90's throw back....Manche build

Last time the Copper Crawler is loaded for travel, going to its new home this weekend in Missouri, to its new owner Jared Stover.



Sad day...



Time for some new blood....



Let the destruction begin....







Getting parts ready for mock up..





This build will be getting a little desert flair, with a rock crawler heart, maintain the Manche identity, and as a throw back, will retain its title and street legalness, and also have decided to retain the original paint/patina for a little rod nostalgic look. Along with creature comforts such a heat, and wipers. I dislike the word truggy, this will be a race truck in sheep's clothing.....not to say I'm going racing....but I could....



On a side note, one of the things I enjoy most about this sport is the life long friends we make. I ride with a terrific group of people, and I couldn't build anything without their support.

Case in point; ran into Brian Cannon (aka @loose cannon) last week and proceeded to tell him of my 2000 mile road trip this weekend to deliver the buggy and pick up my axles and wheels for this build. He quickly jumped on ship to help me drive this trip in less than 3 days with only the promise of being fed well. So I texted him this morning to confirm, of which his reply gave me a good chuckle that I needed.....

"I have decided that I don't like you, so a three day trip will help with our friendship, what time you picking me up"

What would we do without friends and family....? Thanks Brian.

I have many friends in this sport/life, I need not list the names, they know who they are.

I'm very excited about this build, it's going to be a fun trip, and I hope to expand my skill set as well as build a great truck/buggy that looks as well as it performs.


More tech for hardline.....

Matt

Looking forward to the progress! Have done many unibody builds myself, although not with an LS. 8)

Re:

Needless to say there will be little unibody left. I'm cutting the floor from below the wiper capsule pinch weld, all the way to the rear header below the sliding glass, and from door to door left to right. Hopefully so that I can pick up the shell of the cab right off the "frame" and leave the factory rolling chassis to slide right out of my way. Doing so to allow me to get the crank pulley behind the center line of the front axle for more uptravel It's going to be interesting to say the least...Thanks Bullitt.

Matt

Nice looking eb tub on the trailer! Yours?

No, it's a friend's that I'm going to restore. Originally thought he wanted fiberglass, but wasn't crazy about the finished product. So I'm hauling this to return to manufacturer on my trip, in La Vergne TN. We've been assembling a complete steel body for the last month, what a pain in the ass it has been.

Matt

Looking forward to seeing more of your work!

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Thanks wizzo, looking forward to doing more work, I enjoy it almost as much as the wheeling...

Matt

Be watching this one closely.

Home.
48 hrs to the minute.
2100.5 miles
7.5 tanks of fuel.
Great food, Memphis bbq.
Maybe 7 hours sleep total.
New friends.
Awesome trip.



Mo goodies









NOW.....BED

Matt

That's awesome thanking your friends I loved your Jim's buggy and can't wait to see the throwback wolf in sheep's clothing stay cool Red

mmmm spidertrax! so fancy!

Need... those... axles... drool



...I just realized my avatar goes perfect with my expression. :****:

Specs for the axles are-

-New 5.43 gears in both low pinion drop outs. Detroit unit will go in rear, spooled unit will be a spare.
-A fresh rebuilt mega hi 9 with 5.40 gears, dual load bolts, and spool will be used in front, arriving this week.
-All forged 1350 yokes.
-6 lug unit bearings
-rear shafts are new ctm 300m double spline
-front shafts are ctm drive home 300m, long side inner is new, one new ctm joint, and a spare ctm stub.
-spidertrax ultimate knuckles, 3.5" 1/4 housing.
-wms 67.5 fr, 65.5 rear
-all yokes are clearanced for 45° steering.
-no brakes or slugs yet, still researching

Should be a stout, light set up for 39's

Thanks for the interest guys, stay tuned...

Matt

Recorded some weights for those interested in tech for light weight. Something I'm giving a lot of consideration to on this build.

Iirc about 50lbs less than the raceline/sx combo


X1


X1


X2


X2


I'm figuring 50lb more for brakes/oil gives me an estimated wet axle weight w/o tires of 305lb....with tires only 570lb. I'll have to look back at my notes from valving the buggy, (and obviously we don't know 1/2 the weight of the links/shocks/driveshaft yet), but that is VERY light versus my previous set up.

Hopefully I can ballpark this thing at 4000 wet....

Matt

mcutler said:

No, it's a friend's that I'm going to restore. Originally thought he wanted fiberglass, but wasn't crazy about the finished product. So I'm hauling this to return to manufacturer on my trip, in La Vergne TN. We've been assembling a complete steel body for the last month, what a pain in the ass it has been.

Matt

Click to expand...

Always liked the Jims buggy and the rebuilds you'd do on it. Very clean craftsmanship! Pretty excited the see an MJ build on here too.

What manufacturer in La Vergne were you returning the Bronco body to?

Thanks ridedred. It was a Bronco Design body. It was a nice unit, my guy just decided he wanted steel after seeing glass. And the folks at bronco design were very understanding and helpful in keeping the good name and relations associated with they're company.

They also had this in the parking lot when I arrived...Very cool.

Huge paddle underneath that could probably cross the Mississippi.



Matt

mcutler said:

Thanks ridedred. It was a Bronco Design body. It was a nice unit, my guy just decided he wanted steel after seeing glass. And the folks at bronco design were very understanding and helpful in keeping the good name and relations associated with they're company.

They also had this in the parking lot when I arrived...Very cool.

Huge paddle underneath that could probably cross the Mississippi.

Matt

Click to expand...

Pretty neat. Until your post I had no idea there was a company semi-close that makes those bodies.

All the dropouts are here now. New 5.43 gears installed in both low pinions, the mega hi is loaded with a spooled 5.40, dual load bolts with 35 spline pinion and 1350 forged yoke, alltech bolt locks, and bronze nose bearing. Even got a carry case for the spare in the deal.





Started some rough layout, just to wrap my head around drive and power train placement relative to the cab.









So far, looking at 115-117 wheelbase, 19-20 belly. Both driveshafts roughly 38" one pieces. Roughly 36" front lower links, 48" lower rear trailing arms.

Big thanks @ol'Jeeps (metalwerx) for getting my thirds setup and the loan of the chassis table, and most of my materials on the way. Also a thanks to Kevin of the Miller Motorsports family, who moved to Charlotte this week from Jersey and transported the hi 9 from Balducci Bros for me and saved me some shipping.

More parts on the way, hopefully some metal melting within the next week.

Matt

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Can anyone say...sketchy redneck fab?











More to come

Matt

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Matt