Builds A pig out of hand is worth 2...

[npulver]

Bummer! I would much rather support a mud member so let me know when you have the shirts!

I need to get off my lazy duff and get out to my friends house and check out the shirt to commit to making you all shirts. I want them to be nice shirts.

Once I do get the shirts going I'll make a post like I did for the stickers.

 

[Napster]

I need to get off my lazy duff and get out to my friends house and check out the shirt to commit to making you all shirts. I want them to be nice shirts.

Once I do get the shirts going I'll make a post like I did for the stickers.

Speaking of which, I think I said I would take one... Are they still available? I suppose I can find the thread...

 

[71greenpig]

Yes shirt please...

I need to get off my lazy duff and get out to my friends house and check out the shirt to commit to making you all shirts. I want them to be nice shirts.

Once I do get the shirts going I'll make a post like I did for the stickers.

 

[Napster]

Finally got some shielding gas for the welder! Finished welding the front shackle hangers. Tacked one in place and am happy with the results. Hope it does not break!

 

[J Mack]

Are you going to run the short shackles?

 

[cwospark]

Looks good, is there some steel running under the frame?

 

[Napster]

Looks good, is there some steel running under the frame?

Yes, crappy picture but...

 

[cwospark]

Looks good and should hold well (Still planning on the 2F and stock height, right?).

 

[Napster]

Looks good and should hold well (Still planning on the 2F and stock height, right?).

Yep... unless I can get a diesel cheaper than the 2f Cam I need to replace!

 

[Napster]

Are you going to run the short shackles?

Yes, though I have been thinking about trying to increase the height from saggy stock to true stock by increasing shackle length. What are your thoughts. I must say I love your new shackle hangers on your rig. The sleeved frame is so clean looking.

 

[J Mack]

Yes, though I have been thinking about trying to increase the height from saggy stock to true stock by increasing shackle length. What are your thoughts. I must say I love your new shackle hangers on your rig. The sleeved frame is so clean looking.

The front shackles were the source of much anguish and I wish I would have put more thought into them from the beginning. I was taking for granted that all the 55’s with stock front spring mounts and stock or OME shackles worked well and I should be able to make mine work, I’ve read people hint that the OME anti inversion shackles are a Band-Aid for the issue but never really dug into it much.

The first issue was caster angle and the longer OME shackles, my 55 only had 1.5 degrees of caster from the factory and adding an inch longer shackle gave me -.5 degrees of caster. My second issue was even with the longer OME shackle it was limiting my usable suspension travel by 50% by going past 45 degrees and inverting. The two solutions I found were to use the sliders or longer shackles, I’m not opposed to the sliders but question the longevity of the nylon inserts daily driving on wet roads and didn’t want to add another potentially high maintenance item to my rig. I decided to just stick with the tried and true longer shackles but I had already set my caster angle for the OME shackles so I was forced to move them up into the frame to get the length I needed. Unfortunately I was going too fast in too many different directions to give much thought to these and now I’m just trying to make the best with what I have.

Your mounts look fantastic and I’m only trying to give you food for thought. If you can I would run your axle up and down with the setup you have now and see if your shackles are vertical at full droop and about 45 degrees at full compression, I used a small chain fall from the axle to the top shock bolt to compress mine and a floor jack on the frame to extend.




You can use this calculator to determine the shackle length you need, measure your spring from eye to eye with your suspension compressed and extended and put those measurements in BC and in AC put the measurement from eye to eye of your fixed frame eyes then add your shackle length in AB, BAC should be greater the 45 degrees with the compressed number and around 90 degrees with the extended. http://www.saltire.com/HTML5/Triangles/Triangle Given 3 Sides.html




Good luck you pig is looking great!

 

[J Mack]

Edit to add, if you get your shackle angles correct at both extremes compressed and extended it will always within the correct operating angle at ride height barring your spring rate is close. If you set your shackle angle at ride height you could potentially create an inversion issue at one extreme or the other. Don’t ask me how I know this.

 

[scrapdaddy]

Good information, J Mack!

 

[Napster]

Here I was think that matching the stock locations was going to be great! That is a whole lot of sarcasm. I really appreciate the thought and time that you (jmack this time and the forum as a whole) offer up here. Needless to say now I will get everything tacked up and check out the extremes. To be honest I would love some greasable shackles that were a bit more graceful!

 

[Napster]

Picture of one of my distractions. Just finished the back yard for now. Here is a before and after.

 

[Napster]

Has anyone drilled their pig's spring pins for a grease fitting? I think I might do it, thoughts?

 

[cwospark]

Nice work on the yard! That should earn you a little time to work on the Cruiser...

I bought my greasable shackles, but do like the idea of doing it myself (especially now that I have a garage to work on things)!

 

[Napster]

Drilled one spring pin and will tap it for a zerk fitting.

 

[Napster]

Anyone seen any good solutions for quick release anti-roll bars? Seems to me the would be prone to rattling... I have an fj60 front anti roll bar I was going to see if I could install but I like the idea of being able to unhook it.

 

[Napster]

Decided to retitle my build as "Finally found a pig" happened a while ago and a blown radiator resulted in complete disassembly of my rig. List of "Out of hand" things to do:
rebuild transfer case (disassembled and kit purchased)
rebuild 4spd transmission from fj60(not touched)
rebuild 2F from fj60 engine (bottom end is back together but need a cam)
Install power steering (done)
Swap to FJ60 axels and disc brakes (rear axel is in, currently working on front spring hangers)
Cut out rust in floors and repair (I have found the rust!)
Upholster front seat (cover is sewn but have yet to install)
Add AC (maybe later...)
oh yeah, and fix radiator! (done)

Sometimes I am overwhelmed but a little here and a little there and maybe I can drive the pig again. My new "realistic" goal is a year from now. It is in writing on the interweb so it has to be true...