FullSize TTB?

[sirhk100]

I'm exploring options for widening the front end of my Explorer and the thought of putting on fullsize TTB off a Bronco or F150 crossed my mind. Has anyone done this or talked about it? Is there a thread I can search for? Would it work? What would it entail? I've been thinking about having widened TTBs fabed up but then I thought about this. I need to find a donor vehicle and take somemeasurements to see if they are truely wider or if the mounting locations are just different. Any input would be great.

thanks

 

[jimbo74]

if going fullsize...just toss on a d44 from a 78/79 bronco or f150 with discs and rc hp........this would be easier in my opinoin than the ttb swap

 

[sirhk100]

I'm looking to keep the "Idependant" front end though. I want to couple this with long travel coil overs and longer radius arms to get more travel and width for high speed desert running, not rock crawling.

 

[leebo]

You'll be hard pressed to get a differnt TTB to fit under there. There's several companies out there that sell extended TTB arms. Most range from about 300 to ??? That would be your best bet for a desert racer.

 

[sirhk100]

Leebo,
Could you expand on this more? What would some of the complications be? This is all just in my head right now and I'm nowhere close to seriously attempting it. I already have a couple of places in mind that can do the lengthening of the stock stuff but this idea just popped in.

Thanks

 

[leebo]

I'm not sure....but I think the pumpkin may be in a different place than on the X?? I'm sure there are several problems, but you'd be able to do the same thing with new arms for the explorer TTB. You'd save on labor and be able to keep the gears and such

 

[BislamJoe]

I toyed with the idea of a fullsize TTB swap to get the wider track width I wanted. I was thinking about swapping in a Dana 50 (only available as a TTB, in like '89 F250's i think) and a Ford 10.25 out back. I imagine it could be done, but it'd probably cost as much as a widened Dana 35 TTB and have less ground clearance (bigger diff and all)

 

[leebo]

The ideal setup(and one I'm toying with Bunderson Racing Right now) would be a "Cut and turn TTB" It widens the TTB a few inches as well as drops them down. Helps get the added lift you need without drop brackets, which for racing SUCKS. If you lift it more than a few inches you'll need somesort of Drop Brackets. The only problem is that to do a correct cut and turn you'll need jig to be welded into the TTB arms that is the correct angle. It's alot of work....but the results are worth it. Check out the zimm. truck on the main page. Before him and his wife seperated, he was ramping over 1000 with the TTB.

To get the most out of it you'll also need new radius arms. I like the camburgs, but for the cost...I'll pass. That and they're a bit stuck up...so forget them.

 

[sirhk100]

I was talking witha Cousin Of Perry McNeils when looking to buy an Explorer and he was telling me about their TTB's. I guess they put them in a jig and weld them to the correct angles. It's probably either going to be theres of these from Dead Link Removed What do you think?

 

[leebo]

I'd guess the ones they were talking about were extended and reinforced TTB. Another must for racing. Simple to do...but worth its weight in gold. I like the Baja Concepts lift alot....and they're service is great. Orded a skid plate from them on Friday and it's shipped out today. Very nice on the phone too. I can't wait to see the quality of their work.

 

[BajaXplorer]

How bout these extended TTBs?

Autofab and Camburg are the only ones that I know of who actually Make the cut and turned TTs, everyone else buys them from them and puts there name on them

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[sirhk100]

Those are nice but John at Auto fab and Camburg are SOOOOOO expensive compared to some other fab shops. I realize their quality is top notch but what is Baja Concepts selling? There's is cheaper then that. I haven't seen them up close so I can't say and wouldn't buy them until I did see them. I realize that you have to pay for quality and in the end maybe I will settle for forking out the money on autofab or camburg but while I'm still window shopping I'm trying to find out my options and who makes the best product out there for my right price.

 

[leebo]

The problem with this setup is that if that weld isn't at the right angle on each side....you're in for problems. It can be done with ease as long as everything is done correct. There are members I've heard on the RRORC board that can make them and sells them for around 300.

 

[BislamJoe]

McNeil Racing has a kit for $2500 that includes your entire front suspension. It's 3" wider per side, gives 18" of travel, includes I-beams, radius arms, shocks, coils, extended axleshaft, widened steering setup, blah blah blah. It gives 5-6" of lift. I looked at the Baja Concepts unit, 6" lift, widened i don't know how much, and it doesn't include shocks and needs shock mounts fabbed. If I was to lift mine that high, I'd go with the McNeil kit and SOA in the back, eventually having a leaf pack made by National or Deaver. But I'm not lifting that high. I talked to Chad McNeil, he said he could build that kit with only like 2" of lift for probably less money than the standard kit. It would just take a little while longer. There was a thread talking up widened TTB's in the suspension forum - do a search for "Long-Travel Suspension"

 

[sirhk100]

What is the RRORC board? What do you mean by the weld angle? Are you talking about the actual welding process and that the welder is filling at the wrong angle therefore affecting the strength or are you talking about the angle of the cut and patched/widened area that is affected? Is that picture off of Zimmerman's Ex?

 

[leebo]

The rrorc is a board like this...only more for rangers. I was mistaken on the "weld angle". I meant the angle that the jig is welded into place. If it's messed up..you'll have one arm at a different angle than the other. Yes this is off the zimmermans truck

 

[sirhk100]

Yeah, I was in on that thread also. I've talked with McNeil and seen some of their explorers in fact I almost bought one that they had built. The fab a heavy duty coil bucket and use F150 coils with dual pro Comp shocks. I'm interested in have a engine cage fabbed up and running King Coil Overs instead of a beefed up stock coil system. A dual rate coil over performs WAY beyond that of what they're building. When I get closer to actually forking out the money I will talk to them and see what they would charge for their radius arms, TTB's, and steering with coilovers and mounting system instead. That's what I like about Baja Concepts is they market their kit to leave that option open.

 

[sirhk100]

I would definatley have someone do it that has already made up a jug and done this before. I don't really want to be the guinee (SP?) pig for their fab work. I always ask to check out similar work that a fabricator has done before letting them chop up my vehicle. I do think there are a lot of talented Fabricators in SoCal that can do the work far cheaper then Autofab or Camburg with the same results.

 

[BislamJoe]

I e-mailed the guys at www.aodfabshop.com about a widened TTB. The reply said they could do the beams for 900-1000, and they asked if I wanted a normal coil/shock setup or coilovers. You might try them for the coilovers if that's the route you want to take.

 

[Bobbed Ranger]

Originally posted by BajaXplorer
How bout these extended TTBs?

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is that from a D35 or something bigger?