Grape Ape

[Grape Ape]

ok im doing this build thread cuz im gonna throw ford one tons at the 1/2ton dodge.. should be interesting. will be a welded front dana 60 and welded rear 10.25. once that is done i will get rid of the 35's and get probably 39.5 boggers. my bed is smashed to shit so i might remove it and do some kind of flatbed. gettin rid of the smashed up bumpers and putting some steel with d-rings and eventually a winch.. this will be over the next couple of months bcuz i threw way too much money at the truck last 2 months.. pictures of the progress will be posted.

[ryantowry_81]

i would strongly caoution against welding the front unless you plan on running hydro assist. i did but it was super hard to steer without the hydro assist and i have alot lighter truck than you do.

[BLB]

Bah I have been welded up front for a year...its great!! But year steering sucks lol

[TonyM]

pictures of the new shoes ? :sifone:

[ryantowry_81]

seriously 5th post and no pics WTF? what kind of build thread is this?

[Grape Ape]

pics of the shoes (39.5 18 boggers on 15 steel rims)coming tonight hopefully... chill ryan lol.. this is gonna take about 2 weeks or so but it will be worth it.. ill post pics of the axles when george pulls them lol:leaving:

[Grape Ape]

ok i gotta get some pics up.. i kno lol:iagree: axles are pulled off the dodge im gonna put some pics up tonight and go to the shop tomorrow and take some more pics... :thumbsup:

[Grape Ape]

http://i805.photobucket.com/albums/yy337/amds1205/150.jpg
http://i805.photobucket.com/albums/yy337/amds1205/153.jpg
http://i805.photobucket.com/albums/yy337/amds1205/155.jpg
http://i805.photobucket.com/albums/yy337/amds1205/156.jpg
http://i805.photobucket.com/albums/yy337/amds1205/176.jpg
http://i805.photobucket.com/albums/yy337/amds1205/177.jpg
http://i805.photobucket.com/albums/yy337/amds1205/178.jpg
http://i805.photobucket.com/albums/yy337/amds1205/179.jpg
http://i805.photobucket.com/albums/yy337/amds1205/180.jpg
http://i805.photobucket.com/albums/yy337/amds1205/181.jpg
http://i805.photobucket.com/albums/yy337/amds1205/183.jpg

[ryantowry_81]

that loooks like it will be sweet once it is done, not too tall either. cant wait to see it on the trail.

[TonyM]

Boy the fun begins now... I have a feeling you're going to know your way around a grinder pretty well after the buckets are moved.... :devil:

Lookin good man. I'll be down there tomarrow to take closer look.... :sifone:

[Chevy Man]

Haha, thats my girlfriends DeSoto Firedome in the background..... Lookin good man

[ryantowry_81]

i need to go down there some time i have never actually been to nate's shop.

[TonyM]

Went by the shop and checked this thing out... its gunna be pretty sweet with imaginary axles under it... thats gunna make it so much lighter... why didn't I think of that.... :sifone:

[00TJ]

Im bad with names and board names..who is Nate?

[Grape Ape]

nates board name is superman.. has the white f250 i think on 44s

[ryantowry_81]

yeah super nice guy and does great work from what i have seen.

hey dan did you buy the whole truck? if so i might buy some parts off it from you or trade for labor on anything?

[Grape Ape]

rear shackle flipped... preppin the one tons to install them.. have to get brackets from a dodge 1 ton to go one the ford d60 so it will line up with my front coils. so far its goin good.. ill get some more pics up soon.
nates the man!:cheers2:

[Grape Ape]

Big ups to Greg as well, hes helpin out a lot

[BLB]

yeah super nice guy and does great work from what i have seen.

hey dan did you buy the whole truck? if so i might buy some parts off it from you or trade for labor on anything?

