More Rolling Thunder Episodes

Trucks! Builds

Parts Used In This Episode

Accel
Battery Cable, Silicone, Red, 1/0-Gauge, 20 ft. Long, Eyelets, Each
BF Goodrich
BF Goodrich Tire
Dupli-Color
Paint, Engine, Enamel with Ceramic Resin, Gloss, New Ford Gray, 12 oz., Aerosol, Each
Ford Performance Parts
Cobra R Front Brake Upgrade Kit
Ford Performance Parts
Ford Racing 2003-04 Mustang Cobra Upgraded Whipple Supercharger Kit
Ford Performance Parts
Ford Racing 4.6L DOHC Aluminator Long Block
Hypertech
Computer Programmer, Max Energy, Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Each
Intercomp Racing
Electric Scales, SW650 Quick Weight, LCD Readout, Aluminum Scales, 1,500 lb. Per Scale Capacity, Kit
Kirkey
Seat Cover, Highback, 20 Degree Layback, 16.00 in. Width, Black Tweed, Each
Kirkey
Seat, Aluminum, Intermediate Road Race, 15 Degree Layback, 16 in. Hip Width, Each
Lizard Skin LLC
Lizard Skin 50115 Sound Control Formula
Pertronix
Distributor, Plug and Play, Magnetic Pickup, Vacuum Advance, Black Cap, Chevy, Big/Small Block, Each
RJS Racing Equipment Inc.
Harness, Complete, Camlock, Individual-Type, Wraparound, Roll Bar Mount, Red, Each
Russell Performance
Fittings, Brake, Steel, Nickel Plated, Male -3 AN to Male 10mm x 1.0 Thread, Pair
Summit Racing
Tubing, Stainless Steel, Natural, 3/16 in. x 20 ft., Each
American Expedition Vehicles
JK DualSport SC Suspension 3.5"/4.5"
American Expedition Vehicles
JK DualSport SC Suspension 3.5"/4.5", JK (2007+ Wrangler)
Bilstein
Bilstein's 2008 Jeep Wrangler JK Giveaway - Click Link to Enter!
Bilstein
Bilstein's 5100 Series shocks feature a monotube design for cooler, more efficient operation and longer life. They have the largest available piston diameter, providing superior handling and performance. The 5100s' patented digressive valving instantly reacts to changing surface conditions for maximum comfort and control on and off the road. These shocks also have split compression and rebound valving tuned for each specific application.
Bushwacker
Fender Flares, Flat Style, Front, Rear, Black, Dura-Flex Thermoplastic, Jeep, Wrangler, Set of 4
Daystar Products International, Inc.
Cam Can Complete Kit, Gray, Jeep
Daystar Products International, Inc.
Cam Can Double Mount, Kit
Daystar Products International, Inc.
Cam Can Mount, Steel, Black, Rear Tire Rack Mount, Kit
Daystar Products International, Inc.
Cam Can, Non-Gas, Gray
Daystar Products International, Inc.
Mounting Studs, Cam Can, Set of 3
Denny's Driveshaft
Custom 1350 3" Aluminum Driveshaft
Factory Five Racing,Inc.
Tubular Front Lower Control Arms
Fore Precision Works, LLC
Billet Fuel System for 2003-2004 Cobra
Hypertech
Computer Programmer, Max Energy, Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Each
KC HiLites
Long Range Lights, Daylighter, with Relay and Wiring Harness, Round, 12 V, 130 Watts, Universal, Kit
Maximum Motorsports
Solid Rack and Pinion Mounting Bushings
Mickey Thompson
Tire, Dick Cepeck, Crusher, LT 315 /70R17, Radial, 3,195 lbs. Maximum Load, Outline White Letters, Each
Mickey Thompson
Wheel, Dick Cepek, DC-2, Gloss Black, 17in.x 9in., 5 x 5.00 in. Bolt Circle, 4.500 in. Backspace, Each
Miller Electric Manufacturing Co.
Spectrum 625 X-TREME with XT40 Torch
Nitro-Plate
Nitro-Plate - High Temp, Bright Exhaust Coating
O'Reilly Auto Parts
Optima battery
Rusty's Off Road
Stainless Steel Battery Box
ScanGauge
Programmable Gauge System; Monitor Parameters Such as Trip Data, Transmission Temperature and Fuel Economy Information
True Forged
Forged 3 Piece Polished Aluminum Wheel
Warn Industries
Bumper, Elite Series, Rock Style, Steel, Black, Front, Jeep, Each
Warn Industries
Front Bumper, Rock Crawler, Steel, Black Powdercoated, Jeep, Each
Warn Industries
Rear Bumper, Rock Crawler, Steel, Black Powdercoated, Jeep, Each
Warn Industries
Tire Carrier, Steel, Black Powdercoated, for Use with Warn Rock Crawler Rear Bumper, Jeep, Each
Warn Industries
Winch, 9.5cti Thermometric, 12 V, Hawse, 9,500 lbs, 3/8 in x 100 ft. Synthetic Rope, 12 ft. Wired Remote, Each
Wooly's Off-Road
Woolys Off Road Park

Episode Transcript

(ANNOUNCER)>> TODAY WE'RE TAKING OUR GIVEAWAY JK WRANGLER OUT TO SEE JUST HOW GOOD THIS JEEP PERFORMS ON AND OFF ROAD BEFORE WE GIVE IT AWAY TO ONE OF YOU. THEN WITH ALL THE HARD WORK FINALLY DONE, WE'RE PUTTING PROJECT ROLLING THUNDER BACK TOGETHER FOR THE FINAL TIME.

IT'S ALL TODAY HERE ON TRUCKS.

(RYAN)>> HEY GUYS, WELCOME TO TRUCKS. WELL TODAY WE'RE PUTTING A FEW TEST MILES ON OUR BILSTEIN JK GIVEAWAY PROJECT.

AFTER ALL WE WOULDN'T FEEL RIGHT IF WE DIDN'T TEST IT OUT THOROUGHLY AND MAKE SURE EVERYTHING WAS WORKING CORRECTLY. NOW WE'RE DOWN HERE AT WOOLEY'S OFF ROAD PARK IN LYNNVILLE, TENNESSEE. AND NOT ONLY DOES THIS PLACE HAVE A WIDE VARIETY OF TRAILS, WELL IT'S ALSO CLOSE TO THE INTERSTATE AND EASY TO GET TO. PLUS TRAILS ARE LOTS OF FUN.

(RYAN)>> WE NEED MORE POUNDS OF TORQUE!

(KEVIN)>> NOW WE WENT STRAIGHT FROM ON ROAD TO OFF ROAD, NO CHANGES, NO LOCKERS, AND OBVIOUSLY NO SWAY BAR DISCONNECT. THE ONE THING WE DID DO WAS AIR DOWN THE TIRES, AND THAT

COMBINED WITH AN AGGRESSIVE LUG DESIGN AND A TOUGH SIDEWALL, WELL IT GOT US PRETTY MUCH ANYWHERE WE WANTED TO GO.

NICE! AND DESPITE THE LIMITED NUMBER OF HARDCORE MODIFICATIONS, THIS JEEP PROVED VERY CAPABLE AT LOW SPEEDS AS WELL AS HIGH SPEEDS. THE SPECIALLY VALVED BILSTEINS SOAKED UP A LOT OF THE BUMPS AND GAVE THIS JEEP A VERY STABLE FEEL. NOW OBVIOUSLY THE FOUR DOOR JK HAS A LONGER WHEEL BASE, WHICH MADE IT A LITTLE MORE COMFORTABLE ON THE HILL CLIMBS AND ROUGH ROADS BUT DIDN'T SEEM TO HINDER US ON ANY OF THE AGGRESSIVE TRAILS WE TRIED. AND SINCE THIS VEHICLE IS USED PRIMARILY ON ROAD, THE LONGER WHEEL BASE IS REALLY GONNA PAYOFF ON A COMFORT LEVEL. EVEN ON THE PAVEMENT THE AGGRESSIVE LUG PATTERN OF

THE TIRES PROVED TO BE SURPRISINGLY QUIET TOO.

