[lshobie]

No more business ventures for me - no more time. Most of the people who drive pick ups here don't use them to carry things funny as it sounds - and I'm not sure if they'd like the look of the trayback - things are weird here.
Thanks again.

[crushers]

ain't that the truth Louis!!

[lshobie]

Added some new tires today, 36 inch TSL super swampers. (SAM-27's) . They fit well, only the left tire big gnarly knobs touch the steering arm when fully turned to the right - maybe I'll add wheel spacers.

Going to do some flex testing tomorrow. The wheels are not balanced now and really need it - the balancing beads will be in tomorrow.

[Deny]

Sweet, looks good.
Those are the same tires I am getting for my BJ42. what width rims do you you have there?
Cheers,
Deny

[pinkfloyddsotm]

EFS suspension here in aus make a 5"lift for the 79 series, including coil spacers.
also an ARB bullbar for it make it look heaps meaner..then the locals will like it ha.

[roscoFJ73]

Originally Posted by pinkfloyddsotm

EFS suspension here in aus make a 5"lift for the 79 series, including coil spacers.
also an ARB bullbar for it make it look heaps meaner..then the locals will like it ha.

Any experience with EFS suspension? I see it getting a lot exposure on 4WD TV on channel 31

[lshobie]

The rims are 6 inches wide - I need wider rims though. Deny, make sure you get balancing beads though as these tires are way outta balance.

And my bumper still has to be welded up properly, I'll be adding a few more tubes and plates here and there, have to make a trailer hitch first though.

[crushers]

if you do wheel spacers then you will rub on the front fender rear corners.

there has been mix reactions with the beeds and powder for balancing...those are not big tires and any competant tire shop should be able to balance those with normal weights.

crank in the limiters till you just kiss the steering arm...

looks good with some real meats on it...

Originally Posted by lshobie

Added some new tires today, 36 inch TSL super swampers. (SAM-27's) . They fit well, only the left tire big gnarly knobs touch the steering arm when fully turned to the right - maybe I'll add wheel spacers.

Going to do some flex testing tomorrow. The wheels are not balanced now and really need it - the balancing beads will be in tomorrow.

[lshobie]

Good point about the spacers. Will try the balancing beads and let you know how they work. There are a bunch of different kinds of beads - these are silica based and stick to the low spots by static. The guys said they'd need 20 ounces on one of the tires. My rims are pretty hammered.

[pinkfloyddsotm]

Originally Posted by roscoFJ73

Any experience with EFS suspension? I see it getting a lot exposure on 4WD TV on channel 31

im not sure ,ive never used them but one guy off 4wdmonthly does and doesnt seem to have any troubles with em

[lshobie]

Went to see how much articulation I have - umm, pretty much none in the rear. Ever since I took the heavy box on and replaced it with the aluminum deck I have no rear suspension - a fricking kidney buster. I still have an aux tank to install and a spare tire, but that won't make of a difference.

As it stands now the driver side shackle is straight up and down, and the pass side actually points towards the diff. So, the springs are fully arc'd as they sit - can't go up any more.

So, as I see it my options are - 1. remove a few leafs, 2. remove a few leafs and spring over (I don't like spring over). 3. Throw 600 pounds of weight on it. 4. Create a 4,5 or "A" link suspension with 80 series 3" lift coils.

Any thoughts?

[roscoFJ73]

Originally Posted by lshobie

Went to see how much articulation I have - umm, pretty much none in the rear. Ever since I took the heavy box on and replaced it with the aluminum deck I have no rear suspension - a fricking kidney buster. I still have an aux tank to install and a spare tire, but that won't make of a difference.

As it stands now the driver side shackle is straight up and down, and the pass side actually points towards the diff. So, the springs are fully arc'd as they sit - can't go up any more.

So, as I see it my options are - 1. remove a few leafs, 2. remove a few leafs and spring over (I don't like spring over). 3. Throw 600 pounds of weight on it. 4. Create a 4,5 or "A" link suspension with 80 series 3" lift coils.

Any thoughts?

Remove a leaf or get some light duty 75 series springs.
Mine is the same since the alloy tray was installed.
Good time to test out the Tough Dog
My springs are fairly new and I will leave them until I know how much my camping body will affect it

[lshobie]

I'll take a pic of the spring pack on my truck - will take more than 1 leaf to soften it up. The 79 series springs are alot longer than the 75 series - so I'd have to mess with mounts. My big worry about removing too many leafs is spring twisting - they are pretty long and will surely twist under torque and load.

I'm leaning towards coilys.

[roscoFJ73]

Originally Posted by lshobie

I'll take a pic of the spring pack on my truck - will take more than 1 leaf to soften it up. The 79 series springs are alot longer than the 75 series - so I'd have to mess with mounts. My big worry about removing too many leafs is spring twisting - they are pretty long and will surely twist under torque and load.

