Glen Strightiff/Chris Wilson C3 build

[SteveG]

Well our new class 3 fired up and ran for the first time yesterday. It's alive. First event will be NORRA.

Congrats!

[baja-chris]

I drove it today. Woo Hoo.

Just a put-put around the industrial park to see how it steers and feels. All good.

The dual shackle leafs have good support, did not notice excess sway even with the inboard spring mounts (they are under the frame rails instead of outside the frame rails). Now just need to finish it up.

[SteveG]

Yes! Test session soon?

[baja-chris]

Yes! Test session soon?

Biggest hold up will be fabrication of the fan shroud. Other than that would test this weekend at plaster city. Don't know how long the fan shroud will take, neither of us has done one before.

[tcm glx]

How about some pics Chris!!

[SteveG]

Yes! Test session soon?

Biggest hold up will be fabrication of the fan shroud. Other than that would test this weekend at plaster city. Don't know how long the fan shroud will take, neither of us has done one before.

After everything else you guys have done, a fan shroud should be a piece of cake! Traditional, front mounted radiator?

[baja-chris]

Been too busy to post photos but I have been shooting photos. Here are a few from a few weeks ago showing details of the engine plumbing. The canister under where the fan shroud will be is a Fluidyne heat exchanger, motor oil to coolant. This is planned to be our only engine oil cooling but if we need more, we will add an oil to air cooler. We build the front fenders and grill onto a subframe that tilts forward and easily comes off with one electrical plug so the lights and horns come off with the tilt front clip. The body is all steel other than the fiberglass hood. There is also a shot showing our brake line plumbing. The blue levers are line locks to serve as parking brakes. Could come in handy to lock the front brakes while out of the car to change a rear flat for example. The two gauges in front of the driver are brake pressure gauges which should come in handy with bias adjustments. We have an 80 gallon fuel cell and that will make for a big change in rear weight and optimal brake bias settings. It's easy to get lost on the adjustments with those bias knobs. Also it can be reassuring to tap the brakes near the end of a high speed run and see both needles jump before making that late braking commitment. I know, it's only class 3, but this is our toy and as our friend Durka likes to say, Overkill is Underated.

[baja-chris]

And now some photos from today. It runs and drives and has no problem at all boiling the 37's and it drifts around with minimal sway. So far so good. The 427 sounds sweet. Plan is to run NORRA with it then if there are no major issues (in other words if I don't wad it up!), the Baja 500.

[baja-chris]

More from today.

[baja-chris]

Last set from today.

[baja-chris]

The serpentine cooler in front of the radiator is the power steering cooler.

[SteveG]

Impressive, Chris... lovin' all the details. Big dog shocks with coolers... like!

Overkill is Underated.

Indeed!

[tcm glx]

Wow.... Can't wai o see it. Is yellow paint still in the cards?

[baja-chris]

Probably no time for paint before NORRA. Will be a rat rod.

Maybe paint before the Baja 500. Plan to build a wing for it too. When?

[SteveG]

Probably no time for paint before NORRA. Will be a rat rod.

Perfect. We're all ditching the Broncos soon and building rat rods anyway. http://www.GoFastRatRods.com.

[retroblazer]

What is Mr. Juanco working on in the background?

[ESHALLBETTER]

Awesome! Can't wait to see it ALL together. Impressive work guys, can't wait to see it at the 500!

[Broncodawg]

Bet you guys are dyin' to get some dirt under it! Awesome build!

[Silverslk]

This thing is really amazing!! I will now attend NORRA just to see it.

[Travisfab]

I like how I can get updates on our TT in this thread!