Custom Fabrication

[Tom.H]

Hi

As some of you may know, I am planning on doing some work on my Mog over the summer. I am somewhat already limited in facilities (being that I currently done even have an area to work on it).

Although I feel I can do some of the Fabrication‏ I don’t feel I am up to creating custom engine, gearbox and shock mounts as well as a complete Roll cage.

I am aware that there are a few roll cage companies around but haven’t found many companies which focus on completely custom fabrication. I would preferably like to bring the complete vehicle to one company, were all 4 things can be done.

Basically I just wondered if anyway knows of any companies which are capable of doing what I need

Tom

[dangerous doug]

i am yet to speak to a company who wouldnt do this. called protection and performance and they were happy for me to leave my truck with them and build a cage to my specs as was north offroad.

[bishbosh]

I hope I am not speaking out of turn here, but if they survive Ladoga I would wager the team at HOFS would be up for this....

[dirtydiesel]

What kind of custom engine and gearbox mountings do you have in mind? The std mog stuff is as close to perfection as it gets!

[Tom.H]

I am planning on doing a rear engine setup on my Mog… Although it seems pretty extreme I feel that it’s possibly the best/easiest way round fitting a large engine (there’s little hope fitting a powerful engine in the current bay)

Due to the setup being quite complex I’ve created a diagram:

I have had a long chat with the owner of the Ubermog vehicle in Canada. He ran a similar setup and I am pretty much hoping to copy his layout (although he used a Chevy and Th350 gearbox)

AS you can see from the Diagram I am intending on keeping the standard Unimog gearbox/transfer box (as it supports the torque tubes) but I will need mounts for the engine, gearbox (which I hope to pull out of a P38) and the U box (Milner Reverse Ration Transfer Box).

As already said, I am aware that roll cage companies do some custom fabrication but I don’t know if there is anyone more specialist, who focuses on engine and gearbox mounts in particular.

I haven’t yet started the build so I am still welcome to ideas and criticism.

Tom

[steve_d]

With the size of the beast and the size of the wheels/tyres I would not even consider the Rover engine/box combo and go straight for a Chevy as it will have way more grunt.

Steve

[Tom.H]

Thanks for the Reply….

At first I did plan to use Chevy 350 and a Th350. The reason why I’m no longer look at using one is because there not very easy to come by and as a result there not cheap. I came to the conclusion that I basically need to locate a complete vehicle, as I also need all the ancillaries as well.

In my eyes a rover block is very appealing as there very easy to come by and if I have any problems both help and spares are available. With the price of a complete P38 being very low, I feel I should be able locate both a 4.6 V8 (with ancillaries) and ZF4HP22EH box for little more than £1000.

A number of people have also questioned how well the rest of standard mog drive train will hold up to a high increase in power (being that it was originally designed with 80bhp in mind). Although I feel reasonably confident I still don’t want to be passing crazy numbers through it (for reliability).

The only worry I currently have is whether the auto box/torque convertor will be able to hold up to the weight of the mog (estimated at around 2.6 tons) in an off road/challenge environment. I will have a very wide selection of gears (as I am running two boxes) but I am still not sure whether problems will occur

Tom

[Turbocharger]

I've give Dave Billings a call at Tornado Motorsport - have a look at the "other work" on his website to see the kind of random stuff he's built in the past.

[dirtydiesel]

Why not just unbolt the torque tubes, then flip the mog gearbox around in the chassis.

You could then cut the mog gearbox off of the transfer case, modify the remains of the transfer box to make it fully divorsed.

Then just plug a 350/350/np205 in to it with a short intermediate prop.

I think the rover 8 will give you more hastle than it's worth, also the hp24 out of the lp rangy has and electronic valve body

[Steve Hiatt]

If you have nowhere to work on it and limited skills, I hope you have very deep pockets.

I would suggest to get that set up done properly (finished) would take about 500 man hours, so even if you could find someone to work for £20 an hour that's £10k plus the parts.

Also bear in mind the Milner transfer box screams like a banshee, you would need ear defenders on the road.

[Tom.H]

Ok

Thanks for everyone’s help.

I had thought about just turning the gearbox/transfer box around so the input shaft is facing the rear. I feel that that much the same amount of work is required (as new mounts for the mog box would have to be made). I would also have to modify both the gear leave and reverse leaver.

I feel the use of props in the first set-up also allows me a bit of movement to where I can mount the engine and box.

I am also having second thoughts about using a P38 engine and box. The th350 seems to be a far stronger box and I feel that I may need this extra strength and reliability if I am to pull such a large vehicle around some pretty sticky situations.

Saying this… My final choice will manly be up to what price I can get everything for.

*Price of the Fabrication

One of the reasons why I made this thread was an attempt to try a work out how much the work I need to will cost me.

To get the mounts done I am planning on removing all the body work and current engine before sending it of (so a company can just spend there time looking at the mounts). I am also going to look into designing the mounts before sending it all of so they literally just need to be fabricated them onto the chassis (decreasing paid hours by as much as possible)

Saying all of this…. I am still not sure how much it will all cost

Tom

[TheRecklessEngineer]

IMHO, you may be better off investing in the tooling to do as much as possible yourself. A good welding set shouldn't set you back more than £200 which would do your shock and engine/gearbox mounts. A roll cage is a little more complex - but as you say, there are plenty of people who will do that for you. At the end you will always have the tools remaining, so you can do more modification/fabrication yourself.

A welder was one of the best tools I have purchased - I have repaired/built numerous bits and pieces with it, from gates/BBQs to lamps for SWMBO. Paid for itself many times over.

If you are lacking somewhere to work, have a hunt around local farms - there is usually somewhere with a barn free.