The Bullaculla 3 link SAS build (pic heavy)

So I can't do anything until I get the pan hard bar and tie rod, so I decided to work on my twin sticks. I wanted a clean way to seal the hole, and also decided to make the sticks work better.
First thing i did was get rid of the nut and bolt because the instructions say to seal them with silicone of something after assemble, plus the diameter of bolts are usually pretty undersized so they were pretty sloppy. So I made a precision steel rod with a head, o-ring grooves to seal it, and a retaining clip groove. I also reamed out the aluminum body for a good seal.

Now the sticks have very little side to side slop.
Then I found a suitable shift boot that I thought would work (bought around 5 from eBay trying to find one that works) and then cut down the front range twin sticks base, and left a step in it that was just a little thinner than the shift boot thickness for some squeeze on the rubber, and made another plate to act as a clamp.

When assembled, it's still the same height as the original lower plate.





And here it is installed. The underside of the tunnel is pretty flat, and there is a little pressure against the underside of the body to form a decent seal, but I will probably seal it completely with mastic.

Now I just have to cut and bend the sticks so I can put my console back together.

I'm very happy with the results

 

Sick!!!

 

That looks really good

 

Thanks guys! I'm actually gonna redo both the bottom base and clamp and make it a little wider so I get more bite on the rubber. I'm also gonna put a heavy top and bottom chamfer on the clamp so it'll be more gentle on the rubber.

 

Loving the progress! Keep up the good work mang, it's just as impressive to see the quality of the build as it is to see the neat little things you have turned out on the lathe.

 

And remember, Iven..........If you ever need something pounded with a big hammer, don't hesitate to call me.

 

I told you to come over twice already

 

All talk and never puts out, huh?

 

Someone must be creeping this build thread..

 

Few more

 

Great... that's perfect timing

 

X2

 

I literally just laughed out loud here at work reading that comment. Thanks!

 

Still good timing for me lol

 

So I decided to make that new larger base for the twin stick.

Messy!

Here it is next to the original base. I went wider so there will be more bite on rubber boot.

I also added a pretty good bevel on all the edges that will rub on the rubber.

Has a step to fully seat the clamp without crushing the rubber.

The clamp plate barely fits inside the bellows.

I can't pull out the rubber at all when it's tightened down.

No gap on the inside.

Assembled with the FROR top block and my steel pin. Don't mind the hardware. It's just what I had laying around

Now I'm really happy. I've had a few PMs asking about the block, so I am considering making a few more to retro fit the FROR twinstick, as well as the steel pivot pin.

 

Bravo!

Ya know Iven...you should start some kind of business...

 

Nice! Put me down for one! Can't wait to see how this turns out. You're doing a hell of job with this build.

 

I put a welder in my engine bay
How's that reverse grip!

Jesse @1uzrnr pretty much did all the work fitting up the steering box.

@kumz and @squint0241 also hung out and watched Jesse work

Hard to tell, but we had to move the hole for the drag link forward 1/8" to keep the massive links from touching at full lock. I didn't snap any pics, but Jesse plug welded the hole, then ground it flat. I didn't have a 5/8" drill, so I had to setup the arm in the CNC mill and ran a quick hole pocketing program with a 3/8" carbide end mill. Worked great, hole is perfectly round and perpendicular.

Gonna add a plate to double shear the pitman arm.

Good progress yesterday

 

You forgot to mention that I was eating all your food as well...