Newbie Wheel & Suspension questions

[Brigand]

Hello-
I joined this forum a while back with every intention of building and racing an early Bronco. Since then work slowed down considerably. I work the same job as Blanco but in the Northwest and everything dried up up here. So I put things on hold.
However, I recently acquired a nice '78 stock Bronco which made a suitable candidate for a race rig and I'm starting this project up again. I have a couple questions regarding my build.
What's the consensus on beadlock wheels for Class 3 racing? Need 'em/don't need'um? And the other thing I'm wondering about is the front suspension for desert racing. I have a good idea what to do with the rear suspension but I'm at a loss for building the front. Any opinions or suggestions for this rig? Does anybody have photos of their straight axle Bronco front set up for desert racing.
I appreciate any and all advice. Please bear with me while I navigate the new guy learning curve.
Thanks

[Dave G]

What's the consensus on beadlock wheels for Class 3 racing? Need 'em/don't need'um?

You don't need them - save your money for other expenses.


...front suspension for desert racing.... Any opinions or suggestions...?

Stock works! We raced our first season (or 2) with factory coil buckets, factory radius arms, and factory steering geometry and components, we did however weld a truss on the top and bottom of the front axle!

For pics, look here: Straightaxle's album (http://www.class3racing.com/album.php?albumid=12)


Also here: TWW - Moss axle truss thread (http://www.thewebwheeler.com/forums/showthread.php?t=220&page=2)

[Blanco]

I figure, start racing it & fix things as they break for the most part..
Or you can do like some guys & not race till you have a better mouse trap with every thing thought out just in case & over killing everything that can use mods...

Yes some of that will keep you from breaking , but waiting till you can afford to get everything complete on your super Class 3 will be all the longer before you get out there & start having fun...

Just make sure you build it along SCORE's latest rules because everyone else tends to just follow what ever SCORE does.
They're the NASCAR of the off road desert racing world.

I built my cage all in 1.75 tubing & then they changed their rules to a 2" cage & that knocked me out, because I'm not gonna start over from scratch..

[Brigand]

Thanks Dave, I hope you don't mind but with the winning formula your team has and being it's the same truck, I'll probably be putting a lot of stock in your advice and opinions and I'll most likely have more questions.

Blanco-

Yeah, you're right. I'd rather go racing sooner and fix what breaks or doesn't work as a way of learning than to build a rig for 3-4 years and never get out in the dirt. I'm definitely building to SCORE specs to avoid problems or having to do something over right off the bat

Thanks for your help guys.

[retroblazer]

I have them, but I have to agree that they are not necessary, but on the margins, it doesn't hurt to have them. They strengthen the one side of the wheel and if you loose a tire, it might allow for driving to a better spot to change the tire.

[Blanco]

Blanco-

Yeah, you're right. I'd rather go racing sooner and fix what breaks or doesn't work as a way of learning than to build a rig for 3-4 years and never get out in the dirt. I'm definitely building to SCORE specs to avoid problems or having to do something over right off the bat


If Ken ( "Anger Issues" ) notices this thread he'll tell about how he started on the cheap..
He pretty much added what the rules required for safety ( Cage ) & started racing it.
But he can explain all about that better than I can.

[Brigand]

Dave, I found some pics of the '05 rig on WebWheeler, with the stock style set up you described. Like most guys, I'm ridiculously visual and I grasp things better if I can look at it.:D I'm assuming the top of the shock mount is a hoop tied into the cage and braced across the engine so as not to tweak the frame? This looks like a better route for me to take initially, I think. Thanks again.

[Indiana Mike]

Another person trying to get it togather for next year. Want to race the class-3, but must have evrything correct, hate to drive the # miles from Indiana and find things not constructed in a manner acceptable! Have a 65 cj5 that I'm rebuilding, my question is what is the average speed that is obtained? What suggestion does any one have for the suspesion? Struggleing with how to start this build.

[Grimm]

cj5 is a super short wheelbase for a platform to build on, but would still be a fun truck for sure. If i remember, the cj5 was a leaf spring front and rear jeep. That will along with the short wheelbase will play a role in your average speed. If you look at most of the long distance races, the average speeds are in the 30's, maybe low 40's, but that also includes the down time for fixes, breakage, and such , which would likely increase the true average. Top speeds i have seen are in the 90's across some of the dry lake beds.

As far as where to start your suspension, a quick call to Deaver or National Springs would give you some idea of whats available for long travel springs for your jeep. Good springs and some good shocks and a good roll cage and your set.

Slightly more to it than that but that is a place to start, i've been on my build for 5 years now and its almost done, it takes time. The more you read the more better.
Post up a separate thread in the builds section.