Progress, and Tons more pictures!

This update is going to be a little more picture heavy and text light.  Extreme Overkill Fabrication has been busy on everything from the frame down, and a bit above the rails as well.

• The suspension links are tack welded and installed.
• The front coil mounts are tacked in.
• The new rear cross member and rear coil-over mount notch are in progress and being designed.
• The front and rear axle armor is all trimmed to fit. 
• He is building weight support rods to take the place of the coil-over. This is so The Spike can be cycled on the lift to check clearances, determine if all mounts are correct, and get the chassis lift height finalized.

 

 

 

Also in the near future, mounting the steering box. I picked up the Low Range Off-Road frame bracket for the steering box, but with no instructions, we need to do some research to get it right.

 

 

 

 

 

On the parts list, the front hubs have arrived and upgraded set of brake rotors are also in hand. We are still needing calipers, if anyone wants to sponsor a good set of those. 

Follow my build on C4x4 Online Magazine, www.c4x4.com/Projects/Spike/Spike.html

Be sure to like and follow my Facebook page, www.facebook.com/ProjecttheSpike/

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Axle and Suspension Progress, it's all coming together now!

Over the past couple weeks, it's been like Christmas around the Extreme Overkill Fabrication Shop.   It's been like Christmas for me too, the bills of Christmas!

It's all good, because more and more parts are arriving and Randy is able to get more work done.  The special order King Coilover Shocks have arrived, and check out the black caps!

All the axle brackets have been tacked in place and the axles are positioned under the rig. Soon, we will be measuring and cycling the suspension to determine the final travel at the wheels and check for clearances. Then Randy can finish weld everything together.

Toyota E-Locker in the front? Yes Please!

Also, the drive shafts will be getting made in the near future.  With no partnerships contacting me back on those, we will be searching out the best we can find.  If you have any ideas, let me know.

If you think that's beefy, Randy is already thinking of ways to make it stronger!

Randy has also been keeping me in the loop on his to-do list and the next steps, and I can say I am excited to see the interior make the list.  Those PRP seats are too nice to be just sitting around the shop.

I just love the custom CNC Cross Member from Hendrix Motorsports!

Also on the coming list, steering!  We have a Trail Gear steering box that is ported for future hydro-assist, but those will remain capped for now. He also found a source for the IFS hubs we have been searching for, and those should be arriving soon.  There is lots more to do, and Randy s making amazing progress on it.

That's right, E-Lockers in BOTH Axles!

Keep watching the blog for more updates.

Follow my build on C4x4 Online Magazine, www.c4x4.com/Projects/Spike/Spike.html

Be sure to like and follow my Facebook page, www.facebook.com/ProjecttheSpike/

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Axle Tech and more!

I know it's been a while since I updated you all, but there is a lot going on.  Randy from Extreme Overkill Fabrication has been hard at work both on the computer with concept and design building as well as in the shop working on the project.

 

We have ordered many parts recently and some are beginning to show up.  What are all these great big boxes?  Stay tuned to find out.

The axles are back from the differential shop with the new 5.29 gears and Toyota E-Lockers installed.  Now they get set in place and the suspension will shape up pretty quick.  Coil-Overs are on the way and should be here by the end of the month.

If you ask me, this is the best picture I have seen in a long time.

 
 
Follow my build on C4x4 Online Magazine, www.c4x4.com/Projects/Spike/Spike.html

Be sure to like and follow my Facebook page, www.facebook.com/ProjecttheSpike/


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Perfection Takes Time

When I started this project, I was going to build it myself because of my perfectionist nature.  Then, when God changed my plans and I moved to Missouri, I knew I had to find someone who not only had detailed ideas of what I wanted after I bent his ear for hours on end, but who also had the same perfectionist nature as me.  That's why, I left the build in the capable hands of Randy at Extreme Overkill Fabrication.

The last 2 weeks, Randy has been tirelessly grinding, sanding, filling gouges (from my errors) and finishing the complete cleaning of the frame.  This week, I got word that all that work was finally done.  Many grinder discs later and one new battery in the welding helmet and the frame is ready.

The motor mounts have been finish welded in place, the second transfer case mount came in the mail and the mount plate was finished in place, the welding on the link system skid was completed, and in the process we have a plan of how to lift the chassis in order to accommodate the seats and the plan that will really look sharp.

To say the least, Randy is rocking it!



