Since Robert doesn't do forum stuff, I figured I'd throw updates on the build progress on here since I'm helping out with the build. Not wanting to clog up any tech threads for updates. I'll try to do some photo dumps and updates here as we go.
Some background on the build. Robert bought this rig to drive around while he was working on a SAS on his black 3rd gen. Next thing you know he bought an MCM Long Travel Kit, bumpers, sliders, skids, 35's etc. Well his black rig was taking forever so this build kept going down the rabbit hole in the meantime. He somehow convinced me after about 6 months of nagging to help him with his rear 4-link since I did it on my 3rd gen a few years prior and it worked very well.
So as of May of 2020 we did dual triangulated 4-link, notched the frame, added 2.5" x 14" coilovers and 2" x 2" hydro bumps. It performed really well, but he also wanted to add bypasses to the rear like he did up front. At first the plan was just redo the frame notch to fit bypasses and add a fuel cell instead of the F150 tank swap. Then came the idea of trailing arms instead...
...and down the rabbit hole we went.
Most people do trailing arms on the outboard side of the frame rails, but this leads to not the best geometry or ground clearance. We wanted more ground clearance, and in order to maintain better geometry, we needed to triangulate the lowers for better roll axis angle (less roll steer). Well for us to add triangulation, we had to mount the lower links right were the frame rail sits. Our plan? Chop off the back 51% of the frame rails and put the links where the frame used to be. We made a new back half of the frame out of 2" x 4" tubing and moved the rails in about 4.5" either side (total of about 9" narrower overall).
Currently we are working on getting shock hoops done, and waiting for fuel cell cradle, axle side upper link mounts, and shock mounts to get cut, bent and shipped.
Some background on the build. Robert bought this rig to drive around while he was working on a SAS on his black 3rd gen. Next thing you know he bought an MCM Long Travel Kit, bumpers, sliders, skids, 35's etc. Well his black rig was taking forever so this build kept going down the rabbit hole in the meantime. He somehow convinced me after about 6 months of nagging to help him with his rear 4-link since I did it on my 3rd gen a few years prior and it worked very well.
So as of May of 2020 we did dual triangulated 4-link, notched the frame, added 2.5" x 14" coilovers and 2" x 2" hydro bumps. It performed really well, but he also wanted to add bypasses to the rear like he did up front. At first the plan was just redo the frame notch to fit bypasses and add a fuel cell instead of the F150 tank swap. Then came the idea of trailing arms instead...
...and down the rabbit hole we went.
Most people do trailing arms on the outboard side of the frame rails, but this leads to not the best geometry or ground clearance. We wanted more ground clearance, and in order to maintain better geometry, we needed to triangulate the lowers for better roll axis angle (less roll steer). Well for us to add triangulation, we had to mount the lower links right were the frame rail sits. Our plan? Chop off the back 51% of the frame rails and put the links where the frame used to be. We made a new back half of the frame out of 2" x 4" tubing and moved the rails in about 4.5" either side (total of about 9" narrower overall).
Currently we are working on getting shock hoops done, and waiting for fuel cell cradle, axle side upper link mounts, and shock mounts to get cut, bent and shipped.