"FREEDOM" '82 BJ60 w/3B Build Thread For Our Missions

[The Jade Bean]

Welcome aboard sir, very good things you're doing there!
Another rootbeer colored 60 in our midst! Paging Trapper...

Thank you!

Doesnt look like a SOA is nessesary for that terrain. While many on here may push the idea that a SOA is great (and it may be for rock crawling, etc) a tried and true suspension system professionally designed around the vehicle (OME, Ironman, etc) can save you alot of time, $$$, and frustration.

Heck I bet stock leafs with an AAL, and 33's would take you most places your mini or 4runner would go. It has been said many times, these Landcruisers are truely tanks.. people don't realize how capable they are in stock form.

Good luck in your endevours!!!

Thank you for the advise!

Agreed, if we don't have to spend the money I'd rather not. I would however like a good 4" lift on some 34's on 16" rims. I haven't been able to find out if they make a 4" lift without doing a SOA, know of any or is it just 2-3"?

-Daniel Kent

 

[MANUCHAO]

Awesome work you are doing eh !!
I too would say you dont need to go soa to have a capable rig.
as stated an OME or custom leafs should give you the clearance needed to go just about anywhere....
I think you could also go with a OME and shackle reversal set up, but I dont like SR either......
I drove my 60 for about 6 years with the OME on 33's with no issues of wondering all over the road......

You can run the 16" rims provided you have the right back spacing... I believe stock is 3.5" or 3.75".

Now I understand the asking about the bull bar, sorry I couldn't give yah any info on it....

Good luck and keep ups posted on this project....

 

[Godwin]

The goal for this build is to spend as little as possible, yet create a highly capable expo rig to not only be able to travel over several countries but also to get us into the rarely traveled "roads" in the mountains of Central America. We want a lift, bumpers, rack, 34"? tires, .

For the build keep it simple, keep it simple, keep it simple. Don't deviate too far from stock and go with proven components. Don't get so lost in building up the Cruiser that you forget the true purpose behind the build. You want this thing to work for you day in and day out.

Lift - OME heavy will work well.

Wheels and tires - There are 16" wheels with proper backspacing so you would not have to use spacers. There's a thread on this somewhere in the 60s forum. With 16" wheels you can run 255/85/16 BFG KM2s which are around 33-34" in height and are a heavier ply tire.

Bumper - ARB. It's a proven design.

 

[The Jade Bean]

Awesome work you are doing eh !! I too would say you dont need to go soa to have a capable rig. as stated an OME or custom leafs should give you the clearance needed to go just about anywhere.... I think you could also go with a OME and shackle reversal set up, but I dont like SR either...... I drove my 60 for about 6 years with the OME on 33's with no issues of wondering all over the road...... You can run the 16" rims provided you have the right back spacing... I believe stock is 3.5" or 3.75". Now I understand the asking about the bull bar, sorry I couldn't give yah any info on it.... Good luck and keep ups posted on this project....

Thank you sir and great info!

-Daniel Kent

 

[The Jade Bean]

Originally Posted by Adventure Copan
The goal for this build is to spend as little as possible, yet create a highly capable expo rig to not only be able to travel over several countries but also to get us into the rarely traveled "roads" in the mountains of Central America. We want a lift, bumpers, rack, 34"? tires, .

For the build keep it simple, keep it simple, keep it simple. Don't deviate too far from stock and go with proven components. Don't get so lost in building up the Cruiser that you forget the true purpose behind the build. You want this thing to work for you day in and day out.

Lift - OME heavy will work well.

Wheels and tires - There are 16" wheels with proper backspacing so you would not have to use spacers. There's a thread on this somewhere in the 60s forum. With 16" wheels you can run 255/85/16 BFG KM2s which are around 33-34" in height and are a heavier ply tire.

Bumper - ARB. It's a proven design.

Superb advice on keep it simple! I'm leaning towards OME heavy and I love our KM2's so defiantly be sticking with those for this too. I know people say not to run split rims for DD, but they do it where we are going so thinking of going that route. I am tinkering with building our bumpers, rack and sliders to cut down on cost. I'm good at welding and I only need a better pipe bender to simplify things.

Here's some pics of what I'm considering for a rack and ladder. I'm still unsure it the rack and ladder bars should be tube or if solid is ok.



Thank you!

