Digsy's Wrangler QLD

[digsy]

Hi. Just thought I would post a few bits of a build up.
It's a pretty mild sort of a build but it get's wheeled real hard and has many scars to prove it.
I regularly compete it in local winch and trial events held by the CQ Offroad Club.

I purchased my Jeep after owning 2 Hilux's. Now much to contary opinion I loved Hilux's. They were tuff and if driven right could match it with the big trucks because of it's light weight. When the other trucks got stuck the little lux could be literally man-handled... much like the huge weight advantage a Jeep has over the nissans and yota's.
I had already modified both my hilux's in various stages and both my hilux's are still in the family with my little brother now the current owner of the latest incarnation of an 80 model that we have had now for a long time... admittedly it is a different cab and motor but the underneath is the same and the cab only was required after a little "nap"
It's now double locked with custom leaves for suspension. (flex's quite good) and runs a set of 37" Krawlers but only low so it is great on side angles it just required a little bit of fender trimming...

But that is another story, but how I got here...

My lovely girlfriend (now wife) loved Jeeps and I was a fan because my father had various Jeeps including a WW2 that is locked and runs 31" mudders that I learnt to drive in way back when... So the Jeep passion was in me.
I also own a number of valiants in various stages from mild to wild so I was a chrysler head as well... So I didn't take to much convincing...
However I went cold on the idea when I went for a ride in a stock TJ and found out they are slightly less able off road than a mini minor.... I'm sorry I know I'm gonna get dusted for that statement but I really was unimpressed after getting out of modified hiluxs and all my mates owning patrols I thought these Jeeps just couldn't cut it.

Along comes Phil Watts with (at that point) Rocky's most modified TJ. 33" double locked 4.56gears suspension...
First up it looked awesome... then he let me take it for a drive at cruiser mountain...

I owned one 2 weeks later...
I bought the Jeep off a lady in Bris. It was neat with a set of 31" all terrains on it. ARB Bar and spotties capped off the deal and I was on the next flight to bris and the new owner of a white TJ.

It's a 99 manual sport.

I started by putting in some 2" coil spacers and a 1" BL. I replaced the shocks with Old Man Emu and they have been an absolutly great shock throughout the last 3 years.
I then bought some American Racing Rockcrawler 15x8's and put a set of 33" Wranglers that I had left over from my hilux to good use.


I ran many comps set up just like that and although we never won we often gave it a good nudge and would be the only can in the top 5 or so with no lockers. Stock gears were a real pain in the butt but my Jeep continued to go places that I didn't expect so while I saved some more money for the next part of my build I just had as much fun as I could. Doing as many KM's as my uni would allow me.

Here's a photo of us playing in a local spot called 4 mile... it got closed down a while back now and it was a real shame because it had some awesome 4x4 trails in a really confined spot. The second photo is of my dad's jeep. Locked but without the muddies on.

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j109/digsycurran/th_danposter1.jpg (http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j109/digsycurran/danposter1.jpg)

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j109/digsycurran/th_Dadjeepone.jpg (http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j109/digsycurran/Dadjeepone.jpg)

I had huge issues with the slip yoke/rear uni which involved me changing one every 8 weeks and included me having 2 spares on any hard weekend planned... it was a pain in the arse but I just had to hold out until...

[digsy]

Next I added a JBitz rear bar. And Added a set of OME 2" Coils.
This setup worked really well for flex but handled the equivilent of a wet bucket.
And I assume that is bad...

My hint for any build up is decide what you want to do with it first and then modify your suspension because I have had 4 set's of suspension in and although I'm sort of happy now I still want to do what I originally should have done to start with... don't tell me you'll be happy with 2" coils because on a Jeep that isn't enough...
Or maybe I just have a problem...

That along with the sinking feeling of hearing a big bang come from my transfer case and oil draining onto the road meant that I new my build was going to go a bit further faster now...

I ordered a 4.5" Rubicon Short Arm kit from Wooders... by the way Dave is a Jeeper, and he was absolutely awesome while I was annoying him with questions and he gave me all the answers I was chasing.
I also purchased a second hand transfer out of the for sale section here at AusJeep... it is a very valuable website to our jeeping community.
I ordered a Moab4x4 SYE kit from 4WD1.biz
and set about getting my jeep back up and running.
While I was burning my credit card I also grabbed some 4.56 diff gears and double ARB lockers.

I installed the suspension in my driveway and I was a very happy camper. My Jeep was starting to look the part... Then following the instructions carefully I installed my SYE and Double Cardain Tailshaft.
It all works great and on the maiden run I had n troubles climbing and flexing where I hadn't previously been.

I then slipped a set of 34x11.5 Simex Jungle Trekka II's on.
So this is what it looks like currently and a few photo's of the suspension. Including when it was sitting on 30's with no transfer case.

