Cutting up a 14 bolt

[Powerdriver1958]

 1st don't freak , This truck is a dedicated toy . Strictly for play . It serves no other function . If I get some more Hp it'll be back to competition mudding .

 The 14 bolt is nearly bullet proof . I have seen huge big blocks and with ton of spray and the 14 bolt is the last thing these guys think of . But for me the housing drags too much . I wanted more ground clearance .

So after looking at it and doing some investigation I set out to cut the lower edge of the huge housing . When done I lost one bolt hole for the rear cover . That was a worry at 1st but is has never leaked a drop from there . With a gas powered cutoff saw I hacked off that fat bottom lip .
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Next I spent some time with a 4 inch grinder and a straight edge getting thing leveled up . Fabbed a plate , welded up with some stainless rod after pre heating for nearly an hour .
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Cut the rear cover to match . Set everything back and has been good ever since . While I was at it the shock mounts were moved . The one on the back was rotated upward to get it up and out of the way , the front shock mount was cut off and moved to the back . The idea was to get stuff that might get caught or drag out of the way
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[Jason S]

Very cool. I've only seen this done in the 4x4 magazines. Did you do this recently?

[Powerdriver1958]

It has been a while now ,  It has home built disc brakes since then also
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[Irish_Alley]

We were just talking about this but our problem would be in a couple passes we would be hanging up again

[pholliday1]

Pirate 4X4 has a complete tech article on this..... They say clearance wise its like going from a 35 to 39 inch tire with just trimming the diff. defiantly a good cheap mod. Picts of the rest of the truck?

[Powerdriver1958]

Here is a pic from the last time out.
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[Powerdriver1958]

This is where the old truck started , Tall and long ... The name on the was side was put on by the kids . When I 1st bought it (450.00 bucks) I did the husband No No .

Took the boys with me to go and look at the truck , When little brother said 450 I went to the bank and handed him cash without discussing it with my Dear Wifey .... When we got back the boys thundered into the house excited and told  Mom .

1st thing that one of them said was " Mom's Mad " . That name on the side has been a source of some good debate . Women seem to like and understand it . Had one announcer say on the PA after a near roll over that " Mom was almost Super Mad "
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[Powerdriver1958]

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[Irish_Alley]

looks like shes set up just for the wet stuff lol

[Powerdriver1958]

looks like shes set up just for the wet stuff lol

Yes Sir , All Play

[Irish_Alley]

you runnig a dana 60 up front?

[Powerdriver1958]

Dana 44 up front .... Lincoln Locked

[Irish_Alley]

you have probelms with the axle shafts?

[Powerdriver1958]

OMG!!!!!  Yes . 1st year I run it , Lost 3 outer shafts and 2 inner ones  . finally talked to a couple of guys with gray hair ( I find that the gray hair contains a ton of knowledge )

 Both told me to soften the suspension .  In the bottom of a bog its never flat and if the suspension won't  follow the bottom one corner could be just spinning with zero contact  . Then when it does grab its a shock load . I shucked several leafs out and what a difference .... rides way better and no more broke axle shafts

[Irish_Alley]

ok so if you take a spring out it wont be putting that much weight on the tire so it wont be meeting so much resistance and snap. also about your locker when did you put that in do you think it help with the axle shafts. ive been threw maybe 3 in the past couple years the last one lasted the longest but i didnt mud as much last year due to no rain lol. and about the gray idk maybe its only true in men cause my mother in-law, well thats all i have to say lol j/k