Great Lakes 4x4. The largest offroad forum in the Midwest banner

The latest project that is taking too long, a Jeep JK looking tube car

100K views 630 replies 119 participants last post by  whiterhino 
#1 · (Edited)
In the next few weeks I think I'll start updating my latest project that I have been working on for quite a while and have not been making much progress with. :finger:





I scrapped this idea after realizing it only works and looks good on a monster buggy:









I searched ls1tech.com, craigslist, ebay and GM Parts direct until I finally got all of the parts to put the L92 short block together as an LS3 looking engine that should have about the same performance as a factory LS3 until I pick another cam out and then it should be around 500 FWHP with a nice torque curve still.

I made a lot of progress and then I got my new seat and I realized I made it too small.... I took it all apart and started over and now it's a nice size.



That's how it looked last week, I made a lot of progress this weekend and it looks like something again so I'll start a build thread from this point. :thumb:
 
See less See more
7
#182 ·
I agree with them Geo... I spent a lot of time on my build and somethings that at the time I just didn't want to look at anymore and decided well that looks good enough. I now wish I would of done differently. I'll be changing them again now and it would of been much faster and cheaper to change before. That truss will work more than likely but you will not be pleased with the look of it soon.
 
#186 ·
Skooter, the point isnt to add 10 extra lbs to the buggy for a better looking truss. I've seen it in person and it looks good with the tires. Bryce is right that pictures make it look massive.

Also, it might not be appealing to all, but to a rig that will be in more comp than car shows, isnt function > than appearance.
 
#198 ·
just saw this, looking forward to seeing the rest of the build.
 
#204 ·
Who looks silly now, there is no 'C' In Skooter, lol.

Im only hating because you have far better build skills then I do, keep up the good work. As long as your happy with the final turnout, run it:thumb:
 
#205 ·
Its not really that hard to make things turn out nice. Its taken me more hours of thinking and scratching things on paper than I have actually doing work on it. The main key is to take your time and think about EVERYTHING and anything that can be affected by what you're doing. Think of it like a chess game, you're always a few steps ahead mentally than where you are at physically. I make templates for everything if you guys havent caught on. it used to be poster board then cardboard and now I like MDF, it cuts nicely and it's rigid enough to hold it's shape. The thickness is nice because it represents what you'll be working with to within about 1/16" so it makes everything come together cleaner in the end. I'll cut a notch 8 times over again until it's perfect, 1/8" at a time. if you start out slow and careful the speed will come with time. I'm nowhere near fast but I can get things done pretty quickly while keeping it accurate. I think the most the chassis is out is about 1/4" and that's measured diagonally from one end to the other. it's not perfect but it's close enough for what it's going to be.

The only thing I can recommend is to make templates, make 5 for every part and pick the one you like the best. I havent used too many fancy tools. I had Tab cut out a lot of stuff that would take my hours but other than that I use a $200 4x6" horizontal/vertical band saw for 75% of everything. I notch most of the time with the band saw and then clean it up on the bench grinder, I rarely use the mill for notching and that could be replaced by a simple drill and holesaw notcher. Most importantly, take your time and think it through and it'll turn out like you'd hoped.

$0.02
 
#208 ·
The biggest asset in building rigs is being willing to rebuild something no matter what stage you are with it. I have cut a lot of finished parts off because there were interference issues, or it just didn't flow right.

If your willing to just sack up and start over without being pissed, stuff will go a lot easier.
 
#214 ·
Awesome.

I dig the upper support, FWIW (about nothing I figure).
 
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top