My early 81 SX/4... Far from normal...

[idahoeagle]

I still have to deal with steering... I have a shiny machined flat top knuckle with a high steer arm, new studs, and new balljoints I'm hoping to swap out this weekend...
http://m1280.photobucket.com/albumview/albums/idahoeagle1972/Mobile%20Uploads/ResizedImage_1348806734303_zps49f7cef6.jpg.html
After I get it drivable I'm going to cut the rocker panels out, not because of rust, and replace them with 3/16" 4x4 steel tubing and weld them in place. I'm going to figure out how to tie them together with the frame plating I've already done to strengthen and stiffen the chassis. I'm also going to laminate the outsides of the front subframe to help with steering strength, winching stresses and bumper mounting...

[idahoeagle]

How's that for a closet build? Hehe!

[shaggimo]

  Awesome! haha Dirty little secret, I know how it is to work in confined quarters.

[eaglefreek]

Awesome!

[idahoeagle]

Well... I hate it when you don't have time to work on your own junk... I got the knuckle swapped out, redid the motormount brackets for the 3rd time, worked on the bumper mounting and sides, started cleaning a few things up and connecting them under the hood to get it closer to running... I'll post pictures tonight when I get more accomplished...

[idahoeagle]

Actually got some work done to the front bumper today as well...
http://m1280.photobucket.com/albumview/albums/idahoeagle1972/Mobile%20Uploads/ResizedImage_1352329562049_zps45d2e97c.jpg.html?newest=1
http://m1280.photobucket.com/albumview/albums/idahoeagle1972/Mobile%20Uploads/ResizedImage_1352327034133_zpsee22b21a.jpg.html?newest=1
http://m1280.photobucket.com/albumview/albums/idahoeagle1972/Mobile%20Uploads/ResizedImage_1352316150666_zps5dc695a6.jpg.html?newest=1

Whatcha think? The center of it is a recycled Warn winch mount brushguard with everything else built by me. The headlight guards wer bent up by a buddy to my specs...

[vangremlin]

Looks great!

[shaggimo]

Looking good and functional to me  .

[idahoeagle]

Well I got my steering picked up from the machine shop and installed on the car today... I'm fairly happy with the results so far. My only concern is I might have to swap to a stock Wagoneer pitman arm or build bumpstops for the front suspension... I hate to limit the travel or change the almost perfectly flat steering angle... I guess we'll see in the next few days... She's almost done...
http://m1280.photobucket.com/albumview/albums/idahoeagle1972/Mobile%20Uploads/ResizedImage_1352939465720_zps9cb9a626.jpg.html?newest=1
http://m1280.photobucket.com/albumview/albums/idahoeagle1972/Mobile%20Uploads/ResizedImage_1352939465720_zps9cb9a626.jpg.html?o=0&newest=1
http://m1280.photobucket.com/albumview/albums/idahoeagle1972/Mobile%20Uploads/ResizedImage_1352939465720_zps9cb9a626.jpg.html?o=0&newest=1
I even had to have jam nuts custom made...

[idahoeagle]

Well she's finally on the road! I still have bugs to work out and bumpers to finish, but I can drive her after way too many months of being without Eagle...
http://m1280.photobucket.com/albumview/albums/idahoeagle1972/Mobile%20Uploads/ResizedImage_1357165049835_zps617207e5.jpg.html?newest=1
http://m1280.photobucket.com/albumview/albums/idahoeagle1972/Mobile%20Uploads/ResizedImage_1355982172705_zps09bd9edd.jpg.html

[idahoeagle]

http://m1280.photobucket.com/albumview/albums/idahoeagle1972/Mobile%20Uploads/ResizedImage_1357165471188_zps733ee996.jpg.html

[eaglefreek]

Looks awesome! Great job. 

[idahoeagle]

 Thanks! It was a lot.of work, and still has a lot left. But it's a blast to drive. And came out a bit heavier than i was expecting...
 
 At some point this winter I'll figure out what I want to do for the wheel openings. I'm either going to have new larger fender lips or some kind of tube flare using 1 1/2" DOM. 120" tubing...

 I'll build the rear bumper and tire carrier in the next month or two as well. It'll be plate steel just like the wings from the front bumper is.

 I'm also going to replace the rockers with 4" 3/16" square tubing. Not because they are rotten or beat up. Just a structuralreinforcement and preventative armor kinda thing. They'll tie into the extra subframe plating that I'll do at the same time. The tie in material is 1"x3" 1/8" rectangular tubing. I'm going to have a 6 point cage done to stiffen up the chassis that much more and add rollover protection.

 I am going to lower the car about 3" as well. But I have to make a new bracket for the steering box first. It needs to come down about 2" and forward 3" in order to clear the water outlet on the radiator and move the joint on the draglink forward of the diff, it only the casting r

[idahoeagle]

 Sorry, my phone freaked out... The steering box needs to move to clear the radiator outlet and to make the joint on the draglink clear the front diff.by more than 1 1/2". I can't even wheel it till I move it. As soon as I get the bracket done, I'm going to have some spring work done to.soften them up a little and lower the front 3"...

 The rear I'll lower 2" by removing the lift blocks. And the weight of the rear bumper and tire carrier with the spare will settle things down maybe another inch.

[shaggimo]

  Looks awesome man! Great work, will look even better a little close to the ground and still clearing the 33's.