Anyone know of any 4WD Caminos that aren't all jacked up in the air?

I was just curious how most of these were done. I think most of the ones I've seen are on Blazer chassis and usually sit way too high, but just curious how they got everything bolted up, etc...

I'm really tempted to try this with my '79. I want to keep it as low and car looking as possible. I just want the 4WD capabilities... This is probably a crazy idea, and I'll never do it, but I've really been thinking about it. I really want/need a 4WD, but hate to give up the Camino. I keep thinking I might end up trading it for a mid 80's Chevy/GMC SWB...

I saw a 4x4, 1970, in Kokamo In. in 1982. It had gone where the snow plows feared to tread. It was about a quarter mile down a side road and was in about a 5 ft snow drift. It was too low to the ground is why it got stuck, it should have had a belly pan where it didn't plow up snow underneath. I saw it later had just about a foot ground clearance.

One of Our Members on El Camino Lovers Group has built 4x4 El Caminos said he chopped and sectioned a truck frame, not S-10. Set the engine height to match original... I get off to these TRUCKS and have lots of pics !

one of our members on el camino lovers group has built 4x4 el caminos said he chopped and sectioned a truck frame, not s-10. Set the engine height to match original... I get off to these trucks and have lots of pics !

pix???

Not trying to brag here, bit I've never been stuck enough to need a tow with the 4th gen El Caminos I've had. Of course I don't try any any 3 ft drifts either:smileyb:
I have an S-10 4X4 with a 3" lift, which gets around OK, but haven't even used it this winter yet. It's been a mild winter here (so far).:smileyb:

Not trying to brag here, bit I've never been stuck enough to need a tow with the 4th gen El Caminos I've had. Of course I don't try any any 3 ft drifts either:smileyb:
I have an S-10 4X4 with a 3" lift, which gets around OK, but haven't even used it this winter yet. It's been a mild winter here (so far).:smileyb:

Get a little bit of snow on our driveway/road, and you ain't going anywhere... it's bad enough when it's been raining for days... Living on an unpaved hill ain't that great, but the view and neighbors (or lack of) sure are!

I've seen a few 4th gen 4x4's but they were done up monster truck style on a chevy truck frame.

:neutral2:

I've got some pics of a third gen, a '70 I think, modified with the addition of front springs and 3/4 ton axle, a transfer case, and 3/4 ton rear axle on taller springs. All of it was on 44" tires with cutout fender flares. It was done right and looked good. I think I may have even posted pics up here once, some people hated it, which is understandable, and some people loved it. I'll see if I can find them pics, it's been years, but I should have them archived on an old hard drive in the closet, I keep all my data.

bump...

still looking for info. Still thinking about this. I'm thinking about a foot of ground clearance with some light truck tires would be the extent... If it's possible to keep a somewhat stock height, I'd keep my BFG Radial T/A's...

bump...

still looking for info. Still thinking about this. I'm thinking about a foot of ground clearance with some light truck tires would be the extent... If it's possible to keep a somewhat stock height, I'd keep my BFG Radial T/A's...

I looked through all my drives, found a sh!t ton (technical term) :yell: of old car show photos going back 10 years or so, but didn't see the one with that El. I know I have it, but I've moved a few times since and some stuff is in boxes still. But now I'm on a mission to find it, and I will! :D Hopefully soon.

saw one hear a few years ago looked real cool like it was factory, the guy that built it used the Elcamino frame and put the blaser drive train on it.

http://www.bing.com/search?q=elcamino+4x4&FORM=HPDTDF&pc=HPDTDF&src=IE-SearchBox

try this link,,if it dont work,search the www,,elcamino 4x4..:texas:

I do not think some of you understand what he is talking about from what I read. We was asking how can you put 4WD on an El Camino and not lift it up on a blazer frame.

How about using the drive train and stuff out of an Astro AWD van....the front subframe on the Astro is common to the Camero's of the same vintage so it should be doable....I've been thinking the same thing.............Dan

I see a 66 sitting on a K5 frame all the time...Different but I kind of like it. When I lived in the hills of WV, it seems that lots of folk made various 'stump jumpers' using a Monte Carlo frame. Something should be possible in a G body without using extra lift.

I do not think some of you understand what he is talking about from what I read. We was asking how can you put 4WD on an El Camino and not lift it up on a blazer frame.

Yes, I want to go 4WD without using a Blazer from if possible. Or maybe I can use a Blazer frame, and not go sky high. The Astro stuff sounds promising... I'll see what I can find there.