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j109/digsycurran/th_10042006096.jpg (http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j109/digsycurran/10042006096.jpg)

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j109/digsycurran/th_10042006095.jpg (http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j109/digsycurran/10042006095.jpg)

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j109/digsycurran/th_jeep2.jpg (http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j109/digsycurran/jeep2.jpg)

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j109/digsycurran/th_jeep3.jpg (http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j109/digsycurran/jeep3.jpg)

So I am pretty happy with it... but...
There is always more to go...

[digsy]

Oh. Yeah I forgot that in the middle I purchased a used hardtop off ausjeep as well...
This is the best mod that I made for on road travel as (although I would never call it quiet) it has made a huge improvement in it's highway comfort...
remember I don't trailer this anywhere. When we do the stint from Rocky to Cruiser or Coff's it is exactly as you see it. Simex's and all... it is a bit vague steering it with the simex's but it keeps you awake!!

In fact the plans for it's touring/competition life has hardly finished... Mid 2007 my group of fourbying mates are headed to the Cape. It will be a 4000km round trip from rocky with everyone driving their cars on their comp tires the entire way. This includes my little bro's hilux on 37" Krawlers and my mates Pootrol on 37" ProComps.

I'm going to be running 36" Simex's to the Cape and in order to do that I need to do some more mods to my car...

I've got to install my gears and lockers yet. They will be done in the next couple of weeks as I am ordering my install kit this week. I will take heaps of photos and post them up.

Also in order to run 36" tires without lifting it any higher there is going to be a little bit of metal cutting done real soon... Again I will take heaps of photos of my heap going under the knife.
My plan is to run Poision Spyder 6 inch Flat fenders at this stage. I really like the look and finish of these and hope that they will be enough to cover (most) of my tires.
The main reason I am doing this is because my front guards are already damaged from running 33" tires and no bump stop limiting with 2"suspension and 1" BL.
I wanted the travel and wasn't to concerned about the guards because I have always planned to flat fender it... but you can see the damage in these photo's below.
The damage to the front of the mudguard was done when I didn't run my ARB bar and I had a 6HP highmount on a winchplate as my only protection... running in a comp we had to cut a track to a GPS point and I ended up against a tree which was a bit of a bummer but all the more reason for tube guards...

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j109/digsycurran/th_jeep4.jpg (http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j109/digsycurran/jeep4.jpg)

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j109/digsycurran/th_jeep6.jpg (http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j109/digsycurran/jeep6.jpg)

[digsy]

Oh also through heaps of abuse my front Dana looks a little more like a Banana than a diff so I am going to press it straight when it get's locked and because it will be out of the car I will gusset and truss the diff. I want to truss the top of the diff so that it doesn't lose any clearance however I know that it will work better in tension than compression so I think I will try to make it really neat around the pumpkin and just run in below. But again when I suss it all out I will through up some more photo's of what we did.

Again I know it isn't very exotic sticking with the Dana 30 but I think it is a great diff and slightly underated... I know they've had breakages and whatnot but look at alot of the Comp Jeeps around aus including wooders who has competed in Tuff Truck... they take a fair bit of abuse and I will continue to run standard outer uni's in the hope that it will act as a fuse and I will be able to protect my internals... It only takes about 20 mins to change an outer after all...


I know it isn't a super exotic build with heaps of unbelievable druel bits... but I thought this might be more like Jeeps that people would actually build so it might cause some interest...

I will continue to update you about how the flatfenders are going and the other mods.

Also in the mix soon will be me trying to work out how I can modify my existing rollcage for better protection and also a cargo barrier...
Then some storage/rollerdrawers built to be tough but as light as possible...

Crikey I think my wife is going to get sick of me and the Jeep spending so much time together... atleast she know's I'm not chasing women... I dont have time...

[brooksy]

Making progress Digsy, looking good mate !!

Where abouts do you live in Rocky as I lived their for 11 years. I went to Frenchville then Nth Rocky High. Did my appreticeship at Ashtons Eng (Fit & Turn - Jack Ashton) then got married & did the bolt to Brissy in '95. I have now moved from Brissy to Hervey Bay this year to live the good life & be my own boss (Own a small 4x4 Fabrication business) with my wife & 2 kids.


brooksy

[goodie]

It's now double locked with custom leaves for suspension. (flex's quite good) and runs a set of 37" Krawlers but only low so it is great on side angles it just required a little bit of fender trimming...


any pics of the lux lol :D

[MR EXTREME JEEP]

any pics of the lux lol :D
Wrong website Goodie.
Digsey looks like your going for the capable rig.
Action shots mate. Lets see it in action. Following the progress with interest. HAve you concidered doing the gaurd lift/ bonnet chop mod instead of Flat fendering it? Dont know how leagal those fenders are?

[digsy]

Hey Brooksy I live in Frenchville but I'm a bit younger than you. I would have been 12 when you left Rocky.

Thanks everyone for your positive comments I have a few more ideas about what I want to do and I am working on them.
I have got some action shots and I will grab more when I go dunging this weekend. I just haven't got them off my camera and onto photobucket yet... but they will be coming soon..

I do have a couple of photo's of my Bro's hilux so I'll through them up... I appologize to all the jeep fanatics but I guess this gives some scope of the vehicles that we have running around in central...

Actually my mate just built another 82 Hilux similar to my brothers but with a bit more cutting and a short tube tray. I'll try to get some photos of a few of my mates cars and the wheeling we do this weekend and post them up.

Be warned though Nissan Patrols are rife up this way... everyone loves them for some reason?! I reckon they are only as good modified as a Heep is... and you don't break CV's in a Heep!!

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j109/digsycurran/th_Luxon37s-1.jpg (http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j109/digsycurran/Luxon37s-1.jpg)


This is it with his Simex JT's he had before the Krawlers.

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j109/digsycurran/th_Hilux1.jpg (http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j109/digsycurran/Hilux1.jpg)

[digsy]

I had definatly thought about doing the lift and bonnet cut but I think that I am a bigger fan of the Flat fenders... It must be in my blood seen as I grew up driven an old WW2 Jeep around... can't get much more flat than that....

I am in the process of getting some prices on various items through Wooders... He has been awesome every time I have wanted info or parts I have called him...

Congrats too Dave on the new addition to the family.

I did some damage to my front steering arm last time I was out so I decided to make my original into a bomb proof unit. I am sleeving the original and I will snap a few photo's of this mod so that you can check it out.

The big Jeep never fails to amaze though. I let my little Bro drive it last night in a little rock play area we have close to home and he was amazed at how it went with no lockers. Where he was talking about hitting switches the Jeep just kept crawling with it's amazing suspension ( did I mention that I really love the Ruby SA kit (for a SA kit))
It keeps the wheels on the ground and moving forward and it's excellent power to weight makes it perfect for short steep hills that require a bit of momentum with no run up... Jeeps definatly got a few more fans around town than they did a couple of years ago just because there are a couple of new ones that are really tuff and well driven...
I think that is the key... you can't jump in a Nissan and drive it like it's a Hilux... and you can't jump in a Jeep and drive it like a Nissan... you just need to work out where your advantage is and use it as much as you can...

[bikemat]

Very nice!
I wish my girlfriend was into wranglers!

[Peggsy]

Hey mate, the truck's looking good! All my spare dollars are going towards an OS trip at Christmas, but come 2007 I plan to throw some more dollars at the TJ... First up will be wheels and a small body lift, but gears are next on the list.

Just out of interest, how much do you reckon it would cost me to go to 4.56's, without lockers? I've been reading a few threads about gears, but still haven't worked out exactly what I'm up for...

[digsy]

Hi all.

Just a few photo's of the steering arm upgrade.

I just pressed on the correct fitting steam pipe tube. Easy as. Light tack of the ARC to keep it in place and sealed in with STAG. that is the brown stuff you can see...

Works like a treat and have already sat it on a few rocks and it loving it. However I would think that this repair will have it's consequences on the day that I do bend it and it will be near on impossible to bend back... used my winch backwards round my diff to straighten the last one... I love synthetic winch rope... do that with steel...

Anyway here is some photos

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j109/digsycurran/th_09112006056.jpg (http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j109/digsycurran/09112006056.jpg)


http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j109/digsycurran/th_09112006057.jpg (http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j109/digsycurran/09112006057.jpg)


you can see the new tube over the original. The original link has not been cut in anyway. It is the original just straightened with steam pipe over top. This adds some weight but it is also very tuff. Should be just the thing for those late night rock playtimes. I know I would rather a TbT one or something that is flexy. But the price of this upgrade to me was $0. And a little bit of my time... I even stole the welding rods and tube off my Dad... Ha ha.

This is a photo of it fitted.
It even looks beefy compared to the original skinny minny.

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j109/digsycurran/th_09112006058.jpg (http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j109/digsycurran/09112006058.jpg)

[digsy]

And here is a little bit of a poser shot...

I really am impressed with the travel and ride of the Ruby SA 4.5.

Obviously it doesn't compare to a LA kit but for a kit that is using all the original mounts... it goes ok I reckon...

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j109/digsycurran/th_Heepflex1.jpg (http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j109/digsycurran/Heepflex1.jpg)

[digsy]

Next up I have some gear coming from Wooders in the form of Master Install kits and I will be fitting my 4.56 and ARB's.

I went with the ARB's because I love the selectability. We have run them in a few different cars and they have been brilliant. People do forget to turn them on rarely but it isn't a huge problem. Most of the time as soon as I hit the dirt roads I crank up the rear and just select the front before I hit a big hill.

I have never owned a shorty with ARB's so it should be fun... should make it climb trees... might have to watch that it doesn't climb to well though and I end up going backwards...

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j109/digsycurran/th_10042006101.jpg (http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j109/digsycurran/10042006101.jpg)


http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j109/digsycurran/th_10042006102.jpg (http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j109/digsycurran/10042006102.jpg)

[digsy]

Hey all.

I haven't posted for a while so I thought I would update my buildup...
It has still been happening but a just keep forgetting to take photos of the old girl...

I have trussed the front D30 and installed my gears and lockers. It made a big improvement to how hard you have to punish the Jeep in the rough stuff... less wheel spin and all that sort of stuff...

I have bought and sold another wrangler in the middle and it went to a mad keen 4b nut as it's next owner so it will be getting a bit of work done to it as well...


Now the plan....

I am currently in talks with an engineer and Queensland Transport about making a stretch to 107-109 inch wheelbase... I know there are a couple of stretched rigs down south but it isn't as easy with Queensland Transport so I am working on it and will let everyone know how it goes...

It will still have a Short Arm suspension kit and be running 33" muddies on road and 37" Krawlers off road... I am hoping to have it completed by Christmas and I will hopefully start the cut in late september

The only reason that I am holding off till after september is that the Jeep is in a 3 Car team event up this way so I am not keen to cut it before then incase it isn't back together...

Anyway. That is the update, hopefully I'll be able to put heaps of info and photos up over the coming months...

If I remember I will put some photos of the truss and how it sits currently on 36" Simex Pedes.

Have fun.

[azasjeep]

Pics digsy, were are the pics mate.

[Locko]

Sick set up Dan but you will be coming second in the three car.

oh shit, locko has learnt to use the interWebz...Yeah Boy! ;)

[Aaronsjeep]

Are you still running the 2 inch coil spacers, 1 inch BL, with the 4.5inch Rubicon express lift???

That would be pretty high, id say more than enough to clear 36s??
Do you have extended bump stops in, from R/E lift??

[digsy]

Mate the coil packers are gone but the BL is still in. I have been running 36 inch 'pedes for about a year now and while they are a good tire I'm moving on from them to run a set of Walker Evans 17 inch Beadlock rims and 37" BFG Krawlers. I guess it'll never stop!!

I've also sold both the diffs out of the Jeep to make way for some bigger/badder units. Think it'll end up with 2x Solid 44's under it. They seem like a good mix of clearance and strenght for a rig on 37's. I like the fact that they come with bigger axle tubes than Dana 44s (jk's etc) and I guess for the price I'll just order mine complete with brackets etc which makes them a bolt in alternative to modified jap diffs. Has anyone had much experience with these diffs? And good, bad or ugly things to say?

I'm also still hunting for a front end damaged right off so I can make my stretch happen. I've pretty much nutted out how I'm gonna do it and the start of october is the due cut date... Again I keep promising photos and the day that I get them off my camera will be the day I post them up...


The hardest thing is that I have been very busy dungin it like theres no tomorrow! Once I pull it off the road I'm gonna have no toy for a couple of months (atleast) and that will be both good and bad! hopefully it will give me the motivation to stay focused on finishing it. Us Curran boys have a history of starting too many projects! We still have all of them in various dismantled states! So we don't give up on them, they just take longer than planned...

[digsy]

Locko! On Ausjeep!!!

Wonders never cease...

I saw your photos on your thread and the ol Grands looking the part these days mate.

I've actually got my brother half convinced to sell that P.O.crap mav that he has and buy a Grand. He's looking at one down south. Just got to sell his mav first to get some coin back. So if you know anyone that would be looking for a super mav send them our way... it's got a ton of gear on it for touring and hard corr wheeling... just need to be a bit partial to a few little dints... nothing too bad, all repairable...

You gotta come down and put a few tracks in on our new place mate. We got some pretty good ones happening already and at the start of october I'm hoping to have an Ausjeep run here. Maybe dung a saturday and then camp up five rocks and come home sunday? Would your pack of Cherrokee owners be interested in something like that? Through a good date out and we'll lock it in.

[camo]

Digsy i'm keen as mustard. The chero is on the road after a 5 month break. Longarmed, dana 44 rear,alloy usa front axles and 4.56 gears to play with....yea i'm keen:)

Time is my problem at the moment but shoot me a text the next time you go for a play.(our second child due 29 September).Been out of the loop for the past 12 months or so but that is going to change.

An ausjeep weekend sounds cool. Let us know if I can help out.Lets show these boys some decent offroad action.

[digsy]

I keep promising photos and I will as soon as I get my USB sorted out... computers if it isn't one thing... they are almost as time consuming as jeeps!

I've prepped my Jeep ready for the local 3 car team event. Got a steel roof in it now and I cut some old windows apart so that I could use the window frame to mount my window nets. I upgraded to a set of IPF 7" round lights and they are brilliant! made a huge difference to driving it at night.
The 37" Krawler fits perfectly in the rear at 10 psi. I've removed my rear tailgate so that it won't get damaged in the comp and I've also removed the swing away part off my tube rear bar.

Again I will shoot some photos of it soon and post them up. When I put on the 37" Krawlers and Walker Rims.

Also I did some "opening" of my wheel arch's and trimmed my flares to suit. They are yet to have the bunnings edging mod to cover the new wheels for the comp, but it'll come soon.

Also in the middle somewhere I hope that I have found a damaged wrangler and will be picking it up asap so that will give me a few spares to keep me moving for the weekend short of a major roll I reckon we should make it too the end...

Anyway.
That is the update for now and I really will try to get photos up really soon.

Also I'll shoot some photos of the rigs at this comp on Sept 20th... there are a few jeeps in which is great to see...

Things in CQ have turned around a bit and the jeeps are slowly starting to get some action up this way! Should be a fun weekend!

[digsy]

Just another photo to let you all no I haven't forgot about this...

Just still aquiring gear.

Sold both diffs and transfer out of it so it's time for some changes...

This is as it sits in my driveway on my mates 33s because I sold my old and haven't got my new! Thus no LCMP for me this year!
http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j109/digsycurran/stevesphotos01175.jpg

[ian]

sound like you have fun ahead... :)

your tees look good
what size shirts you have? got any big ones..for fat ass jeepers?

[digsy]

Yeah mate...
We definately do Big sizes as most of us are all larger build!
Shoot us an email with your size and design and I can get it sorted if your interested
We've also got a heap of new Offroad Racing DVDs and in about a month we will have an all new Hooded coat for sale with a real Offroad Theme happening.

Shoot us an email at sales@offroadcartel.com.au and we'll get it happening...

[Hollywood]

Looks awsome mate! What diffs were ya running with the 37" Krawlers?

[digsy]

Believe it or not I was running the standard D30/40 combo and never had too many problems. Ring gears were the only issue. I went thru 2 but the 3rd one held up well. But in their defence I was putting second hand gears in it cause I always had this big plan of doing diff upgrades so I didn't want to waste money... Anyway I ended up with 33/35s back on it and never had another problem. Biggest problem is my back yard has a good no. of hard tracks on it. For a year my jeep hardly saw the black top but got dunged every weekend... Street maintance went out the window, so it's time for a freshin up... all new steering, diffs, transfer and a few other things

[stroked]

saw it cruisin down the black top about 2 weeks back now, gave a jeepers wave. looking tough, dissapointed i didnt get to see it thrash the bowl a while back. gotta organise another run soon.

what about shirts for skinnyass jeepers?

[digsy]

Yeah mate I saw you.

The old girl doesn't do too many street k's anymore....

We definately have shirts for all sorts.
That jeep shirt looks pretty hot I reckon.
I'm a bit bias though... it's my jeep on it!
Shoot us a message off of the website with your size and I'll get back to you.
The shirts are normally $35 with $5 postage.
But cause your a rocky boy I can drop it to you to save a few bucks.

[stroked]

either that or i could pick it up direct from jean, along with my pimp performance stickers im waiting for hahaha :) he deals through my ol girl at get logo'd.

its a tough jeep, i like it.

[XJames]

Good to read a full build on the rig, definately some sweet plans you got happening, hope to see it finished off one day.
I see the CurranCustoms sticker on the screen. Gotta ask did you have anything to do with the build of a big black wrangler on 35 inch Claws that was at LCMP? Otherwise if Curran is an actual shop that's funny that it's ur last name aswell

So interested in opening these hard tracks in your back yard up for a day of jeep wheeling at all? Then a run to 5 rocks at night sometime? Would be good to meet everyone properly and have abit of a play on some tracks

[digsy]

Yeah mate we are always interested in having a dung with some fellow jeepers!
Yeah I'm good mates with Alex that use to own that black TJ with the Curran Customs sticker. Yeah it is us. Was just something to stand out from the crowds...

We do all our own work start to finish and the cut will be getting done in my shed. We are lucky that my old boy is a jeep nut as well and he guides us on our jeeping modifications...

What sort of time frame would suit you guys for a dung? I'm home most weekends and I can arrange a few other rigs for a drive. There are a wide range of tracks on our place but most of them are probably rated something like hard - onwards. Perfect for a nice arvo play and then a byfield drive to five rocks.

I'm keen

[Mitch_TJ]

Hey dan. Im keen to get out for a play in my jeep sometime soon weather its up the rocks or out at your place again. Let me no when your goin next. I'll get someone to drive the tj out there then i can giv it a thrash hehehe. I showed the boys a pic of your flattie hats too and me and a few of them are keen to get one if you got any left. Talk soon, Mitch

[XJames]

I've seen the black one around acouple of times and it's one mean looking wrangler, looks like a very capable trail rig.

