WG CRD - slowest build ever

[Adrian D]

I'll update the existing mods a bit later but I just bought this to build a custom from axle:

It's a high pinion D44 off a 1979 F250. Seems like the strongest factory casting, with more reinforcing ribs than the early 1960's and the late 1970's F150 versions.


Looks like tubes are cheap, so when more funds clear I will order tubes.
I can get S235 or S355 steel, varying thicknesses, from 3mm to 20mm wall. I thought about 8 or 10mm wall, for some HD applications Dana used 12.5mm. Any thoughts on thickness and S235 vs S355?

[Adrian D]

This WG is a replacement for my old 2002 CRD. It's supposed to get me everywhere, from put-putting around town to hauling stuff and following JK's off-road.

The day I brought it home:


First off-road outing, with the chopped 2002 bumper and 30" tires:


First attempt at fitting 32" tires (235/85/16) without any mods:





Hauling stuff with the aero mods in place (they help fuel consumption a good deal) and street tires.

[RTB]

Don't you have enough on your plate without taking on more projects?

Did you make a thread showing the modifications to your front bumper bar? Looks like you have cut a fair bit away. I remember reading ages ago about someone who did the aero mods. Was it was you. From what I remember the mods made a noticeable change?

Gotta love a black WG. Easily one of the best looking cars on the road.

[Adrian D]

I'm a glutton for punishment

I chopped the front bar right on the edge above the fog light holes, riveted 5 metal tabs with nuts welded on each corner piece and now I can remove the corners in a few minutes.

Here's a bit of action from over the weekend. Lockers and aggressive tires meant I only had to winch twice. Once when I got high centered on a ledge and once when I got high centered in some ruts. Being one of the last cars in the group meant everyone made the ruts deeper and deeper.

https://youtu.be/L1WuiHfs6XU

[RTB]

Nah, I think I see your problem. Your steering wheel is on the wrong side of the car......

Looks like you made it through that bit pretty easily. Is there a new scrap on the left hand side from running past the tree??

[Adrian D]

The tree broke when I pushed on it with the headlight
But I did scrape the protective foil on the front wing higher up that "road", where I dropped so close the mirror folded

[Adrian D]

One of the first jobs was to add some heat wrap to the water hoses right next to the turbine. The hoses cracked on my old WG and I want to avoid that:



Then it was time for a coolant flush. The radiator was full of these deposits, nothing seemed to be effective in dissolving them (citric acid, washing soda, alcohol):







So after fighting to remove them, I simply swapped in my good radiator from the old WG, it was only a couple of years old at the time: