spy shots - ttb blazer

[baja-chris]

Some of you guys asked for some spy photos of Ramsey's Blazer prerunner project. Glen Straightiff is the fabricator. It's a stretch wheelbase with equal length Dana 50 based ttb up front and in the rear a 3-link 14-bolt with a trailing arm suspension. The Dana 50 uses larger axle shafts and u-joints, larger ball joints with a wider spread, a 2.5" spindle, and bigger brakes. It will still accept the D44 third member which offers more choices in gears and differentials. Notice the front beams are swapped so the passenger side pivots in front of the diff to enable the longer arms. The steering is also innovative using Toyota unit bearings for relay arm pivots, then a cv can bolt up to the unit bearing with a drive shaft to either a mid-mounted steering box or via a bellcrank to get to a front mounted steering box. Not sure what they are going to do there yet. The drivetrain is an EFI 502 and 4L80. At the back of the truck there is a pair of hubs that serve as the pivot for the trailing arms (aka Hemet arms). They are splined to accept the sway bar inside the tube. You can see they are just starting the mock up of the trailing arms and rear suspension. The rear end is a 14-bolt with the iron hubs turned down on a lathe to accept the 6x6.5 trophy truck botl pattern with a hub centric fit.
The body is a late model Blazer that has been modified to accept the old style full convertible top. Tires will be 37's.

[baja-chris]

more spy shots
And yes, that's Todd Zuetcher's 69 Overall Baja 1000 winner in the background. We are finishing up the prep on it for the NORRA 1000.

[baja-chris]

last set of spy shots

cool project, eh? Ramsey is smarter than dirt, you know.

[SteveG]

Ramsey is smarter than dirt, you know.

Dirt ain't got nothin' on him!

Thanks for the photos. I'm looking forward to seeing it completed.

[billy1911]

thanks for posting the pictures looks cool

[PBR]

super cool build!

[SteveG]

Air shock coil-overs?

[baja-chris]

Air shock coil-overs?

Yes. My dad's stretch bronco also uses them. Very tunable and work well. They are on the front of some very fast class 8 trucks.

For steering, I suggested they try a full hydraulic steering setup with the existing hard link swing sets between the wheels. Common setup on serious go fast offshore race boats. I had one on my speed ski boat and the steering feel and feedback were excellent.

[SteveG]

Other than you guys, there's not a lot of people using air shock coil-overs. At least that I know of.

[shockseals.com]

Other than you guys, there's not a lot of people using air shock coil-overs. At least that I know of.

I have built quite a few sets of them. I think they are standard on alumicraft prerunners as well. Its basically a hyd bumpstop without having to mount a bumpstop. If I were building a C/O bypass truck I would do the same thing but it would not be an emulsion shock.

[SteveG]

I have built quite a few sets of them. I think they are standard on alumicraft prerunners as well. Its basically a hyd bumpstop without having to mount a bumpstop. If I were building a C/O bypass truck I would do the same thing but it would not be an emulsion shock.

I've always wondered why we see so few air shock coil-overs.

I always thought it would be cool to do a bypass in front and an air shock behind the bucket in this application:

[SteveG]

I would do the same thing but it would not be an emulsion shock.

I've wondered about that too. I would think a reservoir would help with temperature and pressure changes?

[shockseals.com]

Air shock coil-overs?

Yes. My dad's stretch bronco also uses them. Very tunable and work well. They are on the front of some very fast class 8 trucks.

For steering, I suggested they try a full hydraulic steering setup with the existing hard link swing sets between the wheels. Common setup on serious go fast offshore race boats. I had one on my speed ski boat and the steering feel and feedback were excellent.

How about the return to center? In the HYD steering setups I have driven or ridden in the back to center was strange and the lack of feedback was not normal. I would like to drive a bunderson setup...they seem to have everything dialed.

[shockseals.com]

I would do the same thing but it would not be an emulsion shock.

I've wondered about that too. I would think a reservoir would help with temperature and pressure changes?

I would do it to remove the lag inherent of an emulsion shock. Emulsion shocks are a waste.

[baja-chris]

[/quote]

How about the return to center? In the HYD steering setups I have driven or ridden in the back to center was strange and the lack of feedback was not normal. I would like to drive a bunderson setup...they seem to have everything dialed.[/quote]

I think return to center is more a function of the geometry of the steering and suspension. I'm only talking about using hydraulic power to push the tie rods around. Of course I have not actually done it so just an idea.

[baja-chris]

More photos from today showing the body stretch. The 12" wide filler panel was bent up from sheet stock on the bead roller.

[baja-chris]

more

[Nick]

Thanks for posting the pics Chris!

[baja-chris]

and

[baja-chris]

last set for today