Your own video defends my position nicely. 10" front and 13" rear travel on a Willys. Nicest I have seen!!
Trail_Krawler & Trail_Willys
- Thread starter kmas0n
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Your own video defends my position nicely. 10" front and 13" rear travel on a Willys. Nicest I have seen!!
02GreenTJ
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All it needs to be the coolest ever is some glass headlights instead of the LEDs. Amazing build love that flatty mixed with some killer suspension! Great work!
kmas0n
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I'm probably going to grab some 5 3/4 Holley retro bright headlights. The farm amazon headlights are temp
Couldn't agree more! This is rolling art and the nicest Willys I have ever seen. The balance of old and new is absolutely perfect. Modified where it needs to be, and left alone where it should be.
High praise from a meticulous guy but not wrong IMO. In most instances, I’ve always preferred resto-mods to factory correct restorations. But they have to be done well, and this one really is. I’d be surprised if it still didn’t seem that way in a couple of decades.
kmas0n
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Completely agree. I know I lot of guys who did a perfect resto... And hate driving them. How sad.
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Couldn’t agree more. Step back and it looks like a stocker locker, but the closer you get, the better it looks. Love this build!
kmas0n
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I took Russel out again this morning... omg, I'm in love. This was one of the best off road trips I've ever had. I let a few friends know where I was going just in case. I took Russel to Diamondback Gulch in Sedona. The drive there was wonderful, perfect weather, and the GPW ran great. I stopped by the store for provisions.
Then hit the road to diamondback gulch.
No problems here!
Then I took a random side road for some red rocks...
a few closups...
Then hit the road to diamondback gulch.
No problems here!
Then I took a random side road for some red rocks...
a few closups...
kmas0n
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kmas0n
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Diamondback Gulch is not a difficult trail, anything with a little ground clearance can handle it. But it is rugged and beautiful.
I guess you can say me and Russel got to know each other on this trip. I told him about me, and what I wanted, What I knew about him and what I wanted from him. A couple times the engine spluttered and tried to die, It surged up the hills and ran downhill only from being in gear, but I calmly talked out loud and told him we were going to have so many adventures, so many fun times ahead. and as silly as it sounds, the more I talked, the better he ran.
This little jeep is a monster!
I guess you can say me and Russel got to know each other on this trip. I told him about me, and what I wanted, What I knew about him and what I wanted from him. A couple times the engine spluttered and tried to die, It surged up the hills and ran downhill only from being in gear, but I calmly talked out loud and told him we were going to have so many adventures, so many fun times ahead. and as silly as it sounds, the more I talked, the better he ran.
This little jeep is a monster!
kmas0n
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Russel learned a lot about me, but I learned a lot about him...
All off road is done in low and 2nd. 1st isn't synchronized to its hard to shift into other than completely stopped. So low and 2nd, with 3rd being the only option. lol.
I posted it was firmer than I expected, but... I have found that hitting a 2" bump feels exactly like hitting a 12" bump. Its the same!
24" drops feel like a 6" drop. This is why I went with 2.5 shocks.
a 12" ledge feels like a 6" ledge, for the same reason
I couple of times I found myself going as fast as possible (40ish mph) down washboard roads and realized that my JLUR on 37's (at 10 psi) can't go any faster without getting squirrely. I have the "street pressure" set for 15 psi for the GPW.
The harder I push the little GPW, the better it does. ...
but...
At first thought... everything rattles. EVERYTHING. The rear gas tank (can) rattles the most. I almost took it off and left it to die in the dessert... but a few pieces of foam should quiet it down. I want to turn the gerry can it into a housing for an air compressor. so it can stay....
for now.
When I was able to separate the noise form the chassis I realized I had a solid build, and could go much faster...
All off road is done in low and 2nd. 1st isn't synchronized to its hard to shift into other than completely stopped. So low and 2nd, with 3rd being the only option. lol.
I posted it was firmer than I expected, but... I have found that hitting a 2" bump feels exactly like hitting a 12" bump. Its the same!
24" drops feel like a 6" drop. This is why I went with 2.5 shocks.
a 12" ledge feels like a 6" ledge, for the same reason
I couple of times I found myself going as fast as possible (40ish mph) down washboard roads and realized that my JLUR on 37's (at 10 psi) can't go any faster without getting squirrely. I have the "street pressure" set for 15 psi for the GPW.
The harder I push the little GPW, the better it does. ...
but...
At first thought... everything rattles. EVERYTHING. The rear gas tank (can) rattles the most. I almost took it off and left it to die in the dessert... but a few pieces of foam should quiet it down. I want to turn the gerry can it into a housing for an air compressor. so it can stay....
for now.
When I was able to separate the noise form the chassis I realized I had a solid build, and could go much faster...
kmas0n
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Where are pics of that sweet cantilevered suspension flexed out 
kmas0n
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Where are pics of that sweet cantilevered suspension flexed out
One of the things I've learned... any trying to wrap my head around... The rear suspension (cantilever) is much more resistant to flex than the front 3 link to flex... The rear has so much more travel, but doesn't want to use it.... On road manner are fantastic, but.. I really want to get more from the rear. look at this...
The front is more flexed than the rear. is it an issue of preload for the rear? Geometry? other?
Spring rate too high for that super light rear end? I know, I know! Springs don't do anything except set ride height...
kmas0n
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LOL. Yes spring rate doesn't matter. LMFAO
But for those used to coilovers. I'ts my understanding that you don't want anything more than 2" of preload.. this rear end has closer to 3" of preload on the coils and .. its a cantilever which means... who the fuck knows?
But for those used to coilovers. I'ts my understanding that you don't want anything more than 2" of preload.. this rear end has closer to 3" of preload on the coils and .. its a cantilever which means... who the fuck knows?
I'm interest to know. Any plans to swap in a softer spring? Also, is the cantilever a 1:1 setup?
kmas0n
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This trail really didn't stress the suspension enough. But Because I'm being hyper critical about everything right now... maybe its fine.
This is only using about 1/4- 1/3 of the available shock travel, but it looks like (at least in these pics) the front and rear are doing a good job sharing the load.
I'm planning to take it to broken arrow tomorrow and really flex the suspension.
This is only using about 1/4- 1/3 of the available shock travel, but it looks like (at least in these pics) the front and rear are doing a good job sharing the load.
I'm planning to take it to broken arrow tomorrow and really flex the suspension.
This was my thoughts exactly. Is the cantilever geometry reducing or increasing the leverage on the spring? It may want a softer spring with more preload to be able to work the spring
As @BlueC mentioned, the cantilever ratio is an interesting variable that should impact both spring rate and shock valving. I have some experience with that in mountain bike rear suspension. Do you have a similar percentage of available suspension travel happening front vs rear when flexing? Mine fees very balanced I assume because I get essentially equal wheel travel front vs rear when flexed out.
Note that there is a danger that I could sound like I know (or think I know) what I’m talking about when, in fact, my experience consists of exactly one incomplete jeep build. Still fun to think about though.
Note that there is a danger that I could sound like I know (or think I know) what I’m talking about when, in fact, my experience consists of exactly one incomplete jeep build. Still fun to think about though.
Every time I'm out there I do that trail, it's fun and scenic.
It'll be interesting to see how the rear does there.
Such a cool ride. Next time we're out there I'd love to see it and/or go wheel with you.