does this make my rear end look fat?

[tdavis]

Got the final mockup done today. No gusseting or finishing welding has been, and tacks are "barely" on lots of parts (or none, where I could get it to stay put)

Here's the rear, with 9" of separation between uppers and lowers.

Here's a look up the passenger side, at the frame mounts.

The rear side shot, showing the link separation and landing points.

Phase 1 is done; I'll be doing phase 2 this week (welding stuff up), and entering phase 3 this weekend (rear end cutting and tubing) with the final phase 4 (gas tank, coil overs, taillights and bumper placement) the weekend after.

Now back to your regularly scheduled drooling.

 

[JoshC]

This is going to be sweet Tom, can't wait to see it perform.

One question. Why not ditch the big piece of angle and weld the mounts for your upper links on the axle? Just curious.

 

[tdavis]

One question. Why not ditch the big piece of angle and weld the mounts for your upper links on the axle? Just curious.

They are not long enough, and I would have to figure out the angle, plus there isn't enough top area that is flat, so I'd have to build the area up anyway.

 

[JoshC]

Okay, i gotcha.

So where will the frame be chopped?? Are you going with a fuel cell or stock tank?

 

[DB_1]

They are not long enough, and I would have to figure out the angle, plus there isn't enough top area that is flat, so I'd have to build the area up anyway.

How about an axle truss made of square tubing to mount the link brackets to?
You know we're trying to make more work for ya

 

[410Fortune]

Man oh man gorgeous.

 

[tdavis]

How about an axle truss made of square tubing to mount the link brackets to?
You know we're trying to make more work for ya

I decided the 4" 1/4" thick angle was enough. The chunk of 3.5x3.5x.250 wall square tube is sitting on the bench, breathing a sigh of relief.

As for a fuel tank - I will be putting the stock tank back, just in a different location.

 

[DB_1]

Probably just as well too, judging from the pics it looks like your using every bit of that 4" surface where the link brackets are.

I feel your pain now as far as kids hanging around while your working...the kid next door was asking me 100 questions but didn't really bother me. Then he was shooting some suction cupped darts around me...still wasn't bothering me yet. The topper was when the kid threw sand over the fence on my welder! That was it, I yelled at him "WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!!" Then I told him to get lost. Ahh kids.

 

[SkanlaxJMO]

drool.... it looks really good. A long while back i was one of those kids who would watch the carpenter or the mechanic work with wood or on their truck.

 

[tdavis]

I get to put this project on hold for a few days. Thankfully, I have MLK holiday to work on this.

The VFR's headlights died, and that's a hefty project - you have to remove the front cowl to replace them.

 

[tdavis]

The VFR's headlights died, and that's a hefty project - you have to remove the front cowl to replace them.

Crapola. I found the problem - nothing wrong with the headlights at all. Even paid about $60 for 2 new bulbs for the blasted thing.

The damn starter switch on the hand grip is bad, and needs to be replaced. So, it's off to the dealer tomorrow and arrange for it be fixed, so I can concentrate on the zuk and get it done.

Get er done..

 

[Rick]

I was looking at a used VFR in Phoenix. It was on Ebay and it sure was tempting! I keep fighting off this urge to get a new toy of some kind

 

[410Fortune]

Rick, 2wd Ranger? hahahaha

If I lived in AZ I would want a 2wd truck, or a dirt bike or somethin for the desert..(Jet ski?)

 

[Rick]

Actually, I have been thinking of a 2wd Ranger or Explorer. There are a lot of dirt roads near me that are awesome for high speed running and 4wd isn't needed at all.

 

[FROADER]

Actually, I have been thinking of a 2wd Ranger or Explorer. There are a lot of dirt roads near me that are awesome for high speed running and 4wd isn't needed at all.

There are a **** load that are built for sale in my area. If you ever decide you do want one, let me know and I'll look around here.

Tom stop messing with the motorcycle and get that Zuk done so you can make it to TH!

You know you want to drive the 250 around town every day.

 

[410Fortune]

2wd Ranger is in my future I can see it aready. That is unless I decide to go long travel A arm with this 4 door ex....

 

[tdavis]

You know you want to drive the 250 around town every day.

Parking is the *****, then come dealing with I-80 traffic.

Upto 1.5 hours to go 15miles. Bleah. The VFR makes it 20 minutes, 30 on a rainy day.

 

[Stic-o]

Actually, I have been thinking of a 2wd Ranger or Explorer. There are a lot of dirt roads near me that are awesome for high speed running and 4wd isn't needed at all.

Pick up a nice s-cab ranger and have fun. I miss mine

 

[tdavis]

So I've been working on it more..

Looked at, and slept on it for a few days, and decided I could slightly better on the geometry and top axle brackets.

I decided to drill the old brackets, and in the process messed them. Good for me, for I now have these on top of the axle.

To make these work, I had to push up and back the upper link mounts, which makes the geometry look like this:

Which, is much more neutral suspension! Now I'm happy with the #'s from the 4LinkCalc spreadsheet, and it doesn't like **** on top.

 

[tdavis]

That was yesterday's work, today started I added more bracing.

I should be to do finish welding sometime the next few nights. I am running out of Argon/CO2, so I decided not to push my luck with it.