filthy boy

It's all Spidertrax axle stuff. Stud pattern is Ford F450. Makes getting wheels interesting.

Only the transfer case and gearbox are LR now. And red floor is fine because it doesn't leak!

Got fed up having no space so moved this weekend. Need to get some more tools now! And a fridge for beer!

Double cardon props do not allow more angularity. In fact usually less. Because they have a big extra bit in the middle. They are only needed when the diff pinion points at the transfer box rather than being parallel so UJ angular acceleration isn't cancelled out. You need a longer prop if it is too short.

Shafts should always be necked down at the end of the splined section. Removes stress risers and is the proper way too make them. Tim

For the pitman arm, bore out the taper and thread it to match the studded end on a studded rod end. Use a lock nut to secure although it can't come loose as long as it is attached to the drag link. Speaking with Aurora and the nearest environment ot ours is all the quarry and mining stuff they supply. Use PTFE lined as there is less space for carp in the joint, do not use grease and accept they are consumable items. Problem with reuseable ones is that you replace the internals but the outers on all joints will stretch and ovalise. Tim

Tony Thanks. On these cold days any encouragement is more than welcome. Just to add we are getting 35 degrees of steer with 37 x 12.5 Krawlers. Tim

Final welding on Jan 7 and 8 then off to paint the frame. Final assembly done by early Feb then test, test, test and SVA. Then repeat SVA (keep doing this until......) Then off to Morocco A little teaser Tim

MAC There is no alternative.

Ran an Evolution kit, that was great, no problems. Tim

That was the version from Ferrilever. We redesigned it, remade it with improvements, re did all the front shock mounts, then gave it away!!! Great on ramps and for posing around on axle twisters. No good driving up a really steep set of ledges. Bring on the 4 link and coilovers Tim

Alan We have built a set of Spidertrax axles and already done all the research. They are under a buggy near Watford. PM me if you want to talk. Tim

Does anybody know the size of tapered reamer I need to make the tapered hole for a LR track rod end off a Defender? Thanks in advance. Tim

Always found them really helpful, including some of the top end sponsored team guys. They have some really varied builds on there. Buggies, truggies, full sizes, desert stuff. 3 link, 4 link, 1 link, hydro, no hydro, coils, leafs........... And talking appreciating different approaches, isn't this a one make vehicle site????? I do agree with the comment that the "patriotism" can be a bit much.

Les And there endeth the debate!!! Tim

I just think it is sad that people feel the need to keep bringing this sort of thing up. Interestingly, you hardly ever see it on Pirate where there just seems to be interest in people building cool vehicles right across the spectrum of spend. But maybe this is just the English way. And I feel neither dissed nor slagged, quite happy doing my own thing. And I know I can't drive!

So people who spend money are just compensating? Maybe they like nice things and it's what they want to do?? And it is their money. This is no more fair or reasonable than saying those people who don't have a "huge budget" must be stupid because they can't get a good enough job to make enough money. So they compensate for that by slagging off people who do have money. That would be an obviously ridiculous opinion. Let's just get off the budget abuse. Things are driven forward by BOTH investment and backyard / barnyard ingenuity. Or even a combination of the 2. Tim

Hi Paul It will be finished soon! It really has become a labour of love and also fairly expensive. Going down the full on motorsport tech route has been interesting. Will we get abuse for spending too much? Does it matter? The axles are a very good choice for the vehicle we are building and the performance we want. But others would say different . And that is the great part of it all. I wish we could get away from 2 things. First lets build and compete in anything we want and start to see some real innovation. Some of it will be wrong and some will be blind alley development but so what? Secondly lets stop getting bothered about how much or little people spend. I really admire people who can do things all for themselves and on a shoe string but I also have no issue with people spending money (unless they stole it off me). Drop by if you are in the neighborhood. Tim PS we intend to be fully and properly road legal because we don't want to be limited to 1 day or 1 site events. And I want to drive it to the pub!

I start cutting my Spidertrax axles down to width this weekend, then I will fit the 35 spline ARB fitted high pinion 9" centres and 1.5" diameter shafts (4340 or 300M)..... Am I banned yet?

Been there, seen it, done it. Loads of travel, useless in the real world. And you do only need 1 side done as the hinge essentially frees up what is a torsionally rigid U shape formed by axle and radius arms. If you did both you would have no torsional control of the axle. And that would be interesting.

Mmmmmm SFS. No angle iron on my buggy!!!!! Billing? Were you in a kilt? drinking something dubious???? I might even be able to drive the creation soon. FB

Thought you meant I would never finish! It has been a long time. Then I realised what you meant

Will Not bothered about hand brakes at all just joining in! Hand brake is only applied stationary so muck eating pads is debatable. I would never not run grooved discs elsewhere, helps the pads get rid of gas and minimise fade. Truck will be finished before yours!! (not starting another pi**ing contest, just playing!!!) Seriously will be finished and out later this summer. FB

Didn't mean the grooves, meant the fact it is a machined disc. And was being a tad facetious. Thread about grooved discs off road anybody?????