Like I said, I've been thinking along these lines myself so be sure to keep us informed of your findings......Dan

I don't understand how you're going to get a front diff in there with the front cross-member and oil pan in the way without some kind of lift. I was unaware of the Astro van AWD but from the little I've found on the internet it doesn't sound like a very strong setup and I don't see anything bigger than a 4.3 V6 offered on that chassis.

:nanawrench:

The 4X4 conversions I know of have been El Camino body's put on a Chevy Blazer frame and drive train. I can't imagine what the interior looks like.

Elky77

I saw a 67 EC made into a 4X4 a few years ago and I almost cried , what a waste

i know wagoneers can sit pretty low in stock trim, but the AMC engine sits pretty high in the engine compartment, too. when AMC came out with the eagle, i thought it was a good idea, but looked ungainly because they sat too high up [among other reasons AMCs look ungainly:neutral2:]. there are modern cars that are AWD, but most of those are either FWD originally or special-built units.

every 4WD EC i ever see is jacked up....and i too wonder why someone would do that. :???:

The AWD Astro vans are over 5000 lb vehicles with Vortec 4.3 V6's making a bunch more power than any 305 ever put in an El Camino. so as far as light duty I don't see that being an issue. It is also a viscous coupling in the transfer unit so its an all time AWD the front differential is not a live axle--its independent front suspension using a static mount differential and halfshafts to connect the wheels. The standard Astro shares parts with the older Camaro, brakes, hubs, spindles and steering with the exception that the steering box has a different input angle. The question I'm still unclear on is can the output shaft of the 4L60e and transfer case be adapted to a th7004r so the computer controll for the transmission can be bypassed easily....I will try to figure that out as soon as the weather gets better and I can get to the local scrap yard and crawl around under a couple of the AstroAWD vans..................Dan

I was thinking somethign AWD too as that's more likely to sit lower than anything 4WD. The Astro might be something to look into.

how well (or not) would the awd parts work from a gmc cyclone?

how well (or not) would the awd parts work from a gmc cyclone?

I wouldn't even try...where in the world would you find a cyclone? and find one affordably...

I wouldn't even try...where in the world would you find a cyclone? and find one affordably... i never heard of a Syclone....hmmm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GMC_Syclone

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e0/1991GMCMarlboro.jpg

sorry:dontknow: it might be way down in the link nowdays...try elcamino awd 4x4 swap ...maybe..
but now i cant see pics without joining the forum ??? and i keep getting the pdf version ???
some of the forums say you cant see pics,,,but sometimes you can ???

that is the sy/ty site..
look at the v8s10/astro forums also,,lots of info...

i been thinkin about kind of swap with my s10 4x4 for years,,like you no lift kit ...:inlove:
maybe set the elky body on the s10 frame,,or use the front frame section ???

try this link,,maybe it works ??:texas:

http://www.syty.net/forums/showthread.php?t=48318

http://www.syty.net/forums/showthread.php?t=66004

1badelky is on over there maybe he can get the pics...

edit: now im not sure if that is the right link? it was a long time ago,maybe it was the s10 site???

The AWD Astro vans are over 5000 lb vehicles with Vortec 4.3 V6's making a bunch more power than any 305 ever put in an El Camino. so as far as light duty I don't see that being an issue. It is also a viscous coupling in the transfer unit so its an all time AWD the front differential is not a live axle--its independent front suspension using a static mount differential and halfshafts to connect the wheels. The standard Astro shares parts with the older Camaro, brakes, hubs, spindles and steering with the exception that the steering box has a different input angle. The question I'm still unclear on is can the output shaft of the 4L60e and transfer case be adapted to a th7004r so the computer controll for the transmission can be bypassed easily....I will try to figure that out as soon as the weather gets better and I can get to the local scrap yard and crawl around under a couple of the AstroAWD vans..................Dan

It sounds more like a FWD setup. Actually I found a wiki on the astro and it said that the setup was more like the 2nd gen F-bodies but actually used the B-body (Caprice). There were some issues with the AWD setup too. Here's an excerpt from the wiki..

