Its nice to have something that I can get in and drive to wherever, Its nice that the heater works...It would be nice if it got better mpg but I didn't buy it for the MPGs
Sorry to be a buzzkill man but this is some real "hillbilly stuff". Why not just go with some FMJ knuckles, 1.03 torsion bars cranked up, 15" wheels and a 245-75-15 mud and snow tires? You'll have plenty of clearance and it is all easily reversible once the moonshine wears off.. .
Yes, much better. 3rd gen crameros are disposable cars. I could care less what someone does to one of those. Its your car, do what ya want. I agree w Kern Dog. Make it reversable so you can fix it once the moonshine wears off. Or you can measure the wheelbase, and just stick the body on top of a jeep wagoneer 4x4 chassis, mebbe shorten the chassis and weld it back up to get the wheelbase correct and be done with it.
The problem with the solid front axle is the height that it needs to cycle.Ive never really liked the look of cars stuck on top of other frames because the tires never seem to fit the wheelwells, as well as the double bumpers, and exposed frame in the center. I don't plan on taking this car on any serious offroad, just going fast on dirt roads, with enough ground clearance to not worry about all the various softball to cider block sized rocks that the dirt roads around here seem to grow. Suspension travel is a very good thing so cranking the torsion bars wont really help. Also I'm not on any mind altering substances,Maybe that's my problem? I just enjoy exploring all of gods green earth.Why not do that in a vehicle you enjoy driving?Ive driven trucks and other 4wd's and non of them have the sort of handling that would inspire confidence at anything above 45-50 on dirt.The closest match is my 2wd 87 dakota swb, but because it is still a truck and I use it like a truck I can't set up the rear suspension to handle well, the back end gets a bit floaty at 50+ on dirt so it requires alot of corrections just to keep it on the road.My 84 Nissan 300zx is great but it lacks the ground clearance and the robustness of a solid rear axle.Not to mention I don't really like the throttle response of the turbocharged v6. The scamp could easily fit 235/75/15's on it, but those tires would be a little undersized for the size and heft of the car, so when the roads have technical sections the car would take alot more a beating than I would like leading to the 31" tires.
Get an AMC Eagle, or find an Eagle parts car. They are an IFS setup. The diff is just a center section mounted to the engine block. Width may be close to an A Body.
While the general lee is great I cringe every time it flys because a charger was just wrecked to make that shot.
Now that's what I'm taking about! But it was still a stupid show. But on a side note I did have a 1979 Levis Jeep but she wasn't with the package I got. I think I got robbed!
There is an episode of Roadkill Garage on Motor Trend where they built up a junky old Challenger for off-roading. IIRC they didn't heavily modify the suspension/subframe so much as hack the fenders for huge tires, I think they were at least 35"? I totally get the "overlanding RWD car" I have taken my Duster on some dirt mountain roads and it's fun as heck, and I still have a '93 XJ Cherokee I take wheeling every now and then. An old car just has a different feel to it off-road compared to a truck or SUV, my Jeep only feels "thrilling" when I'm crawling up a rocky hill in low range at a 30-degree-plus angle. Anything less it laughs off. I would love to build more of a rally-inspired off-roader like this...
This is kinda what I have in mind for the car. http://p2pamx.co.uk/about/ No jacked up 4wd abortion on super swampers...But run 31" tires.
