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herd of turtles expo build *SOLD*

W

warrpath4x4

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So last weekend i traded off the cherokee, it hated the freeway speed here in wyoming and we needed a little more space. I was looking for a suburban but this deal by that was pretty good. 1988 chevy K5 with a fuel injected 383 stroker with 30,000 miles on it, rebuilt 700r4 last year, 3/4 ton axles (semi float rear for now), CB, aftermarket stereo that looks like the old school stereos but it has a digital display and a 10 disk cd changer, cowl induction hood, visor, and brush guard, and the huge bonus THE BACK WINDOW STILL WORKS.

The herd of turtles thing comes from all my tools still being packed away in my dads shop except for my tool bag i always carry. Plus money is short right now since im still the only real income. This will be just a camping and expedition style rig, since things are so far apart here in wyoming its nice having almost twice the size fuel tank as the jeep did.

It NEEDS new tires, tune up, couple seals replaced, and a couple little things here and there.

I WANT a full float rear, swing out carrier bumper, winch bumper, roof rack, GPS (better than my handheld), 2-4 inch lift i really only want to go 2" but i want to do a shackle flip in the rear, disc brakes in the rear.

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I picked it up just over 100 miles away and drove it back here, got 15MPG on the highway which is what the jeep was getting (not bad for a 383 stroker).

*Wyoming laws are weird you can legally drive with no plates at all for 30 or 45 days (was told 2 different time frames by 2 different cops), people ride quads, dirt bikes, and side by sides on the streets in town to go to work and go get groceries, pick their kids up from school*
 
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If I'm not mistaken, ORD makes a 2.5" shackle flip. You could get some 2" EZ Ride lift springs from Tuff Country and some new (slightly larger) all terrain tires on some lighter weight aluminum wheels, and I think that would be a great start. You should still get good mileage too. Why do you want a FF rear end? I would keep the semi-float 14 bolt if I were you. I think it would do better for what you plan on using the truck for.

If it were me, I would put an air tank, a water can and some tools in the back, along with a solar shower and a tent and possibly a couple of jerry cans mounted to an external spare tire carrier and hit the remote trails!

Man that sounds awesome. Wish I could move out there. I'd go on an expedition too!!
 
Yah if your not going huge tires I would keep the sf its a strong axle bit more ground clearance and being on a budget not changing things you don't have to is a bonus too.

Discs are nice in the back but in a daily driver expo rig like this I think it would be nice to still retain the parking brake which gets expensive to do going to discs.

So advice time. On a budget, make a list wants and needs. Then post the list on here. Lots of guys ( like with the 14 b sf) will give you their opinions on what they think you need. The final decision of course lays with you but sometimes it can help to have others who have made the mistakes ( who has made expensive mistakes before, this guy) and might be able to save you some money or can help direct you to where money might be better spent.
 
The 15 mpg is what's got me. Wow! I can only dream of that. I know all the stuff you're going to add will make that number go down a little, but if I had a Blazer that would get that kind of mpg, I wouldn't go too crazy on it. I bet it has 3.08 axle gears and a good torque converter if it's getting 15 mpg. When I got my truck, the torque converter in the TH700R4 wouldn't lock up. It had some 33s and someone had swapped the axle gears to either 4.10 or 4.56. I think I could get about 11 mpg on the highway, so I said "what the heck" and went on ahead and lifted it and put on 35s and a heavy winch and bumper and all that. Then I got about 10 mpg on average, but who cares? I don't have enough open land in GA to go on an expedition, but if I did, I would want to stretch out each tank of gas as much as I could.

So I guess my advice would be to only add what's necessary in order to keep the weight down and the mpg up. Take a look at what they're doing out in Australia. They go on long overland trips down there and I think a trip to ARB's website would give you some good ideas.
 
ya i remembered someone had a 2" shackle flip but couldnt remember who, thanks.

i have a york compressor, i picked up from work for free (compressor, bracket, idler and bracket), it came off a undetermined v8 but it looks like it will work.

im going to do a storage drawer in the back also to be able to contain items.
 
andyblack said:
The 15 mpg is what's got me. Wow! I can only dream of that. I know all the stuff you're going to add will make that number go down a little, but if I had a Blazer that would get that kind of mpg, I wouldn't go too crazy on it. I bet it has 3.08 axle gears and a good torque converter if it's getting 15 mpg. When I got my truck, the torque converter in the TH700R4 wouldn't lock up. It had some 33s and someone had swapped the axle gears to either 4.10 or 4.56. I think I could get about 11 mpg on the highway, so I said "what the heck" and went on ahead and lifted it and put on 35s and a heavy winch and bumper and all that. Then I got about 10 mpg on average, but who cares? I don't have enough open land in GA to go on an expedition, but if I did, I would want to stretch out each tank of gas as much as I could.

So I guess my advice would be to only add what's necessary in order to keep the weight down and the mpg up. Take a look at what they're doing out in Australia. They go on long overland trips down there and I think a trip to ARB's website would give you some good ideas.
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ya im not sure on the ratio, im gonna pull the covers this weekend and check, of course the tag is gone. im on a couple expo sites and have gotten lots of info and ideas, bass pro shop has a roof top tent for $900 im looking at.
 
I've never looked at a rooftop tent in person, but they seem like they would be more trouble than a regular tent that goes on the ground. I'm not sure though, but I know you could get a nice big 4 season tent from Mountain Hardware for $900. You could even get a Hilleberg.

I really like my Hennessy Hammock when I camp by myself. It's way more comfortable than lying on a mat on the ground and you don't have to worry about getting flooded out if a heavy rain comes through. Sets up easier and quicker than a tent too. Of course your whole family couldn't fit in one though. And if there's no tress around, it doesn't do you any good. Have you looked to see how much a used pop up camper is? I don't know if I would want to add all that complexity though. Maybe the rooftop tent is your best option.
 
