4XForOffroad
Well-known member
What did you paint / coat them with?
Whipple Charged Gen Juan Raptor Build
- Thread starter blueherron96
- Start date
blueherron96
Member
I used a graphite coating called slip plate. It definitely does a good job reducing friction between the leafs. We'll see how it holds up long term. Really don't want to be having to recoat every year because wrestling the springs in place with the coating is a major PITA. So far I haven't been able to scratch the coating off despite many attempts when the spring packs would slide out when trying to install them lol
blueherron96
Member
Been a bit since I've updated this but have made a lot of progress in the last 2 months. The bed cage is complete and fully welded. Trying to pull it out of the bed by myself with limited room in the shop was interesting but not awful. Getting it back in after powder coat will be fun...
Very happy with how the layout came out. Was able to reuse the plate that mounted my jack previously for the jack mount and spare fluid holder. And it's just mounted with tube clamps so if I wanted to change the layout in the future I wouldn't have a bunch of welded in mounts to deal with. The only mounts that are welded in are the spare tire Y strap mounts and the mounting plates for the Kibbetech quick release Pelican case mount.
Very happy with how the layout came out. Was able to reuse the plate that mounted my jack previously for the jack mount and spare fluid holder. And it's just mounted with tube clamps so if I wanted to change the layout in the future I wouldn't have a bunch of welded in mounts to deal with. The only mounts that are welded in are the spare tire Y strap mounts and the mounting plates for the Kibbetech quick release Pelican case mount.
blueherron96
Member
Next up is the front bumper. I wanted to go to a frame cut bumper because I was sick of killing skid plates in the dunes with the ADD bolt on bumper. The biggest problem was going to be dealing with the coolant tank for the intercooler on the whipple. I also didn't want to spend $2k+ for a bumper that I would have to cut up anyway to make it work. I toyed with the idea of building my own but the rolled main tube was going to be an issue as I don't know anyone with a tubing roller and investing in one for a one-off project didn't make sense. I ended up going with a WIY bumper from KL Fab mostly just for the tubing and then reworked it to my liking to fit my truck.
It was designed to be welded on with the option to bolt on and I definitely wanted it bolted on so I could remove it to maintenance anything on the front of the engine and not have to fight with bumper tubes in the way. Nothing for the bolt on option was included so I had to fab those parts myself. I also had to remake the lower mount at the crossmember as I was missing one of the plates. It was originally 2 pieces that were welded together and I made it in into a single formed piece.
There was a 3D printed template included for cutting the frame which was a good idea but it was destroyed in shipping. Who would of thought that a 3D printed piece wouldn't have lasted in a box with a bunch of tubes bouncing around... I was able to make it work to get it close enough and then needed a bunch of trimming and fitting to get the frame plates to fit correctly. Driver's side went pretty smoothly and the passenger side made me work for it but I got it.
Had to do some clearancing to the skid plate down tube in order to clear the intercooler coolant tank.
Also reworked the skid plate tubes so that the skid plate would be wider and line up with the Baja Designs ONX6 20" light bar. I will be running 4 XL80s and 1 XL racer spot on the top of the push bar along with the ONX6 bar under the push bar.
After I was finally happy with the fitment of everything it could come off for final welding.
It was designed to be welded on with the option to bolt on and I definitely wanted it bolted on so I could remove it to maintenance anything on the front of the engine and not have to fight with bumper tubes in the way. Nothing for the bolt on option was included so I had to fab those parts myself. I also had to remake the lower mount at the crossmember as I was missing one of the plates. It was originally 2 pieces that were welded together and I made it in into a single formed piece.
There was a 3D printed template included for cutting the frame which was a good idea but it was destroyed in shipping. Who would of thought that a 3D printed piece wouldn't have lasted in a box with a bunch of tubes bouncing around... I was able to make it work to get it close enough and then needed a bunch of trimming and fitting to get the frame plates to fit correctly. Driver's side went pretty smoothly and the passenger side made me work for it but I got it.
Had to do some clearancing to the skid plate down tube in order to clear the intercooler coolant tank.
Also reworked the skid plate tubes so that the skid plate would be wider and line up with the Baja Designs ONX6 20" light bar. I will be running 4 XL80s and 1 XL racer spot on the top of the push bar along with the ONX6 bar under the push bar.
After I was finally happy with the fitment of everything it could come off for final welding.
blueherron96
Member
Had to make some custom misalignment spacers for the traction bars. Had a chunk of 1" aluminum sitting around so I decided to use that instead of the "industry standard" 17-4 stainless. I hate working with stainless but if the aluminum ones don't last I'll make some out of stainless next winter.
Finally done with welding on the truck so I got the battery and all the modules hooked back up. Got the oil changed and fired the beast up for the first time in 4 months. Now I really miss driving it.
Off to powder coat with everything.
Also got the new tires mounted and balanced. Excited to try these Toyo RT Pros out with the new suspension.
Finally done with welding on the truck so I got the battery and all the modules hooked back up. Got the oil changed and fired the beast up for the first time in 4 months. Now I really miss driving it.
Off to powder coat with everything.
Also got the new tires mounted and balanced. Excited to try these Toyo RT Pros out with the new suspension.
the bodj
Well-known member
I'm gonna implore you to rethink the aluminum spacers. They tend to mushroom and get stuck in the joints.
blueherron96
Member
We use them all the time on race cars (granted not seeing quite the abuse of an offroad truck) without issue. Even if they do get seized in the rod ends, I anticipate I'll be having to replace rod ends every year so not a big deal.
blueherron96
Member
Axle is painted along with all the areas on the frame I had to weld. From here on out things are going back together for the final time!
