Glen Strightiff/Chris Wilson C3 build

[Nick]

Straight up awesome build!

[ESHALLBETTER]

Once Steve uploads the old stuff, I've got some new content to add. Right now the truck is a roller and we are fitting the body and cage. It's on the wheel and tire package we will run (17" Walker beadlocks with 37" BFG Baja T/A's). I've ordered a 427 from Ford based on the Boss 351 block, 535hp/545tq. Harmon built us an 80 gal fuel cell. Stole the rear Mastercraft 3G seats out of my 4-seater, will get some replacements for it later. Picked up brake pedal and masters from the BFG classifieds. All the big parts are there to jam on the cage fabrication. The body parts are freshly sand blasted, newly exposed metal easier to weld to and easier to paint.

For the love of God and all that is good in this world! You can't write this and not post pics! Can't wait to see this thing! Keep up the good work.

[baja-chris]

GFB classifieds, not BFG!

Here is a teaser of the look we are going after. I hope we don't get sent to bronco hell for this. Sacrilegious for those who worship bronco purity.

[robertcrav]

Sweeeeeet

[baja-chris]

The body we are modifying for this build is from an old race bronco. Hope that there is some sort of pent up race genes in the metal to help make her run wild again. Note the faded out 1982 Mint 400 sticker on the hood. Also shown is some artwork Tony Barazza drew up for us to show the concept.

[BajaBronco13]

Way cool build Chris! Keep the pics coming.

Chris

[ESHALLBETTER]

I'm geeking out super bad over this project!

[ChaseTruck754]

I'm digging the dual headlights to take up the widening of the body. This thing is SO cool!

[SteveG]

I'll start uploading more tonight so we can get this thread up to date. Mostly because I want to see more, too!

[squirelmurphy]

This is a great project. It's a shame about the class 3 body rules. Strange how it doesn't matter in class 8, seems like everybody runs a late model body on an earlier chassis.

When I first saw the dual headlights, I thought the bezels were out of an early econoline van. I know they aren't after reading more, but thats what they remind me of. Now you've put the hooks in me, I need more pics!

[tcm glx]

I'll start uploading more tonight so we can get this thread up to date. Mostly because I want to see more, too!

Is it tonight yet.....

[MOSS2]

Is that hood off of a lengthened Bronco run by a M Vest at one time?

[SteveG]

I'll start uploading more tonight so we can get this thread up to date. Mostly because I want to see more, too!

Is it tonight yet.....

Maybe.

[SteveG]

Now the frame pivot brackets were made and the real links made. Again all plate is 4130 stock as is all tubing. The lower link arms are Tig welded but most else is Mig welded. The rear most shock mount is for an 18" stroke bypass (Blackhawk) and the front mount on the trailing arm is for a 16" coilover (or just another shock when we elect to run without coils). The upper and lower links share a common bracket pictured here.

[SteveG]

Upper 3-link is built. This is a stronger setup than a 4-link given the length of the link we ended up needing and the fact that it has to fit between the frame rails to remain legal. And the strongest way to build a 3-link is to use a uniball instead of a heim joint and locate it's bolt vertically in double shear. You lose any ability to adjust it. Sigh, another compromise. We used a larger uniball than the application needs in the hopes of increased service life. As our friend Durka Durka likes to say, Overkill is Underrated

[SteveG]

And the lower links are built up. Lower tube is continuous with a heim bung welded in and rosetted. The upper tubes curve down to form the pocket for the shock ends and a bridge tube ties them together. Then each side gets double plates of 1/8" 4130 for 1/4" total thickness. The pocket is finished off with a bottom plate inside the pocket and a bridge plate on top. Lastly, the arms are sanded to fit the pivot bearings (made on the lathe) and everything is Tig welded.

[SteveG]

More lower link pics. It's easy to see why these are expensive to have built. Lots of hours into them and lots of expensive materials. We had the local metal supply house (Competitive Metals) shear the plates to rough shape for us. Saved many hours on the band saw.

[SteveG]

asdf

[SteveG]

Leaf springs are a sway bar. And the need for a sway bar is also a function of suspension geometry and setup as well as driver comfort. Right now I don't think we will need one but if we do then we will build one. Remember it's a racecar for the dirt. Highway manners are mostly irrelevant.

Thought about drain holes but left them out. It's not like a prerunner where you might use it and park it with water and silt collecting in pockets. It will be cleaned out each use and it's easy to blow the water out of those pockets. For the rear uniball, I was thinking of some rubber flaps but not sure if they would really help.

Cut up a bunch of 3/16" 4130 plate to make the four shackle hanger brackets (and the front radius arm pivots which are in another thread). The rear shackle bracket gets a cross member under the frame. The front one will have to do without since the rear links use that space, instead they will just tie into the cage.

[SteveG]

Here's a few pictures of my go fast front suspension build. It's for a class 3 race bronco. Rules allow 4" wider than stock so this build is 3" wider (1.5" per side). When it came time to do radius arms and locate the front end, we decided we better final the rear suspension first and then locate the front relative to that. Rules allow 2" longer than stock wheelbase and I want to push the front as far forward as possible with the rear end in stock location.