, right up until landing!

It rides pretty good from what I remember.
I installed my own version of this setup on my Tundra and drove that around (Several malls) and even within 100 feet of some dirt once!
It definitely eliminates all wheel hop and sort of feels like you got bumped in the rear end when you launch.

Flyin6 · « **Reply #314 on:** October 06, 2014, 01:59:19 PM »

Before I start building again tonight, Here is a shot of that corroded tail gate handle after less than a minute of media blasting.
Duane brought over his blast gun to replace mine, which was malfunctioning. With his gun the cabinet ran fine for awhile, then started acting up again...

Flyin6 · « **Reply #315 on:** October 06, 2014, 01:59:56 PM »

And the UPS man showed up with this:

A front sway bar, an ADDCO 1.25" solid bar which will be going in with the soon to come front suspensio

Flyin6 · « **Reply #316 on:** October 06, 2014, 02:01:46 PM »

I continued to chip away on the traction bar fab/install

Here is the rear mount, just sort of jammed in there and hanging out

Flyin6 · « **Reply #317 on:** October 06, 2014, 02:02:59 PM »

Then the tacked up shackle mount was removed for welding

Flyin6 · « **Reply #318 on:** October 06, 2014, 02:04:11 PM »

I added a spacer to push the shackle down a little bit to give it proper clearance from the bottom of the frame

Flyin6 · « **Reply #319 on:** October 06, 2014, 02:05:17 PM »

Yea, I know, went a little crooked on that lateral weld.
I really need to clean the lens of my mask!

Next the bushing mount was added and welded in

Flyin6 · « **Reply #320 on:** October 06, 2014, 02:06:27 PM »

That is one beefy chunk of metal!

It slid right back into the frame rail as if it was made to fit there!

Flyin6 · « **Reply #321 on:** October 06, 2014, 02:07:25 PM »

The bushing installed

Flyin6 · « **Reply #322 on:** October 06, 2014, 02:08:43 PM »

Here is the orientation of the rod end

Flyin6 · « **Reply #323 on:** October 06, 2014, 02:09:22 PM »

This is the main beam which I think will have to be the top bar, since the lower mount is getting pretty close to the sway bar arm

Flyin6 · « **Reply #324 on:** October 06, 2014, 02:10:09 PM »

I just popped the bar up on top of it's aft mount to see how things were aligning

I'm surprised to see it is nearly level and alignment is about perfect

Flyin6 · « **Reply #325 on:** October 06, 2014, 02:10:48 PM »

And here's the S.O.B. tonight:

Flyin6 · « **Reply #326 on:** October 06, 2014, 02:12:06 PM »

, while we're waiting on the turkey, BOD (Big old Don) or "the BOD"
was out measurin' and cypherin'

But before all that, here's the lift blocks...I think I'll do some smoothing on them:

Flyin6 · « **Reply #327 on:** October 06, 2014, 02:12:49 PM »

That block is 1" taller than the factory block but devoid of that pesky shoulder which is getting all in the way of what's now going on in there.

The 1" additional lift will e augmented with this 2 lobe air spring which is going in right here.

Flyin6 · « **Reply #328 on:** October 06, 2014, 02:13:46 PM »

I ordered a 3-lobe, but got this 2-lobe unit instead. I think it was providence, since this one will actually work better.

I'll mount a simple angle on the top and build a fixture that bolts onto the top threads of those long U-bolts.
Now you know why I made them so long...

So next, I mounted up one of the mil 37" HMMV wheels all stock line to take some measurements.

The existing wheels were tucked too far inside the fender for my likes. If I set the B.S. at 3.5" then It should place the tire tread almost 2" farther outboard than the Hercules tires pictured. That has to be nearly perfect!

Flyin6 · « **Reply #329 on:** October 06, 2014, 02:15:49 PM »

Plenty of stud projecting through the Armee

Flyin6 · « **Reply #330 on:** October 06, 2014, 02:18:40 PM »

Speaking of studs, suddenly there are a lot of them!

And take a gander of that air valve:

Flyin6 · « **Reply #331 on:** October 06, 2014, 02:19:33 PM »

The hub is hanging way out there. Of course that will get tucked inside a bunch of wheel shortly

Flyin6 · « **Reply #332 on:** October 06, 2014, 02:20:15 PM »

un modified it would fit in an emergency, however for normal ops is way too close to the frame

Flyin6 · « **Reply #333 on:** October 06, 2014, 02:21:05 PM »

"Military"

That can't be wrong!

Flyin6 · « **Reply #334 on:** October 06, 2014, 02:23:57 PM »

My hand and the blue tape shows about where the outside of the tire will be after recentering.

Flyin6 · « **Reply #335 on:** October 06, 2014, 02:27:58 PM »

OK kiddies, lets get this contraption bar built!

But first, since I really needed to bolt in this new lift block first, I used a flap wheel 80 grit, thank you berry much, to Purdy it up some.

The real reason is if you get rid of all that roughness, there is less of a chance for rust to start in and it makes for an overall mo-better finish when the paint finds it's home

Flyin6 · « **Reply #336 on:** October 06, 2014, 02:32:47 PM »

Then I bolted in the inside frame brace for the sway bar end link mounts to make that a double shear, no movement area!

Flyin6 · « **Reply #337 on:** October 06, 2014, 02:33:30 PM »

I got a little mileage out of that WW2 OD green paint. I gave the two gallons cans of it to Duane so he can use it on his Cobra kit car if he ever talks me into painting it for him.

Next it was on to the contraption bar starting with cleaning off the axle so I could weld the aft mount in.

Flyin6 · « **Reply #338 on:** October 06, 2014, 02:35:23 PM »

Then the sparks went ah' flyin'

Flyin6 · « **Reply #339 on:** October 06, 2014, 02:36:39 PM »

Once the smoke all cleared, it looked permanized!
Not sure if that is a word
But who cares
Anyone actually read this drivel?
Probably not
So I'll labor on anyway.

With the mount in it was time to attach a bushing sleeve to the tubing. Using a hole saw and plenty of cheapo 90Wt oil, I cut the fish mouth on the first piece using the drill press.

Flyin6 · « **Reply #340 on:** October 06, 2014, 03:21:47 PM »

Then with a lot of cleaning of the surface, the two pieces were welded together with the Miller 212 Mig

Flyin6 · « **Reply #341 on:** October 06, 2014, 03:23:14 PM »

Then to the smaller diameter brace tube

Flyin6 · « **Reply #342 on:** October 06, 2014, 03:23:58 PM »

After bolting the main tube in, I measured it up for the front threaded bung, removed it, cut the tube then checked it all before welding:

Flyin6 · « **Reply #343 on:** October 06, 2014, 03:25:01 PM »

The rear sway bar added to the complexity of the design. If I simply connected the lower bar and welded it to the front, it would reduce the sway bar's working room and cause problems.

To solve for this, I built a "Box" around the bar with a couple more fish mouth cuts and a short length of DOM.

Flyin6 · « **Reply #344 on:** October 06, 2014, 03:25:52 PM »

I'm one step out of sequence, but just before that box thing was created, the front of the main bar got welded up

Flyin6 · « **Reply #345 on:** October 06, 2014, 03:26:29 PM »

To complete the lower bar, the remaining length was fishmouth cut on an angle and the front end beveled, then it was tacked into place

Flyin6 · « **Reply #346 on:** October 06, 2014, 03:27:15 PM »

Then the thing was removed and finished welded, then cleaned up

Flyin6 · « **Reply #347 on:** October 06, 2014, 03:28:04 PM »

Ya know that thing the Rangers say, about "walking in the woods like you were sneakin' up on a deer?"
It got quiet...The dogs ran off, so I did what any good soldier would do and checked my surroundings.
Look what I caught "Sneakin" up on me, M4 at the ready:

Flyin6 · « **Reply #348 on:** October 06, 2014, 03:28:49 PM »

He didn't see me snap the first shot, he thought I was preoccupied!

Another ambush foiled!

So now everything got hung up in the hanging jungle and got cleaned and darker

Flyin6 · « **Reply #349 on:** October 06, 2014, 03:29:36 PM »

Then I changed it's color once again: