TnA's 86 Jimmy Shop Build / Product Development Thread - (Trailing Arms?!?!)

[Deuling]

I like your work so far. I think you could have like 3 or 4 different designs. When someone orders one, you make it.

I think its a good idea.

Not all people are looking for a super low profile bumper for better clearances etc...

Sand will just move when I drive through it anyways, so idk what the fuss is about for all this clearance anyways.

 

[CFMi]

i like the idea, i should see what you come up with before i start building mine. i have my frame brackets cut out very close to yours.

I did a 1 inch body lift from ORD to I could tuck my winch up higher

Cool... I'll keep posting pics as I come up with stuff!

are you makin the rear shock cross member now for production?
maybe a kit with the lower mounts?

That was the plan, yeah! I haven't made a thread in the vendor section yet, or put them up on the website either, but if you want I could certainly build a set for you anytime. Just PM me

I like your work so far. I think you could have like 3 or 4 different designs. When someone orders one, you make it.

Thanks, and I'm trying to keep the number of designs down to a minimum if I can. I don't mind making variations if there is a definite need, but making too many different designs of a similar product just leads to confusion once the orders start coming in, lol.
Also, I'd really like to keep a few of all my smaller items on the shelf at all times, and at least one or two of the larger stuff. That way if someone needs something I can ship it out right away. Getting to that point is hard but as orders keep increasing it gets a little easier



-Darren

 

[CFMi]

I think its a good idea.

Not all people are looking for a super low profile bumper for better clearances etc...

Sand will just move when I drive through it anyways, so idk what the fuss is about for all this clearance anyways.

Rocks sometimes move too, usually cause a lot of damage to anything they contact, and most of the time they just don't move at all, lol. That means either the truck stops moving or something else has to give!!

I do miss the sand sometimes. It was fun!


-Darren

 

[CFMi]

Today's update:

1. Fuel Injection motor. Well, it wasn't a quick and easy startup like I was hoping for. Apparently I had a wiring diagram for a truck with a HD transmission. You wouldn't think that would change anything in the fuel injection harness, would you? The harness I had was for a Light Duty trans (700R4) and apparently uses the RED wire in the harness for Fuel Injector supply voltage. The diagram I had said it should be using the Pink/Black wire, which is actually the color that makes more sense since it matches the rest of the wiring convention. Both wires are located in the same connector right next to each other.
So after getting the right wiring diagram and hooking the other wire up properly, she fired right up! Runs great and purrs like a kitten. Even the exhaust sounds really good, and no leaks anywhere!


2. Ghetto side step removal and rocker replacement:

First, I made a line about 1/4" below the bottom of the door, and started to make a cut:

Then, I pulled the rocker down and started cutting the back side, about 3/4" up from the very bottom:

I trimmed the front fender too, and tried to leave as many factory pinch welds in place as I could but still getting the clearance I needed:

This is where I trimmed the back support of the front fender:

The final trimmed front fender:

The 2"x4" rectangular tube tacked in place:

Here is the door sill where I welded the new tube:

Here's the passenger side before modification:

...and here's the driver's side after the mods:

There is now a 5.5" clearance gain from passenger side to driver's side!!! I think that's a good day!

....I still have to create and weld some supports on the back side to the body mounts, and then maybe plate the underside completely. Not sure on that yet though. I am also thinking about possibly doing some tubes on the outside for steps and additional body protection, but it's not very hard to get into as it is, and I'm not sure tubes are really needed. I'll keep thinking about it. I'm open to suggestions on additional steps from everyone!


Tell me what you all think!


-Darren

 

[y5mgisi]

Great job man! Made it look easy!

 

[CFMi]

Great job man! Made it look easy!

Thanks man!! It's not all that difficult once you've done a couple of them, lol. Of course most people don't end up doing more than one set on their own trucks I guess. The worst part of it is getting covered in metal dust, dirt, and other assorted crap that ends up inside the rockers. I need to get the other side done now to match!

-Darren

 

[Big Ray]

I hear you on all of this. I think you are smart to make a big beefier one like the front bumper on yours right now. There are a lot of people who would like to have one like that. Not everyone is into rock crawling these things like some of us. So good-on-ya for that one. That's a smart move.

For the design of the high-clearance non-winch one, I think you will come up with something cool. It's good to hear that you want something different than just 2x4 square tube. I like your design of the wings and stuff on Smokinthehippies front, so I am interested to see what design you come up with. I attached a couple pics of a bumper that is a square tube bumper just to show you the protection around the back fender/tail light and also the recessed hitch. I think a lot of people into crawling are looking for something like this. Plus, with things like those tube protection around the fenders, that is a good mounting point for a swing down tire carrier (if I remember right, that is how Blazen offroad bumpers did it before they went out of business). Just trying to get ideas flowing in your brain . Keep up the good work. I like the products you are producing

P.S. Hope you dont mind me posting pics like this in your thread....hijack over

I REALLY like this bumper...^^

 

[CFMi]

Okay, been fooling around on the computer today, since I didn't want to chance going to the shop and getting stuck there with the floods happening all around (it's on the other side of the river from the house).