Much like the second-generation GM F-body (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GM_F_platform) 1970-1981 and X-body (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GM_X_platform) vehicles, the GM M-van (Astro/Safari) had a bolt-on subframe incorporating the front suspension from a GM B-body (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GM_B_platform) station wagon (Chevrolet Caprice (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chevrolet_Caprice), Cadillac Brougham (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cadillac_Brougham)) with a leaf-spring rear suspension. The lower ball joints were larger than their B-body (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GM_B_platform) counterparts (similar to 1977-96 Cadillac D platform vehicles e.g. Fleetwood limousines). These ball joints were later used in the final Chevrolet Caprice 9C1 (police package) cars manufactured in 1995 and 1996. They also shared many mechanical similarities to the GMT 325/330 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GM_GMT_platform) midsize S/T Pickup/Utilities.
As mentioned above, the Astro and Safari were rear-wheel drive (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rear-wheel_drive) vehicles, but in 1990 a new all-wheel drive (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/All-wheel_drive) (AWD) system, designed and developed by FF Developments (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FF_Developments) (FFD)[2] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chevrolet_Astro#cite_note-1), was made optional. The AWD models had a lower fuel economy: 17 miles per gallon highway versus 20-21 for rear-drive vans. Premature idler arm wear on the AWD front suspension is a common problem.[citation needed (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)]
Hundreds of instances of front torsion bar failure in the AWD suspension were reported to the NHTSA (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NHTSA). The torsion bars failed without warning, resulting in bottoming of the suspension. Repair required replacement of both torsion bar assemblies with upgraded designs at a cost of about $1000. No fatalities were reported

It sounds more like a FWD setup. Actually I found a wiki on the astro and it said that the setup was more like the 2nd gen F-bodies but actually used the B-body (Caprice). There were some issues with the AWD setup too. Here's an excerpt from the wiki..


I'm sure all that was true for the first edition of the AWD Astro's. As we all know GM is prone to put out a product and do the necessary engineering to get it working properly just in time to quit making it. I would never use the first years of any new GM model but 5 years in???? usually pretty well developed. Its still just in the thought processes for me but come summer time the local Pull-a-Part is going to see my smiling face a bunch while I do some measurements and calculations. I've got a 510 cubic inch engine thats in search of a home so I was figuring traction might be a slight issue............Dan

looking forward to some video of your 4WD burn-outs:nana2:

AWD VETT :texas:

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c3-tech-performance/1328156-stingray-awd.html

http://jbrlsr.com/?aid=5336118839&bid=3196492&cid=0&tr=0&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dpccars.com%2Fcar-videos%2F10-29-07page-Corvette-VTG-AWD-Turbo.htm&ref=http%3A%2F%2Fforums.corvetteforum.com%2Fc4-forced-induction-nitrous%2F1843313-would-you-cut-your-hood-for-twins.html

4 wheel drive would be great for me, wish they should sell it as a set, with original ride height and stuff, im in Norway, tryed to move my car yesterday, didn't move at all, had to tow it :???:

http://www.syty.net/forums/showthread.php?t=48318

http://www.syty.net/forums/showthread.php?t=66004

1badelky is on over there maybe he can get the pics...

edit: now im not sure if that is the right link? it was a long time ago,maybe it was the s10 site???

I dont think the project car in the first link ever happened. the Elky in the second link looks like it has a stock frame.

but I do think the best way to do a 4wd El Camino would be with a T10 (4wd S10) frame if you want to keep it low to the ground.

It might even be possible to graft the rear section of the G-body frame to the T-series frame if you want to keep the 4-link.

I'll see what I can dig up

I just read the link that JJLT1 posted. in the first link the guy said he is using a Typhoon frame clip, but it's the same as any other 4wd s10 frame. I think he just had a donor typhoon handy. I like the idea of coilovers to eliminate the torsion bars.

i never heard of a Syclone....hmmm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GMC_Syclone

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e0/1991GMCMarlboro.jpg


A syclone was a S-10 based awd pickup that GM produced, with a turbo V6. They also made the Typhoon based on the S10 blazer. They are extremely rare the Typhoons less so but still rare. Strange that you haven't heard of them since you have a picture of one in your post and a wiki link where you can read about it....

Strange that you haven't heard of them since you have a picture of one in your post and a wiki link where you can read about it....
i HADN"T heard of them....so i looked them up and found out. amazing what you can find out if you want to put a little effort into it.

i HADN"T heard of them....so i looked them up and found out. amazing what you can find out if you want to put a little effort into it.

Yep it sure is..

What would be even more amazing is to find one in a junkyard anywhere.

I've only seen a typhoon once in person.

I build/engineer custom offroad suspension and chassis products. I have been thinking about building a 4wd camino racetruck for a while, I already have the camino lined up. Now I'm engineering the suspension/chassis in CAD so it will go together properly. The build will begin in about 2 months...

