^ I LIKE it! Hell...that tops your job of turning a 60 into an 80 
Cam's FJ60 Gets Sprung (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter FJ60Cam
- Start date
This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.
- Thread starter
- #242
Its hard out here for a pimp, and this weekend is no exception. We have a monsoon, which means I had water running through the 'ole carport. I had to tarp the end to divert the flow and turn on the bilge pump (shop vac).
But - we're back at it!
The panhard and steering was next. Getting the panhard right is pretty critical if you want the axle to be centered and have the same amount of tire sticking out of each side.
First up was setting the toe-in. I think the crackhead that dos the wheel bearings did the last alignment. It was all toe-out. Next was carefully measuring to make sure we were centered (which is what we spent all that time on setting up the radius arms). I'll be durned - right on the money!
The panhard is solid bar stock and will see much more tension than the brace, so I wanted to make sure my sleeve was extra stout. In addition to the end welds, I put eight large rosettes on the sleeve.
Panhard, DONE!
But - we're back at it!
The panhard and steering was next. Getting the panhard right is pretty critical if you want the axle to be centered and have the same amount of tire sticking out of each side.
First up was setting the toe-in. I think the crackhead that dos the wheel bearings did the last alignment. It was all toe-out. Next was carefully measuring to make sure we were centered (which is what we spent all that time on setting up the radius arms). I'll be durned - right on the money!
The panhard is solid bar stock and will see much more tension than the brace, so I wanted to make sure my sleeve was extra stout. In addition to the end welds, I put eight large rosettes on the sleeve.
Panhard, DONE!
Last edited:
- Thread starter
- #243
The steering is now all connected. To get up and running, I cut down and sleeved an old HD tie rod. I'll get one made in the proper length once I know everything works. Steering damper went back as before.
I cut down the 80 steering shaft. The splines mate up to the 60 at the firewall.
To-do list to finish the front:
-Reconfigure the brake hard lines. 80's drop down on the drivers side. I'm set up for a passenger side connection. It looks like I can use the lines from my 60 axle.
-Fab up some sway bar brackets.
-Pull axle back out and finish welding.
-Clean, prime, paint, final install.
-Find a curb and take flex pics.
I cut down the 80 steering shaft. The splines mate up to the 60 at the firewall.
To-do list to finish the front:
-Reconfigure the brake hard lines. 80's drop down on the drivers side. I'm set up for a passenger side connection. It looks like I can use the lines from my 60 axle.
-Fab up some sway bar brackets.
-Pull axle back out and finish welding.
-Clean, prime, paint, final install.
-Find a curb and take flex pics.
Last edited:
- Joined
- Jul 22, 2012
- Threads
- 571
- Messages
- 16,027
- Location
- Winter Park, Florida
- Website
- www.cruisermatts.com
Why not run crossover steering? You could have reused your entire 60 tie-rod, drag link and all the ends. All you would need to buy is an 80 RHD steering arm.
- Thread starter
- #245
I still would have had to buy all new rods since the width changed. Right now the only thing I have to buy is a new drag link.
But the real reason is that the 80s steering geometry just works well. My old steering felt like you were fighting the turn, our old 80 didn't. No reason to mess with it.
But the real reason is that the 80s steering geometry just works well. My old steering felt like you were fighting the turn, our old 80 didn't. No reason to mess with it.
Last edited:
- Joined
- Jul 22, 2012
- Threads
- 571
- Messages
- 16,027
- Location
- Winter Park, Florida
- Website
- www.cruisermatts.com
True, I forgot about the extra width.
- Thread starter
- #247
Welding Shorts stopped by for a little while today and we messed with the sway bar. We spent a bunch of time modifying the 80 sway bar brackets to work in the 60 frame. When we held it up to tack it in, we noticed it was very close to where the old spring hanger was....
I rescued one of the hangers from the trash can and held it up. Perfect size. Even had the correct size hole drilled in it.
Unnecessary parts removed...
Boogers applied...
Profit.
This is perfect. We have it hanging like factory. No drop spacer required. And it doesn't take up valuable real estate on the inside of the frame rail where my exhaust resides. Also, since we are recycling old parts, we earned a LEED Gold rating from the US Green Building Council.
I'm really pleased with how it's turning out. Once it's cleaned and painted, it should look like it came from the factory this way. Only the sleeves on the panhard & brace will give it away.
Now I just need to pull it out to finish welding some hard to reach places, paint it, and put it all back together.
I rescued one of the hangers from the trash can and held it up. Perfect size. Even had the correct size hole drilled in it.
Unnecessary parts removed...
Boogers applied...
Profit.
This is perfect. We have it hanging like factory. No drop spacer required. And it doesn't take up valuable real estate on the inside of the frame rail where my exhaust resides. Also, since we are recycling old parts, we earned a LEED Gold rating from the US Green Building Council.
I'm really pleased with how it's turning out. Once it's cleaned and painted, it should look like it came from the factory this way. Only the sleeves on the panhard & brace will give it away.
Now I just need to pull it out to finish welding some hard to reach places, paint it, and put it all back together.
Last edited:
From the last picture it looks to be sitting on the tires, is this true, is it on its own weight?
The things you take on make the rest of us look like we should be finger painting with the kindergarteners. Awesome work. Looking forward to see what you have bouncing around for the rear.
The things you take on make the rest of us look like we should be finger painting with the kindergarteners. Awesome work. Looking forward to see what you have bouncing around for the rear.
- Thread starter
- #249
Aww shucks... but thanks! I'm just copying what others have done. Im not sure I'd've had the guts to blaze the trail.
Yes, it is fully sitting on the axles, weight of the truck fully on them, everything but the brakes and PS hoses are hooked up. The fab work (besides brake lines) is done.
Just a little more welding, paint, and reassembling to do.
Yes, it is fully sitting on the axles, weight of the truck fully on them, everything but the brakes and PS hoses are hooked up. The fab work (besides brake lines) is done.
Just a little more welding, paint, and reassembling to do.
- Thread starter
- #251
It's not at all level right now. The front came up two or three inches. Hood height is about the same as Mark's lifted 80 (heavy springs + spacer).
Before:
After:
Bomar
SILVER Star
Get you soft LX sprangs. CHUSH
Cruiserdrew
On the way there
The added height looks good. What are the rear plans?
- Thread starter
- #254
Cut, paste. That's all I can reveal at this time. Gotta keep everyone in suspense, and keep JT on the verge of a panic attack
It does involve an order from Ruff Stuff, which I guess means I can post in the hardcore forum now?
Cruiserdrew
On the way there
Welding in shorts is already hardcore.
RuffStuff parts are nice and beefy. Can't wait
RuffStuff parts are nice and beefy. Can't wait
Tall!
- Thread starter
- #259
It's looking like a 4" lift compared to Mark's truck. I'm measuring 5" space between the bumpstop (on the coil cone thing) and the top of the lower coil bucket where it would contact, if Andy or @concretejungle wanted to measure theirs.
Granted, the 60 is probably lighter than an 80, and I have additional weight loss with the 5.3.
- Thread starter
- #260
It will be a FF 80 eventually, but my FF axle needs a few parts before it's a user.
In the short term it will be this semi float.