Comanche Tube Chassis Truggy Thing Build

Afarmer1062 · Feb 19, 2022

Ok, bare with me as this is my first official build thread. Also be ready to see some mediocre work with a few cool parts and slow progress lol.

I traded my black Toyota buggy for this Comanche back in December. From the best I can tell the Comanche was started back around 2007ish and has been passed around a few owners. It's never been finished completely. A shop called Twisted Fab in Texas built the chassis originally.

Specs when I picked it up were 4g63T with 16g turbo, intake, and injectors. Th400 and Dana 300. 14 bolts front and rear. 40 spline spool front and the back was still factory.

Picture of my Toyota buggy and the day I picked up the Comanche.

Afarmer1062 · Feb 19, 2022

Here's some more pictures after I got it home and started going over it better to make a list of what all needed to be done.
Lots of welding to finish, come up with some different front lower link mounts, different ram mount, something different with the hood/engine cage, coilover mounte, wiring, plumbing etc..

ridered3 · Feb 19, 2022

Thanks for starting a thread and a cool Twisted Fab chassis from relatively way back in the day.

What would a 4g63T have been found in? I know I could Google it but what's the fun in that.

Afarmer1062 · Feb 19, 2022

ridered3 said:
Thanks for starting a thread and a cool piece of history to have a Twisted Customs chassis from relatively way back in the day.

What would a 4g63T have been found in? I know I could Google it but what's the fun in that.

I looked at the stuff I had found on it again and the shop was actually just called Twisted Fab..easily confused. I'll change it.

I honestly don't know a ton about these engines. They came in eagle talons, turbo eclipses, Mitsubishi evo's. Supposedly they're pretty stout and capable of making pretty good power on stock bottom end.

ridered3 · Feb 19, 2022

Afarmer1062 said:
I looked at the stuff I had found on it again and the shop was actually just called Twisted Fab..easily confused. I'll change it.

I honestly don't know a ton about these engines. They came in eagle talons, turbo eclipses, Mitsubishi evo's. Supposedly they're pretty stout and capable of making pretty good power on stock bottom end.

Ah I gotcha on the shop name change and that's cool on the Mitsubishi engines.

crashhawk · Feb 20, 2022

There's a ton out there for the 4g63t. Those DSMs had quite a following.

They are stout, one thing to research is "crank walk" although it's shouldn't be much of a problem with an auto.

Slick truggy too, I'm digging the seats.

ridered3 · Feb 20, 2022

crashhawk said:
There's a ton out there for the 4g63t. Those DSMs had quite a following.

They are stout, one thing to research is "crank walk" although it's shouldn't be much of a problem with an auto.

Slick truggy too, I'm digging the seats.

I completely overlooked the seats originally but now I wants a set of them for something.

Afarmer1062 · Feb 20, 2022

ridered3 said:
I completely overlooked the seats originally but now I wants a set of them for something.

The seats are Beards. They were a limited run. I wasn't sure about them at first, but they have definitely grown on me.

ridered3 · Feb 20, 2022

Afarmer1062 said:
The seats are Beards. They were a limited run. I wasn't sure about them at first, but they have definitely grown on me.

Very cool. I feel like they fit the build perfectly as long as they are comfortable for you.

If not, maybe I need them for the juggy.

Afarmer1062 · Feb 20, 2022

Next I picked up some 16" Radflos and got a killer deal on a 3.0 atlas.

I called AA to get a different input shaft for the th400. I found out something interesting after giving them the serial number off the case. The guy from AA questioned how I got ahold of it lol. It was apparently ordered by the military and was only a couple years old. It came out of one of these:

So I'm waiting for a knock on the door from the government

ridered3 · Feb 20, 2022

Afarmer1062 said:
Next I picked up some 16" Radflos and got a killer deal on a 3.0 atlas.

I called AA to get a different input shaft for the th400. I found out something interesting after giving them the serial number off the case. The guy from AA questioned how I got ahold of it lol. It was apparently ordered by the military and was only a couple years old. It came out of one of these:

So I'm waiting for a knock on the door from the government

That's pretty cool and super interesting on the tcase.

Lil ugly · Feb 21, 2022

those seats are so retro that I didnt even look at them close. they definitely fit the build and I personally would totally rock them. Cool seats.

Afarmer1062 · Feb 21, 2022

I figured I would just start in the back and work my way forward. I went ahead and welded out the link tabs on the rear axle.

Next I had a few days off for Covid and made some tabs and mounted the coilovers after finishing the honeydo's around the house. After going through a couple boxes that came with the truck, I found the exact tabs I made in the bottom of one .

One of the previous owners added these tubes to the truss so I couldn't fully collapse the shock. I don't think they're needed so I'm going to cut them off and should be able to have the shock fully collapsed. I'll build some pads for bump stop later. They're still on the list to buy.

Afarmer1062 · Feb 21, 2022

The chassis has these bungs everywhere so that you can remove the cab easily. It was a cool idea originally I think, but I have a feeling once this thing starts getting beat on it would never go back together if you took it apart. Right now I plan to just weld them all up. What do you guys think?

jeeptj99 · Feb 22, 2022

Afarmer1062 said:
So I'm waiting for a knock on the door from the government

Me too.... but probably for different reasons

Lil ugly · Feb 22, 2022

those engineered connections are great as long as everything is perfect. I have used them in a couple of locations and you are correct in that once the chassis or part gets tweeked then they require a ton of work to remove and reinstall. I say weld them up.

paradisepwoffrd · Feb 23, 2022

X2. I doubt you will remove the cab that often, once the build is finished. If you need to, cut the tube, and then slug it when you put it back together. If you put bracing in the other 2 directions on each side of that joint, it might help it stay aligned longer, but you will likely add a ton more tubing, if its possible at all.

ridered3 · May 5, 2022

@Afarmer1062 got any updates for us?

Afarmer1062 · May 6, 2022

Not a ton of progress lately. I've been busy with daughter's archery tournaments and work.

I have the atlas in and that's about it. I'm about to start on reworking the front 4 link so I'll be sure to get some pictures and update this thread.

ridered3 · May 6, 2022

Afarmer1062 said:
Not a ton of progress lately. I've been busy with daughter's archery tournaments and work.

I have the atlas in and that's about it. I'm about to start on reworking the front 4 link so I'll be sure to get some pictures and update this thread.