Smoggy's 'Rockwatt' monster rebuild

Well I'm very excited to announce that after my amateur efforts at building my off-road Jimny I have been saving hard for the past year and bought a load of new parts and adorned the master of rebuilds Rockwatt with considerable funds to build me a monster. I have purchased 5x 35x12.5 Maxxis Trepadors along with some funky steel wheels (will be beadlocked by Rockwatt himself). These will be rolling on Yota axles with trail gear 4340 internals, six shooter hubs and ARB lockers front and rear. The guy I bought them from had already ground them down for preparation, Rockwatt is going to move the front axle to a more forward position and the rear axle further back for improved approach departure angles along with removing the 4.5" ORA lift kit (which I will be selling complete) and replacing with a 3link setup for greater articulation.

To accommodate the articulation of the axles the bonnet is being redefined and the headlights moved inwards to make the previously 5 sectioned grille a 3 section. This is being finished off with custom front wings to smarten up the package. Richard is also chopping the shell to convert it into a trayback/pickup rear (final details still being discussed). This will be protected by an all encompassing external cage extending around the front to protect the wings and to the rear to cover the pickup sides. Instead of fitting rocksliders Rockwatt will be fabricating 3mm box section sills to which the cage will mount. 2x20" light bars will be fitted to the cage above the windscreen (which I recently purchased from Black Oak LED in the USA).

I have also bought 2x high output ARB compressors into which Rockwatt is going to make a self contained waterproof enclosure and air tank fed by breather tubes for the lockers and tyre inflation etc. My 6.5 transfer box has been sold and the funds have gone towards a more suitably ratio' d box as fitted to Dave bits for vits Jimny protected by a one off special Rockwatt cradle.

I already had a Goodwinch 9.5 winch on the front loaded with dyneema which Rockwatt is going to service for me and move to the rear. A second Goodwinch 9.5 (dyneema) I have bought is going to be fitted by Rockwatt also to a more suitable position at the front.

Rich is going to finish the whole thing off with a nice spray job though I haven't decided what colour to have it sprayed yet (Rockwatt said as lond as it's not camo lol though I don't think even that would be a challenge for a man of Rockwatts talents).

If there's enough money left in the kitty I hope to have Richard make me some stainless steel tool chests for my recovery gear to fit the pickup beD.

Rich said the work is expected to take upto 6 months (it's a lot of work and the top man is a busy fella) but Rockwatt is going to post me weekly progress pics which I will post on here for you guys.

Awesome, a smog monster comeff

Any colour will do so long as its not middlesbrough ones

Oh dear Halford there's a thought. If we go up into the premiership then Mighty Boro colours it may be

Wow. Sounds ace. Can't wait to see the finished truck

Sounds like a great build can't wait to see some pics I think my insurance would cost more than the build :woohoo:

6 months! No chance of getting a roof rack or front bump stops now then :whistle: :woohoo:

Bet you can't wait now

Some pics of the axles and trail gear parts I bought:

Can't mate. So excited.

Smoggy wrote: Can't mate. So excited.

This looks interesting

So.. Have to ask..

What kind of suspension are you going after? Coilovers, airshocks perhaps??

Can't remember what engine you have.. But 35" tyres with the 1.3 ... Hmm Hope it'll be okay

TomDK wrote:

Smoggy wrote: Can't mate. So excited.

This looks interesting

So.. Have to ask..

What kind of suspension are you going after? Coilovers, airshocks perhaps??

Can't remember what engine you have.. But 35" tyres with the 1.3 ... Hmm Hope it'll be okay

No Tom it has a 1.6 engine in. I was going to fit an Isuzu 1.7td but Rockwatt said that the 1.6 motor I have in is perfectly acceptable. I'm not yet sure on the finer details of the suspension setup with the exception of the points I've already mentioned.

I saw it when I was there having my transfer box fitted Smoggy

Smoggy wrote:

TomDK wrote:

Smoggy wrote: Can't mate. So excited.

This looks interesting

So.. Have to ask..

What kind of suspension are you going after? Coilovers, airshocks perhaps??

Can't remember what engine you have.. But 35" tyres with the 1.3 ... Hmm Hope it'll be okay

No Tom it has a 1.6 engine in. I was going to fit an Isuzu 1.7td but Rockwatt said that the 1.6 motor I have in is perfectly acceptable. I'm not yet sure on the finer details of the suspension setup with the exception of the points I've already mentioned.

Agree with Richard. Diesel is for farmers

Looking forward to seeing more on this project

Yes Dave it's been lurking. Now the main man's on the job though