The "trophy husband" pro mod buggy build

N-Smooth · Dec 26, 2022

The boss lady had me put this on hold for the holidays so I was excited to get out there today, even if it was only an hour or so. I got the rear portion all squared up and level and burned it in. Then I spent a while planning out the tubes to connect it to the main chassis and making sure they’ll clear everything. I was hoping to get them notched tonight but the aforementioned boss called me in for dinner and whatnot 🙄🤣

mbryson · Dec 26, 2022

Hopefully you made the "whatnot" worth her time?

N-Smooth · Dec 26, 2022

mbryson said:
Hopefully you made the "whatnot" worth her time?

The “whatnot” was feeling bad for her because she had a headache or something and was grumpy. Pretty standard Monday night type stuff- I shouldn’t be hanging out in the garage enjoying myself when she is feeling miserable. It is what it is.

mbryson · Dec 26, 2022

xj_nate said:
The “whatnot” was feeling bad for her because she had a headache or something and was grumpy. Pretty standard Monday night type stuff- I shouldn’t be hanging out in the garage enjoying myself when she is feeling miserable. It is what it is.

Unfortunately, the headache seems to be going around. I've had a pretty solid "man-cold" since last Wednesday (it's actually kind of a wicked bastard). My wife is just a couple days behind me with it. She's having a hell of a time and I think I'll be able to make it through work tomorrow. Time will tell. Hope your lady starts feeling betterer

N-Smooth · Dec 28, 2022

I got the man-cold so decided to take today off. After sleeping almost all day I decided to suck it up and spend a couple hours in the garage. I got the tubes to connect the middle part of the chassis to the back notched and welded in.

I then toyed with where I’m going to put all of the things instead of working on stuff I need to do next 🤣 like the rear tracbar and shock mounts. It’s all good, sometimes I like to pause and take a break to think big picture.

One more pic while I was going inside. This little buggy is starting to look like something.

skippy · Dec 28, 2022

Looks beautiful

Bart · Dec 31, 2022

Lovin it. Nice work.

The cold/flu/strep/whatever spent a month working its way through our whole family. I think we're all on the close to well side finally.

N-Smooth · Dec 31, 2022

Bart said:
Lovin it. Nice work.

The cold/flu/strep/whatever spent a month working its way through our whole family. I think we're all on the close to well side finally.

Yeah I have sinus issues and always have so I hang on to colds a little longer than the average person. It sucks.

N-Smooth · Dec 31, 2022

I worked on this for a bit last night before deciding to clean my garage and make all the buggy stuff accessible. I legitimately forgot how much stuff I already purchased (a couple years back now) and that’s fun.

I got back on it today and got the truss done-ish. I need the truss on the passenger side to add some bracing to the axle-side tracbar mount. I am going to add some additional plate pieces to fill in the gaps by the diff cover and add some more rigidity.

The notch on the forward pass side is for access to the air line for the zip locker. I wanted to make sure I thought all of that out.

Then I got started on the tracbar bracket, utilizing the truss like I said.

As you can see it’s off the back of the axle but with this gusset and the others I’ll be adding it should be solid. It’s going to SUCK building the other part of it since it’s hanging completely off the back of the axle. Going to be lots of little bits inside it to support it etc. Yay.

N-Smooth · Jan 2, 2023

I did not feel like garage-ing today so I was sledding with the kids on the side of the house and dicking around to avoid it. Then I had a headache and just felt like crap still so I was trying to talk myself out of it. Buuuuut I told my inner beyotch to shut it and put in a few solid hours out there.

My main focus is trying to get the rear tracbar done so I can get the shocks done and have it rolling. I started doing CAD work and cutting out plate like a peasant. First task was filling the gap and adding structure to the truss.

Then I added side plates to the actual tracbar mount. What a pain to cut 2” strips out of a sheet.

Man I wish I was better at welding those corners cause they looked so nice.
Then I got it welded onto the housing and added a few more plates underneath to add structure and basically just weld surface. I have a few more gussets in mind to help with push pull forces and it’ll be dunnnn.

I’m not a fabricator but I like when stuff comes together. Also worth noting after some time in the garage doing this nonsense and dancing around to Taylor Swift my headache is gone and I feel way better. Magic!

SoopaHick · Jan 4, 2023

xj_nate said:
Also worth noting after some time in the garage doing this nonsense and dancing around to Taylor Swift my headache is gone and I feel way better. Magic!

It's amazing the healing effects welding fumes can have on the body!

N-Smooth · Jan 4, 2023

SoopaHick said:
It's amazing the healing effects welding fumes can have on the body!

Fixed me right up 🤣

Hickey · Jan 4, 2023

xj_nate said:
I did not feel like garage-ing today so I was sledding with the kids on the side of the house and dicking around to avoid it. Then I had a headache and just felt like crap still so I was trying to talk myself out of it. Buuuuut I told my inner beyotch to shut it and put in a few solid hours out there.

My main focus is trying to get the rear tracbar done so I can get the shocks done and have it rolling. I started doing CAD work and cutting out plate like a peasant. First task was filling the gap and adding structure to the truss.
View attachment 155597
View attachment 155598
View attachment 155599
Then I added side plates to the actual tracbar mount. What a pain to cut 2” strips out of a sheet.
View attachment 155600
View attachment 155601
Man I wish I was better at welding those corners cause they looked so nice.
Then I got it welded onto the housing and added a few more plates underneath to add structure and basically just weld surface. I have a few more gussets in mind to help with push pull forces and it’ll be dunnnn.
View attachment 155602
View attachment 155605
View attachment 155603
I’m not a fabricator but I like when stuff comes together. Also worth noting after some time in the garage doing this nonsense and dancing around to Taylor Swift my headache is gone and I feel way better. Magic!

That's an awful lot of pizza.

N-Smooth · Jan 4, 2023

Hickey said:
That's an awful lot of pizza.

We had 12 adults and 15 kids over for NYE. So yeah, 10 pizzas and no room for the boxes in an already full garbage can…

Buuuut I did find that pizza boxes are nice to kneel on while welding. The risk of catching fire makes me feel alive!

N-Smooth · Jan 4, 2023

Got the frame side tracbar mounts cut out and drilled. Also cut the side plates.

I mocked it up and was planning on working on it for at least another hour but my kids came out and said they’re watching the new Matilda movie and I’ll be damned if I miss a movie night with the fam- especially a musical ❤️

Greg · Jan 4, 2023

That looks amazing, won't be long before it's roller!

N-Smooth · Jan 4, 2023

Greg said:
That looks amazing, won't be long before it's roller!

Thanks man! I hope you’re right…

N-Smooth · Jan 7, 2023

Got it linked today! Finished burning in the outside plate on my makeshift bench and added the tube inside the bracket for the crossbrace.

Then I welded it on and added the crossbrace.

I almost forgot the inside plate but notched it out and welded it on. The front corner weld turned out awful so I need to grind it down and go again. I just wasn’t sitting in a comfortable spot and it shows.

I will add a tube brace to the side of it as well, like I did the front. I just have other stuff that needs to get in place first since every piece I put in has to be masterfully thought out lol.

So I started working on the lower shock mounts but quickly realized I need bolts so a run to cal ranch is required. I looked around at my messy garage and decided it’s time to clean it up. I know the wife needs my help with some stuff to prep for our upcoming cruise so coming in early will potentially score me some points. Seriously look at my garage, it’s a mess!

Also, getting her car in the garage for the first time in like a week will make her happy.

One last pic cause I’m obsessed…

Herzog · Jan 7, 2023

It's looking goooood!

N-Smooth · Jan 7, 2023

Herzog said:
It's looking goooood!

Thanks man!

The "trophy husband" pro mod buggy build

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