The BEAST is UNLEASHED!!! I took the FrankenJeep for my first road trial earlier this week. I have managed my expectations throughout this build, from how long it would take (covid in the middle), to how it would handle and ride versus the serviceability, parts availability and reliability. I knew we'd made deliberate and thoughtful compromises. I was prepared for a pretty rough--leaf sprung--ride and the general trade-offs one makes for capability versus refinement.
Long story short... it is better in every way than I was prepared for... by MILES. Testament to DEEP engineering and fabrication skills available at Performance Offroad. It's impossible for me to overstate the capabilities of this shop. If you can dream it, they can build it... and it will be built with a with the emphasis on safety and quality, built for the long term.
It's not wander-ey on the road, but rather tight and composed. Handles curves at sane speed nice and flat. The slushbox shifts smooth, despite being a hydraulic, non-electronic HD tranny in a (3300 lb ??) vehicle. Ratios seem to be a good match for the Cummins and the transfer cases. It should run out nicely about 65 to 70. Spring rates are about spot on, I think, and that's with off-the-shelf Ford leafs. It's very balanced, even with the 800-or-so pound oil burner up front. This is due, I think, to the careful placement of spring hangers, double frame and general beefiness of the chassis. Turning radius is tight (haven't measured, but plenty tight for what I need). Lots of room to reach stuff from underneath, through the wheel wells and down into the engine bay, even with all the plumbing.
If you've read the foregoing in this multi-year-long build thread, you know I've anthropomorphized this rig, thinking of it as a "her" and specifically, a bawdy buxum red-head. My first short date with her cemented that view. She's boisterous and loud... the kinda gal that will drink four fingers of Dickel 101 with a Guiness back.
She might lose her top and splash around in the creek on a hot day. She's as up for a hard day of work as she is for a hard night of play.
I took some additional pictures and I'll post them up in the next few days. I completely forgot to take my GoPro to get the video experience, but that's coming.
I...LOVE...THIS... MONSTER!
~doc out!
This thing is mean! I'm very jealous of how good it's looking.
