My FIRST 6X6 Wild Wolf 295

[6X6]

Hi everyone, John Here. I am new to 6x6world and 6X6s. Long-time off-roader (Trucks, Mountain bikes, Rock climbing and ATVs) but this is my first experience with a 6X6. I had seen an argo run on some TV show many years ago, no idea what is was now, but I really didn't know thing one about these. WELL, now I have an ATTEX 295 WILD WOLF in my backyard that I am restoring. Awesome machine, new JLO 295 in it, and it runs great (After tuning it) and is a blast, at least on dry land. I am tackling the plastic, and then will go for the cosmetic. I figured I'll do a thread on a complete NOOBs very first experience with a 6X6, good for a or , right? Well. enough sob story, here is how she sits with a weeks work so far.

[Mike]

That is a good looking Attex! Once you get the bottom tub patched up you should be ready for the mud! Keep us updated on how it goes.

[LarryW]

That is a great looking rig. Patching it up should be no problem with some researching on the subject. But untile then, you can drain the water out quickly, lol. Glad to see ya and keep us updated. Welcome to the site and the sport.

Larry

[salamander]

Mean Green Machine

The underside of that 'ol 6x6 looks like its seen some action! Kudos to you for bringing it back to life!

[6X6]

Hi:
Yes Mike, it will hopefully be ready for the 7+ acres of swamp behind my house soon enough, but for now the "Drain hole" may also sink me in record time. (Unless someone has tried to take one of these things out through breaking surf). But anyway, I have patched all the holes/crackes except the biggie, pic #2 above, of a hole connected to a crack that goes all the way to the back . Yup, Fun! In photo 3 you can see some of the orange virgin ABS patch I have been using. Now after almost a week drying time it seems quite durable. Pic 4 also shows the results of what I was told was a fuel line hit with a welding torch (OOPS!) Below is the foot tub after some work with the black ABS. Red lines show where the cracks were (Like you can't see the patch, I know.) Now I just have to patch the screw holes frome the wood that was used for a repair by a previous owner.

[6X6]

Well, if anyone is still watching my build, this is where I am at. I will be stripping the paint soon and shining up the body with acetone. Spot checked inside and the acetone works better than any car wax for an almost instant shine. But first there is this pesky crack/hole to finish. At least the small front cracks are almost done, two more ABS layers should do em (Pic #1). The back of the crack is shrinking, about a third of the way done, and it does seem to be quite strong, even with a lot of pressure trying to push one side down, it does not give, pretty impressive, especialy since I have not yet gone over with the final top and bottom coats yet (Pic #2). Last, the previous owner's skidplates (Pic #3) will be re-used untill I am able to make a set of HDPE skids, or Stainless Steel. (If budget allows at that time) Oh, is anyone missing some road signs?

[George]

Hey 6x6,

Looking good.

My guess is that the previous owner worked for the Highway Dept.

Can you get some before and after shots of the areas you polishing with acetone? I've never tried that method to restore the color.

[hydromike]

Hi 6x6. I've been watching your build! You're tackling it head on, and it looks like you're making great progress.

I'm going to throw my 2-cents in about skid plates (yeah.... again...) Stainless steel plates may be more resilient in the long run, when compared to HDPE, but the one bad thing about stainless steel is that it can dent, and holds that shape once it dents. Not that you're going to running head-long into rocks and stumps.... While HDPE may initially look like the cheaper alternative to something like aluminum or stainless skids (they are... sigNIFicantly...) I think they offer a lot of benefit over their metallic counterparts. HDPE may scratch and gouge, etc., but it's still a very tough material, and holds up very well. I don't want to talk you out of the steel skids, but just wanted you to see the merit in the plastic alternative.
I think you could get away with two skids; one on each side which would cover the lower most chain-valleys, and bend them up to meet the center of the machine. It'd look great!

