Contemplated SOA for FJ60 (1 Viewer)

[Elbert]

For those in the know.... I might consider going to a SOA setup. I would most likely also go with a high angle steer at the same time. Intent would be to run soemthing around a 35 tire. I presently have some 17 inch FJCruiser wheels and thought I might finds something around a 35 tire to fit those wheels.

I've looked at the Marlin Web site and the Ruff Stuff web site for soem of the parts. A frind who is a fabricator would be doing the welding and setup of the cut&turn, along with pinon angle adjustments.

Looking for sugguestions for known solutions, here is what I've thought about and links.




http://www.marlincrawler.com/steering/high-steer/high-steer-kit-fj60

http://www.ruffstuffspecialties.com/catalog/FJ60-SOA.html



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[Hugh Heifer]

I guess it depends on what you want to use the truck for. Based on what I saw, I think you would be very happy with an SOA. You were lacking in ground clearance a bit. What springs are you considering? Going back to stock?
I like your truck's stance but for more mild terrain than what we were on or a daily driver.

 

[Elbert]

I want to be able to take the trails with a little more clearance and run 35 tires wihtout issue, still has to be street legal though and no crazy death wobble BS or unsafe modifications. I would like to avoid further metal damage to the extent possible, so more clearance and bigger tires required to do that.

I dont' know on the springs.... thats one of the variables I'm unsure of right now. What I do know is that I want a bolt in spring...not lookign to go and re-engineer the spring mounts or wheel space.

 

[Hugh Heifer]

I do not recall what springs are on there now. OME? Do you still have the stock springs? I think many folks are happy with stock springs with an SOA but that is for a 40 and you are dealing with considerably more weight. I think Todd's 40 has stock springs with the SOA.

I also think some rear quarter armor would be in order.

 

[chattfj40]

IMHO,

I'd go with Ruff Stuff for all the fab parts. They make good stuff and great CS. I'd go with 4x4 Labs for hi-steer. Luke's not the swiftest shipper, but his product is unparalleled. Run 3/4 ton GM tie rods ends and get you're tie-rod and drag link from Luke. I believe he has a pitman arm that has Toyota on the box end and GM on the tie rod end, but not sure.

Roger just did all this last year, so he can probably give you any details you need, but in short, I think he's running 63" chevy's for springs, but I think stock 60s with maybe a leaf or two removed (depending on weight) will be fine. I'd do a shackle reversal in the front at the same time and put the shackle mount through the frame on the front axle to keep it low. Not sure if the F250 shock towers work w/o being modified, but Roger used them and changed the angle a bit, IIRC. They're cheap and strong. I run Blistein 5125s for shocks and couldn't be happier. Roger also runs an anti-sway bar setup, but not sure if he considers that mandatory. The cut and turn is pretty simple, and I consider it mandatory. Roger also gusseted his axle tube, which is not a bad idea...

Any thoughts on re-gearing while you have it all apart? Still stock?

For the rear, just swap the perches, point the pinion @ the x-fer case and weld it up.

 

[Elbert]

I currently have the OME heavy / heavy front and rear springs plus shackles which gives me something like 2 to 3 inches of lift with stock suspesion setup otherwise...have sway bar extensions.

Just had 4.88 gears front and back installed along with lockers front and back and dual transfer case shifter.

Stock springs went in the junk pile some time ago.

I'll get my friend involved again if I do this...as he is the welder fabricator and I'm the funding source and parts collector and helper at times. I'm looking into this to see what's invovled, what might be the best strategy to approach this and what parts I need to collect. I think a cut and turn on the front axle is the right way to approach that too from everything I've read.

 

[Elbert]

I'll email Roger to get all the details on what he did and also to see if there is anything he would do differently.

I'm trying to round up some rear quarter sliders..hopefully sooon.

 

[DSLTOY]

What Todd said, I used the Ruff stuff kit and found it to excellent. I really like the 4x4 labs system as it puts the tie rod behind the axle to protect it. The springs I used were 84 blazer front springs on both ends, added a add a leaf on rear, the rear spring is a direct bolt in the front mounts need to be redone and the shackles move to the rear. I ordered my springs from Truck Parts and Truck Accessories for Chevy, GMC, Ford and Dodge Trucks from LMCTruck.com, I also fornd that the wagon needed Bilistein Shocks.