Follow my build on C4x4 Online Magazine, www.c4x4.com/Projects/Spike/Spike.html
Be sure to like and follow my Facebook page, www.facebook.com/ProjecttheSpike/

#ExtremeOverkillFabrication #EOF #MayhemMetalWorks #DakotaDigital #VHX1023 #RenoOffRoad #ROR #BFGKrawlers #BFG #RedLabel #RacelineBeadlock #Powdercoat #DevineDeisel #ProjecttheSpike #UCORA #UnitedChristianOffRoadAlliance #OffRoadSolutions #LowRangeOffRoad #C4x4 #RADesignProducts #PRPSeats #ExtremeOverkillFab #YukonGear #RandysRingandPinion #FormulaToy #FormulaToy4Seat #Formula4 #HendrixMotorsports #HendrixChassis #Hendrix

Cut, Gring, and Cut some more

This week has been busy in the shop of Extreme Overkill Fabrication. In addition to regular jobs and work, Randy has been hard at work on The Spike with the big equipment.

Working primarily with the plasma cutter and the grinder, the old engine mounts and shock towers had to be finally removed.  With the axles coming in soon, the frame needs to be ready to fabricate shock towers and steering mounts.

Randy commented to me this week, "You find out if your grinder is decent when it runs for 4-hours straight and doesn't care." Awesome!

 In other news, the build now is progressing to interior and layout planning and some main components are being ordered for this.  We will be raising the chassis to the final height in order to accommodate the 5 adult passengers and set ride height.


Follow my build on C4x4 Online Magazine, www.c4x4.com/Projects/Spike/Spike.html
Be sure to like and follow my Facebook page, www.facebook.com/ProjecttheSpike/

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I love it when a plan comes together!

Have you ever had a dream?  Not just a, "I went to school without pants" dream, but a real dream of something or some event that you knew you could make a part of your story.

For me, that dream began many years ago and has been relived in my head ever since.  They say a dream with a plan can become a reality, and thanks to my very good friends and lots of patience and prayer, my dream, and the plan, are coming together.

Side bar here, if you want to read about the original dream that started for me, check out the beginning posts of my blog, specifically The Dream.

This week, Randy at Extreme Overkill Fabrication has been doing more of the install and balancing act that is creating a Formula Toy.  I spent a fair amount of time talking to Randy from my home in Missouri, but being 1500 miles away, I will try to explain what is happening in these pictures.

As the center skid plate and link mount gets placed, the design calls for the engine to be moved back a few inches in the frame.  When you read many of the Formula Toy builds you can find online, you will find that it is not only common, but recommended to move the engine back between 6-8 inches.  This is not only to move the weight to a more centered location on the buggy, but will also make drive shafts closer to the same length (may come in to play later with trail spares) and it allows the plate to fit properly inside the frame rails.  With my 4Runner frame and 5-seat configuration goal, the engine was moved back about 7 inches.

As you can see in these first few pictures, the valve cover had to be removed for engine placement.  This will not be an issue since the chassis is not sitting at final height.  Due to the rear seat and my desire to fit adults back there, the chassis is going to be moved up  and there will be plenty of space. The side profile gives a great picture of how the engine is placed in relation to the driver.  The B-Pillar can be seen here just slightly behind the second transfer case shift handle.  The final transfer case shift handles will be located where the front case shift is now using the RADesign triple stick, donated nearly a year ago!  (Sorry RADesigns for not using it sooner, but I love the partnership!) The automatic transmission shifter has yet to be purchased, but I am still leaning toward the RADesigns remote shifter setup to allow that to be forward of the driver position.

In these next pictures, you can see the center skid and link mount placed with the transfer case mount.  The Bullet Proof Toyota Transfer Case Mount from Low Range Off-Road mounts perfectly, just as it was designed, and the second mount has been ordered and should arrive later this week to mount the second case.  It is a bit of overkill, but I don't want the weak point to be anywhere in this section of drive train.  Besides, Randy did not name his company Extreme Overkill Fabrication for nothing.  When he designs systems to use anywhere from street to the Baja 1000, you know he makes all the build very strong!

 

The camera angle makes it not look right, but here you can see how the solid skid plate is made for the front drive shaft output to have a designated slot to fit through while still protecting the vital engine and transmission components up front.

As you can see, the entire configuration makes for a very high clearance and a very flat belly, perfect for rock crawling!

 It's hard to see in this series of pictures, but the entire center section is designed to be removable with just a few bolts.  So if I need to service anything, clean out the underside, or just inspect everything, it is just a few bolts and the plate will drop out of the way.  I love it!

Keep following the build both here and on my Facebook page, Project the Spike.

I want to say a special thanks to all my supporters and partners in this build.  Randy has been working hard and we already have the plan set in phases.  The axles and rest of the suspension is coming soon, so stay tuned.

 
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