Ascinder's 1-Ton VX... Cont'd

[ZEUS]

The Atlas is no doubt a great t-case... my projects lately tho are ranging from a '94 3/4-ton GMC Sierra up to a 1-1/4 ton M1008 CUCV - both use a Detroit diesel. BIG SMELLY TRUCKS! Your VX will be no light-weight when all is said and done but my trucks are far different.

Look at the beef in the bottom two pics in this LINK. My 3/4 ton is deemed to be my expo rig with a WilderNest camper shell or something like that. I will be carrying a lot of weight. The doubler would just add to that weight and it's not needed anyway. I don't think an Atlas would hold up to everything the LoMax would. Plus in kit form, the LoMax is below $1400 and I have a good friend in Wyo who owns his own mechanic shop... my issue is they have yet to offer it in a driver's drop configuration for my '94. For the Army truck though, it's perfect! The STAK is always referred to by the GM full-size guys... and check out the brake setup at the bottom of this LINK. Besides, if there is something I learned from VXers it's that the most popular option MUST be shunned for no reason at all!

[Triathlete]

If your going to go high $$ for the Atlas you should also take a look at the Lovell. Very stout (comp tested) and air actuated. Can be shifted under load or at full open throttle!

As for coilovers you may also look into the new ORI struts. Much more user friendly (no figuring out spring rates) and better raod manners. There are several posts on Pirate about them.

As far as wheel base. I plan (when ever my time comes) to stretch the front out around 5 inches. Better tire clearance to keep it lower.

What size tires are you planning on running?

[ZEUS]

As far as wheel base. I plan (when ever my time comes) to stretch the front out around 5 inches. Better tire clearance to keep it lower.

I agree with that, I think the wheelbase is gonna have to grow to around 100" to clear everything... I think with the stock wheelbase tires larger than 36" will smack the front part of the rear wheelwells and of course the back of the front wheelwells. If I didn't have other things going on... well I am tempted to create a Photoshop image of the madness I am seeing.

Beau, feel free to start you own thread. I just didn't want all this going in the wrong thread. Besides, we need to kick you in the butt every now and then for moral support!

[Triathlete]

I want to see the photo chop...I would do it but i totally suck at that sort of thing and it would do it no justice!

[Ascinder]

Look at the beef in the bottom two pics in this LINK.

Very stout indeed. My only concern is it's still only single range, where an Atlas II or Stak box gives me an extra gear to play with. Now I won't ever actually need the super low gear stuff, the if you read the Billavista doubler article over on pirate, then you know that that extra gear opens up other ranges for you to shift through which provides a more seamless gear range. That at least was my line of thinking on going towards the Atlas or Stak.

Besides, if there is something I learned from VXers it's that the most popular option MUST be shunned for no reason at all!

Truer words were never spoken I would be lying if I said I hadn't looked into some pretty out there alternatives like portal axles and such. The problem with those, at least the military ones I've seen is that you have to find a way to run everything backwards.

If your going to go high $$ for the Atlas you should also take a look at the Lovell. Very stout (comp tested) and air actuated. Can be shifted under load or at full open throttle!

Now that is something definitely VX worthy, but since I didn't see a price, I can only assume it's very high. I think it will end up in the wishlist category along with the LS7 motor, and the 609 spidertrax axles with 60 degree steering.

As for coilovers you may also look into the new ORI struts. Much more user friendly (no figuring out spring rates) and better road manners. There are several posts on Pirate about them.

I'll have to check those out some more in depth. I had never heard of them. They certainly look pretty cool. I think these would be absolutely awesome to run and since there aren't any bulky springs to mess with you could always add bypass shocks later on if you were really getting into situations where you needed the extra damping. I will definitely do some research on these. The only downfall looks to be availability.

As far as wheel base. I plan (when ever my time comes) to stretch the front out around 5 inches. Better tire clearance to keep it lower.

Agreed, the wheelbase needs to get longer for the reason you mentioned, but I think the rear will really need it too. Our departure angle is not a thing of beauty. However, as I said before, making it all come together and not look like hack job city will be a challenge, especially in the back where there's more "fat to trim". I guess what I mean by that is that in the rear, you are actually cutting into the body more, where the front you are really just trimming mostly fenderwell stuff.

What size tires are you planning on running?

I feel that 37s are the largest size I can safely run at high speeds. I'm really liking these a lot:



They are Maxxis M8060 Trepador Competition Bias plys. I'm not crazy about the bias ply part, due to all the irritations that come with it, but they have been high speed offroad tested and look like they'll make great crawler tires too, plus, I've heard they're very sticky out here at the Moonrocks.

Beau, feel free to start you own thread. I just didn't want all this going in the wrong thread. Besides, we need to kick you in the butt every now and then for moral support!

I couldn't agree more. Actually, I think you did a great job building up this thread, so let's kick it here I have to say I have been very hesitant about putting anything up on the forum, because, as I've mentioned to others in private, I like to post results, not string people along on "what ifs", "that would be cools", and other such flights of fancy that come and go over the years. I feel I'm reaching the stage where some of this is coming together and I might actually pull it off, so having the moral support and a good butt kicking every now and again on here will set me in the right direction and more importantly keep me moving.

I want to see the photo chop...I would do it but i totally suck at that sort of thing and it would do it no justice!

Ditto, I have been wanting the same for awhile now, but I have no photoshop experience, so I've just had to guess and imagine. Having some concept pics would be awesome.

[nfpgasmask]

I have been very hesitant about putting anything up on the forum, because, as I've mentioned to others in private, I like to post results, not string people along on "what ifs", "that would be cools", and other such flights of fancy that come and go over the years.

Well, if you need some help let me know. I always enjoy this stuff.

And just as a first bit of "encouragement" I would just like to say that (despite it being a million times easier) my Trooper's 2.8 > 3.4 engine swap is totally done and running like gang busters. So get your VX back on the road so we can go wheeling again!!

Bart

[ZEUS]

I couldn't agree more. Actually, I think you did a great job building up this thread, so let's kick it here I have to say I have been very hesitant about putting anything up on the forum, because, as I've mentioned to others in private, I like to post results, not string people along on "what ifs", "that would be cools", and other such flights of fancy that come and go over the years.

Yeah I hate making myself out to be an unintentional liar... I am pretty good at it tho, it turns out. Big ideas, little focus. Lots of projects, little use. Sucks balls! That's why I say I must live vicariously thru you. Git 'er Dun!

[Ascinder]

Well, if you need some help let me know. I always enjoy this stuff.

Sure man, any time you want to drop by and swing a wrench, I'm game. There's definitely no shortage of work to do. The engine/trans/xfer case is just about ready to go in for its first test fitting this weekend. BTW that valve spring compressor was a lifesaver, thank you very much for letting me borrow it.

Yeah I hate making myself out to be an unintentional liar... I am pretty good at it tho, it turns out. Big ideas, little focus. Lots of projects, little use. Sucks balls! That's why I say I must live vicariously thru you. Git 'er Dun!

Maybe I worded that poorly, I wasn't trying to point fingers at anyone at all. I am just tired of getting excited about stuff and then it just falls off the face of the earth, never to be heard from again. I just want to bring something to the table that is real and tangible. Something that says: "Here you go, this is how it's done." Instead of: "Oh wouldn't attaching JATO bottles to a VX be cool."

Here's some pics of where I'm at with this right now, just so we're all on the same page.

Here's the axles going in:




Here's the gaping engine bay:




Here's a couple shots of the engine since it got modded (yes, I already know the intake is on backwards. I put it on that way on purpose):





And here's the "new" transmission: