8x8 chassis

Zil lover · Post by **Zil lover** » Sat Aug 20, 2011 2:41 pm

Hi all. I have always fancied a ww2 german armoured car. More specifically an 8x8 sd kfz 234/2 Puma or a 232 radio model.As we are aware there is none in existance and if there was they would want hundreds of thousands for such an example. With all this in mind can anyone suggest a suitable donor chassis in 8x8 format that could be made rear engined so I can just fabricate a body from 6mm steel and drop it on? The alternatives include using Toyota 4x4 suspension and drivetrain components in a custom build but buying something ready made has got to be better.

jamie_grieve · Post by **jamie_grieve** » Sat Aug 20, 2011 3:55 pm

There's a link to a cheap MAN 8x8 all ready to go in the for sale section

Toyota or whatever light 4x4 running gear is never ever going to be up to the job. You'll need difflocks because of how many wheels can be off the ground and those remaining wheels will have to be able to transmit all that torque. The Toyota half shafts and CV's just wont take it because it will end up quite heavy.

Are there any restrictions of any kind making your own armoured car?

Lots of cheap glass from the old snatch Land Rovers going around just now.

Have fun, it sounds like a cool project.

Abrs · Post by **Abrs** » Sun Aug 21, 2011 2:55 pm

The only thing I can think of is the Pinz, but that would be a lump of money.

Iain · Post by **Iain** » Sun Aug 21, 2011 7:44 pm

there is a pinz in a field near me as it goes, but transport from portugal would be quite a sum but the truck itself would be cheap...

If you want I´ll ask

portamurda1 · Post by **portamurda1** » Wed Aug 24, 2011 8:22 pm

put two together utilising the rear one as the power supply and the front one the wrong way round (obviously with a steering axle on front as well....) i'm sure a polish guy did a copy using two 4x4 civvies...i'll look through some of my old stuff

Zil lover · Post by **Zil lover** » Wed Aug 24, 2011 9:14 pm

Yes I don't want anything too heavy. It also could do to have independant suspension on each wheel like the real one and have the front two axles steered. I don't want it to weigh more than 4 tons which should make the Hilux stuff ok. I was thinking of using mk4 Hilux front suspension and differential units on a custom chassis. The 'armour' bodyshell will be made up of 3 to 6 mm mild steel, the gun barrel will be made of alloy or wood, the gun mantlet will be glass fibre. The only bits made of thick steel will be the hatches vision ports etc. The engine will be a Lexus 4.3 litre mounted in the rear with an autobox with the propshaft driving forward to a divorced Landcruiser full time transfer box in the centre of the vehicle with shafts running fore and aft to two more transfer boxes between the axle bogies. It would all be Toyota (I am a Toyota 4x4 specialist ). My mates are sheet metal workers so the body should be easy. Making the turret work will be more difficult though!!!!

portamurda1 · Post by **portamurda1** » Wed Aug 24, 2011 9:53 pm

Zil lover wrote:Yes I don't want anything too heavy. It also could do to have independant suspension on each wheel like the real one and have the front two axles steered. I don't want it to weigh more than 4 tons which should make the Hilux stuff ok. I was thinking of using mk4 Hilux front suspension and differential units on a custom chassis. The 'armour' bodyshell will be made up of 3 to 6 mm mild steel, the gun barrel will be made of alloy or wood, the gun mantlet will be glass fibre. The only bits made of thick steel will be the hatches vision ports etc. The engine will be a Lexus 4.3 litre mounted in the rear with an autobox with the propshaft driving forward to a divorced Landcruiser full time transfer box in the centre of the vehicle with shafts running fore and aft to two more transfer boxes between the axle bogies. It would all be Toyota (I am a Toyota 4x4 specialist ). My mates are sheet metal workers so the body should be easy. Making the turret work will be more difficult though!!!!

you want it under 4 ton...you wont be using 6mm steel...!!!

Zil lover · Post by **Zil lover** » Wed Aug 24, 2011 10:00 pm

6 mm only around hatches etc. Most will be 3-4mm.

portamurda1 · Post by **portamurda1** » Wed Aug 24, 2011 10:10 pm

Zil lover wrote:6 mm only around hatches etc. Most will be 3-4mm.

it would still be mighty heavy...and top heavy for that narrow a track...cant you make a mimi-me one out of subaru justys???

Zil lover · Post by **Zil lover** » Mon Aug 29, 2011 4:43 pm

The track would be the same as the original. The chassis would be custom made and the mounting points can be tailored to make the track to the required width. If you look at an SD KFZ 231 it is quite narrow and top heavy looking. The original weighed 8 tons but had mainly 10 mm thick armour. It also had a quick firing 20mm gun made of steel and a mantlet of cast steel. The vehicle would be an empty shell with only a couple of seats in it. This is only a size and appearance replica not a faithful size and weight museum quality facsimile....I am considering building a 6rad version if I can buy a cheap Praga or similar.

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