Hell Creek finished - LTB's installed with pics

[diggity]

Hi All,

Well after several questions in my Hell Creek and LTB thread, here it is finished with the LTB's installed. Finished it up, took it out on some local power line trails to flex the springs a bit. Leaving in a few to hit them again this evening. It is NOT good on the road, but bad a$$ on the trail so far.

Thanks again for all the answers and comments/suggestions.

Here are few pics.

BTW - specs:

- Stock shackles
- Hell Creek 4" lift
- 34x10.50x15 SS LTB's
- Stock everything else.
- no power steering yet.
- Very squirley on the road
- HardTop scrubs top of garage














Anyway, still need to find some extended brake lines (not interested in the stainless braided, just black/stock type). Still trying to locate them.

Not sure if I will put 1.5 + shackles on the rear to level up a bit...tires do not rub so far with stock shackles.

Lots of rigs on here were inspiration, hope you guys enjoy.

Brad

[Melloj123]

Looks good bro. I just put a HC suspension on mine as well. Have you noticed any vibration issues when driving on the road?? Like those tires....

[diggity]

Melloj123 - no noticeable vibration when on the road, also no shims installed yet (don't think I need them).

I do feel and hear what I think is the drive shaft when coasting from anywhere between 30-50Mph to a stop. But I will be replacing ubolts first (they probably need it anyway) before shimming.

Brad

[Josie'sLandCruiser]

Hi All:

There is a rubber flex brake line replacement available that is five (5) inches longer than the stock units.

I think the Raybestoes part number is BH38009, NAPA uses it too.

Good luck!

Alan

[GreenBomber]

Hey looks great!!!

You said 34x15.50x15 LTB's ... is that a typo? They look like 10.50's... just wondering cause I like that size tire and it would be nice with manual steering (less width).

Also, was it not squirely on road before the lift? If not, its probably your relay rod which is at that angle which si causing it. I never seen guys with drop pitman arms on this site, but, it would probably help to alleviate the angle.

[SD_rdcruzer]

Looks good. Let us know how it breaks in and if the ride smooth out on the road.

[Bodean]

Looks good! Tom up at Hell Creek makes a great product for the price. Good choice!

Later,

[diggity]

Originally Posted by GreenBomber

Hey looks great!!!

You said 34x15.50x15 LTB's ... is that a typo? They look like 10.50's... just wondering cause I like that size tire and it would be nice with manual steering (less width).

Also, was it not squirely on road before the lift? If not, its probably your relay rod which is at that angle which si causing it. I never seen guys with drop pitman arms on this site, but, it would probably help to alleviate the angle.

Hi - yes it was a typo, thanks. No it was not squirley on the road in stock condition. It actually was pretty tight with very little play or sway I will look into the relay rod. thanks.

Originally Posted by SD_rdcruzer

Looks good. Let us know how it breaks in and if the ride smooth out on the road.

Will do, right now the front shackle angle is not very good...and the rear is a bit odd. When I first put the lift on, the rear was pretty level [not much lean], now with the larger tires on and a little bit of breaking in on the trails, the left side rear is 1.25 inches LOWER than the right...and it looks like it is due to the shackle angle...the driver side rear is almost 45 degree and the passenger is closer to 30 ish. I will give it more time and I am hoping this is due to the weight of the spare tire being on the driver side..thoughts on this?

Originally Posted by Bodean

Looks good! Tom up at Hell Creek makes a great product for the price. Good choice!

Later,

Thanks, yep so far so good.

Brad

[MDH33]

Glad to see you getting that 40 dirty! Looking good. I gave my 34 LTB's a bath this weekend.




Looks like the tall skinnies are fitting up into wheel wells pretty nicely. It will be interesting to see how much closer they are after the lift settles in a few thousand miles.

Squirrelly steering is probably due to the change in caster angle after adding the lift springs, one of the reasons you need shims. It will also help save the U-joints of your drive shafts by correcting the pinion angles.

[JJS]

Looks good. If I ever finish my 40 and have a chance to get another, it's going to be a similar setup, i.e., more street-friendly.

[Alz Toy]

Originally Posted by GreenBomber

Hey looks great!!!

You said 34x15.50x15 LTB's ... is that a typo? They look like 10.50's... just wondering cause I like that size tire and it would be nice with manual steering (less width).

Also, was it not squirely on road before the lift? If not, its probably your relay rod which is at that angle which si causing it. I never seen guys with drop pitman arms on this site, but, it would probably help to alleviate the angle.

You mean like this? Works good. Al

[diggity]

Thanks for the comments all, I am loving the 40.

MDH33 - Nice, I am curious as well. Also, I will be using an angle finder this weekend to check my caster angle.