The easiest way to do this IMO is to get an entire IFS off an 89-94 toyota pickup or t-100. These vehicles have forged spindles that (I think) have the same lug pattern as an el camino rear-end.
The major issue is the differential. Since chevy didn't plan on this, some custom stuff has to be done. The best way to compensate is to move the engine rearward to give room for the differential. this keeps the belly flat and allows skid-plating as before mentioned would be very helpful.
Another option is to hang the diff below the engine but this would create clearance issues for those wanting to stay stock ride-height.

I am building an entire front clip that has a new bulkhead for the motor and diff, if there is enough interest I could create a conversion kit but I would have to get a deposit from 5 committed people to justify the R&D and testing time. I doubt if there are that many elco owners actually ready to drop $ on this right now...

My Plans;
Basically chop the nose off at the firewall, Slip on my custom bulkhead, square, and weld in place. Cage with 1.75" DOM from nose to tail. Drop in the LS1 and T400 fixed yoke 2wd trans, atlas t-case. Front 8.8" aluminum ford diff out of a newer F-150, ford outer hub/unit bearings and custom axles with 930 porche CVs $$$. hydro steer, and full centerlink trophy-truck suspension. on 31" BFG Projects.

Basically It's going to be elco bodywork wrapped around a trophy truck chassis, and street legal =)

every 4wd el camino i ever see is JACKED way up in the air and big tires added. one of the things i find most distasteful about this modification is the "MONSTER TRUCK" attitude it makes. stock 4wd trucks on the dealer lots don't come with lift kits or over-sized tires, and they are not that much taller than most standard pickups. why couldn't someone build an el camino with 4wd that isn't lifted?

i would bet you could put a "stock" blazer assembly under an el camino, run the typical size wheels and tires we all are running now [15 X 8s with maybe a 245 or 255/60 15" tire] and only have a slightly taller vehicle than you would have if you were running taller springs on a stock one.

there wouldn't be a need for over-thinking this or over-engineering anything...just don't jack it up in the air. :dontknow:

The only thing with 4 wheel drive on a elcamino is it will look like a mud racer:dontknow: or a DONK:barf:

look at an ASTRO AWD van it looks and sits just like the other vans, I think I will be able to keep the wheels and ride height on the el camino nearly stock----we will see.....Dan

Here is a primo example of what I mean.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Chevrolet-Astro-2005-Chevrolet-Astro-AWD-Minivan-Van-Passenger-Tan_W0QQitemZ220578209195QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUS_Car s_Trucks?hash=item335b7c5dab

If u use a K5 frame the axle is under the engine, Impossible to keep it at stock-camino height with that setup. even somewhere close you would have no suspension travel. The astro is IFS so it's a whole different ballgame. I wouldn't say a toyota IFS swap is over-engineered at all. From years of researching the best parts to work off for reliable offroad setups the toyota stuff works consistantly and can be had for a fair price. I'm actually thinking about designing an entire frame to simplify the 4wd intigration. This way I would always start with a square baseline. Hot rodders do this stuff all day. Nothing new...not rocket science.

I'm interested to see what u come up with Dan. It will be a legendary conversion for sure...

If u use a K5 frame the axle is under the engine, Impossible to keep it at stock-camino height with that setup. even somewhere close you would have no suspension travel. The astro is IFS so it's a whole different ballgame. I wouldn't say a toyota IFS swap is over-engineered at all. From years of researching the best parts to work off for reliable offroad setups the toyota stuff works consistantly and can be had for a fair price. I'm actually thinking about designing an entire frame to simplify the 4wd intigration. This way I would always start with a square baseline. Hot rodders do this stuff all day. Nothing new...not rocket science.

Toyota 4x4's are always a 6 lug pattern same as a Chevy 4x4, not the same as an Elcamino bolt pattern (I can't remember the exact numbers) but I've owned a LOT of Toy 4x4's over the years.

I would think that the easiest way to do this would be to weld spring perches on the front frame and go leaf spring live axle and a shallow oil pan.

^That would be the easiest answer for sure if u want a rock crawler camino. The goal of the thread starter I think was a stockish looking elco with 4wd for driving in snow/ice and mellow offroad.

Independent front suspension is the only way to achieve the desired ride height without moving the engine back to clear the axle at full compression. IFS also handles WAY better on the street and is more tuneable.

Honestly I know it sounds complicated but I think the easiest way to do this would be to take a front clip from an IFS toyota and intigrate it to the elco chassis at the firewall. Then all stock toyota parts would be utilized for the suspension arms/spindles/brakes/differential/axles and could be had as a package for much less than piecing it together.

