Are the cool kids still doing springovers? (1 Viewer)

[Flipper1938]

I am about to get serious with a project fj40 that was bought 20 years ago but never really started.

Surfing this forum, it looks like nearly all of the current builds are done as SUA with lift springs or going all out with 4 links and coil overs.

My plan for the truck is the same as it was 20 years ago...Fj60 axles and a springover.

Too tall for modern standards?

 

[Stumpalama]

I like my SOA and no plans to change it.

 

[pjohnson]

Flat stock springs and low profile mounts and you should be fine. Unless you have plans for a gigantic rack on top.

Mine was done using a stock spring mount on the front and putting the shackle mount through the frame.

 

[White Stripe]

I am about to get serious with a project fj40 that was bought 20 years ago but never really started.

Surfing this forum, it looks like nearly all of the current builds are done as SUA with lift springs or going all out with 4 links and coil overs.

My plan for the truck is the same as it was 20 years ago...Fj60 axles and a springover.

Too tall for modern standards?

I wanted to keep my center of gravity low and a spring over was a bit too tall for me. Its especially hard to keep the front low with soa. I did a sua front and soa rear. Personally I don't think 60 axles are much of an improvement width wise. I am at fj80 width and wouldn't mind another inch or two wider. I love the stability, on off camber stuff I feel so stable. Im not experienced enough yet to know just how far I can push it. SUA can flex, its just gotta be set up differently than SOA springs. If you raise the front fenders up to the hood level ish and raise the rear fender line almost to the top of the tub, you can keep it really low.

 

[Stumpalama]

I am running 60 series springs, with leaves removed, front and rear and I don't feel too tall.

 

[offrd63]

I'll never go back to SUA, but I'm seriously thinking about sway bars. I had some flat Alcans built and they
are much better, but these days I find myself driving more on roads and less crawling. Their is something to be said for good highway manners.

 

[Flipper1938]

Realistically, this one will see more street than trail. ....But, I want to get the springs above the axles for ground clearance when it does get off road. I think I am going to try and run the FJ60 front sway bar that I have as well. I have had a couple of springover'd Suzuki samurai in the past, but they never went fast enough to worry about handling. This FJ40 should move along pretty good.

 

[batcon]

I went with 60 axles and out boarded the fronts springs. That made a huge difference in the stability of the rig, not only on the trails, but especially on the road. One of the best mods I've done.

 

[Redgrrr]

I have a spring over 40 and love the ride and trail manners. I also have a pos 40 that I'm building for very little dollars and more of a trail beater.

Going to cut the tub off behind the cowl and tube it this winter. I'm planning a low SUA lift on 35's with 2 1/2" pig spring out back and a similar lift spring up front as soon as I find another cheap set used. My goal is the cheapest trail 40 possible. I want keep most parts stock except the Longfeilds in the front axle. I have spare parts falling off the shelf from all my part outs. As soon i I get the torch out I will start a build thread here.

 

[Flipper1938]

Did everybody do a cut and turn?

Way back when, i didn't do one on the suzuki stuff.

 

[Stumpalama]

Neither of mine did.

The FJ40 worked fine without turning the pinion.

Oddly, the FJ55 with a doubler does have issues with the pinion. Currently redoing drivetrain(removing doubler) and will do cut/turn on front axle.

What's your plan for the doubler? Selling?

 

[Tigerstripe40]

I was going to link my 40 util I found out how much coil over's cost.

I did my spring over with stock FJ40 springs front, FJ60 springs rear. Front FJ60 housing. Admittedly, I could have done a better job with the placement of the shackle bushings, but it steers down the highway just fine at 70 with 3 fingers on. I might end up chewing bushing pretty fast, but the truck gets drive 1000 miles a year, so replacing bushings isn't that big of a deal to me.

 

[Flipper1938]

I was going to link my 40 util I found out how much coil over's cost.

I did my spring over with stock FJ40 springs front, FJ60 springs rear. Front FJ60 housing. Admittedly, I could have done a better job with the placement of the shackle bushings, but it steers down the highway just fine at 70 with 3 fingers on. I might end up chewing bushing pretty fast, but the truck gets drive 1000 miles a year, so replacing bushings isn't that big of a deal to me.

What did you do wrong on the placement of the shackle bushings?

 

[Tigerstripe40]

What did you do wrong on the placement of the shackle bushings?

I didn't get the bushing hangers exactly straight in line with the fixed hangers. They are a little cocked.
I Didn't have any help and all I had was a tape measure. Measured it 3 times, tacked it and then measured it again and things moved...

 

[Stumpalama]

203 and adapter in my green 55 is already sold... waiting to pull it here shortly.

I figured, but I had to ask.

 

[Mace]

I'd do one again if I wanted that much lift.

And, I'm recommending my brother do one on his 40..

 

[74fj40]

Neither of mine did.

The FJ40 worked fine without turning the pinion.

Oddly, the FJ55 with a doubler does have issues with the pinion. Currently redoing drivetrain(removing doubler) and will do cut/turn on front axle.

A cut and turn is completely different from setting your pinion angle. You set your pinion angle then cut your axle ends loose and turning them to add caster which will decrease the amount of wandering and other poor road manners your truck may have.

 

[offrd63]

I did the cut and turn, I think it's easier these days with affordable digital angle indicators. I have driven trucks that don't want to return to center after turning from not enough caster. One thing to watch, is where you set your pinion angle. Make sure you allow for your springs to flatten out. They will, and you could end up with less than ideal pinion angle.

 

[Fast Eddy]

I'm a cool kid. I did a SOA with 60-width axles, a cut-and-turn as well as CV driveshafts front and rear. It's a bit tall, but awesome. I may dig into it again someday and try to bring it down a bit, but it's pretty awesome for now.

I have the sway bar that would bolt onto the fj62 front axle, but I'm not so motivated to figure out frame-side mounts for it. I suppose it would be nice on mountain roads. FWIW, the fj62 front axle has a factor gusset that the fj60 did not have.

 

[batcon]

[QUOTE FWIW, the fj62 front axle has a factor gusset that the fj60 did not have.[/QUOTE]

Pismo Jim was still able to bend his front 62 axle housing on a jump, lol.