I'm leaning towards coilys.

I keep forgetting its a 79. I dont think the twisting will be a problem,others have done it. Your current springs are probably firmer than the originals,so you would only be going back to stock.
I would try it as a stop gap between the coil conversion

[lshobie]

True, I'll just try that first and see how I like it. I want to do a coil conversion eventually - just an experiment.

[Deny]

Why don't you like Spring Over,
I'd take a few leafs out, and ad a trac bar with the SOA. Then add a coil spacer in the front. simple and cheap solution I would think. (springover on rear is dead simple) Then if you don't like it, you could always go to coils then and some crazy custom suspension.

[lshobie]

That's true - good points. I'll figure it out this weekend.
Lotsa people go spring over eh - not many here doing the link suspensions, seems to be more popular over seas.

[crushers]

Louis,
]if everyone was jumping off a bridge into a catus feild would you?
SOA is OLD not for your type of wheeling/driving.

ENS doubles up the spring packs, how many leaves do you have under the rear? how many 'doubles' are there? on my 75(s) i had to remove 1/2 the number of leaves to get back to stock ride and the ride was NICE. you will need longer shackles on the rear to gqain back the lift needed.

yourr tay is low due to the lack of wheel arches so the 36" rubber is going to rub under articulation. you can do a couple things to compensate for this.

you can cut arches into the tray (bad idea)

you can go SOA but with the front lift you will be ass high and look like shit plus your stability is shot all to hell and you will have to cut and rotate the front diff, lengthen the drive shafts, lengthen the brake lines, reroute the emergency cable etc etc. (to me, bad idea)

you can lift the one tire with a forklift till it just kisses the tray and measure how much you need to drop the spring retention bumpers (spring articulation stops mounted to the frame above the rear axle). this allows for a nice ride, decent articulation, no rub on the rear.

you can drop the rear front spring hanger with a 2" block, the rear shackle custom to 3" and you will end up with an additional 2 1/2" lift but once again you have the front springs to concern yoruself with.

K_I_S_S principle...

i have done a number of ex-mine trucks, no use you stumbling down the same road.

[lshobie]

I've actually got lots of height, the springs are new OME heavies, the tires don't come anywhere near the tray yet - and not even near the bump stops - in a nut shell the rear springs don't flew right now as there is no weight on them.

I'll take a pic of the spring pack and upload it today. Probably going to remove a long leaf and maybe the overload flats on the bottom.

I like everyone's suggestions and will remove a leaf, and then coil next year. All of this stuff is experimentation for me - I like to see what can be done and then toy with my own idea's. Not much of a lemming though Wayne, I have thought about SOA and have a guy here who says I should do it - sort of fighting it off in my head, off and on the fence if you will.

Thanks for your responses.

Louis

[lshobie]

Ok here are some pics of what I am dealing with. I am pulling the packs off now and think I will remove the 2 overload flat springs, and the first leaf with the U bracket on it - I will then have a new U bracket installed by the spring shop here.

Then I'll load a couple of hundred pounds on it to mimic my aux tank and a spare tire, gear etc and then see how it is.

What do you guys think?

[lshobie]

one more

[crushers]

remove leaf 3 and 5 (from the top).
if you are never going to carry a load on the tray then get rid of the over loads BUT if you will be then leave one in...you will have to articulate quite a bit before it will come into effect...

the ride should be very smooth and then the articulation (fender rub) might come into play...

[lshobie]

Ya, doing that now, I expect I will rub with the tires. I guess all I can do for that is spacers??

[Fromage]

Louis,

If you are looking for a source for those latches, they are called "Antiluce" catches and are actually OEM Land-Rover tailgate latches! They are really sweet and not expensive.

[crushers]

yep, spacers between the rubber bumpes and the frame...

restricts upward travel

keeps the truck low and stable..

so

when are we going for a run?

Originally Posted by lshobie

Ya, doing that now, I expect I will rub with the tires. I guess all I can do for that is spacers??

[Deny]

What about adding air bag helpers in there, that way you get the flex and the load carrying capacity. My dad has that on his 75, hasn't tested it out yet, but it is installed. I plan to get that on my work truck as well.
Cheers,
Deny

[lshobie]

Where did he get the airbags?

[lshobie]

Ok, as Greg and Wayne suggested I removed #3 and 5 springs as well as the large load spring. I left one small overload spring in and it is very nice now, sits a little lower but has more movement. I also had the U brackets reinstalled on the old 4th spring which is now the 3rd spring.

I'll drive it for a while and if I feel I need more stiffness I can always go back in and add an old leaf.

Thanks Guys.

Injection pump re and re coming up.

[Deny]

Originally Posted by lshobie

Where did he get the airbags?

I don't know I will ask him, but I would figure you could get it at any spring shop.

[roscoFJ73]

My leaves look a little thinnner