Doing all your own work is the only way to go really if you have the skills, it's so good to stand back at the end and know that you built something from scratch nothing takes that feeling away. You learn so much along the way aswell, nothing like it.
Did you do all the work on ur valiants urself aswell? Should bring one down to the classic car cruise first saturday of every month at redhill for a look.

I don't work weekends so anytime suits me really, just acouple of weeks notice incase and i'd be really keen. Even if the tracks are all rated hard and onwards i'd be more then keen to give the chero a go at them and see how i go, or just watch some of the more modified rigs have a go and get some shots of the action.
I'm keen as

[digsy]

Hey Mitch.

I'll let you know when we are headed for a dung. It's always good to see your TJ around... was fun up the rocks last time... Seems when you get the chance you make up for lost time!

I have a few hats left. Come round one day with your mates and we can work out what size suits. Give us a text and I'll let you know when suits me.
I also have a fair few shirts in stock at the moment so if you are keen there's a fair bit of that gear too...

Xjames. I'm not sure if I really love making my own bits... I'd rather pay but I'm a tight arse! Just kidding I know what your talking about but it does mean an awful lot of cold nights in the shed and I'm not really sure my wife shares my passion for modifying!
It'll be good to get you jeep through our tracks just make sure you got plenty of sill protection. Steve will bring his through I'm sure and I know Josh is really keen to test out his new toy.

We'll lock a date in soon for a good dung. Sounds like we got a bit of interest!

[XJames]

It'll be good to get you jeep through our tracks just make sure you got plenty of sill protection. Steve will bring his through I'm sure and I know Josh is really keen to test out his new toy.

We'll lock a date in soon for a good dung. Sounds like we got a bit of interest!

The side steps on it at the moment have actually held up pretty well to acouple of big hits so hopefully they will protect the sills enough, when i get some funds and time i'll make up some sliders.
I'll give it a good go, sounds like it'll be good fun, just take some time driving different lines to get through.
I'm fairly shure cameron will be keen to give his wrangler a go aswell, with his new shocks it gets rediculous down travel for a stocko.

Will be looking forward to it for shure

[digsy]

Well it's locked in now!

6 June Saturday thrash at our place.
We've got a huge range of tracks but most of them offer some degree of difficulty! Should be fun.
Check out the Organise a Trip section for more details!

[KJben]

hey digsy, good build up of ur TJ looks great now, havent seen it since the 4wd comp at seone park in "06" as seen in the pic....

anyway see u around some time....

[digsy]

Wow... That photo is a blast from the past!
It has obviously been through a bit since then!

I have used it a fair bit since then... including the CQ Offroad Challenge in 08.
I was in Crack-a-tinny with Swaf and Billy in their Gen powered winch trucks.

Come down this weekend to Yeppoon for a drive... you'll get to see all our modded junk as it sits now. There is a trip up in the Queensland Organise a trip section...

For everyone else my computer skills are slowly growning... I'll have photos as it sits up here after the weekend... probably of it broken!

Catch ya.

[KJben]

sorry digsy can't come to yeppoon this weekend goin to boyne tannum hookup. next time will definetly be the go, havent been offroad 4 a few weeks.
Catch ya next time....

[digsy]

I thought I better put up a photo as it sits now...

This was a magic day today in Yeppoon! I love living on the coast (I work 300km's inland)
http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j109/digsycurran/HeeponBeach4.jpg

[KJben]

hey love that pic.

[itchy]

Luv that Jeep Digsy!
So are the Solid diffs in now?

[digsy]

No mate.
Ended up side tracked and am now working on putting two spidertrax diffs under it... Something a little different.

Worst yet I've got it in my head that it is gonna be stretched, engineered and finished for Mud, Bulls and Music in November... Don't know how I'm gonna go but you gotta have a goal!

Offroad Cartel will have a stand at that event and it's suppose to be on display... Hopefully I can get it done in time... the doner car is the hold up...

[XJames]

Sweet looking pic Dan

I've got a feeling your gonna be going at it pretty hard once you start to get the stretch all done by november, good luck.

[digsy]

Yeah Xjames... but there's always time for a dung!

Should be a big couple of months ahead...

[digsy]

Well I'm currently smashing in the work on the wrangler to get it ready for the drive next weekend.

This is how it looked at 4 yesterday arvo in my front yard...

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j109/digsycurran/Photo0010.jpg

Made some 2 plane floor plates for it which conform to those CCDA rules that were posted up on their website

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j109/digsycurran/Photo0013.jpg

This is a couple of hours in...

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j109/digsycurran/Photo0014.jpg

By about 1 in the morning this is the stage we were at... notice everyone wearing their Saftey Hi-vis for working at night!!!
This is the first photo every of a QR worker doing work!

