If it were me and it is not,,, I would wheel the heck outa it and fix the problems that come up. If you rebuild it, you are gonna tear it up again,, pretty sides are only temporary cause you are gonna tear them up... Don't take this is a slam,, it isint,, just the truth!!


Now if you are building a project you intend to keep long term and not go in a diffrent direction with another project then spend the time to get it perfect...

 

When you question whether it's time to start over, it probably is. If the fab work is starting to cause a little embarassment, because you know you can do so much better, it's probably time. There's a lot of work that has to be done on a new rig before you have to start taking parts off the old one.

But it would probably be wise to not dive into a huge project that will become more urgent just as finals approach. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/codger.gif

 

When you say "build a new chassis", do you intend to build off of a different frame or build a frame from scratch?

-- Mike

 

By build a new chassis i'd start with 2 pieces of 2x2 square tube and build from there. Pretty much all metal associated with the old buggy would be at the scrap yard. I have a feeling if I re-do this buggy i'll keep it for a while and if I don't it will be worth a ton more (I know I won't be getting the investment out of it). It's not so much the skins as to why i'm scrapping this buggy as it is the craftsmanship.

I've got another 2 weeks to think about things before i'll be reunited with my current pile. I'd like to have the buggy ready for the middle of april though I'm not corssing my fingers. What i'm thinking is tear down my current buggy. Then build it on paper. Do really good drawings of every major part. Have exact blue prints for ever piece of metal on paper before I start cutting/ welding. Design the suspension, seat mounts, motor mounts, shock mounts, ect. on paper and really think to make sure they won't interfear with other parts.

It seems that the design and the "fitting because it isn't perfect" takes the longest. Once I have 99% of parts on paper start building small stuff like tabs, crossmembers, ect. Get the tabs on the axles, links made, lots of the time consuming stuff. Break it down in to much smaller parts for example one night I'd build links, or coil buckets, ect. Also in the mean time clean up my drivetrain and do the minor things that needs to be done to it anyways.

Then take my spring break (1st week of March) and have a fabathon (70-100 man ours outa me is completely possible in that long week). The idea would be in a week get the chassis done and all the "pre fabed" parts on it, tear it down for final welds and paint. Then I would have about a month to bolt all the non welded stuff on, do skins, install the wiring harness, brakes, ect.

 

[ QUOTE ]
By build a new chassis i'd start with 2 pieces of 2x2 square tube and build from there.

[/ QUOTE ]

You really should start with 2x4, not 2x2.

 

Consider the source on this advise, I have not undertaken something of this magnitude.

Do you have a frame table, or something that you can use to ensure that the frame/chassis you build is going to be square?

If I understand correctly, one of the reasons for starting over is because you are not happy with the quality of the workmanship in what you have today. Please note that this is not a judgment on my part, just a restating of what I think that you said. If this is the case, then I would suggest that you fix what you have and plan for your future build. Call me pessimistic, but I would be concerned that 4 months would be a pretty aggressive build, which might lead to building something with the same flaws that you have today.

I think that you are on the right track by drawing everything up. I would invest in isometric paper to help you with your pre-fab drawings. From there, I would attempt to build a scale model using popsicle sticks, toothpicks, etc -- at least of the major components (frame, suspension, axles, cage). Once you have completed the drawings and, preferably, the scale model then you would be in a position to understand your time frame and complexity for building the new chassis.

-- Mike

 

I have seen this happen tooo many times. And not just with our jeeps or your buggy. Ive seen it from race cars to street rods.

First off slow down for a second.

Think about it, can you really build something to the tens in 4 months, Nope. Unless you have all the jigs, tables, and much more it wont happen. You are building something totally custom.

Keep wheeling your current rig. Then start building a new one. Dont worry about reusing the motor. Its a 4.3, there are crap loads of them out there. I can understand wanting to uses your current rears, But for the mean time get a set of junk mockup rears that you can use till the last part of the job.

Doing it this way has to advantges,

One you have no presure or time on your back. Which means you wont rush, and have what you have now.

Two, you can still wheel, while the other one is being built.

 

Sounds like it is time for a picture recap.

 

/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/goodpost.gif
Probably stings a little, but needed to be done.

I certainly see why you would want to start on a new rig and update/improve upon what you've learned.

If I were in your shoes, I would still use a "frame" as a starting point. That way you know your base is square and the structure you are attaching vital pieces, such as a cage and seats to, is sound.

Might I suggest a YJ or TJ frame? Is would be slightly wider and stronger than a CJ, but narrower than the S10 frame your battleing now.

I also agree with the others. No use taking your current rig out of service for the build. Work slowly and aquire the parts you will need, frame first, and hopefully you will be able to keep your current rig in a state of wheeling readiness, while working towards your goal for the 2nd.

Again, if it were me, I would set a completion date for the new rig of no sooner than spring 08. And don't be afraid of backing the finish line up a bit to make sure things get done right. Your current plan of non-stop fabbing during a school break sounds like an accident/mistake waiting to happen. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

stock frames suck no matter what they are. Nothing is where you want it and they require modifications. I figure if I would have started with 2 pieces of 2x2 of 2x4 I would have saved 1-4 weeks time in my original build. Only things left of an s10 frame are the 2 rails an 1 cross member moved. Motor mounts, trans crossmember, steering box, most of the rest of the corssemembers and the frame rails have been modified. I like my wheel bases between 104-110" and there's on way a stock jeep frame will do that and s10 frames and I don't get along.

Ok time to find some sort of sleeping place and pass out. happy new year to everyone.

 

1. Figure out what you want.... ultimately..(get it out of your mind that you have to use your buggy drivetrain).
1.a)think chevy 350, 44/60, rockwells, and other junk yard parts

2. Recobble the buggy for current use. (so you can TAKE YOUR TIME building and financing the new one)

3. Collect the parts for the new build (slowly, you don't have to buy them all at once)

4. Build the parts
4.a)put the engine on a stand and build it, build the axles, bla bla bla (do this while your saving $$ to buy the next part)

5. Slowly build the new rig. (if you don't have all the parts there, don't start. you need to have it there so that you can make everything fit the 1st time)
5.a)Don't get in a hurry or you will end up unhappy again.

6. When you are done, swap the buggy for a trailer that the new rig will fit on.

 

[ QUOTE ]
Sounds like it is time for a picture recap.

[/ QUOTE ] /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thud.gif wow

 

Aaron I like that plan but I like my drive train, I like the narrow width, "lack of power", manual trans, axles, ect. they are a pretty decent combo for some one on a budget. I'm never going to be rich being a teacher and all the parts I have should be able to be had very cheap for a very long time. Only part that really needs "freshing up" is my motor and I might make an sye for my t-case (yes do it right, I now have acess to a mill/ lathe), also my 44 front needs alloys/ ctms and i'm waiting till I break the 9" before it gets upgrades.

I think i'm going to cobble together my buggy again to get it going, get the safety/ reliability things sorted out, and stop with mods, just keep it on the trail.

After i've cobbled my buggy together for the last time i'm going to start the new buggy with a mock up motor/ trans/ t-case. I've got another 9" housing and I need to swap out front axle housings so i'll start the new buggy with mock up parts. When the chassis is done done, painted, welded ready to go i'll pull my drive train and wiring harness and swap it into the new chassis. I'm going to start ordering parts in the next week or 2.

 

the only thing that would have made the pictures better would be if they had been date stamped....happened prettty quick!


Andy, glad yur gonna kinda sorta take peoples advice...I'd hate to see an other cobble job.

whatever happened to that maroon-ish colored YJ you had in storage? did you sell that off or is it still waiting?