Ms. Cuban gets lifted

boombapslappy · 04-03-09, 10:50 AM

I've been reading lift threads (thanks to everyone who's posted in the past!) and ordering parts for the lift for quite some time. Finally goes on this weekend. I'm a total newb to all this stuff but I think I'm as prepared as I can be.

Here's what I'm working with:
1989 FJ62 totally stock with 160k and an excelent maintainence record that I purchased in Sept. 2008.

Here's what I'm doing:
(I'll post part numbers and pics tonight and throughout the weekend)
OME ultra heavy lift
FJ40 OEM 15" disk brake wheels (powder coated grey) and hub caps
BFG AT 33x10.50

I'll let you know how this goes. Wish me luck!

alaska60 · 04-03-09, 10:58 AM

sounds fun! look forward to the thread and photos of progression. Its so cool watching cruisers come to life.

Bomar · 04-03-09, 11:00 AM

sounds sweet. I want to see those wheels!

jleeFJ62 · 04-03-09, 11:58 AM

J-Bo...go ahead and start to spray your old springs, pins, and shackles down with some PB buster to help loosen everything up.

boombapslappy · 04-03-09, 01:03 PM

Good tip! I've been doing that every other day for about a week. Hopefully it'll help. I'm doing this at my Dad's house...he has more tools than I do.

NocalFJ60 · 04-03-09, 01:09 PM

I remember when I put on my OME lift and took the first drive.

A propane torch helps to heat up the pins when removing them from the stock bushing.

eventhough · 04-03-09, 01:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by boombapslappy

Good tip! I've been doing that every other day for about a week. Hopefully it'll help. I'm doing this at my Dad's house...he has more tools than I do.

You don't need no stinkin' tools!

I got your VM - will call after work.

jleeFJ62 · 04-03-09, 01:52 PM

Josh

Your going to love the ride compared to stock. The ultra heavies are a bit bouncey at times, but 100% better than stock. The first old spring we took off came off super easy, and then the other three we had to cut off. Luckily for me, we did my lift at a HAMOM, so there was some experienced people helping install. Good luck and let us know how it turns out

Thanks
John

BG_TX · 04-03-09, 01:55 PM

Does the OME kit come with a steering stabilizer? Mine ('89 62) could easily be compressed by hand and was shot... a new one made quite a difference (stiffer steering, the wheel doesn't roll around and auto-correct/over-correct so easily, etc).

Congrats on the purchase... looking forward to pics!

boombapslappy · 04-03-09, 02:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NocalFJ60

A propane torch helps

Got it...

Quote:

Originally Posted by eventhough

You don't need no stinkin' tools!

I'll use my teeth...(wait for pics)

Quote:

Originally Posted by jleeFJ62

some experienced people helping install.

I have cell phone numbers...you know who you are. Expect a few calls.

Quote:

Originally Posted by BG_TX

Does the OME kit come with a steering stabilizer?

I bought one. I placed my order at 4WheelParts in Charlotte. Since they only have "kits" for J**ps, I used a fellow UC member's part numbers to make my own kit. I'm not sure if other vendors who do put together a kit for cruisers include it or not.

boombapslappy · 04-03-09, 08:21 PM

Parts list:
Front--
Shocks--OMEN50 x 2
Springs--CS005F (OME111) x 2
U-Bolts--OMEU51 x 4
Shackles--OMEGS2 x 1

Rear--
Shocks--OMEN90 x 2
Springs--CS005RA (1131A) x 1 & CS005RB (1131B) x 1
U-Bolts--OMEU59B x 4
Shackles--OMEGS1 x 1

Bushings--OMESB1 x 4
Anti-inversion Kit--FK08 x 1
Greasable Pin & Plate--OMEGP1 x 2
Steering Damper--OMESD24 x 1

These are the only pics I got before dark:

And a couple of pics of the 62:

The fun begins in the morning!

jcarterdelt · 04-03-09, 10:31 PM

This is going to look awesome. I can't wait for the pics tomorrow. I am seriously thinking about doing the same exact lift to my 60. Take good notes!

klinetime574 · 04-03-09, 10:32 PM

Mmm white's out. Awesome. I can dig (Mines the same way

)

Have fun!

Rigger · 04-03-09, 11:10 PM

Those old school wheels and caps are going to look sick! You do not want to put those on that wagon. Instead, ship 'em to me!

No seriously, I wanna see what that set up will look like. I love the old classics.

Slowerthanu · 04-04-09, 07:15 AM

Awesome call on using the FJ40 disc rims. It will look awesome.

Bryan062087 · 04-04-09, 09:17 AM

Jlee do you have any pictures of the completed project?

smkymntn · 04-04-09, 02:54 PM

Wheels look great. Cant wait to see lift pics.

jcarterdelt · 04-04-09, 07:01 PM

Well, how does she look? I can't stand the wait.

