ktmoutfront
02-08-2008, 03:04 PM
He asked me to post a thread about my truck. The one that has been sitting since getting back from Moab. I NEED DESERT. Have to find some place to open it up.
I was told to post up what I did.
Bought a blown motor, as in rod hanging out of the block, 87 GMC Jimmy. Wanted a rock and sand truck at first. Was just going to do a lift and tires with a new motor. Installed a crate GM long block from Chevy $1300 my cost. Smogged the truck, So Ca. rules required it. Registered it in my name, then it sat.
Crashed on my motorcycle racing in the So Ca. desert. Dislocated shoulder and broken collar bone later, I decided with age you get a cage. Thats when it started. I told the wife, "get out the check book, I am calling in favors and building a prerunner.
I began working with Rescue 3 in the desert as support for the motorcycle races. What was lacking was a truck to get to the injured riders in a hurry. Some times it was hours. So I went to work
Currie Enterprises was my first contact. Ray set me up with a nice 9+ rear end with 456, Detroit, 35 spine, late model Chevy flange rear end. So I bought backing plates and calipers to fit.
Next I needed shocks. Sway-A-Way was the next call. What a great bunch of guys. Fox and King would not talk to me. Told Sway-A-Way's owner about the project, he was on board. On the way to me were 4 2.5 inch coil overs, 4 3 inch triple by-pass shocks and 4 2 inch by 4 inch bump stops. It was like Christmas when they arrived. All clean and shinny, just waiting to be abused.
Called Allied wheels. Just wanted steal bead locks. They can not sell retail and I was not a race program. Started searching the internet and found a dealer who would work with me.
I already owned a JD2 manual bender and Bendtech software. Upgraded the Bendtech to Bendtech Pro. Cool and easy to use.
Gutted the truck, puller the windshield and began welding the floor up. The 2 300lb guys who used to ride in it were falling through the floor. No rust, just tearing through it.
Decided new seats were needed. Called PRP and they sold me a set of 4 blems, only I know why they are blems, and 5 point harnesses.
The check book is burning by now. Did I mention I had been saving for 10 years for this build?
Fabrication started on getting the axles under the truck. Enlisted the help of a friend who has built many Baja cars and trucks. Did a 3 link system in the rear and 2 radius arms in the front with a panhard bar. I did not like the way the front end moved side to side as you went through the travel. But you are limited, I thought. This set up ended up failing on me in the middle of nowhere. Strapped the front end in and backed it out 10 miles to get to a trailer. Now it is 3 linked in the front with a HOWE full hydro steering system.
Next was supporting the shocks. Built a 2 inch, .120 wall DOM 3 hoop cage. Bent this stuff with brute strength in 120 degree weather. The bender and software made for zero loss of material. Tied everything together with 1.5 inch, .120 wall DOM. Built new seat mounts tied to this cage. The hoops are plated at the floor and continue to the frame where they are gusseted and welded.
Everything was done in my garage on jack stands.
BFG finally came through with a sponsorship of 5 35 inch Baja T/A's at 1/2 price.
Bought a Lawrance GPS off of the internet and a race radio from the guys who supplied Rescue 3. 6 months of nights and weekends while working 60-70 hours a week was worth it. There is nothing like doing 60+ across the desert or down a SCORE road. When an MDR racer complains that somebody was cutting the course, and it is you. That is the ultimate compliment. They thought I was racing.
The truck looks stock with a lift and 35's. When someone looks under, the comments start. I was totally blown away when I received the Jason Paul Payne award for the "most innovative vehicle" at BB07. It sits proudly on my desk.
I do not have a lot of pictures. I was more into building than recording. Even pictures of it in action are few. When we are driving, nobody wants to stop and take pictures. We hit a jump and go on to the next. I have more pictures of Moab than the desert.
Hope this was not too boring. I have never spelled it out like this. Usually a guy is looking at one thing and wants it explained.
Everything works in the truck, even the clock, A/C, and dome lights.
http://s199.photobucket.com/albums/aa139/ktmoutfront/
This is one build picture. See the links for more.
http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa139/ktmoutfront/Jimmy%20build/IM000428.jpg
I was told to post up what I did.