(RYAN)>> NOW THE HYPERTECH MAX ENERGY PROGRAMMER THAT WE'VE

GOT PLUGGED INTO OUR JK HERE GIVES US AN EXTRA 11

HORSEPOWER AND 24 POUNDS OF TORQUE ON THE PREMIUM FUEL SETTING. YOU GUYS THAT HAVE DRIVEN THESE THREEEIGHT VSIXES, YOU KNOW THEY CAN USE THE HELP, ESPECIALLY ON THE TORQUE SIDE. BUT THESE PROGRAMMERS ARE CAPABLE OF MUCH MORE THAN THAT, CHECK IT OUT. NOW THE HYPERTECH TUNER IS PRETTY USER FRIENDLY. IT'S JUST A MATTER OF EXTRACTING THE INFORMATION OUT OF THE FACTORY PCM, STORING IT IN THE TUNER, AND UPLOADING A MODIFIED CALIBRATION, OR TUNE, INTO THE PCM. NOW OUR HYPERTECH TUNER ALSO READS AND CLEARS DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES. AND YOU GUYS WITH RUBICONS, WELL YOU CAN UTILIZE THE ELECTRONIC SWAY BAR DISCONNECT FEATURES USING THE TUNER ON THE FLY. SAME THING WITH THE LOCKING DIFFERENTIALS. YOU CAN CONTROL THEM WITH THE TUNER ON THE FLY. AND EVEN THOUGH WE DON'T HAVE LOCKERS, WE'RE DOING PRETTY GOOD. NOW THIS IS THE FIRST TIME KEVIN OR I GOT ANY SEAT TIME

BEHIND THE WHEEL OF A JK. I'VE GOT TO SAY WE WERE PLEASANTLY SURPRISED AT ITS OFF ROAD CAPABILITY ALMOST OUT OF THE BOX. DESPITE NOT HAVING LOCKERS, WE WENT ALMOST EVERYWHERE WE WANTED TO. THE ONLY THING WE WANTED WAS MORE POWER, LOTS MORE POWER.

(KEVIN)>> NOW RYAN'S HAD ALL THE SEAT TIME SO FAR TODAY, SO I WANTED TO TEST DRIVE THIS THING TOO. AND SINCE THESE ARE ACTUALLY MUD TIRES, WE OWE IT TO YOU TO TEST THEM AS WELL.

(RYAN)>> YOU'RE CLEANING THIS THING, YOU KNOW THAT RIGHT?

(KEVIN)>> HA, HA, WHAT'S THAT YOU SAID? I DIDN'T HEAR YOU.

(RYAN)>> SO WHERE ARE WE GOING CAPTAIN.

(KEVIN)>> I THINK WE COULD PROBABLY, OH MAN!

(RYAN)>> OH!

(KEVIN)>> THAT'S NOT NICE.

(RYAN)>> NICE AND SOUPY.

NICE, I THINK WE'LL BE ALRIGHT, GO FOR IT. WHAT'S THE WORST THAT COULD HAPPEN? OH, STAY ON IT, STAY ON IT.

(KEVIN)>> COME ON áááá, THERE WE GO. OH YEAH, OH YEAH!

(RYAN)>> THE TIRES HAVE TO CLEAN THEMSELVES.

(KEVIN)>> I HOPE THE JEEP CLEANS ITSELF.

(RYAN)>> MUD TIRES APPROVED!

(KEVIN)>> NOW THAT WAS FUN. SO WHOEVER WINS THIS THING, YOU CAN DRIVE IT JUST LIKE

IT IS AND HAVE A GREAT DUAL PURPOSE VEHICLE. OR YOU CAN BUILD IT UP IF YOU WANT TO.

THE POINT IS, YOU CAN'T WIN IT UNLESS YOU ENTER. SO GO TO POWERBLOCK TV DOT COM, ENTER TO WIN. FOR NOW WE'VE GOT TO FIND SOME QUARTERS AND GET THIS THING TO THE CAR WASH.

