| This is the story of a project gone haywire. Conceived in the fall of 2000 as a 5 to 6 month project to construct a purpose built competition vehicle intended to premiere in the 2001 Tennessee Offroad Challenge. Instead, after numerous changes and redos it finally made its debut in the 2004 Raid North Georgia. This is its story. |
A view of the almost
completed hybrid during
the test driving stage. All
the major features are in
place: 350 engine with
TPI, Turbo 400 tranny,
Atlas II t/c, 14 bolt and D
60, narrowed and
shortened pickup bed,
cab with roll cage and
integral roof rack, droop
spring suspension,
snorkle, bead lock
wheels, 42" TSLs.
completed hybrid during
the test driving stage. All
the major features are in
place: 350 engine with
TPI, Turbo 400 tranny,
Atlas II t/c, 14 bolt and D
60, narrowed and
shortened pickup bed,
cab with roll cage and
integral roof rack, droop
spring suspension,
snorkle, bead lock
wheels, 42" TSLs.
The beginnings were much
more humble however:
more humble however:
A couple months into the project here, things are
just beginning to take shape. You can see the frame
which was the first thing we built, the junkyard cab
and the front fenders fitted. You may notice the
original 12 bolt military beadlocks wheel in this
photo as opposed the 8 bolt wheels in the picture
above with a totally different back spacing. A story
unto itself, the steering arms originally built for the
12 bolt wheels to clear the offset didn't let the truck
turn in an acceptable manner. This resulted in our
building of the custom wheels. The decision to use
the 8 bolts instead came from the easy availability
and cost of inserts for them to change the
backspacing.
just beginning to take shape. You can see the frame
which was the first thing we built, the junkyard cab
and the front fenders fitted. You may notice the
original 12 bolt military beadlocks wheel in this
photo as opposed the 8 bolt wheels in the picture
above with a totally different back spacing. A story
unto itself, the steering arms originally built for the
12 bolt wheels to clear the offset didn't let the truck
turn in an acceptable manner. This resulted in our
building of the custom wheels. The decision to use
the 8 bolts instead came from the easy availability
and cost of inserts for them to change the
backspacing.
Building the bed was next. It would
eventually hold the full size pare tire, the fuel
tank, radiator, transmission oil cooler, and
clip on bed sides. Plans for the remote
control turret with the .50 calibre machine
gun are still in the works.
eventually hold the full size pare tire, the fuel
tank, radiator, transmission oil cooler, and
clip on bed sides. Plans for the remote
control turret with the .50 calibre machine
gun are still in the works.
Here's a nice view of the cab interior. You can see the
custom tunnel for the new drive train (3 days of
welding), the dash coming together, part of the roll
cage. Believe it or not, that isn't the final location of the
steering wheel!
custom tunnel for the new drive train (3 days of
welding), the dash coming together, part of the roll
cage. Believe it or not, that isn't the final location of the
steering wheel!
