Well i have had my old ttb taking up space for a long time now, so i decided to do something with them.

my best friend bought my dads old 93 explorer a few months ago, so we are going to put them in his explorer if we get this all right.

so far we have the driver side beam cut and ready to be plated.

hear are some pics so far.
http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a246/lifeguard379/Photo0007.jpg
http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a246/lifeguard379/Photo0010.jpg
http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a246/lifeguard379/Photo0013.jpg

and more.
and yes i know i spelled front wrong lol
http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a246/lifeguard379/Photo0012.jpg
http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a246/lifeguard379/Photo0011.jpg

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a246/lifeguard379/Photo0014.jpg

Isnt where you are making your cuts going to put the U-joints in a bind and lead to future breaks?

Most cut and turns are made before the Pumpkin. Also the spring is before your cut. How will you get lift out of this set up?

hmmm well I wouldnt say most cut and turns are made before the pumkin, thats just one way of doing it

Beams are typically extended directly after the radius arms and cut and turned here as well, the point is to re-position the ball joints to allow you to run lift in the spring, no lift in the beam pivot (no or minimal drop bracket) and still have proper alignment (camber correction is what lifeguard is doing here)

Another option when cutting a turning like this is to extend the beam 4-4.5" also and run dana 44 axle stub shafts without needing to extend or buy custom shafts.

If you look at Giant motorsposrts, Camburg, or Autofab, etc their 4x4 beams are built this way, with the cut and turn aft the radius arm, simply re-locating ball joints so your beams can be at an angle at ride height but the camber is still aligned, no weak axle pivot drop brackets needed, the u joints at the knuckle are simply for steering, adjusting the ball joints here will not effect that U joint too much, they can take this correction

this is why many 4x4 ttb trucks look like they are already at full droop when they are sitting at ride height, the ball joint correction to allow this to happen.......if you do it perfect you will have 5-6" of coil lift, no axle pivot drop brackets, and your stock camber shims will be set at 0 correction :)

yes, we set the stock camber shims at zero. That way we will have more room for alignment.

hopefully tomorrow i can start cutting the fill in plats. the round cuts will be cut at my Buddy's work.

fill in wedges cut and welded in :D

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a246/lifeguard379/Photo0023.jpg
http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a246/lifeguard379/Photo0025.jpg
http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a246/lifeguard379/Photo0026.jpg

more.
http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a246/lifeguard379/Photo0027.jpg
http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a246/lifeguard379/Photo0028.jpg
http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a246/lifeguard379/Photo0029.jpg

you are going to plate those??

yes. i have 1/4 plate, that is what the blue tape on the axle is for. used it for the template.

welds are cleaned up now.
http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a246/lifeguard379/Photo0030.jpg

It would have been easier and stronger if you plated from the underside then you wouldn't have to grind down all that weld. I know it's just a fill plate but that's a lot of work to make that little wedge piece just fit.

i plan on plating them all the way around, and i just kinda want it to look cool. i figured the more steel i add, the stronger it will be. the steel was free, so I'm even going to try make a skid plate for the pumpkin as well.

Subscribing...

Hurry up and get my S#!t done I'm tired of waiting.

well we got it in the truck for a test fit, and sadly :(




it did what i wanted it to do :)

now all we net to do is make Ra's and plate the beams :):burnout: hear are some pics.

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a246/lifeguard379/1228370049.jpg
http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a246/lifeguard379/1228370048.jpg
http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a246/lifeguard379/1228370047.jpg

I got some springs for free. The stock springs messured 13" and the new springs messured 18.5". I was wondering if the would give me the 5.5" of lift? Both set of springs weren't on the exploer. The set I got for free is an unknown brand.

Skyjscker 6" lift coils are 19" long unsprung

Looks like you need to move yourcoil buckets out a few inches :)

Looks good so far, nice idea fitting them before plating! saves work! We built two sets of beams before we got it right :)

Shaweet! Plate time...

nice, so did the reworking of the beam still allow stock shafts usage?

I have something else to add about what KrisG is saying because my beams literally relocate the lower balljoint out so the balljoints stay directly above and below the ujoint.

I love the design, fabwork and hope it works out. I'm a little confuse as to why the coil is bowed as well. Those springs might be too soft. You got your old TTB springs still?

i think the coil's are bowed cuz they weren't bolted in, we just had them siting on the beam. so when the top nut is on it will pull them in a bit.

and all the stock shafts work great!:D

I've seen some pretty radical Toyotas where the front springs are bowed pretty badly...

well not much of an update.

we are slowing things down for a bit on this. we are aming to be dune by spring

due to christmas and i have a daughter on the way due jan 1st
! (but realy any day now:party:) :) cant wait for skyler to be hear.:D:thumbsup: bring up a lil 4 wheeler!:bounce:

so on the to do list till then is

gears frunt and rear
break lines
ra mounts
extend ra's
shocks
rear soa

due to christmas and i have a daughter on the way due jan 1st
! (but realy any day now:party:) :) cant wait for skyler to be hear.:D:thumbsup: bring up a lil 4 wheeler!:bounce:



Congrats, Tim! Hah, my girlfriend's b-day is new years eve!

