Big Bertha

hobbyturnedobsession · Mon Aug 23, 2010 12:54 pm

ahh thats right sorry i forgot it was 2wd.

philofab · Post by **philofab** » Mon Aug 30, 2010 3:18 pm

I started on the bed cage... soon I will be able to dispense with the zip tie license mount.

BajaDale · Post by **BajaDale** » Mon Aug 30, 2010 9:09 pm

Thanks alot...... now you got me thinking about building a tow rig. Good job on yours so far!! I'm thinking the same kinda thing, crewcab shortbox with a 5.9 cummins.

philofab · Post by **philofab** » Mon Aug 30, 2010 9:19 pm

BajaDale wrote:Thanks alot...... now you got me thinking about building a tow rig. Good job on yours so far!! I'm thinking the same kinda thing, crewcab shortbox with a 5.9 cummins.

My buddy Reg at RCTS Canada tells me Cummins are a dime a dozen up where he lives in Calgary. Been trying to get him to bring one back for me.

BajaDale · Post by **BajaDale** » Tue Aug 31, 2010 7:38 am

philofab wrote:
BajaDale wrote:Thanks alot...... now you got me thinking about building a tow rig. Good job on yours so far!! I'm thinking the same kinda thing, crewcab shortbox with a 5.9 cummins.
My buddy Reg at RCTS Canada tells me Cummins are a dime a dozen up where he lives in Calgary. Been trying to get him to bring one back for me.

They are, especially the old 12 valve 5.9 you almost can't give them away. I was thinking about building it 4wd and running 1/2 ton dana 44 front end with the 8 stud knuckle and brakes. Keep us updated on yours! I love it!

philofab · Post by **philofab** » Sun Sep 12, 2010 7:10 pm

Spent some time this weekend working on the radius arms. I started these a couple of years ago with a bushing style mount. I decided to change over to a heim. I ran out of material though so I need to go buy some more in the morning.

philofab · Post by **philofab** » Mon Sep 13, 2010 9:28 am

Lately I've been thinking about converting the truck to 4wd... I'm just not sure how well D44/D50 stuff will last with a Cummins in the truck.

I was thinking of using a D50 center, D44HD outers, and D44 1/2 ton style pivots in a beam that is 4" over.

4WD lets me be lazy and has spoiled me.

hobbyturnedobsession · Mon Sep 13, 2010 9:40 am

That'd be one bad machine. Only, how will the transfer case and hubs hold up to the torque of that cummins?

tcm glx · Post by **tcm glx** » Mon Sep 13, 2010 9:45 am

philofab wrote:Lately I've been thinking about converting the truck to 4wd... I'm just not sure how well D44/D50 stuff will last with a Cummins in the truck.

I was thinking of using a D50 center, D44HD outers, and D44 1/2 ton style pivots in a beam that is 4" over.

4WD lets me be lazy and has spoiled me.

I am with you on that Philo... I was just emailing Chris back and forth about him doing the same in the 4 door Bronco. He suggested and I think it is a great idea. I wonder from the drivetrain if it is harder, or easier on the whole truck. The idea of having 4wd and pulling instead of just pushing through whoops always makes it seem better. I love dricing my Bronco in the mid size whoops with 4wd... feel like I have better control.

PaulW · Post by **PaulW** » Mon Sep 13, 2010 11:38 am

Drive like the experienced desert 4WD guys do and the Cummins wont break anything. Experience shows the D44 will survive it you are in 2wd for the whoops and jumps. Not for rock crawling but for go fast.
For more margin just use the open D50 which is surely stronger.
The only time I use 4WD in the desert in in the silt, deep sand and the crawl over the summit. Never in the whoops.

Do you need 4wd - for sure. I am sure when you get bogged down in the silt or the sand washes I will not be able to tow you out. I have tried to tow TTs and C8s and it nearly impossible due to the weight of the stuck truck.
2WD sucks in the desert fro a heavy truck.
Paul

philofab · Post by **philofab** » Mon Sep 13, 2010 12:04 pm

PaulW wrote:2WD sucks in the desert fro a heavy truck.

Haha, I know. The truck does really well going forward due to a lot of anti squat and good weight bias but it will get instantly stuck in reverse. I think I would like 4wd for piece of mind. I'm thinking the 300 or pounds that 4wd adds won't affect a lot in the long run, It might put me over the 7,000# mark though.

BajaBronco13 · Post by **BajaBronco13** » Mon Sep 13, 2010 12:06 pm

I've given this lots of thought and have exchanged a few emails with Jeremy aka 78Crew on RDC, who owns the crew cab long travel prerunner. He's running a Dana 50 extended with built E4OD and an Atlas. I'd like to go that same route. My Bronco will easily weight over 7,000 pounds I estimate so 2wd just won't work for my truck.

PaulW · Post by **PaulW** » Mon Sep 13, 2010 12:09 pm

Good luck keeping it under 7k Mine fully loaded goes 8200
PW

philofab · Post by **philofab** » Mon Sep 13, 2010 12:13 pm

BajaBronco13 wrote:I've given this lots of thought and have exchanged a few emails with Jeremy aka 78Crew on RDC, who owns the crew cab long travel prerunner. He's running a Dana 50 extended with built E4OD and an Atlas. I'd like to go that same route. My Bronco will easily weight over 7,000 pounds I estimate so 2wd just won't work for my truck.

What style pivots is he running? My crossmember has the same pivots as a Bronco and the sheet metal is thicker. I always thought the D44HD/D50 pivots would restrict travel but Baja250 has proven otherwise.

I don't know what t-case I would run but I do plan on running a Dodge transmission (74RH most likely.) unless I can find a Alison that will work.

philofab · Post by **philofab** » Mon Sep 13, 2010 12:23 pm

PaulW wrote:Good luck keeping it under 7k Mine fully loaded goes 8200
PW

Well, my truck weighed less than 6,500LB with a carpeted bed, full tanks of fuel, a fiberglass tonneau cover, and the current 37" tires. I need to go weigh it again with the spares on the back.

The Cummins should only add 300 pounds or so.... and the only weight the 4wd will add is front pumpkin, driveshaft, and t-case.

Post by **SteveG** » Mon Sep 13, 2010 5:44 pm

A friend of mine is (maybe already has) tossing an F250 TTB in the trash. If you're interested I can ask if it's still around.

philofab · Post by **philofab** » Mon Sep 13, 2010 6:06 pm

SteveG wrote:A friend of mine is (maybe already has) tossing an F250 TTB in the trash. If you're interested I can ask if it's still around.

Please do. It would be nice to have around as I figure out if I want to go that route.

Post by **SteveG** » Mon Sep 13, 2010 6:39 pm

He's still got it but it's getting scrapped soon. I can go pull it off the frame but don't have anywhere to store it... it would need to go away as soon as possible.

It's a leaf spring TTB like BajaF250 was originally.

philofab · Post by **philofab** » Tue Sep 14, 2010 8:26 am

SteveG wrote:He's still got it but it's getting scrapped soon. I can go pull it off the frame but don't have anywhere to store it... it would need to go away as soon as possible.

It's a leaf spring TTB like BajaF250 was originally.

I'll be in Torrance this weekend. I'll see how my schedule is for driving up to Arroyo Grande. I think your about 180 miles north of where I'll be at.

hobbyturnedobsession · Tue Sep 14, 2010 8:32 am

Hey do you still want my leaf springs and coil buckets?

Big Bertha

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