(KEVIN)>> HEY, WELCOME BACK TO TRUCKS. TODAY'S THE DAY, PROJECT ROLLING THUNDER, FINAL ASSEMBLY. ALL THE BODY WORK'S DONE. IT'S IN HIGH BUILD PRIMER, 95 PERCENT OF THE FAB WORK IS DONE. MOST OF THE PARTS ARE HERE, SO IT'S TIME, AND WE'RE HAPPY ABOUT IT. THERE'S STILL A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT WE'RE GONNA DO TODAY THOUGH. FOR INSTANCE, THESE ARE THE SLUGS THAT HAVE ESTABLISHED OUR RIDE HEIGHT RIGHT FROM THE START. WELL OBVIOUSLY OUR COIL OVER SUSPENSION IS NOT QUITE COMPLETE, BUT WE HAVE TO FULLY ASSEMBLE THE VEHICLE AND GET CORNER WEIGHTS TO PROPERLY GAUGE THE SPRING RATES AND EVEN THE SPRING LENGTHS. SO THAT'S ONE OF THE PROJECTS WE'RE GONNA DO TODAY. SO STICK AROUND, IT'S GONNA GET FUN, IT'S GONNA LOOK LIKE A TRUCK.

(RYAN)>> AN '03 MUSTANG COBRA PROVIDED THE INDEPENDENT REAR SUSPENSION THAT WE'RE USING ON OUR RANGER. NOW GRAFTING THEM INTO THE FRAME RAILS TOOK A LITTLE BIT OF WORK, BUT IT'S IN THERE GOOD AND SOLID WITH SIX BOLT IN POINTS AS OPPOSED TO THE FACTORY FOUR POINT ATTACHMENT. NOW UP FRONT IS OUR CUSTOM FRONT SUSPENSION USING FACTORY FIVE LOWERS AND CIRCLE TRACK UPPERS. THE BRAKES ARE FROM FORD RACING, AND THEY OUGHT TO DO A PRETTY GOOD JOB OF SLOWING DOWN THIS RANGER. NOW THE BRAKES SIT ON LATE '90'S MUSTANG SPINDLES, AND THAT'S ALSO THE SAME MAKE AND MODEL THAT PROVIDED THIS STEERING RACK. THE STEERING RACK DOES HAVE ADJUSTABLE BUSHINGS FROM

MAXIMUM MOTOR SPORTS. SO WE CAN TRY TO DIAL OUT ANY BUMP STEER ISSUES THAT WE MAY HAVE.

(KEVIN)>> NOW ONE OF THE BENEFITS OF HAVING A BODY ON FRAME VEHICLE IS ACCESS TO THE PLUMBING. AND THE BRAKE LINE THAT WE'VE SOURCED FROM SUMMIT RACING WAS BULK LINE THAT COMES IN A SPOOL AND WAS HAND BENT AND STRAIGHTEN TO MEET OUR APPLICATION. THE FITTINGS ARE AN ADAPTER FITTINGS FROM RUSSELL, AND WE'VE ALSO PLUMBED IN A PROPORTIONING VALVE FOR BRAKE BIAS ADJUSTMENT. RYAN ALSO DRILLED AND TAPPED THE FRAME TO ACCEPT THE CLAMPS FOR A PERMANENT INSTALLATION. OUT BACK OUR FUEL CELL CUSTOM MADE BY RICK'S

TANKS DROPS INTO PLACE. THE TRANSMISSION CROSS MEMBER WAS CUSTOM MADE TO FIT OUR APPLICATION, AND WE MADE IT REMOVABLE FOR EASY ACCESS IF WE EVER HAVE TO DO ANY MAINTENANCE.

THE WHOLE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION ASSEMBLY DROPS INTO PLACE, AND THIS SHOWS THE BEAUTY OF MOCK UP. YES YOU'RE GONNA TAKE IT APART 100 TIMES, BUT WHEN IT GOES

BACK TOGETHER THE FINAL TIME IT'S EASY. AND JUST IN CASE YOU FORGOT, THIS IS FORD RACING'S FOUR POINT SIX AT ABOUT 650 HORSEPOWER.

(RYAN)>> NOW THE HEAVY BATTERY WAS RELOCATED TO THE BACK OF THE TRUCK, MAINLY FOR WEIGHT DISTRIBUTION PURPOSES BECAUSE EVERY POUND WE CAN TAKE OFF THE FRONT OF THE TRUCK AND PUT OVER THE REAR WHEELS WILL ONLY HELP PLANT SOME OF THAT 650 HORSEPOWER. NOW THE BATTERY CABLES THEMSELVES ARE LIGHT WEIGHT CABLES.

THEY'RE ALUMINUM STRINGS COATED IN COPPER TO SAVE WEIGHT. OUR POSITIVE CABLE ROUTES TO THE CUT OFF SWITCH INSIDE THE CAB, AND THE GROUND STRAP SIMPLY BOLTS TO THE FRAME. I'LL LEAVE THE GROUND LOOSE JUST IN CASE UNTIL WE GET EVERYTHING HOOKED UP, AND THEN WE'LL CONNECT IT. LET IT JUST DANGLE THERE FOR NOW.

(KEVIN)>> THE DRIVE SHAFT IS CUSTOM MADE BY DENNY'S, AND IS MORE THAN CAPABLE OF HANDLING THE HORSEPOWER, TORQUE, AND

RPM'S OF OUR APPLICATION. THE LARGER DIAMETER IS TO INCREASE STRENGTH, AND THE LIGHT WEIGHT ALUMINUM CONSTRUCTION IS TO

DECREASE THE ROTATING MASS. THE DRIVE SHAFT SAFETY LOOP MAY BE A LITTLE REDUNDANT WITH THE CROSS MEMBER RIGHT THERE, BUT IT HELPS US KEEP THE TRACK OFFICIALS OUT OF OUR HAIR. THE FUEL LINES ARE ROUTED TO THE CUSTOM FORD PRECISION FUEL PUMP, AND CONNECTED WITH AN FITTINGS INTO THE RUSSELL BRAIDED NYLON LINE. THE AN FITTINGS ALLOW US TO EASILY SERVICE FUEL FILTERS

AND BREAK THE LINE UP TO WHERE WE CAN ROUTE IT THROUGH THE

FRAME RAIL, WHICH IS HOLLOW BUT A LITTLE BIT OF A CHALLENGE WITH IT FULLY BOXED. SO WE CUT AN ACCESS HOLE RIGHT BEHIND THE ENGINE, AND ROUTED THE FUEL LINES UP TO THE BACK OF THE RAILS FROM THERE. IF YOU'RE DOING THIS AT HOME, MAKE SURE THAT YOUR ROUTE IS CLEAR WITH NO OBSTRUCTIONS SO YOU DON'T

DAMAGE THE FUEL LINE.

(KEVIN)>> HEY WELCOME BACK TO TRUCKS. TODAY IT'S FINAL ASSEMBLY FOR PROJECT ROLLING THUNDER. AND WITH MOST OF THE CHASSIS ASSEMBLED, NOW WE'RE GONNA DROP THE BODY ON AND SIMULATE AS MUCH ACTUAL VEHICLE WEIGHT AS POSSIBLE SO WE CAN MEASURE THE CORNERS AND GET OUR COIL OVER SUSPENSION ORDERED. BUT BEFORE WE DO THAT, I WANT TO JUST SHOW YOU SOMETHING UP FRONT HERE. NOW INSTALLING THIS SUPER CHARGED FOURSIX INTO ANY OTHER VEHICLE OTHER THAN THE ONE IT WAS DESIGNED FOR IS A CHALLENGE. I KNOW THIS WELL BECAUSE I'M BUILDING AN EARLY MUSTANG AT HOME IN MY SHOP AND PRETTY MUCH HAVE TRIED TO STUFF THIS SAME CONFIGURATION IN IT.

I GOT AWAY WITH IT BECAUSE I'M USING AN AFTERMARKET SCHWARTZ CHASSIS. I WAS ABLE TO KEEP THE ORIGINAL BELT CONFIGURATION. HOWEVER WE HAD TO DO SOMETHING HERE BECAUSE THE ALTERNATOR SITS RIGHT ABOUT HERE WHERE THIS UPPER SUSPENSION POINT IS. SO WE'VE RELOCATED THE ALTERNATOR DOWN HERE WHERE THE ORIGINAL A/C COMPRESSOR PUMP USUALLY GOES AND SAVED OUR SELF THIS REAL ESTATE HERE, WHICH IS NICE.

IT PRESENTED ANOTHER PROBLEM THOUGH. SO BASICALLY WHAT WE DID TO SOLVE THAT PROBLEM IS COMPLETELY SIMPLIFY THE SERP BELT DRIVE THAT POWERS THE SUPER CHARGER. WE'VE NOW GOT A SINGLE IDLER AND SINGLE TENSIONER, AND SHORTER THAN STOCK BELT. AND WITH THE AMOUNT OF CONTACT AROUND THE UPPER PULLEY FOR THE SUPER CHARGER WE SHOULD HAVE NO BELT SLIPPAGE.

(RYAN)>> ALRIGHT, WITH OUR TRUE FORGED WHEEL AND BFG TIRE COMBO ON, ALL WE'VE GOT LEFT IS TO ADD OUR EXHAUST SYSTEM AND WE'RE GONNA HAVE A COMPLETE ROLLING CHASSIS AND DRIVE TRAIN. AND THEN WE CAN GET STARTED ADDING PARTS TO THE INTERIOR OF THE CAB, AND WE'LL HAVE THIS THING CLOSER TO FINAL WEIGHT.

(KEVIN)>> NOW THESE FORD LOG STYLE MANIFOLDS FLOW REALLY GOOD, ASK ANY COBRA GUYS, BUT WE HAD OURS SENT TO NITRO PLATE FOR CERAMIC COATING INSIDE AND OUT. IT LOOKS GREAT AND KEEPS THE HEAT OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD. WE WERE ABLE TO REUSE THE DOWN PIPES FROM THE STAGE ONE MARAUDER SWAP, BUT THE NEW MAGNAFLOW STAINLESS STEEL SYSTEM GETS BOLTED UP TO AN EXISTING CROSS MEMBER. AND IT FITS GREAT BUT BOY IT'S TIGHT. WE GOT CLEARANCE AT THE UNIVERSAL JOINT?

(RYAN)>> OH YEAH!

(KEVIN)>> WHOO, THAT'S CLOSE, IT'S CLEARING THOUGH.

(RYAN)>> QUARTER INCH!

(KEVIN)>> WE ALSO HAD OUR SIDE EXIT EXHAUST TIPS COATED AT NITRO PLATE, SINCE THEY WERE A MIXTURE OF MILD CARBON STEEL AND STAINLESS.

THESE GET INSTALLED TEMPORARILY. WHAT DID WE DO WITHOUT ZIP TIES?

(RYAN)>> I DON'T KNOW, WHAT DID THE WORLD DO PRIOR TO ZIP TIES. HUNG DOWN A LITTLE BIT, THAT'S PROBABLY ABOUT

RIGHT, THAT'S COOL. NOW YOU GUYS HAVEN'T SEEN THE COMPLETED INTERIOR. WE FINISHED THINGS OFF BY SPRAYING SOME LIZARD SKIN SOUND INSULATION AND THEN COVERING IT WITH SOME DUPLICOLOR NEW FORD GRAY SPRAY PAINT. NOW OUR FIVE POINT HARNESSES HAVE FIVE POINTS OF ATTACHMENT TO THE VEHICLE OR THE ROLL CAGE. WE'VE GOT TWO SHOULDER STRAPS THAT WRAP AROUND THE HARNESS BAR AND GET TRIPLE WRAPPED TO THE BAR, TWO LAP BELTS THAT GET BOLTED TO EITHER SIDE OF THE SEAT, AND A FIFTH STRAP CALLED AN ANTISUBMARINE STRAP THAT WILL PASS THROUGH A HOLE IN THE SEAT AND GET BOLTED TO THE FLOOR. NOW WE USED DOUBLE SHEER MOUNTS AND PLENTY OF LOCTITE AT ALL HARNESS ATTACHMENT POINTS. NOW YOU GUYS THAT HAVEN'T DEALT WITH MULTIPOINT HARNESSES BEFORE MIGHT BE WONDERING, WHAT DO I MEAN BY TRIPLE LOOP THESE HARNESSES? WELL IT'S JUST, IT'S THREE PASSES THROUGH THE ADJUSTER. WE'RE ALREADY THROUGH ONCE, WENT AROUND THE HARNESS BAR. WE'RE GONNA PASS THROUGH THE ADJUSTER ONE MORE TIME. THIS IS WHERE YOU MIGHT MAKE THE MISTAKE THAT, WELL THAT'S GOOD ENOUGH, THERE'S NO WAY THAT'S GONNA COME LOOSE.

BUT IN A HIGH "G" IMPACT, THAT COULD BE ENOUGH TO DRAW THIS LOOSE AND YOU COULD FIND THE DASH BOARD, NOT COOL. SO YOU TAKE THE BELT, PASS IT BACK THROUGH THE ADJUSTER, WHICH CAN BE KINDA SNUG, FOLD IT OVER THE BACK, AND NOW IT'S LOCKED IN AND TRIPLE LOOPED.

(KEVIN)>> NOW SINCE THERE'S NO ADJUSTERS ON THESE SEATS, THE PLACEMENT IS CAREFULLY THOUGHT OUT AND MOCKED UP SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE CHOOSING THE FINAL PLACEMENT AND TYING THEM INTO THE ROLL CAGE.

BESIDES, THE PADDED SEAT COVERS WILL GIVE A CERTAIN LEVEL OF COMFORT AS WELL.

(RYAN)>> HEY GUYS, WELCOME BACK TO THE SHOP. WELL WE'VE GOT A COMPLETE ROLLING CHASSIS. WE'RE JUST ABOUT READY TO DROP THE BODY BACK ON THIS THING AND GET OUR OVERALL VEHICLE WEIGHT AND CORNER WEIGHTS. BUT BEFORE WE DO THAT WE WANT TO MEASURE THE UNSPRUNG WEIGHT AT EACH CORNER BECAUSE IT FACTORS INTO THE CALCULATION USED TO DETERMINE THE SPRING RATE FOR OUR COIL OVERS.

LOOKS LIKE WE'RE SETTLING IN AT 106 POUNDS ROUGHLY, YEP, 106. AND THAT 106 POUNDS IS NOT GONNA GO INTO OUR SPRING RATE CALCULATION FORMULA BECAUSE THE TIRE, WHEEL, AND PARTS OF THE SUSPENSION AREN'T SUPPORTED BY THE COIL SPRING. THE REST OF THE VEHICLE IS. THUS THE TERM UNSPRUNG WEIGHT. HAD WE INCLUDED THAT 106 POUNDS INTO THE CALCULATION, WE'D END UP WITH A COIL SPRING THAT WAS STIFFER THAN

WHAT WE REALLY WANTED.

BUT THERE'S MORE TO IT THAN JUST GETTING CORNER WEIGHTS. WE ALSO NEED TO CONSIDER THE MOTION RATIO, AND THAT'S A DIFFERENCE IN SUSPENSION TRAVEL OUT HERE AT THE WHEEL VERSUS THE AMOUNT OF TRAVEL AT THE SHOCK OR COIL SPRING. AND YOU GET THAT NUMBER BY MEASURING THE DISTANCE BETWEEN THE LOWER CONTROL ARM PIVOT POINT AND THE COIL OVER MOUNT, AND COMPARING IT TO THE DISTANCE BETWEEN THE LOWER CONTROL ARM PIVOT POINT AND THE LOWER BALL JOINT. WE TOOK SOME MEASUREMENTS, DID SOME CALCULATIONS, AND CAME UP WITH A MOTION RATIO OF POINT SIXSEVEN. SO FOR EVERY INCH OF WHEEL TRAVEL WE HAVE OUT HERE WE'RE GONNA HAVE POINT SIXSEVEN INCHES TRAVEL AT THE SHOCK OR COIL SPRING. THINK OF THE LOWER CONTROL ARM AS A GIANT LEVER, AND THE FARTHER THE BALL JOINT IS AWAY FROM THE COIL OVER MOUNT, THE MORE LEVERAGE IT'S GONNA HAVE ON IT, AND YOU'LL NEED TO RUN A STIFFER SPRING TO COUNTER THAT EFFECT. AND NOW THAT WE KNOW MOTION RATIO, WE'RE STILL NOT DONE. NOW YOU ALSO NEED TO CONSIDER THE ANGLE THAT THE COIL OVER SHOCK IS GOING TO BE SITTING AT. SO YOU GUESSED IT, IT HAS AN EFFECT ON SPRING RATE AS WELL. NOW OUR LITTLE RIDE HEIGHT SLUG HERE, WELL IT'S TOO STEEP OF ANGLE. A COIL OVER IS PROBABLY GONNA BE A LITTLE BIT MORE STRAIGHT UP DOWN AND WILL END UP AT APPROXIMATELY 75 DEGREES. SO NOW YOU TAKE ALL THOSE MEASUREMENTS AND ALL THAT INFORMATION AND PASS IT ON TO THE COIL OVER OR SPRING MANUFACTURER OF YOUR CHOICE, AND YOU CAN WORK WITH THEM AND THEY'LL HELP YOU DETERMINE THE SPRING RATE THAT'S APPROPRIATE FOR THE END GOAL OF YOUR VEHICLE. IN OUR CASE WE'RE HEADING MORE TOWARDS THE RACE TRACK SIDE OF THINGS. SO WE'RE GONNA BE RUNNING SOME PRETTY STIFF SPRINGS AND SHOCKS. BUT IF YOU'RE NOT BUILDING A TRACK TRUCK LIKE WE ARE, WELL

THE SAME PROCESS APPLIES WHETHER YOU'RE BUILDING AN OFF RODE BUGGY, A GO CART, OR MUSCLE CAR. SO WE DROPPED THE BED BACK ON ITS FRAME AND ROLLED IT AND THE CHASSIS BACK OVER TO THE LIFT SO WE COULD DROP THE CAB BACK ON THIS THING AND GET SOME FINAL CORNER WEIGHT NUMBERS.

(KEVIN)>> OKAY, WITH THE JACK STANDS, WE'VE SIMULATED A FULL TANK OF FUEL, WE'VE GOT SOME DOWN BARS IN HERE TO COMPLETE THE ROLL CAGE, THE AUXILIARY COOLANT TANK FOR THE SUPER CHARGER, AS WELL AS COOLANT. EVERYTHING IN HERE TO SIMULATE THE ACTUAL CURB WEIGHT. HECK, WE'VE EVEN GOT TO A WELDING BLANKET THAT WEIGHS AS MUCH AS THE ORIGINAL WINDSHIELD WEIGHS. SO FOR ALL INTENTS AND PURPOSES WE'RE AT FULL RACE WEIGHT MINUS THE COIL OVER SHOCKS OF COURSE. SO LETS SEE IF WE CAN IMPROVE ON THAT ALMOST 63 PERCENT FRONT WEIGHT BIAS. SO WE'VE GOT A TOTAL CURB WEIGHT OF JUST OVER 3,200 POUNDS. AND IF YOU REMEMBER, THIS TRUCK WEIGHED 3,100 WITH THE ANEMIC FOUR CYLINDER ENGINE. HERE'S WHAT'S MORE IMPRESSIVE. WE'VE GOT A 54 PERCENT FRONT WEIGHT BIAS.

KEEP THIS IN MIND TOO, THE SUPER CHARGED FOURSIX THAT'S SITTING IN THIS TRUCK TYPICALLY GOES IN A 3,800

POUND COBRA MUSTANG, EXCEPT WE'VE GOT LESS WEIGHT AND TWICE THE HORSEPOWER.

(RYAN)>> FINALLY, HERE IT SITS AT RIDE HEIGHT AND ALMOST

COMPLETELY ASSEMBLED. ALL WE'RE MISSING IS A WINDSHIELD, INSTALLING OUR COIL OVERS, AND DOING SOME LAST MINUTE PLUMBING AND WIRING. THEN WE CAN FIRE THIS BAD BOY UP AND TAKE IT TO THE TRACK SO IT CAN FLEX ITS MUSCLES. THIS THING IS LOOKING DOWN RIGHT SINISTER.

(KEVIN)>> HEY GUYS, IF YOU'RE STILL RUNNING AROUND WITH THE OLD BREAKER POINTS STYLE IGNITION ON YOUR OLD PICK UP TRUCK, WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR? IT'S TIME TO UPGRADE, TO SOMETHING LIKE THIS FLAME THROWER DISTRIBUTOR FROM PERTRONIX. THIS FLAME THROWER BILLET DISTRIBUTOR HAS AN IGNITER THREE IGNITION MODULE, WHICH GIVES YOU MULTIPLE SPARK PERFORMANCE THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE RPM RANGE, AND IT'S GOT A BUILT IN ADJUSTABLE REV LIMITER.

AND THAT'LL GIVE YOU IGNITION BOX PERFORMANCE WITHOUT THE IGNITION BOX. SO CHECK OUT PERTRONIX. GUYS THANKS FOR WATCHING TRUCKS, SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.
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