General Tech The Mango Bastard - A Rockwell Buggy story

[_Auzzy_]

quick update, wheels are done! good tires mounted up and all holding air



also got some new random parts. my hydraulic pump and rear output flange to use the factory 2.5t flange



thats it for now. also ordered my custom power steering pump from lee's power steering.

 

[Coco]

Looking great!

 

[Kiel]

Agreed looks tough

 

[Bart]

Looks seriously mean. New parts are cool.

 

[_Auzzy_]

Did your shafts ever show up? If so what do you think

Nothing yet. But I'll keep ya posted. Still on the fence to just say screw it and buy rcvs.

Thanks guys! Trying to get it done as quickly as possible.

 

[_Auzzy_]

updates coming

 

[_Auzzy_]

so here's a steering update.

Got all my pieces finally. My pump is custom made from Lee Steering, set at 1850 psi, -12 feed and -8 pressure, with a 5/8 keyed shaft. Had a big issue with it though. my bracket and pulley kit for my motor stated it was for a P series but turns out it was for a TC. so here's how i modified it to fit a P.

So heres the bracket. as you can see its suppose to have a through bolt on the bottom which P pumps don't.


So i lined up the pump in the bracket and noticed i could modify it by simply grinding away the body around this top bolt hole. i messaged lee's about this and they said it would not effect its strength. awesome ting about lee's steering is they are small enough you get awesome customer support.


so then once the top was flat and done i had to figure out how to fill the gap between the bracket and the pump. luckily we had these random aluminum pieces laying around. had to barely take any off it to make it work.


to fix the through bolt issue i used the bolt on the back side. it perfectly in line with the front bolt luckily. also had to make a small spacer here too.


And after it was all said and done i got the pulley on which is 1/2" smaller than a factory on to check bolt clearance. pretty close.


And on the motor. lined up perfect.


next was mounting the steering res.


handy dandy plaser dazer made easy work of this


Mounted with a slight angle so it shouldn't starve if i'm leaning to the passenger side

 

[_Auzzy_]

Next is rear steer has also been started.

Got the return to center kit from Leroy Latham. and to mount the pump we finally decided that frenching it into the tank would be best to keep it protected and away from heat.


Also got the exhaust completed with the coolant line

Exhaust is 2.5" into the flowmaster 44 muffler and 3" out to a 3 to 4" tip.


coolant line

 

[_Auzzy_]

Tonight's update, started on the center console etc.

finally got all my electrical crud in. wire, heat shrink connectors, heat shrink, terminal lugs, fuse blocks, relays & harnesses, switches, gauges, batteries, battery cables and lugs etc. Cory also fabbed up a lug crimp tool, works good but need to add a flat spot for the lug to sit on.

 

[_Auzzy_]

also started on the center console. got the shifter mount started first

plased it out and cory tigged it up for me.


Then i drilled, tapped my new shifter handle.



Next i cut out a switch panel and mounted my rear steer toggle.


also got my gauges in. just waiting on my GPS Speedo now.

 

[_Auzzy_]

then all while im tinkering on crap cory welded in my filler neck on my valve cover and started working on my fuel cell.

thankfullly cory is skilled with the tiggery skill set skills and was able to burn this filler in even though i made the hole a little big.


and this is where hes starting on the fuel cell. the catch will be for my feed/return line

 

[Bart]

Wow, that's a lot of great progress. Nice work.

 

[_Auzzy_]

tonights adventures.

Got my steering column in thanks to cory machining it down. cut the splined section off its mount and drilled it out to 1/2". cory found a chunk of 3/4" solid and machined it down then i cut it down to where it felt comfortable.



also cory welded up my trans tail housing too the other day and drilled n tapped the breather port out so we can put a long 1/4" breather. just waiting on my 1/4 NPT to -6AN fittings to show up for my cooler lines.




Then i tinkered with my steering cooler and finally decided on its spot.

 

[Coco]

Nice! That tailhousing is pretty cool! How thick is the aluminum?

 

[_Auzzy_]

Nice! That tailhousing is pretty cool! How thick is the aluminum?

wanting to say cory used 1/8th for it

 

[Coco]

wanting to say cory used 1/8th for it

I hope you be kidding! And plan to brace up the T-Case really well!

 

[YROC FAB.]

I hope you be kidding! And plan to brace up the T-Case really well!

1/8" is fine for the reinforcement. Im sure the 6061 1/8" alum plate is stronger than the 3/16 gm sand cast tail housing.

page 2 brah!

 

[Coco]

I'm a little slow from time to time. I am sure you are right as well, it just made me cringe a little when I heard 1.8". Either way, I am loving the build, and can't wait to wheel with all of you again!!

 

[_Auzzy_]

update before i had to go play army this weekend.

Got the tabs cut and bent out. bent the diameter for res bodies using a spare 2.5t pinion yoke i had.


Also got my trans fittings too. 1/4npt to -6AN.



Also started my transfer case shifters. got them bent and adjusted and cory drilled out my handles.


Cory also began welding on my fuel cell. got my bottom catch in and baffles.



Then i side tracked and played with my ECM and wiring harness. found out i had the wrong style plug for my idle air valve so i have coming.


and last I started playing with the floor ideas.

 

[_Auzzy_]

Also debating on ordering a new steering wheel. one i have is just a little big and after sitting in my buggy. its 13.75 outside diameter and 3.5 depth. new one is from deathwrench.com and will have orange 1/4" paracord and be either metallic silver frame or chrome.