CaptHamster · 04-04-09, 08:39 PM

Well, except for the FJ40 wheels, that's exactly what I want to do to my 62. Post some real nice pics, would ya?

By the way, how much did all the OME stuff cost you? I'm trying to get a good estimate on what a heavy kit would cost.

Also, post up any problems you ran into along the way. I'd be interested to see if there are any obstacles between me and my lift.

boombapslappy · 04-04-09, 09:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CaptHamster

Also, post up any problems you ran into along the way. I'd be interested to see if there are any obstacles between me and my lift.

Oh, I will...

There have been many obstacles

Only the front is done and I started at 9am. I need a drink...

CaptHamster · 04-04-09, 09:17 PM

Oh, also, another question. How easy would it be for a mechanically retarded 16 year old newbie to do this lift? It seems fairly straightforward.

boombapslappy · 04-04-09, 10:13 PM

Well, I'm a mechanically retarded 30yo and I can tell you it sucks if you don't know what to expect. And, it is straight forward. I'll go into detail later.

Butt Ugly Chuck · 04-05-09, 01:45 AM

Butt likes those wheels

boombapslappy · 04-05-09, 07:26 AM

Ok, here's yesterday's story. So I got started around 830/9 and everything seemed to go like clockwork until I had to remove the hanger pin. Heat, hammer, heat, hammer...finally it came out. Lesson learned--when the guys on MUD suggest using a torch...TORCH IT! Don't heat it up a little, heat it up 'til the old bushings start to spit little rubber fireballs at you. If you do that, then take your BFH and brass drift to it, it should come right out with a couple of swings. Install of new stuff went in pretty good. Needed a little

but not much. About an hour and a half and the passenger side front is done. I figure that's no too shabby for a newb.

On to the driver's side front. Pretty much the same story until we got the the hanger pin. This time, as it turned out, the pin, bushing and spring were fused together. I think it's because my exaust runs so closely to the hanger that the heat must really do a job on those parts. Torched it. Nothing. Didn't even budge. After about an hour just on this part alone, it finally moved enough to cut it off. This time the install of new stuff took a little longer, but still to be expected.

Lunch.

On to the driver's side rear. Just getting it jacked up after the lift and bigger tires are on the front is a little bit of a bitch. Jacking up the front is no big deal...it's low and the old rear springs sag a bit. Well, the new front end doesn't sag. Make sure you have blocks to help out your jack and jackstands. Start removing parts and reallized I forgot to remove the spare. No problem...right. The pully is totally seized and I broke the tool for rolling it down. More time...Done. Also reallize the exaust is in the way and it needs to move. From this point on--problem, after problem...until we finally got all the crap off about 4 hours later. After dark we finally begin putting on new parts. Took us forever to line up the pin to the axle. Used all the tricks I've found on MUD in the past. Finally worked. I'm beat. And pissed because I figured it would take a while since I didn't know what I was doing. I did not expect to need two days.

Here's the lowdown: I'm going to church, eating lunch, and then I'm going to finish up today come hell or high water. I've only taken a few pics. Too busy working. I thought I'd be able to take lots but it didn't happen. I'll let you know when we're done.

smkymntn · 04-05-09, 10:41 AM

When things are not going your way, the last thing you want to do is take pics. At least thats how I feel.

Slowerthanu · 04-05-09, 10:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smkymntn

When things are not going your way, the last thing you want to do is take pics. At least thats how I feel.

Yeah, you tend to get caught up in the task at hand.

That is why I utilize the wife. She is afraid of heavy steel objects but has no problem wielding the mighty camera.

ol' blue · 04-05-09, 12:13 PM

two days isnt bad, its nice to just set aside the weekend for it-especially if your rolling around in the driveway, no lift, no air tools, etc. cant wait to see pics

boombapslappy · 04-05-09, 03:56 PM

So apparently going to church this morning and asking forgiveness for my language yesterday did some good. If all four corners were as cooperative as the last one, I would have been done yesterday before beer30. I'll post pics and whatnot after I go for a drive!

Thanks for the well-wishes!

GLTHFJ60 · 04-05-09, 06:47 PM

Glad you were able to finish it up. Post up a pic or two so we can compliment your good work!

boombapslappy · 04-05-09, 08:14 PM

Before:

My dad and Cirbo under the front end lending a hand with my son supervising:

I have a couple more "during" pics but I have to get them off my phone.

After:

A BIG thanks go out to my dad and Cirbo. Thanks also to eventhough for listening to my mouth on the phone yesterday afternoon. I'm glad to have it done.

Let's go

!!