-Daniel Kent

 

[Off Duty]

If they're still out there, I think the Alcan had a 4" lift to it, and IIRC, had enough clearance for about anything (within reason) you wanted to stuff under there.

I agree with the above posts.
KISS is the key.

Make sure that you don't overload the driveline with tire/rim, making the vehicle's inherent usefulness, well, useless.

OD

 

[The Jade Bean]

If they're still out there, I think the Alcan had a 4" lift to it, and IIRC, had enough clearance for about anything (within reason) you wanted to stuff under there.

I agree with the above posts.
KISS is the key.

Make sure that you don't overload the driveline with tire/rim, making the vehicle's inherent usefulness, well, useless.

OD

I found Alcan http://www.alcanspring.com/. I'm not wanting to lift this to extreme or put giant tires under her by any means, I just don't wanna run into not enough ground clearance when I need it. A lot of it will depend on whether I have to extend a bunch of stuff due to the lift...I don't want to have to do that.

Anybody have a good lead on a thread for understanding what kind of gears I would need to run? Thanks!

-Daniel Kent

 

[The Jade Bean]

Longest road trip ever! Some sights along the way...































-Daniel Kent

 

[MANUCHAO]

Are you on your way to pick this rig up or did you already do this ?

 

[dbleon]

Love the ozone spray on the dash... wonder waht thats for ??? lol

 

[The Jade Bean]

Are you on your way to pick this rig up or did you already do this ?

On our way (Texas to Oregon and back). Getting up now to drive 5 more hours to the LC and then hauling it back. I'm tired of driving!

Love the ozone spray on the dash... wonder waht thats for ??? lol

Three guys.... lol.

-Daniel Kent

 

[ElHefe]

Subscribed. Hope everything is going smoothly with the drive and transaction. Moar pics!

Be well my friend.

 

[Off Duty]

I found Alcan http://www.alcanspring.com/. I'm not wanting to lift this to extreme or put giant tires under her by any means, I just don't wanna run into not enough ground clearance when I need it. A lot of it will depend on whether I have to extend a bunch of stuff due to the lift...I don't want to have to do that.

Anybody have a good lead on a thread for understanding what kind of gears I would need to run? Thanks!-Daniel Kent

Certainly understand not wanting to have to extend lines, etc., but it sounds like your rig is going to be pretty well loaded down when "working." If so, a good bit of that lift in the rear is going to go away.

Are you planning on running air bags or helpers to compensate for the sag in the rear when loaded?

Came us with these from a quick 60's forum search here on MUD.
Gear Ratio Calculators:

http://www.grimmjeeper.com/gears.html

http://eriejeeppeople.com/Jeep_tech/tire_size_gear_ratio/ratio_calculator/gears.html

http://www.2shared.com/document/PVo9a62F/gearsmud.html

http://www.4lo.com/calc/gearratio.php


HTH

OD

 

[The Jade Bean]

Got her! Now we just have to make it back.



-Daniel Kent

 

[90FJ]

you're in my hood, let me know if you need anything.

 

[ElHefe]

How does she run?

 

[Wile E Coyote]

Another vote for keeping it simple.
Always keep the idea of 'how am I going to fix that WHEN it breaks' when planning mods. I vote for the tried and true heavy OME/Ironman lifts of 2-3". 33" tires of whatever is most replaceable down there. A heavily loaded SOA rig on those off-camber roads will stop your progress more often than less ground clearance would. BTW, other than an SOA that moves the springs on top of the axle, the ground clearance gains on suspension lifts are only from the body to the ground, btw. The axle diffs stay the same height from the ground...that's where your tire height comes in. Also, with SOA, you'll likely be having to look at steering and driveshaft mods. Even a tall enough SUA lift will cause similar issues. Getting a custom 4" SUA spring pack (ala Alcan or whomever) replaced down there could be problematic or impossible, yes?

The rack should def be made of tube and not solid, if I'm understanding your question.

 

[mattafact]

Another vote for OME. If you get 16s then you can run 235/85/16 which are available everywhere.

 

[The Jade Bean]

you're in my hood, let me know if you need anything.

Thank you, will do! Gonna see what I've gotten myself into first.

-Daniel Kent

 

[The Jade Bean]

How does she run?

On the quick test drive she ran strong and slow, the slow I expected. Can't wait to take her out for a proper spin at home.

-Daniel Kent