~m

[whipper-ag]

When it comes to taking out skid plates, I'm a Professional. I gotta admit that even your body will feel the impact with an aluminum skid plate if you hit something hard. If the terrain is hard, that's just how it feels. But the upside has been that when the plate was removed to replace, the body is still perfectly intact. So the aluminum plates have definite +'s & -'s. A skid plate of any type will help save the body. And if it does that, it doesn't matter what it's made of, because they do help. And that's always a plus.

Model Citizen, Zero Discipline Bridget

[Herbee]

True I havent introduced myself or hubby and our 6x6 that we have restored i will in the next post. I wanted to say the thing we have fouind best to repairing holes in the body like I saw in your pics was some stuff called Marine Tec. We got it at a local marine store/place selling boats and supplies. just thought I would put in my 2 cents. you can sand the stuff and paint it its great we have found. you"ll see how we used it in my pics I put up in general forum introducing us . thanks

[Herbee]

hello again. Dupont makes a flexible bondo for bummper repair for cars. Ive
not triied it as of yet, but you may find it at a body repair shop.Ive seen it at
an auto body shop here in California. Just the other day,If I had known this before I did my repairs I think I would have used it.Unknown about price you may want to find out.We are going to Rino line it to seal some stress cracks and give the body more strength. Hope this helps.

[6X6]

.... but the one bad thing about stainless steel is that it can dent, and holds that shape once it dents. Not that you're going to running head-long into rocks and stumps.... While HDPE may initially look like the cheaper alternative to something like aluminum or stainless skids (they are... sigNIFicantly...) I think they offer a lot of benefit over their metallic counterparts. HDPE may scratch and gouge, etc., but it's still a very tough material,

~m

Thanks Mike and Bridget, nice to get some input from some 6X6 pros.
I am leaning towards the HDPE, althoug I am looking at quite a thick high grade stainless to avoid the dent issue, my main concerns are price and weight. I won't be using this at high speeds on rough terrain due to the relatively tame engine and the fact that the crack I fixed may open up if I go too crazy. George, I will take some before/after pics on the acetone wipe down. Herbee, I have actually used Marine Tex more than a few times as I am an avid boater, and their epoxies are strong as hell. But I have heard that it didn't quite have that same bond with the ABS, like fiberglass/resin which I know does't bond as well as it had been done to this WW before I got it. I would recomend the ABS shavings/acetone goo. I have done more than half "the crack" so far, and every smaller crack on the machine, and it really does seem extremely strong. Some have said as strong as original. I am not sure about that, but it is very good.

[6X6]

Wow, an update

Hi:
OK, I have been doing some work, but due to "Work", not a lot, especially with all the testing and licensing I am going through right now. But the crack is almost gone, although the work is still rough and must be smoothed out so the skid-plates don't stress the repair area. And the hole is no more! (Well, no more than a crack now ) Picture #1 is the remainder of the hole, still taped and "Sticked" to let everything cure in the correct place. Picture #2 shows the back half which has the final coat, just needs sanding, and Picture #3 shows how far forward the base coat goes. Whoever figured out the ABS+Acetone recipe is a genius, and I think they have the full respect of just about every ABS bodied 6-wheeler owner. And George, I WILL get acetone polishing pictures as soon as I can do some polishing, I just have some green paint in the way.

[George]

Looking good 6x6.

[6X6]

Well, The crack is gone. I still have some ABS'n to do, but there is no more crack! I hope to finish off the last coat tomorrow, and then I just gotta put the road signs, err, skidplates back on, and finish the bildge pump install. (Yeah, that what those red wires to nowhere were for in the earlier pics.) Now I just have to worry about the cosmetic work, gettin this ol frog to look like a Wild Wolf again. You can see the rest of the crack now sealed #1, does need a final coat in the front, and in #2, you can see the lack of a hole. Also, thank you Whipper for shipping a set of decals out, just waiting for the Santa in brown (aka UPS guy) to show up, and thank you Don for your info on the correct decals, and for finding that nose piece. (Now I just gotta pay for it!)