I've never slept in a roof top tent but have seen them getting set up and crawled in one, They are very easy to set up. I have looked at pop up campers but sometimes its more of a hassle trying to pull one in where you wanna go and the floor plans are not always the best. Later down the road I want to build an expo trailer (I know ill still be pulling it) that is set up exactly how I want it, with enough clearence, and I can put the roof top tent on that.

I've seen some of those hammocks, have you seen wyoming we have 2 trees and they're at opposite ends of the state lol.
 
warrpath4x4 said:
I've seen some of those hammocks, have you seen wyoming we have 2 trees and they're at opposite ends of the state lol.
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:haha: I figured that was the case. Well I guess you could just find one of them and hook the other end of the hammock to your roof rack maybe. :rolleyes:

The name of your build reminds me of the Turtle Expedition that they show from time to time in Four Wheeler magazine. Now they have some cool stuff they use. That couple can stay out for weeks at the time and be totally self-reliant. They also have a bunch of sponsors too.
 
havnt seen that one, i quit getting that mag when the FJ cruiser came out and the whole mag seamed like it was about the cruiser and a budget build started with pro rock 60's and an atlas.

the "moving like a herd of turtles" line came from one of my old drill sgt's
 
Its funny that you posted heard of turtles. It got me to look at the thread because that is how I feel my "getting to it" build is coming along. To many projects in front of my project. On the plus I am moving the veihicles around today so I can get my 90 K3500 running and sold.

That said it has given me some time to approch the build from a planning point, as in what I want for lift, tires, motor and what I want to do with it when all said and done. So far I am also looking at an expo style veihicle. And about a week ago I thought about building an expo/teardrop style trailer with some small built in ammenities, as I already have an axle. I like the idea of not putting away camp if you want to run around for a few hours and come back to the same site. Plus it only adds weight once you hookup to it. I also want to use my '73 as a weekend driver for going hunting, fishing, boating and dont want to be hauling around a bunch of extra. Oh not to mention the roof tents dont really work with the soft top I want. Like I said planning. I have built the damn thing 2-3 times already in my minds garage. The only thing that does't change is the color scheme (for now).

Well congrats on your new baby and post up changes when you get a chance(with pics of course). And list any good expo style sites you may find for products out there as I may need to renovate my build a couple more times.:D
 
Jester1 said:
Its funny that you posted heard of turtles. It got me to look at the thread because that is how I feel my "getting to it" build is coming along. To many projects in front of my project. On the plus I am moving the veihicles around today so I can get my 90 K3500 running and sold.

That said it has given me some time to approch the build from a planning point, as in what I want for lift, tires, motor and what I want to do with it when all said and done. So far I am also looking at an expo style veihicle. And about a week ago I thought about building an expo/teardrop style trailer with some small built in ammenities, as I already have an axle. I like the idea of not putting away camp if you want to run around for a few hours and come back to the same site. Plus it only adds weight once you hookup to it. I also want to use my '73 as a weekend driver for going hunting, fishing, boating and dont want to be hauling around a bunch of extra. Oh not to mention the roof tents dont really work with the soft top I want. Like I said planning. I have built the damn thing 2-3 times already in my minds garage. The only thing that does't change is the color scheme (for now).

Well congrats on your new baby and post up changes when you get a chance(with pics of course). And list any good expo style sites you may find for products out there as I may need to renovate my build a couple more times.:D
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this is the main one im on, lots of good info there http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/

main problem right now is if i had my tools (plasma, welder, tube bender) theres tons of stuff i could be doing, but since their still in oregon and im not sure when ill be getting another place big enough to bring them with me :frown1:

i have changed my mind alot on the GPS portion, i have a garmin 60csx which works good while im hunting or hiking but i want something a little bigger screen for the blazer. ive seen some guys using netbooks and tablets with GPS trackers and routers then they just use the internet and can use things like google and have internet in the middle of no where. now personally when im in the middle of no where i dont know i would want the internet but i guess it has its uses. ive thought about getting a garmin NUVI but ive only seen their road maps and not their topo maps.
 
Congrats on the new truck! I'd echo what a few have said as well, keep the 14sf. Heck, I'm saving/building one myself and don't really see the need for a 14FF. Too heavy and overkill for my needs. For general off-road, with 33-35" tires, the SF will do just fine!

I'd love to find out your gears too. I have 3.73's with 35" tires and get 10-11 mpg. I'm considering 4.10's but of course, that takes more money.
 
picked up some stuff tonight for my projects saturday, ATF, gear oil, seal puller, yadda yadda yadda.

tomorrow im gonna stay after work and try to fix my door latch. as you can see the area around the post is broke and the post isnt straight anymore, im gonna weld the breaks and i have a big washer im gonna weld on there to pull it all back together and stiffen it. right now the door wont shut all the way (have a gap) and its hard to open.

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anyone have a better idea?
 
Nope thats how I fixed it in my 442.

Knock the pin straight and weld the snot out of it. Theres a plate in the pillar thats tacked behind the sheet metal. When you weld it just burn the sheet and the plate together and it will be much stronger.

Stupid design.
 
I will also say the 14sf isn't a bad axle at all. The front corp 10b isn't bad either with some basic upgrades like full circle clips on the axle joints.

Small lift with 33s or even 35s with trimming and that truck will be surprisingly capable.
 
ill say this about the axles, ive ran 35's on the original 10 bolts on a couple blazers before with no issues, i ran 36's on a 14sf and had all kinds of issues with it. ill be running the 14sf for a while but will keep my eyes open for a 14ff

i want to make it as nimble as i can but still be bullet proof and worry free (as much as possible), which is why ill also keep my eyes open for a 60
 
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