Bought a blown motor, as in rod hanging out of the block, 87 GMC Jimmy. Wanted a rock and sand truck at first. Was just going to do a lift and tires with a new motor. Installed a crate GM long block from Chevy $1300 my cost. Smogged the truck, So Ca. rules required it. Registered it in my name, then it sat.
Crashed on my motorcycle racing in the So Ca. desert. Dislocated shoulder and broken collar bone later, I decided with age you get a cage. Thats when it started. I told the wife, "get out the check book, I am calling in favors and building a prerunner.
I began working with Rescue 3 in the desert as support for the motorcycle races. What was lacking was a truck to get to the injured riders in a hurry. Some times it was hours. So I went to work
Currie Enterprises was my first contact. Ray set me up with a nice 9+ rear end with 456, Detroit, 35 spine, late model Chevy flange rear end. So I bought backing plates and calipers to fit.
Next I needed shocks. Sway-A-Way was the next call. What a great bunch of guys. Fox and King would not talk to me. Told Sway-A-Way's owner about the project, he was on board. On the way to me were 4 2.5 inch coil overs, 4 3 inch triple by-pass shocks and 4 2 inch by 4 inch bump stops. It was like Christmas when they arrived. All clean and shinny, just waiting to be abused.
Called Allied wheels. Just wanted steal bead locks. They can not sell retail and I was not a race program. Started searching the internet and found a dealer who would work with me.
I already owned a JD2 manual bender and Bendtech software. Upgraded the Bendtech to Bendtech Pro. Cool and easy to use.
Gutted the truck, puller the windshield and began welding the floor up. The 2 300lb guys who used to ride in it were falling through the floor. No rust, just tearing through it.
Decided new seats were needed. Called PRP and they sold me a set of 4 blems, only I know why they are blems, and 5 point harnesses.
The check book is burning by now. Did I mention I had been saving for 10 years for this build?
Fabrication started on getting the axles under the truck. Enlisted the help of a friend who has built many Baja cars and trucks. Did a 3 link system in the rear and 2 radius arms in the front with a panhard bar. I did not like the way the front end moved side to side as you went through the travel. But you are limited, I thought. This set up ended up failing on me in the middle of nowhere. Strapped the front end in and backed it out 10 miles to get to a trailer. Now it is 3 linked in the front with a HOWE full hydro steering system.
Next was supporting the shocks. Built a 2 inch, .120 wall DOM 3 hoop cage. Bent this stuff with brute strength in 120 degree weather. The bender and software made for zero loss of material. Tied everything together with 1.5 inch, .120 wall DOM. Built new seat mounts tied to this cage. The hoops are plated at the floor and continue to the frame where they are gusseted and welded.
Everything was done in my garage on jack stands.
BFG finally came through with a sponsorship of 5 35 inch Baja T/A's at 1/2 price.
Bought a Lawrance GPS off of the internet and a race radio from the guys who supplied Rescue 3. 6 months of nights and weekends while working 60-70 hours a week was worth it. There is nothing like doing 60+ across the desert or down a SCORE road. When an MDR racer complains that somebody was cutting the course, and it is you. That is the ultimate compliment. They thought I was racing.
The truck looks stock with a lift and 35's. When someone looks under, the comments start. I was totally blown away when I received the Jason Paul Payne award for the "most innovative vehicle" at BB07. It sits proudly on my desk.
I do not have a lot of pictures. I was more into building than recording. Even pictures of it in action are few. When we are driving, nobody wants to stop and take pictures. We hit a jump and go on to the next. I have more pictures of Moab than the desert.
Hope this was not too boring. I have never spelled it out like this. Usually a guy is looking at one thing and wants it explained.
Everything works in the truck, even the clock, A/C, and dome lights.
http://s199.photobucket.com/albums/aa139/ktmoutfront/
This is one build picture. See the links for more.
http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa139/ktmoutfront/Jimmy%20build/IM000428.jpg