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j109/digsycurran/Photo0015.jpg

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j109/digsycurran/Photo0016.jpg

Also here is one of the seat mounts for Mrextreme...
The little tabs are off of the seat, there is a angle piece tied together with flat which uses the original 1/2 inch nuts to attach to the seat base.
It's exactly how the original seats mount. This means you can still flip them forward... as for height in the car I'll report back when I get some seat time... however at this point they seem like they are about 1 inch higher...

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j109/digsycurran/Photo0017.jpg

[MR EXTREME JEEP]

Many hands make lite work. Speedy stuff Digsy.
Liking the cage. Are you going to put a spreader on the front behind the dash?
Thanks for the seat pic. Dont mind those at all?
Hopethe rest of the weekend is as productie as last night was.
Cheers

[digsy]

Some more work today.
Firstly some Fox shocks from Ian

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j109/digsycurran/Photo0012.jpg

Then straight back into the cage.
We had a pretty cruisy start to the day because of the 3 am finish last night... can't rush too much but we got a bit of motovation about lunch time and started again in earnest.
We ended up deciding with a bit of a Blue Torch Fab look with a slightly raised center with a large X in the roof... I'm probably not explaining that well but...
http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j109/digsycurran/Photo0018.jpg

Then it was a quick remove from the car and into the final welds...
http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j109/digsycurran/Photo0019.jpg
http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j109/digsycurran/Photo0020.jpg

We did end up putting in a dash spreader just above the dash... it doesn't block vision in any way so we decided it looked pretty trick when the windscreen was down.
I know this cage has a heap of extra steel in it but I don't mind having something that looks pretty if I can, and hopefully with all the triangles it adds a heap of strenght in the event that it turns turtle...

[Gojeep]

How has that mig been going for you? Looks like a 250 amp version and still single phase. Is what I am looking into getting.

[flexytj]

nice work digsy

[Aaronsjeep]

I thought I better put up a photo as it sits now...

This was a magic day today in Yeppoon! I love living on the coast (I work 300km's inland)
http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j109/digsycurran/HeeponBeach4.jpg

Pick Looks awesome mate, cage is coming along very nicely also..

Are they 37s on your rig? how long you been running them on the D30 stock front diff?

[xjsteve]

gotta love the baby seat in the back digsy, you gonna be able to fit the second one in shortly or what, lol

[ian]

How has that mig been going for you? Looks like a 250 amp version and still single phase. Is what I am looking into getting.


thats the same as my mig also... they have the new style inverter.. weld very nice and smooth :)



also can i see hydro bumps in stock location.. 8)

[Mitch_TJ]

Cage is lookin awesome dan... Got mine goin now so i'll be out there saturday. Cant wait :)

[Jishwa_ZJ]

yeah there are some hydo bumps slyed into the stock location, they arrived the night before a comp so a quick think and figured it was as good a spot as any for them,

and the Magmate it a damn good welder for the price of it, has done everything we asked of it so far, and heaps easier and faster than welding with the old stick welder we had (not bagging the stick but my old boy is a gun with it and its done alot of work for us)

Also the heep is running 37's been on them now for about 12 months (before that it had 36's) and the front d30 has been rebuild twice, its keeps smashing crown wheel and pinons, but in saying that the first was in a comp and he landed hard on the gas with one front wheel and locker in, and 2nd time was the world dodgest rebuild just to get it driving again and we believe that the crown wheel actually wasnt made properly...

[Gojeep]

Thanks for the feed back on the mig.

[Jishwa_ZJ]

only 1 drama we've had with it is the standard nozzle on the gun tapers in at the end and splatter can build up on it and affect the wire feed and maybe gas flow as well, so going to get a replacement nozzle for it that aint tapered and see how that goes...

[Locko]

Hey Josh, to stop spatter build up in your nozzle tip you can buy a product called nozzle dip too stop the build up, or do what we do in the trade and spary cooking spary around inside the nozzle, Cheers locko.
PS i heard Danny got injuired on the weekend?

[Jishwa_ZJ]

Thanks for the inside tip from the man in the trade,

[digsy]

Yeah I busted myself up with a grinder to the foot on the weekend Locko.
That is why I've been quiet on here... been in hospital instead!

Work shop safety is what it's all about and doing the last cuts on the seat belt mounts (which turned out pretty trick) on sunday after tea I didn't put boots on... DUMB!!! It has cost me big time!

Won't be driving it this weekend at all now... But lucky I got mates that are good enough to thrash my junk for me.

I'll get some photos up over the next few days.

But this is how it sits currently

Front shocks in, rear shocks 50% in. Will be finished tomorrow night.
Cage ready to go in for final weld on front floor plate. Will happen tomorrow night.
Front and rear bars repaired and painted, seats mounted and finished and all it will need is a little clean on thursday arvo and ready for the action on friday/saturday.