I'm interested to see how the astro awd conversion works but I personally want to be able to unlock the hubs for 2wd daily driving, and remove all 4wd parts during the summer for better fuel economy.

I got the chassis design and some concept drawings done yesterday I will post up pics asap.

i am missing something here. it isn't the engine that is in the way of the proposed front axle. it is the main cross member. i would think that would be the biggest hindrance to keeping the axle close to stock ride height. depending on how much clearance you have for your carb/induction system, you could actually raise the engine several inches from its stock location. that, and moving/altering the main cross member would clear up quite a bit of space. since you are altering the original frame assembly already, this would be just a little more "engineering".

besides, how much travel do you need if you are only doing this alteration for mild offroading or driving in adverse conditions? the most that stock suspension travels [unless you are Bo and Luke Duke] is only a few...maybe 6-8 inches.i assume the driver will be aware of that limit and practice some caution when trying to clear parking lot speed bumps or pot holes. and this suspension travel limit would still only make the El Camino a few inches taller than your average ride height.....

IFS would eliminate the issue of axle clearance. has anyone checked into what the drive train of something like an Olds Torinado requires? just a thought.

^That would be the easiest answer for sure if u want a rock crawler camino. The goal of the thread starter I think was a stockish looking elco with 4wd for driving in snow/ice and mellow offroad.

Independent front suspension is the only way to achieve the desired ride height without moving the engine back to clear the axle at full compression. IFS also handles WAY better on the street and is more tuneable.

Honestly I know it sounds complicated but I think the easiest way to do this would be to take a front clip from an IFS toyota and intigrate it to the elco chassis at the firewall. Then all stock toyota parts would be utilized for the suspension arms/spindles/brakes/differential/axles and could be had as a package for much less than piecing it together.

I'm interested to see how the astro awd conversion works but I personally want to be able to unlock the hubs for 2wd daily driving, and remove all 4wd parts during the summer for better fuel economy.

I got the chassis design and some concept drawings done yesterday I will post up pics asap.

Ok, I see your point now, that the easiest way to keep STOCK height is to transplant the entire front end chassis on, yeah, that does make sense...though firewall work tends to get real tricky from what I understand, when you gotta start moving all your HVAC/radio/electrics around...

I was thinking though, according to the OP, that most people that do this conversion tend to add lift in addition to the normal frame up or suspension mount conversion, since it seems that with offroader types, more lift is more better...seems that the people that are determined enough to do this mod, are serious offroaders. I was thinking that a modest amount of lift, just enough to clear the live axle from the oil pan and cross member with some moderate suspension travel, would net you the proper height to make 31's or 33' look normal in the wheel wells without looking lifted.

Doesn't toyota mount their engines well forward of the axle, so that the sump is forward of the hardmounted IFS diff? Cant remember on the toy P/u but thats the way my Taco is.


i am missing something here. it isn't the engine that is in the way of the proposed front axle. it is the main cross member. i would think that would be the biggest hindrance to keeping the axle close to stock ride height. depending on how much clearance you have for your carb/induction system, you could actually raise the engine several inches from its stock location. that, and moving/altering the main cross member would clear up quite a bit of space. since you are altering the original frame assembly already, this would be just a little more "engineering".

besides, how much travel do you need if you are only doing this alteration for mild offroading or driving in adverse conditions? the most that stock suspension travels [unless you are Bo and Luke Duke] is only a few...maybe 6-8 inches.i assume the driver will be aware of that limit and practice some caution when trying to clear parking lot speed bumps or pot holes. and this suspension travel limit would still only make the El Camino a few inches taller than your average ride height.....

IFS would eliminate the issue of axle clearance. has anyone checked into what the drive train of something like an Olds Torinado requires? just a thought.

So true on the crossmember...Im very curious on the astro setup as well.

look at an ASTRO AWD van it looks and sits just like the other vans, I think I will be able to keep the wheels and ride height on the el camino nearly stock----we will see.....Dan

Here is a primo example of what I mean.
http://rover.ebay.com/ar/1/711-53200-19255-0/1?mpt=969641353&adtype=1&size=1x1&type=3&campid=5336121877&toolid=10001 http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Chevrolet-Astro-2005-Chevrolet-Astro-AWD-Minivan-Van-Passenger-Tan_W0QQitemZ220578209195QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUS_Car s_Trucks?hash=item335b7c5dab (http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-53200-19255-0/1?type=3&campid=5336121877&toolid=10001&mpre=http%3A%2F%2Fcgi.ebay.com%2Febaymotors%2FChev rolet-Astro-2005-Chevrolet-Astro-AWD-Minivan-Van-Passenger-Tan_W0QQitemZ220578209195QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUS_Car s_Trucks%3Fhash%3Ditem335b7c5dab)

Remember, a van has got a lot higher waistline to contain the engine height with, than a A/G body does...

the front crossmember would definately need to be removed and the frame plated. Then a subframe would have to be built to mount/protect the differential and for lower suspension arm mounts. raising up the engine is not a bad idea but IDK how much room there really is for that until I get mine here. I still think moving the engine back a little and solid-mounting everyting is the ticket for a good offroad setup.

