SOA rears in front

kling-on · 11-03-09, 03:58 PM

anyone do a soa on their 60 and move the rear into the front and do GM 63's like the P/U guys do ??? I searched and couldnt find any good info I would think it would drive smoother but want to know before I do all the work... I also plan on putin a shackle rev on it and Bilstien 5100 shocks with rear air bags... this will be my tow rig and DD not my crawler ... but I will wheel it

Any ideas and or pics

cavemancaleb · 11-03-09, 04:54 PM

This is a really good question i would be interested in my self.
I imagin with the added weight of a a cruiser that the chevy rears would perform very well as compared to a mini truck.

Awsome idea.

GLTHFJ60 · 11-03-09, 05:11 PM

I could have sworn that I have heard of this before... I've had it in my head that this is exactly what I'm going to do when I get a new frame.

kling-on · 11-03-09, 05:58 PM

I saw somplace someone did 63's in the rear I remember pics of a blue 60 on a fork lift but also wanted to know about the rears in the front .. I guess I will just have to do it and let everyone know

blackandbluefj · 11-03-09, 06:03 PM

i moved my omes up to the front minus a spring or two and i used i believe like 59" chevies for the rear 3/4 ton just happened to be what i had. I still need to do a little finessing with the rear spring packs. Fronts are extra flexy and the rears still have that seriously overbuilt load spring in it which i need to fix. Other than that it holds up great to the weight and rides great

Good luck

Bryon

kling-on · 11-03-09, 07:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blackandbluefj

i moved my omes up to the front minus a spring or two and i used i believe like 59" chevies for the rear 3/4 ton just happened to be what i had. I still need to do a little finessing with the rear spring packs. Fronts are extra flexy and the rears still have that seriously overbuilt load spring in it which i need to fix. Other than that it holds up great to the weight and rides great

Good luck

Bryon

any pics

blackandbluefj · 11-03-09, 07:15 PM

yuo tell me what and ill get them on tommorow its a little dark now

GLTHFJ60 · 11-03-09, 07:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blackandbluefj

yuo tell me what and ill get them on tommorow its a little dark now

How you mounted the springs in the front, if you moved the hangers, if you moved the shackle mount location, the rear spring mounts, everything. The whole suspension.

blackandbluefj · 11-03-09, 07:46 PM

front i kept the shackle hanger where it is put spring under loaded the suspension and got my shackle angle where i liked it and then put the spring hanger in. now in the rear if i remember correctly i kept the axle close to the stock spot and just weighteed the suspension and burned it all in. But of course i had to redo the rear frame due to my buddy rust and i did this by getting rid of the drop after the rear wheel and just ran the frame out straight. which happened to raise departure height by 2 more inches. Lucky i had the 2 inch body lift. and some how with that and my lessened ome list springs in the front it sat level. But hte pics will be on tomorrow

See ya

Bryon

Butt Ugly Chuck · 11-03-09, 07:57 PM

I can't remember if D'Animal is running rear springs in the front. His 45 cab build in the Hardcore section runs 63" Chevy springs in the rear (it's on a FJ60 frame).

Butt

boots4 · 11-03-09, 08:52 PM

I run 4 leaf plus overload chevy 63s in the rear and a hybrid pack in the front with the main leaf 58" long. I moved my front and rear axles forward and back respectively a couple of inches. Both packs are pretty flexy.

If I remember right stock fj60 leaves are 44" front and 47" rears.

Wile E Coyote · 11-03-09, 09:29 PM

Do it.
I'm currently hacking away at an urgent project for my DD'd 62. Chebbies front (52") and back (63"), SUA still with u-bolt flip and front SR. DIY shackles, hangers, u-bolt flip, extended sways, etc. I've been focused up front, but when I get to the rear I'll need to figure out how many leaves to start with. Up front, it'll be 5 3/8" thick, 2 1/2" wide leaves.

As an FYI, for anyone building a 60 into a hardcore crawler, know that folks have been griping about the crummy departure angle created by the rear chebbys. They are equally long from center pin to bushing on both halves. Ferd springs are several inches shorter pin-to-bushing on the rear arch, and thus don't hang up on drop-offs as much.

Butt Ugly Chuck · 11-03-09, 09:56 PM

Very interested in seeing what you come up with and your impressions Wile.

Butt

boots4 · 11-04-09, 10:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wile E Coyote

As an FYI, for anyone building a 60 into a hardcore crawler, know that folks have been griping about the crummy departure angle created by the rear chebbys.

I consider my rig a pretty decent crawler and even with doing the rubicon this year on 38s I really didn't have a problem with the length of the rear chevys. Maybe because I tucked them up to the frame pretty close and the shackle angle I'm running. What size tire are those that are griping running?

On the ford comment, that's actually why I used a ranger rear pack for my front main because of the offset. It allowed me to move the axle forward and get a LONG leaf under the front.

As for how many leaves to start with on the 63s under the rear of the fj60 SOA those of us running them have agreed that you'll at least want a 4 leaf pack. I experimented with not running my thick overload but to level my stance and due to towing I put it back in (meaning 4-leaf pack plus overload = five total leaves)and am glad I did. It also helped with axle wrap before I got my antiwrap bar built.

nailed · 11-06-09, 03:55 AM

It will work. The axel will travel forward and backwords more than typical because of spring design. The spring will sit with the front high causing the tire to travel back and up at the same time. If I ever finish my crusier it should ride smooth with the shock of hitting things traveling back slightly and not straight up. The driveline slip joint gets a work out and I might need to trim more fender than typical. A cut and turn is required and the diff side spring mount was difficult to get right because of spring angle. I don't think its any more work than usal just a little different.

nailed · 11-06-09, 04:06 AM

more pics

GLTHFJ60 · 11-06-09, 10:44 AM

Damn, that is a clean frame. Nice install!

Tapage · 11-06-09, 03:18 PM

I'm looking for a longer main for Tencha .. I'm running not really much flexi old tired OME spring packs on mine .. and broke a front drivers main last trip ..

BC40 · 11-06-09, 03:52 PM

Search rears up front (ruf) in the 70 series section, theres a few aussie guys that have done this with good results, and 70's are basically the same spring length combo as 60's.

FZJ80ismybaby · 11-07-09, 10:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nailed

more pics

nice cut and turn, hopefully when i get my new 60 i can do it. it looks like in the picture that the angle after the shackle rev. might be unfavorable to pinion angle once its all done? that true?