I'm really happy with the way the cage and bits have turned out and can't wait to wheel it on the new shocks and bits.

The seats are really comfy but will only be in for comps/trade stands etc as they don't conform to QLD Transport rules as they don't flip forwards and since I have a young family the ability to take them for a day trip in it is the highest priority...

Can't wait to do a heep more driving in it now...

Once I can press the pedals again... stupid, stupid, stupid...

[digsy]

Hey all thought I'd post a bit of an update on this now that it is finished... well this lot of mods is finished anyway...

First up this is my foot all stitched up... did a reasonable job on it but was lucky enough to miss all the vital stuff...
http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j109/digsycurran/Photo0031.jpg

This is my cage as it sits today.
I made seat belt mounts using rectangular hollow section cut to suit the correct angle as the seat belt won't operate correctly if they are on an angle.
I haven't padded it yet but this will be happening very shortly as I have been in contact with a Mod Plate guy and he gave me the rules on the seatbelt mounts and single cross brace (for rear access) So it will be going through all the legal side of things in the next few weeks.

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j109/digsycurran/Photo0034.jpg

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j109/digsycurran/Photo0035.jpg

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j109/digsycurran/Photo0036.jpg

Then there is the poser shots. This was just a little flex up on one of our tracks on Jackpot. Actually I'm about to start work on this one to make it much harder as everyone seems to be doing it a bit too easy... gotta keep it fresh...

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j109/digsycurran/Photo0037.jpg

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j109/digsycurran/Photo0038.jpg


And also while we were at it we hooked into my dad's WW2 to get a cage started for it. We will continue to work on this with getting the cross bracing and A pillars looking good but not interfering with the original nature of the vehicle. He uses it but definately doesn't abuse it... actually hopefully for all the military buffs it gets a little air play on the 4WD Action DVD when it comes out as he drove it through the tracks at Jackpot and the video guy definately filmed it... so here's hoping...

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j109/digsycurran/Photo0021.jpg

[ian]

nice job on ya foot mate, how do ya double plugers look? cut the stap? ;)

get those new shocks fitted up ok?

[Willys_Warrior]

Looking good digsy

[digsy]

Lucky I was wearing my good leather thongs and they recieved no damage other than a little blood on them which has really stiffened the leather... It's alright i'll walk them back in soon!

Those shocks are sweet Ian. We dropped a little pressure out of one rear one because it was higher than the rest but I have since done some High Speed sand and dirt work and am very very impressed. They have made my jeep much more controlable at speed where it use to buck it now sits flat.
Can't wait till my foot heals as I am doing a round of the Coopers Rally at LCMP (was meant to be there this coming weekend however now I can't drive properly)

Anyway I'm pretty happy with it at the moment just need to use it more now...

[Jimmyb]

Could have at least done your toenails!!

[Aaronsjeep]

Hey mate, with your cage, its got the single support running down behind the seats.. Im guessing thats all you need strenght wise (and dont get me wrong, think you cage looks great)
Its just thats everything about the cage is so symetrical and neat, would of thought maybe an opposite cross section would finnish it of nice..

[digsy]

Yeah I agree aaronsjeep but unfortunately QLD transport deem it too hard to get into the back if it has a full cross in it. So I am building that as a bolt in deal with the harness bar as it means that it can still be registered in QLD as a 4 seater rather than a 2. If I didn't have a wife and kids to think of I wouldn't have done the back seat halo. Just a six point with a cross and harness bars built in...

[ian]

what kind of tube bender did you use?

[digsy]

Used a JD2.
It's a mates bender so I bought steel to suit his dies that he had.
It's 44mm OD Seamless wall 2.6mm wall ( I think 2.6 is right...)

It was simple to use but I had to get use to it drawing through the die as compared to a press bender which obviously just pushes around the die.

And it's a whole lot of manual work to do that many bends but once you get into it it's good.
Also when he bought it it came with the deal of a free tube notcher. Worth it's weight in gold... and once you start thinking about it mathamatically all the angles are easy and you start getting your notches spot on where the tube fits perfect!

Was a big job but worth it...

[LEXX]

nice rear bumper you have there as well ;)

[ian]

where do you buy those seats? i like them...

[MR EXTREME JEEP]

Go back a page Ian to #48 I think. I like them too but they dont recline. They do a rear twin seat bucket too. Looks sh1t hot...

[Jishwa_ZJ]

Hey havent i seen that jeep in a magizine somewhere.... Did you get a male model to stand in for you... i cant remember you being that good looking...

[digsy]

No I found that guy in the gutter out in front of my house... I think he's some homeless that just hangs around my place borrowing my things...

He He

Was one hell of a boring story
Teh

[Jishwa_ZJ]

He must be good at tracking you down, i've noticed that guys in some photos you posted up here earlier when you still lived in rocky...