well, its pretty official, I have been bitten.    you fawkers and your buggies dont help my wallet at all. 

After last weekend at Windrock, nearly rolling down the mountain a couple of times, I decided that I need to do something that will protect me a little more than what a cab will....especially if I keep wheeling the places that I do.    I have tossed around the idea of just making my truck into a truggy, cutting the back off, adding a **** pile of tube and a cage on the inside of the cab, since I really dont like the looks of exo's all around the front part of the cab.    then I start thinking, if I am going to throw that much tube at my truck, why not throw it into a buggy that I will be able to beat on SAFELY.    Luckily, the wife does see my point on this.....

I have been searching around for some bare bones chassis's and came across the 4Play by Bent Fab.   It is designed as a 4 seater, but I would make it an "extended cab" 2 seater.    I have been emailing Tim back and forth about what can be done with this chassis and I really like his options so far.  we talked about moving the seat mounts back some since I am FAR from average height, then using the space that would have been for the back seat as storage for a cooler/tools/spare crap.   Here is the thread about his 4Play chassis---http://pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=664394

To me, the price for this chassis is pretty damn reasonable.   I would love to spend less on a chassis, but I dunno if it will happen.    I have already started a list of parts that I would need to make this chassis into a full blown badass buggy...IMO    I might need some advice on what kind of parts you guys have had luck with and what is junk.   I am sure I will be getting some parts from Kelly, atleast I hope so.  

here is a list of what I need so far:

Chassis

new engine harness

custom fuel cell

DPI 14” struts

Atlas 3.8

drive shafts

steering wheel

non adjustable column kit

WW-340-1290 single MC, high volume, .75” bore

skid material

skins and hood material

brake lines--nylon kit from Speedway

fuel lines

5 point harness 

cutting brakes?

new hydro hoses (local)

here is what I have:

5.3L V8

4L60E

42x14x17 IROKs on TRs

Dana 60 front chromo 35 spline inner/outer

Dana 60 rear (getting a 70 soon I hope) w/ disc brakes

PRP seats

B&M pro stick shifter

RCI fuel cell

Warn 9.5ti

Howe dual pass radiator w/ taurus fan

Full hydro steering kit

16" SAW coilovers

I am thinking about using 7075 for my lowers and 1.5" DOM for the uppers.   what about link ends?  I am currently using 3/4x3/4 in the front 3/4x5/8 in the rear.    should I upgrade to a rebuildable joint?   will one of those rebuildable joints fit in the link mounts already on the axle?

Thanks

Brian