Holy Grail 1st gen.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YRrBMTYg0OI&lc=z23gjd2q1pmogjhp204t1aokgflfhrdimczdour2nzk1rk0h00410

This dude on here? Wanted to talk to him about the self fabbed links.

 

Hmm interesting links indeed. Not sure I understand the idea of running shocks off the links and having the mounts welded to the links but not taking it all the way to the mount full canoe style. I'm glad his bumper is like that because I was trying to figure out if I wanted to use part of my stock bumper. After seeing this I still can't decide.

Also doesn't look like there's as much structure on those read coilover hoops as I'd want but then again I can't see how it's tied into the frame very well. Cook truck though.

 

I also considered something like that on my bumper. I've seen it done on other trucks but never a first gen, looks better than I imagined.

 

I saved this one to my phone. No clue where I found it. Probably just a build thread I found somewhere. Anyway this picture made me decide not to cut my bumper and to just replace it. I think the video makes it look better. Maybe because it has fiberglass fenders.

 

I think it's those side tabs from the fender flares. My bumper doesnt have those.

 

Here ya go. I had that one bookmarked. I really like the hybrid bumper ideas.

https://expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/saga-of-stanley-fab-builds-of-sorts.160703/

 

I'll also add the coolest example of keeping the upper half of the front bumper I've seen. It's a pretty good looking f150 as is anyway.

I think that's a double cab thing. Mine has them. I am guessing the one in the video has those removed. The bumper ends are pretty flexible and can be bent out wider. Mine has those bent out to line up with the fiberglass fenders and if I cut the bottom of the bumper off it would probably only get more flexible. Granted mine are half pulling the bumper out and half pulling the fenders in.

Why yes I remember now. Thanks! I remember thinking that guy was funny.

 

im still jealous of your control arms and fab skills.

 

The coilovers on the links are a trailing arm setup. Very popular in the desert racing community. You can get more travel in a shorter coilover.

 

Aayupp

 

The thing is, his lower CO mounts are very close to the axle pivot. He's virtually mounting the COs on the axle. Yes, if you mount higher up on the arm, you increase the ratio and you can use a shorter CO to get travel. In this case, I'm not sure that him putting the mounts towards the end of the arm very close to the axle is providing much benefit. He says he did it that way to keep the COs out of the bed for more space, but I was going to ask what compromises this brings about. He's not benefiting from increased ratio as he's not really doing anything that a relocation wouldn't. Since the upper mount is now in the bed, is that CO longer than necessary? Could moving the lower mount up the arm result in a ratio that would allow the use of an even shorter shock than it is right now AND keep the same bed capacity?

 

One of the issues you run into with a short bed or a big cab is running the shock too far forward and having it go past being a rising rate and turning into a falling rate. The shock would go past 90* to the link and then the ratio would fall. If you started with the shock all the way bottomed and at 90* to the link then you'd be cutting into the cab or running it back closer to the axle. Same idea with a arm style suspensions etc.

I'm guessing if he put the shocks on the axle he would have had to move the upper shock mount back also or have a less effective angle of motion.

 

If you want more info on that link setup, it's similar to this one. You can see what I'm mentioning about the shock angle and cab interference also.
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/dirt-designs-05-taco-4wd-race-kit.284268/page-11

 

I get what you're saying. I just feel like it could have been moved up just a little bit. BUT, watching the video again, there's not much more room to move the mounts up the arm; the bedcage is already really close to the cab. I guess i'm just used to seeing links on regular and extended cab trucks.

 

Yeah it does look different compared to the traditional extended and regular cab trucks. One thing is that maybe he was getting the numbers he wanted and there was no need to get the shock even farther from the axle. That could keep his shock speed down enough to stay with a smaller diameter shock.