Samtech79
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Hi all,
This is my first post on SS so don’t beat me up too bad for trying to reinvent the wheel or anything. I’m glad to see a forum like this one. There’s a good deal of technical information and experience floating around in here.
So before I get into this too far, a little about me; I’m a tinkerer of sorts, I fancy myself as a skilled craftsman with metals and machine work. I’m an engineer by profession but very much a kid at heart. For me it’s more the doing than the having but my goal is the end result.
When I’m not busy building in my free time, old motorcycles and guns for the most part, I enjoy gold prospecting. I’ve been finding the limits of my off road van all too often these days and think it may be time to step up my equipment.
I think I may have been bitten by the Gama Goat bug but it’s too early to tell just yet. It would seem that in my absolute inexperience with these I see many shortcomings.
First, which is 100% me… I’ve never been up close and personal with one nor have I driven one. I came across a video and it just hit me that this was the ideal beasty for my adventuring. It will handle all sorts of terrain, could take a pretty big camper and it floats for those super sketchy river crossings… My van doesn’t swim… I know from experience.
Is there anyone near northern California that would be willing to show off theirs and possibly let me drive it?
Second; it’s noisy and slow. Has anyone swapped out the power plant for something more powerful and quiet? Isuzu makes a few different diesels that are both smaller/lighter and more powerful than the 3-53. Has anyone had success with other power plants and or transmission?
Third; and this may be my lack of experience, the steering isn’t self centering. I need something that can cruise on the freeway. I realize that the steering could be a problem… Self centering is usually a product of running some caster. Can the entire front end mounting points be rotated back 10-15 degree fairing easily or will new upper and lower A-arms have to be fabricated? What about power steering? Anyone tried it? Electric?
Forth; The brakes… I have seen a video that the gentleman described that the drums had been removed and replaced with wildwood disk. Is there a tried and true retrofit for these? Does anyone have the specifics of this upgrade?
I hope that I haven’t offended any purist out there; it’s not my intent to rub anyone the wrong way. The Gama Goat seems like it may be the easiest to outfit for my needs and possible the cheapest. I’ve looked into some of the higher end off road exhibition vehicles and for the price their asking… I can buy all the gold I’m looking for.
Thank you in advance.
This is my first post on SS so don’t beat me up too bad for trying to reinvent the wheel or anything. I’m glad to see a forum like this one. There’s a good deal of technical information and experience floating around in here.
So before I get into this too far, a little about me; I’m a tinkerer of sorts, I fancy myself as a skilled craftsman with metals and machine work. I’m an engineer by profession but very much a kid at heart. For me it’s more the doing than the having but my goal is the end result.
When I’m not busy building in my free time, old motorcycles and guns for the most part, I enjoy gold prospecting. I’ve been finding the limits of my off road van all too often these days and think it may be time to step up my equipment.
I think I may have been bitten by the Gama Goat bug but it’s too early to tell just yet. It would seem that in my absolute inexperience with these I see many shortcomings.
First, which is 100% me… I’ve never been up close and personal with one nor have I driven one. I came across a video and it just hit me that this was the ideal beasty for my adventuring. It will handle all sorts of terrain, could take a pretty big camper and it floats for those super sketchy river crossings… My van doesn’t swim… I know from experience.
Is there anyone near northern California that would be willing to show off theirs and possibly let me drive it?
Second; it’s noisy and slow. Has anyone swapped out the power plant for something more powerful and quiet? Isuzu makes a few different diesels that are both smaller/lighter and more powerful than the 3-53. Has anyone had success with other power plants and or transmission?
Third; and this may be my lack of experience, the steering isn’t self centering. I need something that can cruise on the freeway. I realize that the steering could be a problem… Self centering is usually a product of running some caster. Can the entire front end mounting points be rotated back 10-15 degree fairing easily or will new upper and lower A-arms have to be fabricated? What about power steering? Anyone tried it? Electric?
Forth; The brakes… I have seen a video that the gentleman described that the drums had been removed and replaced with wildwood disk. Is there a tried and true retrofit for these? Does anyone have the specifics of this upgrade?
I hope that I haven’t offended any purist out there; it’s not my intent to rub anyone the wrong way. The Gama Goat seems like it may be the easiest to outfit for my needs and possible the cheapest. I’ve looked into some of the higher end off road exhibition vehicles and for the price their asking… I can buy all the gold I’m looking for.
Thank you in advance.
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