Dave's perpetual project

[Big Dave]

After conferring with Pete, the car is getting combo snouts. The hollow ones are a bit much and together with the necessary hubs, would turn this from a kinda expensive repair, to wasteful spending :shock)

[TimS]

Wasteful? You'd be spending it on the baja, right? I don't see waste, but I know what livin on a budget is.

Go Dave!! Two more weeks.

[trackersteve]

Hey Dave,
What spring weight are you running on your A-Arms?
Are you happy with the spring weight?
Thanks,
Team Frankie

[Big Dave]

300 lbs. They seem about right. I tried 350s, and the car sat too high with the spring perches just touching the spring at full droop. Went right back to the 300s.

Getting the damping right has been a PITA though.

[Mrs. BigDave]

Big Dave and Company are out playing in the garage getting the toy back in to running form for this weekend.......

[Big Dave]

Pete pulled it out in the last second New spindles and a new rack and pinion were on the doorstep when I got home. I got right to work and my friend Brian showed up to help. I forgot to take pics of the spindles, but once again the fab and welding is top notch. I sure wish I could TIG weld like that

It turns out, I could have bought new hubs and bearing for the combo spindles, but Mckenzies wanted $750. I ended up going with the Gray Area brake kit with 4 piston calipers. If these things perform half as good as they look, I'll be super happy. The machine work is sheer perfection. I think these are the people that are making the Tatums, but selling their own cheaper. I talked with them on the phone, and they went out of their way to make sure I had them in time. No surprises other than they didn't send the caliper bolts, even though they are in the picture on their website They are standard course thread and I didn't have any grade 8s the right size, so tomorrow I'll pick some up at the hardware store. Then its bolt up the calipers, put the tires on and try to get the alignment as close as possible. Then onto the trailer for Caliente Trial by fire

[Leatherneck]

They do look nice.. Make sure the harness is on tight.

[JUSSUMGUY]

Looking good! Those tie rods and ends look a lot beefier than the previous ones.

[TimS]

Looks good Dave.

[tikotiko]

Dam g. That looks nice

[ellobo]

I don't think tatum and gray area are the same...



Let me know if you need anything else...
Pete

[Big Dave]

Mine are a little different. The picture from the gray area website looks very similar to Tatums.

[Big Dave]

Car is fixed. Took it for a drive and it seems all good. I even wiped it down before loading it on the trailer.
Its got to look good for the kids in Caliente

[TimS]

Nick of time, Dave. Just the way it should be. Congrats!! But did you get time to make your "hero cards" for the meet and greet?

[Big Dave]

Nobody would want my picture.

Funny though. There was a family with a small boy, about 4 or so, moving in across the street when I went to load the car up last night. When he saw the car, it was like he was in a trance and couldn't stop staring. You could tell he had never anything like that before. Of course I made sure it made plenty of noise too