Potential short-run fabrication of TB platform off-road item

[glfredrick]

I've been talking to my kiddo, and we're kicking around the concept of building some short-run TB specific off-road parts. Bumpers, sliders, simple lift blocks, rear control arms, etc.

We have a tubing bender, good welders, lots of other fabrication tools, and some experience building our own and tons of other vehicles. We can't provide factory-level stress analysis, etc., but we can provide some custom fab work that seems to be almost un-obtainable for this platform.

What do you guys think?

[bartonmd]

I, for one, might have to hit you up for some sliders...

I do sheet metal (skids, bumpers, etc.), but don't have access to a tubing bender...

Mike

[Gordinho80]

Sliders?

[Trail X]

You're about 4 months too late to make me a rear bumper!...

After this rear bumper's done... I don't foresee many fabrication projects coming from me!

[bartonmd]

I sent you a PM about the sliders (there's no popup on this site. You have to notice it at the top of the page)

Mike

[Gordinho80]

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[bartonmd]

There we go...

Mike

[fishsticks]

I've been talking to my kiddo, and we're kicking around the concept of building some short-run TB specific off-road parts. Bumpers, sliders, simple lift blocks, rear control arms, etc.

We have a tubing bender, good welders, lots of other fabrication tools, and some experience building our own and tons of other vehicles. We can't provide factory-level stress analysis, etc., but we can provide some custom fab work that seems to be almost un-obtainable for this platform.

What do you guys think?

Personally, I'd love to have a front tube bumper. Nothing uber complicated, but maybe with a winch plate/box in the center.

[aaronrules]

Maybe another option for a body lift? Spare tire carrier?

[glfredrick]

Fun thing about having a tubing bender, Bend Tech Pro, and a plasma (plus all the other stuff) is that making stuff is sort of easy...

But, just so everyone knows, we're just sort of fishing out the idea right now. My kiddo needs to produce some at-home income and this might be a way to accomplish that, seeing as how we already have a bunch invested for our own use.

Here's a few screen shots of Bend Tech. It can figure out stuff pretty well, including cages -- in 3D...

[Rob93]

Maybe some sort of push bar for the front? Sort of like the brush guards but without the headlight guards

[Philberto]

I'd love to see a tube bumper for the front too, complete with headlight guards and tabs for limb risers. It would need d-shackles and a hole in front of the pass frame rail for winch line to pass through (think mini-fairlead).

[Regulator1175]

I would be interested in a set of rock sliders.

[glfredrick]

I'm passing all this interest to my kiddo and we'll be talking about what we can cook up in the next week or so.

Thanks for all the interest!

[glfredrick]

We're talking right now... Have a couple of questions about the differences between 5.3 engine and front suspension versus 4.1 engine and front suspension.

Does the front axle shaft pass through the oil pan on the 5.3?

What sort of oil pan does the 2wd I-6 use?

Anyone know?

(We're looking at a turn-key bolt-on 3-link SAS setup! )

[Trail X]

They all share the same front differential system. All bolt through the oil pan, V8 and V6. The 2WD has the same oil pan, sans the differential. The hole in the pan is sealed.

You can see here... solid cylinder:

With front end disconnect installed:

[HARDTRAILZ]

I got axles if you make a bolt on kit... I could even come down for an install some you could take pics to use to make directions.

[glfredrick]

I got axles if you make a bolt on kit... I could even come down for an install some you could take pics to use to make directions.

We probably need a test mule vehicle for the SAS. We're close enough so that you may want to come on down so we can brainstorm.

[glfredrick]

They all share the same front differential system. All bolt through the oil pan, V8 and V6. The 2WD has the same oil pan, sans the differential. The hole in the pan is sealed.

Any reason that the hole couldn't be moved lower or the diff hung lower than the oil pan to gain a decent amount of lift up front?

[HARDTRAILZ]

Any reason that the hole couldn't be moved lower or the diff hung lower than the oil pan to gain a decent amount of lift up front?

Was reading about the 92ish 4runner 5.5 inch kit and thats a big part of what they did. Just lower diff and few other things to keep angles good and it semmed fairly easy. Would it hold up to larger tires and rough terrain though?



I will send you a PM about some brainstorming.