Commando Crawler Build

[Tjvess1]

Finally going to start the 73 commando build. Got the brake and axles from RME members Greg and Bart. Thank you both!

Picked up a 73 commando to build a family friendly crawler that I can drive to short trails but trailer farther. My uncle and 3 year old son will be building it together. The goal is to be built and done by EJS 2025.

The frame is a tj frame with the Motobilt front and rear stretch kits with TMR shock mounts. Dana 70U rear with king pin 60 front 4 link rear 3 link front. I’m going to run 14” ORI Struts and 40s. Going to put in a 6.0 LS motor 4l60E or 80E transmission with an atlas TCASE. Going to run full PSC hydro steering. Bumpers winch cage etc….. want to be able to run the factory hardtop with it. This project will take awhile to complete while trying to find parts for it as we’re starting from scratch.

I will post pictures tomorrow of what I have so far and where the build is at. I will post pictures of progress. Still trying to find a some body parts as well as other parts.

Right now it’s on some old school 40 MTR rollers and wheels.

 

[Greg]

Happy to see this posted up, looks like a great start!

 

[Bart]

Woohoo, congrats on the progress. Been looking forward to this.

 

[Tjvess1]

Picked up a 5.3 ls with 4l60 and 4x4 TCASE. Not going to use the TCASE from it. Also came with computer ecm and everything.

Got the front ORIs on but the frame is sitting on the axle. I’m either going to put different brackets on and run 16s or 18s. ORI is sending me 18”s to try and see how they work. The frame in the rear isn’t off the axle much with 14”s either.

Got the front hub assembly all on so it’s a rolling chassis now. Moving it to our other shop this weekend. Will put the cab on and start seeing where we need to cut. I’ll post
Pictures once we get it on the frame.

 

[Tjvess1]

Got the motor in today.

 

[Tjvess1]

Got the rear disk brake conversion done this weekend and got all the front brakes put on as well.