I will be replacing all u-joints and tie-rod ends in the very near future as well...and since I am hitting the steering linkage on sharp left, I will now start looking for power steering setup. What do you have on yours.

Thanks,

Brad

[4x4 Station Wagon]

ALZ Toys How far is your international box shimmed out?? I can see a few plates but what do they add up to?
Thanks Also what are the chances of rubbing the box with larger tires? Thanks

Ohh I am not nit-picking i am wanting to copy

[FJFOOL]

I really like the look of those tires, the rig is lookin good !!

[mike@dw]

Man those LTB's look good!

[303garage]

Will do, right now the front shackle angle is not very good...and the rear is a bit odd. When I first put the lift on, the rear was pretty level [not much lean], now with the larger tires on and a little bit of breaking in on the trails, the left side rear is 1.25 inches LOWER than the right...and it looks like it is due to the shackle angle...the driver side rear is almost 45 degree and the passenger is closer to 30 ish. I will give it more time and I am hoping this is due to the weight of the spare tire being on the driver side..thoughts on this?

what are you going to about the cruise "lean"?
It seems as if 1.25" is alot, have you been able to figure out what is causing this?

[diggity]

303garage - did not have the lean prior to lift/tires. It is definitely the springs or shackles...shackle angle is different, I will try to take a pick and post up. I thought I would give it a bit more time before worrying about it.

Thoughts?

Brad

[corbinwelter]

very nice cruiser.

very nice SE ultra as well.... PM sent

[71FJ40]

Sweet looking rig!

1.25 is a lot - throw up some pics of the front and rear shackles and spring perch mounts since it appears to be a shackle reversal truck

[77TLCFJ40]

Originally Posted by diggity

303garage - did not have the lean prior to lift/tires. It is definitely the springs or shackles...shackle angle is different, I will try to take a pick and post up. I thought I would give it a bit more time before worrying about it.

Thoughts?

Brad

Diggity,

There's no reason for uneven sag like it sounds you're having. Make sure all else is as it should be. Did a center pin get out of the hole on the plates? U-bolts loose? Shackle bolts overtightened (limiting spring range of motion)?

If all is otherwise OK, call Tom. Your springs have a lifetime warranty!

Keep us posted

[diggity]

71FJ40 - I will throw some pics up in the next day or so, been working a lot and putting a replacement radiator in the 40 the last couple of days so it has been in the garage and it is to tight to get good pics.

I left the u-bolts long so I can have room to add shims if needed, if not, I will cut/grind them down later.

Brad

[Jepson]

Nice looking 40....I love the way those tires look!

I know that those tire kick ass offroad, but how are their road maners? I could care less about noise or a rough ride, I'm curious about the drivability.

[MDH33]

Originally Posted by Jepson

Nice looking 40....I love the way those tires look!

I know that those tire kick ass offroad, but how are their road maners? I could care less about noise or a rough ride, I'm curious about the drivability.

They wear out extremely fast on road. They are hard to balance and thus cause vibration. They flat spot in cold weather. These are old school bias ply trail tires. Not street tires.

[Jepson]

I know that these are not street tires I'm just curious how they do on the road, I do like to drive the 40 to work sometimes. I have had bias ply tires on my heeps that I owned in the past I just have never owned a super swamper bias tire. I didn't mind the flat spots, they always smooth out after a few blocks. I'm more asking about do they pull you all over the road, and just make street driving a bitch or are they managable. I never drive the 40 over about 50 mph anyway. As with any mud type tire I assume that they wear very quickly if you do much road driving. I'm just stuck between the LTB and the BFG MT. LTB performs better offroad and the BFG performs better on the street.

[diggity]

Jepson - They are great off road, and crap on...with that said, I am hardheaded and drive it to work some (20 miles one way). The steering wheel jumps back and forth a little (lugs on tires I am sure) but it is manageable.

I love them so far...and will be driving it to Uwharrie (2 hours one way) to wheel next Sat with the ONSC.

Brad

[Fuzzy Logic]

Originally Posted by diggity

303garage - did not have the lean prior to lift/tires. It is definitely the springs or shackles...shackle angle is different, I will try to take a pick and post up. I thought I would give it a bit more time before worrying about it.

Thoughts?

Brad

X2 on the lean I just installed a HC 4" and experiencing a lean that I didn't have before. Looks like 3/4" sag on drivers side

[highlandcruzer]

Damn nice lookin' rig Brad! Can't wait to see it in person.



I noticed that you have an "extra" steering stabilizer installed on your factory manual steering set up. I wanted to suggest seeing how it handles with only a fresh stabilizer in the factory location. I had a p.o. installed stabilizer on my 40, much like yours, when I first bought it. After removing it and installing a new one in the factory location only, my steering feel seemed to improve dramatically. Just my experience.