Spring over or under...

[Flex]

With any luck I'll be picking up my new BJ74 this weekend. I'm not the kind of guy who can drive a stock truck so it'll be getting lifted almost immediately. Aside from the obvious steering/stability argument is there any reason NOT to spring over? Better flex, more room for tires etc is appealing to me, and I've always sprung over my *cough cough...jeeps..cough* and had great results.
What's the largest kit lift?
What size tires can I run with a kit lift?
What rim backspacing or offset do I need for a 12.50 inch wide tire?
Do I have to lengthen the cables for the lockers after lifting?
Gearing for 35's should be 4.56's or 4.88's?

Sorry for the barrage of questions guys, and thanx for the help!

[Journey]

your 74 will have far more bodyroll than your jeeps. my 60 is sprungover with 2.5" OME with 2 rear springs removed and 1 in frount and it is like driving a slinky ( i should have left the springs in the ride is way too soft ) and no swaybars but I like it just the same. I think that, that's about as big of a lift as you should go. it fits 35's just fine and will fit 37's with a little trimming with 4.5 back spacing. yes you should lengthen the cables and vent's and anything else that stops full articulation which will be unreal. I run 4.88's with my 35's and would not go back to 4.56's if you paid me. oh ya the bigest pain in the ass is relocating your lower shock mounts.

[crushers]

i am not a big fan of SOA for road use. if you are using this rig for Rubicon then fine, or if all you play in is DEEP mud then fine.
the issues are obvious as you already noted.
i have had this debate with many over the years, if the SOA is done correct with turned front axle, offset rims then it can be acceptable. check out Lowenbrau's build on his 74. THAT is a beautiful truck. sad to say most SOA are cheap, thrown together monstrosities that track like shit and have severe body roll.

if you are going SOA then go as wide an offset that your flares will allow for. Bruce is running 37s and Peter is running 38s, anything 35s and smaller stay SUA. a 2 1/2" lift and extended shackels clear 36" skinnies or 35" fats. you will need to drill the springs and mocve the axle ahead 1" to clear the sheet metal.

you have a host of other issue to contend with when going larger tires, gearing, birf strength, cooling, (sway bar attachments are needed, donot fool yourself).

i would strongly suggest you talk to Peter Staub, Bruce Lowen about their builds before going into this half informed.

Plus, you need to let your insurance company know of all the mods, check with TC and see if they allow these on BC roads 'legally'. RHD are being harassed already and if you are driving a RHD and SOA you could loose hte joy of your truck in very short order if you start being pulled over everyday.

(yes, i know there are trucks that are HUGE but if they are illegal in your province then up to you)

i have 35X12.5 on my ragtop 70 SUA, it tracks very nice and handles very nice. the cops do not mind. ths insurance company has inspected it and gave it the thumbs up so all is good. MTO in Ontario has very little sense of HeeHaw so you do not see many HUGE trucks (in this area anyway).

play it safe, check with ICBC, TC, do your homework, talk to those that have done the lift PROPERLY and then make the jump one way or the other.

but...<see sig line>

[prado t]

I am not a fan of SOA either but each to his own. Terrible on the highway. With the amount of work you are going to put into a SOA if you decide you might as well coil the front. my 2 pennys

[Greg_B]

Shoot me an e-mail to connect. You can check out my BJ74 SUA on 35's, and we can chew the fat. Sunday is better then Saturday, but Monday works too.

gb