I've been working on a higher-clearance center section for the K5's/Subs that have the gas tank back there. I tried to keep it clean-looking, super-strong, and also give some decent departure angle. I included a 2" receiver hitch of course, and kept a little angle on the underside for looks and strength.

I'm happy with this design so far... although since I'm not at the shop, I am taking guesses on clearances for now. Hopefully I won't have to change much on it when I get to measure everything against the truck itself.

Here is a preliminary rendering for you all to see:

Obviously the TnA logo can be left off, I just put it in there for my own amusement at the moment.

-Darren

 

[cyclic]

WOW, I want it!!! How much? And how about adding a hole for a 7 wire trailer plug to the left? I have the barn doors, you think any changes might be needed? I wouldn't even mind a "cut plate kit" and source the hitch tube locally to weld it up at home. I have done a couple Jeep ones like that and quite enjoyed it.

 

[Kay86K5]

I like the look of that. I think you are on the right track. I am excited to see how the wings turn out too. Keep it coming.

You surviving the floods up there? We got hit pretty hard last night. Not as much flooding as up north though

 

[LIVEAnimals]

I like that idea

 

[Richcz28]

X2 on the 7 pin connector hole.

 

[Ned Kelly]

x3 on the 7 pin trailer hole.

 

[CFMi]

WOW, I want it!!! How much? And how about adding a hole for a 7 wire trailer plug to the left? I have the barn doors, you think any changes might be needed? I wouldn't even mind a "cut plate kit" and source the hitch tube locally to weld it up at home. I have done a couple Jeep ones like that and quite enjoyed it.

No Clue on price yet, will look into that soon though. I need to get to the shop and make sure everything is going to fit right before I start pricing out everything. I don't think the barn doors will change anything with this design, but I don't have one nearby to check either. I might be willing to sell a WIY (weld-it-yourself) kit, we can talk about that in a little while.

I like the look of that. I think you are on the right track. I am excited to see how the wings turn out too. Keep it coming.

You surviving the floods up there? We got hit pretty hard last night. Not as much flooding as up north though

Thanks man! Yeah, We are surviving just fine up here at the house. When I left the shop Friday evening (once they opened up I-25) it was still in good shape, so I assume everything there has made it through just fine too. I'll find out more tomorrow.

X2 on the 7 pin connector hole.

x3 on the 7 pin trailer hole.

Yes, I could certainly include that. Great idea!

-Darren

 

[Richcz28]

What size shackle are those holes for?

 

[CFMi]

What size shackle are those holes for?

The hole is slightly less than 1", for a shackle with up to a 7/8" cross bolt. It's the same size as the winch cradle I think.

 

[CFMi]

Well, it fits pretty good after a few small mods...

I think the test fit is good, so I'm going to have a quick bite to eat, then I'll start fully welding everything!

-Darren

 

[Smokinthehippies]

Okay, been fooling around on the computer today, since I didn't want to chance going to the shop and getting stuck there with the floods happening all around (it's on the other side of the river from the house).

I've been working on a higher-clearance center section for the K5's/Subs that have the gas tank back there. I tried to keep it clean-looking, super-strong, and also give some decent departure angle. I included a 2" receiver hitch of course, and kept a little angle on the underside for looks and strength.

I'm happy with this design so far... although since I'm not at the shop, I am taking guesses on clearances for now. Hopefully I won't have to change much on it when I get to measure everything against the truck itself.

Here is a preliminary rendering for you all to see:

Obviously the TnA logo can be left off, I just put it in there for my own amusement at the moment.

-Darren

i'm in, make some "wings" for that one and send me a pm with a price when you get that far.

 

[Richcz28]

Any thoughts on a license plate?

Are you thinking up a tire carrier option that could accomplish this?

 

[CFMi]

i'm in, make some "wings" for that one and send me a pm with a price when you get that far.

Cool man! I'm going to start these out at $250 a piece for the center section. The wings will come after blazer bash - I've just got too many other things I need to get done before then

Any thoughts on a license plate?

Are you thinking up a tire carrier option that could accomplish this?

Yes, I've given the license plate some thought, and basically decided that it won't go on this particular piece. The license plate itself is taller than the rear face of this thing, lol! So I've basically had two thoughts, one being that if someone was to run this without the tire carrier, they can very easily put the plate on the tailgate (with something like this that I've run on my own vehicles with good luck: http://www.pepboys.com/product/details/9995471/), and the other thought is to put it on the tire carrier just like you were thinking

-Darren