Sold the axles to Dan and the motor to Tim and Nate is using the cab for a future buggy build. :cheers2:

[Grape Ape]

ok we are getting there now.. rear axle is in place, fabbin the front axle got the bumpers off and picked up some steel and d rings.... pics are pretty self explanatory:arf:
u joints
http://i805.photobucket.com/albums/yy337/amds1205/009.jpg
wheel spacers
http://i805.photobucket.com/albums/yy337/amds1205/012.jpg
d rings
http://i805.photobucket.com/albums/yy337/amds1205/008.jpg
12 inch c channel for front and 6x2 rectangular tube for rear
http://i805.photobucket.com/albums/yy337/amds1205/006.jpg
http://i805.photobucket.com/albums/yy337/amds1205/013.jpg
rear axle in place with tires
http://i805.photobucket.com/albums/yy337/amds1205/007.jpg
http://i805.photobucket.com/albums/yy337/amds1205/011.jpg

[00TJ]

Gonna be sexy

[ryantowry_81]

that height looks pretty good, i would keep it as low as possible though alot more stable means you can push it that much farther...

are you planning on moving the front axle forward i would strongly recomend it to clear your fire wall, give you a better approach angle, and helps distribute your weight more evenly front to rear....

[Grape Ape]

yea front axle is going forward... besides there is nothing to cut for clearance if i dont move it. she wont be the best lookin rig but im starting to feel pretty good about how its going

[ryantowry_81]

remember form follows function and no truck can look too bad on swampers!!! and after the first good summer run you wont see the truck anyways...

[TonyM]

oooohhhhh..... thats lookin pretty hot.... :drool5:

[BLB]

Dan I went to the shop and checked out the Dodge yesterday. Looks good and you got a smoking deal on the tires lol they are in gr8 shape.

May want to look for some different rims though that are a bit more OS. I think the BS of those rims are 4-5inches which will make turning crap. Should be pretty cheap to order or find some good 15x10 or 15x12 steels with 2-2.5 BS. The spacers you have will help....but prob not much. Just my 2cents:shocked:

[Grape Ape]

alright we r gettin closer... the truck is sitting on the axles.. just need to fab a lil more in the front to move it forward and weld the diffs and replace some seals/bearings/hubs.. then do the bumpers. ill get some moe pics up soon.

[Grape Ape]

almost ready.. here are some pics
http://i805.photobucket.com/albums/yy337/amds1205/PC300037.jpg
http://i805.photobucket.com/albums/yy337/amds1205/PC300035.jpg

[Grape Ape]

http://i805.photobucket.com/albums/yy337/amds1205/PC260026.jpg
http://i805.photobucket.com/albums/yy337/amds1205/PC300033.jpg
http://i805.photobucket.com/albums/yy337/amds1205/PC300036.jpg

[TonyM]

I like how much time was taken changing that D to an F... :18:

Lookin good man, whats next.. bumpers?

Also, make sure to go buy some black chap black rattle can and paint all that exposed metal... it will start looking shitty if you let it rust

[ryantowry_81]

lookin good cant wait to see it on the trail!

[00TJ]

WTH your slipping...UPDATES?

[Grape Ape]

yea i know... got laid off for a couple weeks:37: lol anyway im gettin my money sitiation better so ill have some new pics soon and she should hit the trail sooonnn

[TonyM]

Wow... you have the highest viewed build thread on the site... congrats :29::50:

[Grape Ape]

sweet... first id like to thank :smilielol5: :party:

[ryantowry_81]

now get it done so we can see some action pics!

[BLB]

Wow... you have the highest viewed build thread on the site... congrats :29::50:

Not often you get to see a nice lifted Dodge buggy lol:14:

[ryantowry_81]

so WTF happen to this? you were going so good? is it done yet?

