831Tun How'd I get here build?

Oh no... I was gonna tell you guys but I just forgot.

 

Swapped bushing UCAs for heimed in an effort to improve alignment #s. Specifically camber, I couldn't get better than 1.2* of negative camber. It didn't drive well and looked terrible. Also swapped in 700 lb 3" dia. coils in place of the 600 lb 3.75" that TC specs for their LT kit.
The UCA is straight forward, especially since this is the 5th different set of arms I've installed on this truck. The heims are a PITA cause you've gotta pull the long bolt all the way out to make adjustments. I got super super lucky eyeballing/guesstimating and only had to pull the driver side once after the initial install.
The coil overs were more of a challenge since this is only the 2nd set of shocks I've rebuilt. To get the new smaller coil nut on the body the top of the shock has to come off. So, thanks to the write up by @ColoradoTJ, I was able to heat the top with a torch (using propane not Mapp or other hot fuel) and spin it off. Once the top is off you're kinda in rebuild mode 'cause the shock has to be bled. The only way I know to bleed the shock is to remove the shaft and reinstall while pushing the air out from the IFP in the resi. I had intended to reuse the shock oil but it was roughly the color of coffee, burnt? I dunno but I tossed it and refilled the shocks with Fox red. I'd also like to thank @osidepunker and @papasmurf, both of whom answer their phones and are super helpful and willing to share info. Even if some of my questions are sometimes naive.

 

That decal is fire

 

Thanks Matt, got yours right here. They're too big to stick in an envelope so next time I see ya.

 

Looking nice sir! Did you get it officially aligned? Still waiting on my MCM arms... getting ansy.

 

Where and how can I get a sticker to replace my u/c like that lol

 

I did take it in for alignment. I was close and I can do it but alignments are new to me and very time consuming. I've got a lot of little projects to complete this week so I can wheel next weekend. Half my ARB twin isn't working and I've got a broken leaf. Alignment #s are only sightly different (increased caster by +/- .5* both sides) from what you'll want.

Matt's not the fastest at getting stuff out but the stuff he gets out is the best.

 

TC LT UCAs don't have a sticker and the ones I had made are too big for standard UCAs. But, you can go online and make just about any sticker you want.

 

Mine have a sticker



What can I say I wanna be like warren

 

The LT ones have the sticker on the LCA and nothing on the UCA

 

But u have to understand I’m not on that
Warren level of L/T

 

Give it 1-2 years. Or 3 trips with us.

 

That’s the thing I purposely don’t go due to knowing I can’t afford the madness that is the bastards lol

 

Playing with carbon fiber on the bedsides and fenders kinda sparked my imagination. So, the latest project is a 3rd brake light utilizing 2 Baja Design S2 amber driving combos and a red KC cyclone for a brake light. This iteration has deleted the bed lights and I'm not sure how I feel about that. I have strips under the bed rails so I'll have to see how it works out. Worst case scenario I can retro fit something like Ozium bolt head led lights. Here it is almost completed just needs a few more coats of clear.

 

Dude so cool I really like that

 

Thanks Billy. It came out ok for a prototype.

 

Dope

 

Warren you are a man of many talents, that looks awesome

 

Thanks Greg. Hopefully I can have another one ready for ya by the time you make it out here.

 

Dope AF

 

I have a dumb question...

How do you make the shape? is it like other molding or casting arts where you somehow create a negative of the shape you want, and then apply the carbon fiber to that mold? If so, what medium do you use for the mold and how do you create the shape?

I understand things like surfboard shaping, and metal casting, but having a hard time figuring out how you arrive at the shape you made. Super cool though!

 

It's rocket science Kevin, you wouldn't understand. Hahaha. Just kidding brotha.
Many ways to do it, but in this case, I used Divinycell and polyester adhesive to build directly off of an OEM 3rd brake light. So, just the horizontal plane was projected out far enough to create a vertical mounting
This one actually will become the mold if I decide to make more of them.
Always happy to chat with you Kevin so lemme know if failed to fully answer your question.

I'll have to show you sometime, the hollow wood surfboard I made from Mirrasou wine tank redwood.

 

#carbonscience

 

I think I mostly understood that. Maybe. So you shaped the divinycell to the outer shape of the stock piece, but only horizontally so that you ended up with a flat vertical plane to cut into for mounting the lights flush. Does the divinycell compress or conform to the shape when you apply pressure to it, or do you have to carve and shape it by hand to match the shape of the original?

I’d definitely love to see a surfboard made from wine tank wood!

 

#cabronscience

 

HAHAHA awesome

 

Divinycell is a super light, dense, closed cell foam so it's not intended to compress. I'm using .5" sheet material. I adhered the vertical plane to the brake light housing first, then fitted filler pieces around the perimeter so there's a void behind the vertical plane. Once the filler pieces were roughly fitted I just sanded the horizontal plane flat and contoured the sides.

 

Finally got the LT rear done as SSbuilt. I was cool to see they already had a Bastrds sticker on the post of their lift. Steve was really cool to work with. The tailgate is 5'8" from the ground when the wheels finally lift off the ground. Looking forward to a test run next week. I still need to set up limit straps and have the brand new FOA bumps replaced as they pissed themselves as soon as N2 was introduced.