I can see it now, at age 14, she'll be welding on her own crawler...:hammer:

I think your coils are bowed because they are seated on an incline because of where you did the cut and turn. My beams are cut and turned on the other side of the diff.

I'm going to assume Skyler is already here and say congratulations!

Now get back to work, I want to see it finished, lol.

lol yes she is :) she was born december 31 6:14pm 8 pounds 3 oz 21 inches long :) and thank you:D
the day she came home
http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a246/lifeguard379/_MG_5970.jpg
first day back to work.
http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a246/lifeguard379/_MG_5974.jpg
after her first bath
http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a246/lifeguard379/_MG_6017.jpg

HECK YEAH CONGRATS!
Funny you named your girl Skyler our son will be Baylee (lee is a family name so spelling is not the traditional boys way, April 24th 09 due date)

AWesome man now THATS A PROJECT!!

:)

And picked up the tax deduction with 5 hours to spare. Congrats on the kid.

Congrats on your daughter!

The cut and turn looks great so far, it's always something I have been curious about. My one question is, where did you find the dimensions/ specs for the cut and turn? I have an extra set of beams I would love to try this on.

She's a cute one. Congratulations Again!!!
She'll turn your world :roll:

:Dprogress!:D
the gears for the front end are in :) and the pattern looks good to me. but a second opinion would be nice if my INTERNET would load the pics. :( i will have to try agen tomorrow

ok hears one.
http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a246/lifeguard379/_MG_6110.jpg

Dude, you forgot to post a side view to show depth!

Anywho, I showed it to my diff tech. He says your pattern looks good. But .004 would be too tight for a rear. Good thing it's the front! It's most likely going to whine for the first few miles.

This is probably a stupid question to ask but what is the benefit of cuting and changing the angle on those?

you don't need to use drop brackets that can bend, and its cool lol.
hear is a better pics of the patern kinda
http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a246/lifeguard379/_MG_6125.jpg

Looking good, Although I know nothing about doing what you're doing. Can't wait to see how it turns out! Question, how much do you know how to take out of the beam? It only looks like 1" or less there or am I wrong? Also, you have a cute little girl there. Congrats!

Get off your lazy asses and post some damn pictures already!!!

tha parts are fin! :) there in the truck and driveing to but i cnt get pics of it right now
http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a246/lifeguard379/_MG_6188.jpg

nice beams... how much lift it give ya?

Shwate!

That pic makes your garage look clean!!!

a little... too clean if you ask me...

Cool project, I am looking at getting some Camburg beams if I can convince the wife to let me spend the money. Watching this project, hope to see more soon.

Done!!!!!!!!!!!:)
clocked the diff on the beam, and no binding,:party: now we just need to go Wheeling. on with the pics
http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a246/lifeguard379/IMG_0165.jpg
http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a246/lifeguard379/IMG_0166.jpg
http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a246/lifeguard379/IMG_0169.jpg
http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a246/lifeguard379/IMG_0167.jpg

say what? you rotated the diff on the beam?
Please explain!

looks great so far!

there was a slight bind in the driver side shaft. so we shaved a bit off the 3rd member and re drilled the beam.

we need more pictures!!!!!!!

there was a slight bind in the driver side shaft. so we shaved a bit off the 3rd member and re drilled the beam.


Good to know you sorted it out. :thumbsup:

hear is a teaser for you wile every thing loads.
http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a246/lifeguard379/100_0350.jpg

...Just in time for this years Pismo run...:D

Wish I could go, but I have to play Army.

...You and Lifeguard379 can storm the beach at Pismo...:D

...I would like to see this setup in person...and I'll have some ultra flat black paint for those bright shiny washers...:p:

LOL I really wish we could. I missed out on it last year to.I painted the washers already, got tired of looking at them being shiny.

hear are some vids and pics.
http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a246/lifeguard379/th_100_0383.jpg (http://s12.photobucket.com/albums/a246/lifeguard379/?action=view&current=100_0383.flv)
http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a246/lifeguard379/th_100_0386.jpg (http://s12.photobucket.com/albums/a246/lifeguard379/?action=view&current=100_0386.flv)

so no binding issues at full lock?

i would like to get an extra set of beams and do a cut and turn like you did....just don't want to find out there are issues is all

good job:thumbsup:

l8r, John:cool:

nice work, do you have any more pictures of the passengers side arm?

Looks great, I like how you did it, seems easier but I havent read many threads about cutting and turning.

nice work, do you have any more pictures of the passengers side arm?

pleas explain. The radius arm or beam?

ahh whoops. i meant beam.
the one that the half shaft goes thru

we haven't had a chance to open it up yet, so it looks stock. :(

we haven't had a chance to open it up yet, so it looks stock. :(

huh? you had to have modified the passengers side arm...or else your truck would be running lopsided...i see the cuts you made on the arm with the differential. but what about the other one? the one thats nearly all rectangular tubing that the passengers wheel attaches to the hub.

wow there i go again...just realized you made the same cuts on both arms...:confused: once again showing my stupidity when it comes to reading late night threads....:banghead: sorry

ohhhhhhhh. i thought you where talking about the hole in the beam that the axle passes through, lol

Love this thread! But have a couple of ?'s. I see what the cut is, so what is the "Turn " part of the project?

So which one of the explorers do you like the best for all around driving and four wheeling.... the solid axel of the ttb?