smooth ride

[BajaSportsmobile]

Sorry, no BULL - not sure why you would say that, ignorance perhaps.

We have a 1997 E350 EB V10, rear Dana 60FF with Penthouse, 3-way Fridge, Cabinets, Dinette/Bed...

We bought it last year with 83,000 miles on it from the original owner for $8,500.00 out the door (it was at a consignment lot in San Jose) and it is in excellent shape and we got all the history from the owner - we "Stole it". We drove our Jeep up to San Jose, picked up the SMB and towed the Jeep back to San Diego with a stop at Jalama Beach on the way home. Averaged just under 13 Mpg on the trip back.

Got it back to the race shop and pulled the front suspension out, made minor modifications to the front cross member (and reinforced it) for differential clearance at full bump, fabricated new pivot points, radius arm brackets, 12 inch longer 1.5" chromoly tube radius arms, limit straps and FOX Shox. All to install a fully rebuilt and re-geared Dana 50 Twin Traction Beam from a '83 F350 that I got at Ecology Auto Parts on half price day for just under $100.00. The D50 uses the same hubs, spindles, u-joints (1350) as a Dana 60 - everything was replaced or rebuilt.

We spent close to four days building and cycling the suspension to get everything just right, including moving the axle center line forward 1.5 inches for tire/fender clearance - we cycled it with 35" BFGs on and get just less the 12 inches of travel out of it, but it will get a little more with rubber bump stop compression under load.

Then we built fixtures that bolt to the frame to locate all the pivot points so that we can duplicate the process in a fraction of the time. We also built fixtures for both beams and radius arms that locate everything including lower shock mounts (uses factory upper mounts) and limit strap tabs. The fixtures also locate the ball joints because the lower is moved out to adjust camber for the lift and additional travel and we set the caster by locating the radius arms - essentially creating J-Arms.

You have to realize that we have been building and racing Ford Twin Traction Beam and I-Beam systems since 1994 with Baja 1000 and 500 wins with them - they are a very strong system and extremely compliant with a great ride quality - a great "Go Fast" 4X4 system.

I installed an electric shift Borg Warner 1356 Transfer Case to keep the shifter off the floor.

It is on 315 70R17 (35") BFG ATs on Hummer H2 wheels (8 on 6.5") and custom spacers to correct the back spacing.

It has a Stainless Steel Reunel front bumper and 12,000 lb winch and I am building a custom rear bumper with a new unique feature that I am very excited about.

Anyone is welcome to check it out and take it for a drive.

[BajaSportsmobile]

This was taken while we were working on it, these were some old 35's we used while cycling the suspension.
http://www.sportsmobileforum.com/dow...le.php?id=3262

This one is from an old ad I posted awhile ago.
http://www.sportsmobileforum.com/dow...le.php?id=3403

Sorry I don't have better pictures - I'll try to get some of everything.

[Gnarvan]

Ya know.....I had a feeling this thread was going to take a turn in this direction.

The "Bull" comment was a pretty rare type post for this forum. There is usually a little more respect shown forum members.

Not trying to harsh on anyone....being friendly and respectful is just the way people tend to be here on the SMB forum.

Jumping down off the

[webbmac]

BajaSMB,

Very cool, thanks for the write-up. Love to see more, we need to do a local meetup. I understand Stone Brewing has some very uneven pavement in the parking lot to put the SMBs through the paces! ;-)

Regarding your Fox shocks, were those off the shelf or did you have Fox build them for you? Looking for some for my Chevy (Dana 60) front end. I imagine you have some juju with them with your record, I can't get them to return my call.

[Chimneyman]

Originally Posted by UJOINT

What leaf spring setup was it? SMB? S/K? Advanced? Ujoint?

All of them

[Stumpalump]

Originally Posted by BajaSportsmobile

Sorry, no BULL - not sure why you would say that, ignorance perhaps.

We have a 1997 E350 EB V10, rear Dana 60FF with Penthouse, 3-way Fridge, Cabinets, Dinette/Bed...

We bought it last year with 83,000 miles on it from the original owner for $8,500.00 out the door (it was at a consignment lot in San Jose) and it is in excellent shape and we got all the history from the owner - we "Stole it". We drove our Jeep up to San Jose, picked up the SMB and towed the Jeep back to San Diego with a stop at Jalama Beach on the way home. Averaged just under 13 Mpg on the trip back.

Got it back to the race shop and pulled the front suspension out, made minor modifications to the front cross member (and reinforced it) for differential clearance at full bump, fabricated new pivot points, radius arm brackets, 12 inch longer 1.5" chromoly tube radius arms, limit straps and FOX Shox. All to install a fully rebuilt and re-geared Dana 50 Twin Traction Beam from a '83 F350 that I got at Ecology Auto Parts on half price day for just under $100.00. The D50 uses the same hubs, spindles, u-joints (1350) as a Dana 60 - everything was replaced or rebuilt.

We spent close to four days building and cycling the suspension to get everything just right, including moving the axle center line forward 1.5 inches for tire/fender clearance - we cycled it with 35" BFGs on and get just less the 12 inches of travel out of it, but it will get a little more with rubber bump stop compression under load.

Then we built fixtures that bolt to the frame to locate all the pivot points so that we can duplicate the process in a fraction of the time. We also built fixtures for both beams and radius arms that locate everything including lower shock mounts (uses factory upper mounts) and limit strap tabs. The fixtures also locate the ball joints because the lower is moved out to adjust camber for the lift and additional travel and we set the caster by locating the radius arms - essentially creating J-Arms.

You have to realize that we have been building and racing Ford Twin Traction Beam and I-Beam systems since 1994 with Baja 1000 and 500 wins with them - they are a very strong system and extremely compliant with a great ride quality - a great "Go Fast" 4X4 system.

I installed an electric shift Borg Warner 1356 Transfer Case to keep the shifter off the floor.

It is on 315 70R17 (35") BFG ATs on Hummer H2 wheels (8 on 6.5") and custom spacers to correct the back spacing.

It has a Stainless Steel Reunel front bumper and 12,000 lb winch and I am building a custom rear bumper with a new unique feature that I am very excited about.

Anyone is welcome to check it out and take it for a drive.

Common way to do it is to ask what fits or to take a suspension company's word for it. It just does not work that way. An articulation ramp, a keen eye and some real work like you did is the only way I have ever found to get any off road vehicle to perform with out breaking or abusing components. I think 95 percent of modified 4x4s are not dialed in properly. It's too bad because its not that hard and the rewards are as great as your flex. Let me guess... You can flex your rig while turned, you don't bind your tie rods risking premature wear or breakage. Your shocks are not acting as your bump stop or droop limit. You could potentially get the front airborne without breaking stuff and the ride and handling are decent. I get a kick out of people that actually break a shock that they ordered or trusted some fool to order not having the slightest clue as to what size they needed. I also like seeing break hoses being used as limit straps. It's amazing how strong that rubber hose is. Not just our vans but all 4x4s. It's unbelievable the crap people think is OK and they never even spend an hour research research and 1/2 hour crawling under the flexed out rig to see if it is OK.

[UJOINT]

Originally Posted by Chimneyman

All of them

You've driven all of them?