September 14, 201411 yr Author Mornin, After finding a really nice mud hole at walker I realized I needed to address my intake system and get the inlet higher than the stock ea82 location. I'm eventually going to have an exo cage which will also shield the roof snorkel(stay tuned) that goes up the A-pillar, but since I don't have the exo yet, I just did a hood snorkel. I'm not a fan of snorkels that run along the outside of wheelers because I've seen a couple get torn off or crushed. Keeping it inside limited my options on where to come out of the engine bay, but I remember a toyota that came out of the hood, so I thought I'd give it a shot. I cut most of the stock Legacy intake down and used the universal spectre intake tube connectors(silicon rubber with two hose clamps) from Orielly's. The airbox sits right under the hood but it fits and is stable after some help from a little bracket.Going from there, I RTV'd a short piece of 3" ABS in the airbox which went to a 3" toilet flange. I used another toilet flange on top and bolted them together through the mounting plate that comes off the firewall. Then I made an ugly little bracket to hold a cut down metal coffee can to keep rain out. So far so good. Josh
September 14, 201411 yr Author As you can see from the last post, I rattle canned it out with a good coat of primer and then a bunch of OD green: No, I'm not trying make it look like anything(military, humvee, whatever..) I just honest to god like the color and and think it looks great on wheelers. Josh
September 14, 201411 yr Author The last thing I was able to get ready before the show was a set of rock sliders/subframe stiffeners. I used 2x2x3/16" square tube for everything and started by welding it directely to the 2x4x1/4" lift blocks. I'm going to connect them together from side to side in the front to stabalize them later and also weld them to a clamp/bolt system in the rear to connect the rear trailing arm crossmember. This should distribute any forces put on the subframe to the furthest points, reducing leverage on the unibody mounts. Heres what I got so far - Josh
September 14, 201411 yr Author This is my last update for now. I was hoping to get his upgrade done before WCSS16, but just didn't have time. I however did get it done a week ago...removable roof hatches! The frame is 2x2x1/8 square tube and the panels use the old stock roof that was cut out. Theres a 3/16 lip that goes all arond each opening and a piece of closed cell weather stripping to keep water and weather out. I kept the latches as simple as possible and they work great. The hinges are simple barrel hinges you get at central welding and they allow me to remove the hatches by opening them, and then pushing them to one side to seperate the hinge. Cruising around with no roof on is great! Goodbye subaru roof drum! I fabed up the frame and hatches before cutting the top off and they dropped right in! Josh
September 14, 201411 yr Author I'm impressed with your skills. Do you work at a fabrication shop? Thanks! Yeah, for a few years I used to make custom metal display cases, signs, gates and anything else of the sort for a small custom fab shop. It was a really fun job, but not what I want to do for the rest of my life. I've got pieces in stores all over Seattle, but theres a ton at the Pike Brewery in Seattle. Josh
September 15, 201411 yr Sweet rig. Nice work. Needs a .50 Cal mounted on the roof. You beat me to it.....would have said an M60 with a pintle mount. This rig is really coming along nicely. Any plans for aux. lighting? Rock lights? Edited September 15, 201411 yr by czny
September 16, 201411 yr Author You beat me to it.....would have said an M60 with a pintle mount. This rig is really coming along nicely. Any plans for aux. lighting? Rock lights? lol..yeah I imagine a M2 would be a little too heavy for this car, but a M60 could possibly work. I suppose I'd pass on the pintle mount though and fab up an open turret for it to be mounted in..lol.. Yes, I'll get aux. lighting at some point, but I've got a lot to do before that. Josh
December 3, 201411 yr please.. i need more updates on this.. one of the big reasons i joined this forum was this build.. we..need..MOAR!
December 4, 201411 yr Author Welcome to the USMB! Sorry nothing new lately. Between women, school and having limited funds, things move slower than normal and I've also got a '68 falcon I'm resto-modding which takes its share of any extra money laying around. Theres some pictures in the offroad section from the last trip up to walker valley you can check out if you want. Josh
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