ground clearance question

[harle53]

I am at the rebuild portion of my 68 fj40. I am dry fitting everything before the final stage of paint. I have a 350 to an NV4500 and a split t case assembled and mocked up where I want it. My question is: I would like to lower the engine/tranny/tcase to help out with my drive angles and lowering the trucks center of gravity due to the soa, but dont want to lose to much ground clearance with the t case hanging below the frame rail. as the way it sits the engine is level and my t case sits about 2 1/2 inches lower than my frame rail. any words of wisdom before I make the plunge.

 

[JohnnyC]

build a nice 1/4" skid plate...then you dont have to worry about the t case

 

[D'Animal]

Raise it the way you want it and then look into a 2" body lift.

 

[Poser]

Are you going to wheel it, and if so, where, or are you going to pound pavement?

 

[harle53]

Are you going to wheel it, and if so, where, or are you going to pound pavement?

I want do do some of both, The rig will not be a daily driver but would like to drive it out to the desert. I live in so cal, so areas like painted gorge, coral canyon...

 

[MtnTrucker]

If you are SOA and concerned about driveline angles, the common way to address that problem is to perform a cut & turn on the front and rear axles. Once that is done, and the pinions are pointing at the TC output yokes, you install new drive shafts of the correct length with double cardan CV joints on the transfer case end of the shaft. I would think lowering the whole drive train could lead to other issues like oil pan interference with the front axle or fan alignment with the radiator, etc.

 

[harle53]

If you are SOA and concerned about driveline angles, the common way to address that problem is to perform a cut & turn on the front and rear axles. Once that is done, and the pinions are pointing at the TC output yokes, you install new drive shafts of the correct length with double cardan CV joints on the transfer case end of the shaft. I would think lowering the whole drive train could lead to other issues like oil pan interference with the front axle or fan alignment with the radiator, etc.

both front and rear axle housing cut and turned, thought about the cv rear axle, but sure is costly. I am running an electric fan, and doesn't appear to be any clearance or space issue with the 350 and the front drive shaft. my frame rails measure 22.5" from the ground and my lowest point is the t case at 19"

 

[BDSeff1fitty]

your rig looks sweet so far. im a few weeks behind you in my build up.

i gotta few questions:
1) new radiator or just paint it?
2) what made you decide on a silver frame instead of black?

 

[harle53]

your rig looks sweet so far. im a few weeks behind you in my build up.

i gotta few questions:
1) new radiator or just paint it?
2) what made you decide on a silver frame instead of black?

new 4 core radiator, the frame is just primered right now once everything in in place and welded, I am going to paint the frame with the por 15 chassis black.