[Grape Ape]

yea i know... work got slow cuz of winter and all that... but yea, just have to do the rear bumper make some limiter straps and do one hub. she will be done and wheeling by next friday:toetap05:

[Grape Ape]

Alright the grape ape is done... just workin out some kinks but ill get pictures up tomorrow night

[wayne]

sweet i just finished rebuilding mine this weekend time for a break in run next saturday what u say ?
http://www.arcticoffroad.com/forum/gallery/files/3/7/0/babys_room_075.jpg

[Grape Ape]

http://i805.photobucket.com/albums/yy337/amds1205/P3090106.jpg
http://i805.photobucket.com/albums/yy337/amds1205/P3090108.jpg
http://i805.photobucket.com/albums/yy337/amds1205/P3090110.jpg

[TonyM]

Looks good man....but you gotta do something with that front bumper.... maybe angle it a bit so it doesn't look so square. Maybe someone with some paint or photchop know how could draw some lines in there to show you what I mean...

[TonyM]

Like this sorta.... or some version of this

[Chevy Man]

I second that cut, and maybe some holes for some lights?? Its lookin awsome man... makes me miss it bad..

[Grape Ape]

yea driving home from the trail last night in the snowstorm.. i really could use some lights down there to help see the road at night

[ryantowry_81]

also dont forget winch, probably the most important piece of equipment on a wheeler.

and i second the cut but i would cut from the bottom where the bend is to the outside about 2" down, i think it will help the approach agle and look alot better. also if it were me i would get some flat plate for the top to make some thing to step on incase you need to get up there to work the winch in deep stuff or work on the motor easier.

[Grape Ape]

the fodge definately surprised me today... i give it two thumbs up i got out of some pretty sketchy holes.... took out a tree or two and only lost my gas tank:cheers2:

[Grape Ape]

id like to take the time to thank whoever took the time to vote 1 star for my build thread lol.... its that kind of hatin that has brought me this far... and that will continue to help the fodge rise:40:

[Grape Ape]

time to level off the truck.... tomorrow the stock 2 inch blocks are going in with the new bilsteins

[TonyM]

id like to take the time to thank whoever took the time to vote 1 star for my build thread lol.... its that kind of hatin that has brought me this far... and that will continue to help the fodge rise:40:

:29: There was only one vote for 4 stars... I was just trying to even it out....lol

[wayne]

at least u got a star ...

[Grape Ape]

new shocks and blocks are in it sits real nice now all level and stuff lol.... gas tank enroute from msi in fairbanks should have her done tuesdayish:hurray:

[Grape Ape]

ended up goin with a 57 gal L shaped tank in the bed its real fancy lol
most of ya'll have seen it in action now but ill get some pics up:15:

[TonyM]

ended up goin with a 57 gal L shaped tank in the bed its real fancy lol
most of ya'll have seen it in action now but ill get some pics up:15:

Quite being such a sissy... How long are you gunna milk this thing:ciappa:.... you didn't even break anything....:lol:

[Grape Ape]

im talkin about my nifty gas tank.... how long r u gonna milk this rear yoke:cryin: get on the trail with us tomorrow:Yawn:

[TonyM]

My shit is fixed.... however, I have to work till 4PM tomarrow so... unless we're doing a late run, I'm out. :cuss:

[Grape Ape]

Yes sir time for ROUND 2 the fodge is out..Knik cleanup can kiss my ass lol it KO'd the fodge time for more lift,new motor ,new tranny ,new tcase ,new tires basically new everything except for the body the gas tank and the axles. This time its serious. :51:

[Grape Ape]

:crazy:Whelp the words pretty much out now so heres the new build plan..
built 460 , zf5 tranny 3 inch body lift, 44 boggers or 47 ltbs it will be the Ford soon instead of the Fodge

[TonyM]

:crazy:Whelp the words pretty much out now so heres the new build plan..
built 460 , zf5 tranny 3 inch body lift, 44 boggers or 47 ltbs it will be the Ford soon instead of the Fodge

no... its the FORDGE now... instead of the FODGE :dupe:

[ryantowry_81]

should throw a 454 in there and make her really confused to what it is.....lol