Update

[darinz]

OK, as some of you may remember I got the truck running really good and then bent the chassis in the first race!!!!!!! It now has a new chassis and we've made a few improvements.

The thing most will be interested in is the way we've mounted the oil filter. The photo's are a bit unclear so I'll try and take some that work!The factory housing has been cut and we have extended he lines with ali tube that has been welded on. The outer part with the oil filter and the releif valve have been welded to a plate that blots to the block where the guard for the PS belt use to blot to. So now the oil filter sit in front of the motor rather than to the side so it gives a lot more room.

Also the we have fitted new PS pump with bigger pulley as I was boiling the fluid in every stage.

Got WOF yesterday and they put a decibel meter on the exhuast. Basically the NZ law allows about 95db. Thankfully it was under that. 94.7db!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! but that was inside the workshop so I have a little more to play with!A couple of photo's that may interest

Sitting in the chassis.Those with 4x4 may appreciate the winch isn't exactly standard, and the rope does come out the front, all 90m of it. (about 300ft)So I'm racing this weekend in Rotorua so with any luck I won't break it this time!!!!!!!!
Modified by darinz at 2:31 AM 7/22/2008

[Mettler]

Badass man! You should arrange for some vids to be taken of your truck _b

[darinz]

In the first real competition, the truck went perfectly. Well apart from the wee fire inside the cab caused by a loose conection on a cable suppling the winch motor. For those who can work it out try a 6hp 12v motor with 24v powering it (just to make it run a bit faster), times 2 motors. Add a very step hill then winch 2 ton truck up it. No suprise, fire behind your head and a very quick exit from the truck. Turn off power and problem solved!! Remove melted 1250amp switch (one switch oer motor) and replace melted motor and keep racing. But that was the only issue we had.

A VH45 will run when completly submerged! Twice we had water/mud over the bonnet and at winching speed so engine bay complenty filled with water. We had the power steer belt ripper off by a stick which took out the water pump and we still finished the stage without over heating. About 3 minutes driving! At the finish box the temp reached 90*, the worst was trying to steer 35" tyres with front diff locked and np PS!!!!!

I got 125kph on the GPS from a standing start on grave forestry road up hill in about 400m! My truck is so rediculously fast it scares me a wee bit still! 2 of the stages we did were basically rally stages with most being on forest roads. Speeds were restricted by how big your balls are!!!!!!

The best thing is that it is ready to do another race right now!!! Took a long time to build but it has proved it can handle it, now I just need a lot of seat time to learn how to get the best out of it.

We have a lot of photos so I'll sort out a few. My wife has suggested a trip to the drag strip as well!!!!!!!!!!!!! I wonder how many will get pissed when a dirty 4x4 on mud tyres beats them

[Florida240sx]

MORE PICS!!!!!!! and Video please....

[darinz]

The competition I was in last weekend is on Sky Sports 1 (I think) at 6.00pm Tuesday. Suzuki Extreme 4x4. Probably on later in the week as well. It was on tonight but only got rung during the programme.There is at least one section of my truck.

Also I'll get all the photo's onto photobucket this week.

[darinz]

Link to Photobucket site with a lot more photos. I have some video coming.http://s271.photobucket.com/al...rt=40

[Mettler]

Holy crap darinz, nice pic!!



This truck is brutal!!!

[kingkilburn]

What's the wheel base of that death machine?

It looks shorter than my s13.

Edit: Mettler you need to change your sn to MettlerExplosion, or MettlerKlok

[Mettler]

Metalocalypse ftw _b

[darinz]

What's the wheel base of that death machine?

It looks shorter than my s13.

Edit: Mettler you need to change your sn to MettlerExplosion, or MettlerKlok

It has been extended to 104.5". The long wheel base version is 114 and this was a SWB so out of the factory it was 94" and even with the turbo diesel that was a bit uncontrolable. As it sits now, if the traction is right it virtually wheelstands. Great for hitting a big bog hole as it doesn't nosedive!!When in low range, shifting from 1st to 2nd at about 5000rpm is insane! At higher revs it doesn't have quite the same kick but is still pretty impressive.

I've got some videa coming.

[craigztoyz]

After driving mine, I cant grasp what that must feel like to drive. I cant control it on the street under throttle, how do you drive it hard? Must be a blast.

[darinz]

You have to remember that it is 4x4 so even though it power slides you can steer it with at combination of throttle and steering. I drive with left foot of brake and just adjust pressure accordingly. I use the brake load and unload the front suspension for steering and also rough ground. A bit like a drifter using the handbrake and throttle to set the car up for a corner, I use the brakes and throttle to setup for a corner and also rough ground. It does take a huge amount of concentration and a lot of wheel time which I'm currently lacking. The auto helps a lot and the power delivery is very smooth and predictable. ie no real lag or surge of power. The power curve is a straight line.



Also we're only reving it to 6k for this power. It has 2psi at 2k and has 10psi for 3k right through til redline.

Now in 2wd it is just stupid. I was overtaking a car a few months ago. Pulled out pulled back to 2nd and put foor down. At 80kph it went sideways so I just held foot down and went past a very very suprised driver. It straightened up at about 140 when I hit 3rd. I have no idea of the top speed, but in low range it will do over 160k's. High range speed will come down to aerodynamics and it has none so I'm picking aroung 200k's will be it.

I'm more than happy to take guys for ride offroad, all they need to do is come up when I'm testing. I'm organising a race for the 6 and 7 September so I be spending plenty of time until then in Whangarei setting and testing stages. Not many people are capable of speaking when I'm driving hard. I even managed to suprise my co-driver at the last race. And he has driven with me for 4 years and is a cop!

[craigztoyz]

You have to remember that it is 4x4 so even though it power slides you can steer it with at combination of throttle and steering. I drive with left foot of brake and just adjust pressure accordingly. I use the brake load and unload the front suspension for steering and also rough ground. A bit like a drifter using the handbrake and throttle to set the car up for a corner, I use the brakes and throttle to setup for a corner and also rough ground. It does take a huge amount of concentration and a lot of wheel time which I'm currently lacking. The auto helps a lot and the power delivery is very smooth and predictable. ie no real lag or surge of power. The power curve is a straight line.



Also we're only reving it to 6k for this power. It has 2psi at 2k and has 10psi for 3k right through til redline.

Now in 2wd it is just stupid. I was overtaking a car a few months ago. Pulled out pulled back to 2nd and put foor down. At 80kph it went sideways so I just held foot down and went past a very very suprised driver. It straightened up at about 140 when I hit 3rd. I have no idea of the top speed, but in low range it will do over 160k's. High range speed will come down to aerodynamics and it has none so I'm picking aroung 200k's will be it.

I'm more than happy to take guys for ride offroad, all they need to do is come up when I'm testing. I'm organising a race for the 6 and 7 September so I be spending plenty of time until then in Whangarei setting and testing stages. Not many people are capable of speaking when I'm driving hard. I even managed to suprise my co-driver at the last race. And he has driven with me for 4 years and is a cop!