This post is a copy from nc4x4, gives a little detail of my plans. But yes, I will be keeping besides. Btw, I'm on the five year plan of building and selling my personal rides. But I'd be happy to entertain building something for someone...
The quote is from shawn, proprietor of NC4x4
[quote uid=2 name="shawn" post=1435916]If you had asked me this morning where the motor and front axle were going to end up, I would have said that the axle was 2-3" further forward and the motor was 4-6" closer to the axle tube. Tough to say from the pictures how it's all going to come together, but are you going to have enough room in the footwell if the tire is stuffed and turned? It all looks pretty snug.[/QUOTE]
I'm sure the footwell will get somewhat deleted. The combo of the 39" tire and wanting to keep it centered in the fenderwell, along with uptravel has shoehorned me to push the motor back. I wish I could push it back 4 more inches. The crank pulley was 18" behind the axle in the buggy. It's all part of this stupid challenge I put on myself. It would be easier to build a buggy, or if jeep had made an extended cab manche...But I've built a buggy, and enjoyed it. And now, everyone has a buggy....or is building one. But, how many people have a Comanche that performs like a buggy?... but the occupants stay dry and warm[emoji14]
....plus I can take one of my boys for a ride to get an ice cream cone.
One factor that will keep the tire from invading too much is the deep backspacing of the wheels, 4.75. This in turn brings the scrub radius down, allowing the outermost corners of the tire to make a smaller circle through the cycle. I will not sacrifice uptravel. I will drop tire size to 37 before I lose uptravel. I also will not delete the headlights or narrow the hood. And, I'm pretty sure I'm not going to dovetail or chop the bedsides, tailgate undecided...but I will have good approach and departure angles. Needs to look like a Comanche for me to feel I've done what I set out to do.
I have 16" 2.5 c/o for the front, and will soon be ordering my 14's for the rear along with 2.5" travel bumps front and 4" travel on the rear. Shooting for 18-20 wheel travel on rear axle with trailing arms with motion ratio, and a 1:1 ratio up front. If I can get the geometry where I need it, most likely won't use a sway bar, but the tube will be there in case I add it later.
Great question Shawn.
Matt