3" lift conversion to 2" (1 Viewer)

[Hold my beer]

So, I have searched the forum for this topic because it feels like a pretty simple task, but haven't seen an answer - perhaps because its blasphemy? Regardless, my wife and I are going with a slightly more stock look with the fj60 and she realllly wants to drop the 3" lift to a 2". I am curious as to which components from the 3" lift are still usable for the 2".

I have seen many replies to lift questions point to the expertise of @cruiseroutfit and his crew in building a parts list. I am just trying to get a feel for what I am up against here work-wise and money-wise.

Thank you all in advance!

 

[aviafx]

What's your current lift setup? Looks like you may be spring-over.

 

[Hold my beer]

What's your current lift setup? Looks like you may be spring-over.

It is a spring-over setup. It doesn't currently have shocks so I know those are on the list

I am trying to avoid buying shocks that fit the 3" lift just to turn around and buy shocks for the 2" lift. If the parts I need to convert to a 2" lift are cheaper than buying another round of shocks it makes sense to do the conversion now - if not then I will just have to rock the 3" lift and save up for the 2".

 

[OSS]

post up some pictures of your front & rear shackles and suspension and a profile pic of your cruiser (or wheel well with tire) so we can see what you've got

 

[Hold my beer]

post up some pictures of your front & rear shackles and suspension and a profile pic of your cruiser (or wheel well with tire) so we can see what you've got

Aye-aye captain - the truck is still with its previous owner until it gets it's steering stabilizer mounted. Will post pics ASAP.

 

[Skniper]

I could use an extra inch up front, I’ll take yours.








Wait.....dammit....

 

[Hold my beer]

post up some pictures of your front & rear shackles and suspension and a profile pic of your cruiser (or wheel well with tire) so we can see what you've got

These are the only pictures I have currently but it gives some sense of what's going on down there.

 

[Randy88FJ62]

A few people have gone SOA small lifts. It involves frenching the spring mount into the frame. This places the leaf spring ends in the frame instead of under it.

I have contemplated this many times then give up and forget about it.

It can be done if you care enough.

 

[White Stripe]

Removing a leaf from each leaf pack should lower it about an inch.

 

[OSS]

stock front springs when installed have very little arch when the vehicle weight is on them. They look flat.
Your front springs look too heavy duty (too thick, too much arch) for a spring over suspension. The spring over axle conversion added at least 4-1/2" of lift

 

[Hold my beer]

post up some pictures of your front & rear shackles and suspension and a profile pic of your cruiser (or wheel well with tire) so we can see what you've got

Sorry for the belated response - I just got the rig home last night. Here are few picks, but it sounds to me like I am just going to have to wait and do a 2" lift kit.

stock front springs when installed have very little arch when the vehicle weight is on them. They look flat.
Your front springs look too heavy duty (too thick, too much arch) for a spring over suspension. The spring over axle conversion added at least 4-1/2" of lift

Yeah the lift is pretty drastic. We definitely want to end up with a functional lift on it but right now it just feels too damn big for it to be my daily driver. If we keep it in a spring over axle configuration do you think we may have to go down to a 1" lift? I know we are going to have to get it some new shoes if we drop it more than an couple inches.

 

[Randy88FJ62]

1. Your steering setup is a death trap, please don't put your family in that truck. Washers and standard nuts holding together that crappy welded together steering linkage is asking for trouble. Steering at the very minimum needs castle nuts with cotter pins.

2. What is going on with the steering box and the metal plate behind it?

3. Front driveline angle diff to tcase doesn't look good, maybe it's the angle of the picture?

4. Front upper shock mount is stock. Most people go F250 upper shock mount or hoops. Your current shock setup won't give you the suspension travel it can achieve.

5. No extended bump stops which is ok unless you wheel it hard. If you do wheel it then you will eventually crack / break some leaf springs (ask me how I know).



I think you need to find someone local with a proper SOA truck and ride in it. Your SOA is a mess and probably rides like crap. If you are on a tight budget then you should probably look for another truck. This one will need a lot of time and parts to correct.

PS: My SOA steering on a cut and turned axle steers so well I can let go of the wheel and it will track perfectly. I get no bump steer and don't need a steering stabilizer at all.

PPS Find your local landcruiser club and have someone help you determine which way to go with this. There is a big mess that needs some direction.

PPPS you have three clubs in CO based on where you are:

CO- Colorado Land Cruisers

forum.ih8mud.com

CO- Derailed Cruisers

(Durango area)

forum.ih8mud.com

CO/WY- Horsetooth 4 Wheelers Cruiser Club

forum.ih8mud.com

 

[Hold my beer]

1. Your steering setup is a death trap, please don't put your family in that truck. Washers and standard nuts holding together that crappy welded together steering linkage is asking for trouble. Steering at the very minimum needs castle nuts with cotter pins.

