anyone have 1" body lift?

[Cruiserdrew]

Just wait and save up and do it right. It will be worth it in the end and you will be happier. Most people who get body lifts end up regreting it in the long run. Get the OME for the lift and for better suspension all around. Just my opinion.

Sparky-The Clownmidget (Mike) already has the Slee 6 inch lift. He is way past the OME lift stage. If the 1'' lift provides improved exhaust clearence, that alone will be well worth the trouble. I am replying for Mike so he can finish his truck and go to Death Valley with us next week.

 

[Darwood]

So I'm assuming Mike isn't planning on the 1 inch lift before Death Valley?

 

[Cruiserdrew]

So I'm assuming Mike isn't planning on the 1 inch lift before Death Valley?

I think the body lift is done or nearly done. The real issue is hooking up the intercooler for the turbo, and finishing the leading arm mod. I'm betting on him to get it done even if he has too stay up late at night to finish it off.

 

[NorCalDoug]

Sparky -- you're out of your league here in this thread...
time to read and learn...

 

[Beowulf]

Sparky -- you're out of your league here in this thread...
time to read and learn...

Sparky has been given this advice repeatedly. He continues to jump in over his head. I think the kid is daft.

-B-

 

[Echo_29]

I think the body lift is done or nearly done. The real issue is hooking up the intercooler for the turbo, and finishing the leading arm mod. I'm betting on him to get it done even if he has too stay up late at night to finish it off.

I know Mike will chime in here but since I just spoke to him let me tell you, he'll be up for quite a few nights...

Sparky has been given this advice repeatedly. He continues to jump in over his head. I think the kid is daft.

-B-

Does anyone else here long for those quiet, civilized and thoughtful days over at the old SOR board before Sparky was born, Junk wasn't a moderator and Eric, well Eric...

 

[stuck in GA]

Yeah well I wouldn't have said anything if he had his mods on his signature.

 

[Cruisin'Carolina]

Yeah well I wouldn't have said anything if he had his mods on his signature.

Scrappy Doo....

You don't have a body lift, you don't know what you're talking about, and I doubt ANYTHING will EVER keep you from saying something.

Now read the link in MY SIG LINE, take your fatherly figure DOug's advice, and shut the hell up!

 

[clownmidget]

1" body lift - 1997 FZJ-80

I will add that you may have to drop the radiator or at least repostion the Fan Shroud. If you have a suspension lift also you may have to have exteneded brake lines or at least drop the mounts for the hard lines. Steering shaft should slip the extra inch, you may have to adjust the Tranny shift linkage. If the t-case shifter hits any place, make a 1 inch spacer to raise it. ABS wires may have to be rerouted. This may not be all that you encounter. There are the wire going to the O2 sensors that may need to be re attached in a different spot. Will have to work the A/C lines when lifting the body. Hope that helps. later robbie

Thanks Robbie. Yeah, I already have been working on drop brackets to just drop the entire radiator. I had to deal with the ABS wiring anyway with the 6" springs. O2 sensors are ok since I'm using a custom exhaust - new bungs for O2 and EGT. AC lines were fine due to the flexible sections. Brake lines are already the extended SS, coated ones from Marlin. Thanks again for the cheat sheet on what to look out for though as I muddle along...

 

[clownmidget]

1" body lift - 1997 FZJ-80

Yes, the body lift was already completed Thursday. Just doing the radiator brackets now and then making sure all the other issues are checked. I'll post a pic here in a bit.

Thanks for the input/advice, I'll post pics of how this help with the exhaust and IC routing once that is finished.

 

[robbie]

thanks in advance for a write up and photo's that you will put on the board. I have not done this but am considering it when I turbo the truck(almost have the money for the turbo and fmu) and want the 3 inch exhaust with out flating it. later robbie

 

[clownmidget]

1" body lift - 1997 FZJ-80

here's a pic of the front-most body mount to give an idea of what it looks like. I got the 2-inch diam. spacers but realize now after measuring everywhere that the 2.5-inch ones will work and be better due to more surface area. I may change these out eventually but other mods must continue now. This also shows the hardware arrangement I used - large oem washer followed by a standard 10-mm flat washer, external star washer, flange nut then nylon-locking nut.

Also, here's Roger's site (http://www.4crawler.com/4x4/ForSale/BodyLiftKit.shtml) for detailed instructions, kit descriptions, prices, etc. No affiliation, just a satisfied customer. Very nice to deal with, even offered to reimburse me for the two extra spacers I ordered from him and did not use! Now that's some good service.

 

[clownmidget]

1" body lift - 1997 FZJ-80

Also, the radiator drop was much easier than thought. I pulled all the hardware holding it in place and was JUST able to move the side holes on the L-brackets where it mounts at the bottom sides to 1-inch lower. The nuts will JUST clear the 90-degree bend so it's as much as you can get out of the oem stuff, but it is slick. So all it entailed is drilling new holes in the stock brackets and then re-installing. Then I was able to drill pilot holes from the engine bay out through the upper side mount holes through the bib. Again, with only a 1-inch drop this just gives you enough room to do it without the AC evap getting in the way. I took out the top mounting bolts and gently lifted it up ( the rubber mounts at the bottom are just sitting in guide holes) and that gave me enough room to fit a socket in there to tighten.

So, no expense at all in dropping the radiator 1-inch. Just some measuring and drilling. Everything looked pretty good and tight and all aligned as it was before.

It looks like a fair amount of inner front fender well will still have to get cut out for the IC piping but that's to be determined today. Exhaust routing should get done later this week then it's off to the dyno - hopefully - in time to get this thing to DV.

 

[T Y L E R]

May I bounce a question off you guys ?

We know that the front axle will arc down and rearwards when lifted via taller coils , essentially becoming counter productive for adding space between the front tire and rear of the front wheel well . Would this 'body' lift improve that clearance issue , because it is moving the well straight up ? Hopefully if you already have a big enough lift , this extra inch will move the conflicting portion of the well upwards past the widest portion of your tires ... as you go straight up , and you begin eclipsing the tires centre , you would do nothing but good for this tire --> well clearance ...


Yes ?


TIA ,


TY

 

[clownmidget]

pics of completed body lift

I posted some pics here (https://forum.ih8mud.com/showthread.php?p=417192#post417192) of the body lift completed. For raising the front bumper I was able to use 1" longer carriage bolt (1/4" thread) that go through the bumper (4 total) that hold the bracket to the top of the bumper and stack washers to get 1" of rise. For the bottom if you look close I just notched the bottom of the bumper and the bracket actually sits underneath the bottom of the bumper instead of inside and on top of it. It worked pretty slick and the price was right for raising the stock bumper until I get time to do a real one to hold the winch.

I didn't do anything for the rear. If you look close at those you can see I have a bit of slope from the rear mudflaps back to the rear cross member. The sliders are not changed from before either.

All told, I'm pretty happy with the lift. I had a chance to really rattle the hell out of it this weekend in Death Valley - close to a hundred miles of fast washboard, about the same amount of dirt, rocky roads. Lots of bumping, twisting, jarring and it felt as solid as ever. Absolutely no weird behavior except for the gear selecter not wanting to go into P as easily as before. The last 1/4" or so feels like you have to give it a push.

Again, hope this helps someone.
Mike