I think that the hood would have to be modified to deal with the engine getting relocated.

Could put on a cowl hood to clear a raised engine.. as long as u dont raise it up too much :nanawrench:

I would not do a mod that required body modification. trying to go for the sleeper look. I don't really see why the hood would be modified if you just move the engine rearward...anyone got a quick measurement from the back of the block/dist. to the firewall?

I would not do a mod that required body modification. trying to go for the sleeper look. I don't really see why the hood would be modified if you just move the engine rearward...anyone got a quick measurement from the back of the block/dist. to the firewall?

I'm using a 500 Caddy for power and the distributor is up front= extra firewall clearance but I'm having an issue finding a TH700r4 with the BOP pattern bell to do the adapting from the 500caddy to the 4L60E transfr case. I don't really want to add an adapter and add length to the whole setup but we will see.
I'm thinking 600HP and all wheel drive ought to be a blast to try to corral...............Dan

I like the way you think Dan =) post updates when u make some headway.

I have been talking to an Audi tuner friend that builds 900hp 4wd track cars. We are possibly putting together an audi engine/trans package that would shave a couple hundred pounds off the previous plan, and since I'm trying to build this thing as light as possible I'm kinda leaning in this direction. But I love V8s and always wanted an LS powered offroad vehicle so we will have to see what I find deals on...Anyhow the donor car for the project is ready for pickup. don't worry guys, this one isn't a resto candidate. I can't chop up nice cars. I will take pics when I go pick it up.

I'm honestly very curious to see how this project is going along.

Check out this one on craigslist. (http://jacksonville.craigslist.org/cto/1723082734.html)

Check out this one on craigslist. (http://jacksonville.craigslist.org/cto/1723082734.html)

Only one thing to say:barf:\
Dan

I'm back, now I actually belong. Bought an 81 2 days ago and can barely leave it alone so I have a car to drive. I have put a lot of thought into the setup. My conclusion.
Built 4.3l v6, 2wd T400 trans, divorced 205 tcase, and Toyota running gear.
The front section of frame forward of the firewall will be removed and replaced with a new, narrowed front frame. The v6 allows room for the differential and upper control arms to be in front of the engine without the headaches of moving the engine rearward.

Look forward to a build thread starting in a couple months...I sure am!

http://www.hpiracing.com/graphics/bodies/7177_01m.jpg
:nanawrench:

and I'm back again...changed the design so others with v8s can run this setup.
Making headway little by little. Picked up an LS1 a month ago, it will be mounted on aftermarket plates 2" rear of stock location. (As far back as possible without cutting firewall) I plan to go carbed for simplicity and quick tuneability at the track. The car is going to be built legal for the unlimited 4wd class in the CORR series for the future, and open/Class 1 for VORRA to begin with.

I have decided to continue with the toyota based design simply because I already have proven suspension kits for these trucks which took a couple years to build/test.

The frame has to be modified in so many ways up front it doesn't make sense to use the factory frame forward of the firewall. I have engineered my own front frame section that ties into the factory frame at the firewall and has the same suspension mounting locations as the toyota pickups so my existing parts will bolt right on.

The ride height should be between 4 and 6in taller than stock to provide enough suspension uptravel for jumping 90 foot gaps at 80+mph. It could be made to sit lower for normal drivers needs though.

I really want to get the sawzall out and go to town every time I get to work on her, but I'm still finishing up the last details in the design phase and stacking parts/$ to begin the build. Seems like projects always take 4 times as long as they should...

:twocents: I find myself unable to take any 4wd vehicle seriously

pics of the frame mods would be helpful. i agree that the stock frame would be in the way of a true full-on 4X if height and accessibility are considerations.

Seems like projects always take 4 times as long as they should...
And they cost four times as much too. :beer:

:twocents: I find myself unable to take any 4wd vehicle seriously

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2WQUVWlag8U
these guys are joking then.

I will get some pics next time I'm at the shop and have my gf's camera.