2. What is going on with the steering box and the metal plate behind it?

3. Front driveline angle diff to tcase doesn't look good, maybe it's the angle of the picture?

4. Front upper shock mount is stock. Most people go F250 upper shock mount or hoops. Your current shock setup won't give you the suspension travel it can achieve.

5. No extended bump stops which is ok unless you wheel it hard. If you do wheel it then you will eventually crack / break some leaf springs (ask me how I know).



I think you need to find someone local with a proper SOA truck and ride in it. Your SOA is a mess and probably rides like crap. If you are on a tight budget then you should probably look for another truck. This one will need a lot of time and parts to correct.

PS: My SOA steering on a cut and turned axle steers so well I can let go of the wheel and it will track perfectly. I get no bump steer and don't need a steering stabilizer at all.

PPS Find your local landcruiser club and have someone help you determine which way to go with this. There is a big mess that needs some direction.

PPPS you have three clubs in CO based on where you are:

CO- Colorado Land Cruisers

forum.ih8mud.com

CO- Derailed Cruisers

(Durango area)

forum.ih8mud.com

CO/WY- Horsetooth 4 Wheelers Cruiser Club

forum.ih8mud.com

@Randy88FJ62, I can't tell you how much I appreciate you running through this mess with me! I am honestly not sold on keeping the SOA configuration. I not intending on "wheeling" it honestly. We just bought a house and hobbies where you routinely break expensive parts is out of the question. What I am faced with currently is finding a cost effective path to getting it to a daily driver + capable camping/overland vehicle. You're right, though - I need to get in touch with some people who can see it in person and explore options.

For the moment I am going to get the current setup 1) safe, and 2) functional...I'll save up and make the big conversion down the road.

 

[Randy88FJ62]

Your best bet is to remove the SOA lift completely. It will be cheaper, safer, and still achieve light wheeling / camping.

I have a set of stock steering arms I could let go cheap. Then you should find someone's stock old steering setup and buy that. The hi steer arms you have you can sell to cover the expense of a used stock steering setup. Throw that steering linkage assy in the trash.

Once back to stock a mild lift can be achieved with different leaf springs or a cheap body lift which keeps your body away from the rocks.

One person in my 4x4 club runs stock spring under axle with a body lift and it does really well.

Post pictures of your rear axle and its suspension so we can see what's going on there.

PLEASE GET IN TOUCH WITH A LOCAL CLUB. I cannot tell you how helpful a TLCA landcruiser club can be. It will save you thousands and you might make some friends along the way.

 

[Hold my beer]

Your best bet is to remove the SOA lift completely. It will be cheaper, safer, and still achieve light wheeling / camping.

I have a set of stock steering arms I could let go cheap. Then you should find someone's stock old steering setup and buy that. The hi steer arms you have you can sell to cover the expense of a used stock steering setup. Throw that steering linkage assy in the trash.

Once back to stock a mild lift can be achieved with different leaf springs or a cheap body lift which keeps your body away from the rocks.

One person in my 4x4 club runs stock spring under axle with a body lift and it does really well.

Post pictures of your rear axle and its suspension so we can see what's going on there.

PLEASE GET IN TOUCH WITH A LOCAL CLUB. I cannot tell you how helpful a TLCA landcruiser club can be. It will save you thousands and you might make some friends along the way.

The original owner was pretty stoked about the steering linkage assy - I didn't expect for them to be less than ideal. That's a bummer.

I am going to have to take stock of everything going on with the truck and set up a list of priorities because I am running into an equally large (if not larger issue) with getting the engine arranged to pass emissions. It might be sitting in the garage for a long time :/

I'm definitely reaching out to some clubs and will hopefully be able to find some light at the end of the tunnel - the influx of all this information is making me think that I might be putting this back on the market for someone who has the time and money to make a proper wheeling rig out of it.

 

[Randy88FJ62]

These old landcruisers are anything but cheap. If you cannot work on them yourself then plan on paying a lot for a mechanic to do the work. A 35 year old vehicle is going to need a lot of love.

 

[White Stripe]

I have a relative that owns a small shop that works on fj60s from time to time. He could put it back to spring under for you. The shop is called Colorado Toyota Specialists. It's in conifer.

 

[Hold my beer]

I have a relative that owns a small shop that works on fj60s from time to time. He could put it back to spring under for you. The shop is called Colorado Toyota Specialists. It's in conifer.

Nice! I saved their shop information in Google. Thanks!

 

[YooperCruiser]

Those look like stock springs, realize you get about 7" of lift going SOA alone. I'd go back to SUA and use a good 2 - 3" lift spring and run 32 - 33" tires.

 

[Hold my beer]

These old landcruisers are anything but cheap. If you cannot work on them yourself then plan on paying a lot for a mechanic to do the work. A 35 year old vehicle is going to need a lot of love.

Yeah I hear that. I rebuilt the engine on a 86 Toyo pickup reccently - I feel like I can do the giants share of work myself but I have to steady the boat first.