How can I lift this easily?

[Michaeb5353]

I'd like to lift this up so I can fit 33's-35's on it. I have old man emu on there right now, and I hear its good. I'd like to keep the current suspension on there, but just lift it up somehow, I use it for light trails and roads. Its a 1975. There are currently 31.5's on here right now. If possible if you could provide average prices for any parts required, and how labor intensive they are, it'd be a huge help.

Thanks!

 

[skyshark186]

I suppose the only real ways to lift it without changing suspentions would be add-a-leaf or longer shackles. Both will probably cause it to be a little stiffer and shackles are said to detract from performance. Make DD a little slopier and such.

Might check into people who have done an add-a-leaf of 40s. You may need to get a longer stroke shock if you gain to much hight.

 

[zebrabeefj40]

You can fit a 34x9.5 Swamper TSL on there now without cutting the rear wheel openings.

The only change I would make is a swap to the Old Man Emu or equal extended shackles so the springs can flex a little better. I would not use an add-a-leaf with OME; ruins the excellent ride that suspension system gives IMHO...though you could get the extra leaf from OME to make the "medium" system into a "heavy" system. That might improve the height a little without degrading the ride too much.

I ran 33x12.5 Swamper TSL's on my first FJ40 with the "medium" suspension with slightly enlarged rear fender openings. Worked great! Wish they (OME) made a 4" spring for an FJ40...



Nick Jennings

 

[JohnL]

Looks to me like you've got plenty of room. I've got the OME setup wwith CCOT's HFS 2.5" longer shackle sand I'd bet I could fit >35 if I wanted to.

 

[phlyfish]

I would run the 34" 9.5, extened schackle and possibly a 1" body lift if they rubbed.

 

[Landpimp]

I have OME springs, did a shackle reversal(1.5" more of lift) and the 35's still rub on the front., 33's would be no problem. Think the OME extra front leaf would be just enough to make it clear.

 

[skyshark186]

Yeah...you should really give that to me for my chrome bezel. Fair trade?

 

[Magoo]

just throw the 33's on there they will fit.i run extended shackles and 33's right now with no cutting.
shawn

 

[Michaeb5353]

Awesome, thanks for all of the tips. You live close to me landpimp, do you have anything for sale? I'm impressed by all your pictures. I am going to go ahead and put the 33's on there, should look great, I took it to les schwab, but they said they wouldn't fit, I'll give it a shot. How hard is it to add an extra leaf landpimp?

 

[e rock]

I am going to go ahead and put the 33's on there, should look great, I took it to les schwab, but they said they wouldn't fit, I'll give it a shot.

Screw Les Schwab. IMO, there is absolutely no reason to give them any more business. Their customer service used to be top notch, but without that, all they have are overpriced mediocre tires being mounted by teenage trainees. Sure, you CAN get swampers or other brands there, but have you seen how much they charge for anything not on their shelves? The Toyos and Avons are ok, but for the same price you can get better tires and better long-term service elsewhere.

Just get some 33s and run them. If they rub (is this a street rig or wheeler?) I'd look into adding a little bit of lift one way or another. If the tire shop gives you crap about it, just take your tires & wheels in and have the new ones mounted. I prefer to torque my lug nuts by hand anyway.

BTW, where are you located?

 

[Michaeb5353]

Its mostly street, with a couple trips a years up in the mountains on trails. I'm in the kitsap country area, bainbridge island WA, I'm glad to see there are so many cruiser guys in the area.

Erock, would you have any suggestions as to where to purchase tires? Where do you normally get yours?

 

[e rock]

Erock, would you have any suggestions as to where to purchase tires? Where do you normally get yours?

That depends a LOT on what you're looking for. Do you know what kind of tire you're looking for? Some people like to run swampers on a mostly street rig - I wouldn't. Well, I guess I do, but my 'daily drive' commute is like 2 miles each way . About the only time I drive much farther than that is the 12 miles to the trailhead.

Goodyear MTRs may be the best street handling off-road tire around, but they're kind of expensive for larger sizes. I did a whole lot of wheeling on BFG ATs when I first got my cruiser and have nothing but good things to say about them except in heavy mud. BFG MTs are better in mud, but not as good on snow and ice - otherwise similar to the all-terrains. Just a few suggestions...

I've been doing a bit of modification lately, and I haven't committed to a specific size yet, so my last couple sets have been used. I just couldn't pay the prices for new tires when I know I'll be wanting bigger ones long before they wore out. Depending on what you want, I'd check:
Costco - Great prices, but somewhat limited availability. They can get any BFG tire they don't have in stock and their tire warranty was pretty painless. It's been a few years since I bought there, but I'd go back. Plus they'll fill your tires with Nitrogen now!
Discount - they say they'll match Costco's price and they seem to have picked up where Les Schwab left off in the customer service department. Tire selection seems to vary widely between stores, but I think they can get most anything you want.
WalMart - Lots of people use them to get price quotes and then get the quote matched elsewhere on MTRs. That's all I know.
Good Year - Great tires and pretty good support/service. Prices to match
4 Wheel Parts - Good selection of tires, prices seem to be ok to a little high, but they offer a 'no questions asked' warranty. Some people have reported problems trying to redeem the warranty, but my luck has been good.

I think my next set of new tires will probably be mail ordered, then I'll pay a local shop $12 a piece to mount and balance them.

 

[Landpimp]

Ah so your on Braindead Island come awn down sometime. Nothing for sale but land (but not Cruisers) well maybe a 65 fj40, a parts 67 fj40 and "maybe" a fj45LV. There has been a huge influx of fj40's/60's in town recently.........wonder why?

I like Discount Tire, they are great guys, best prices, great service.

True about Les Schawb, they say every tire but theirs are junk..........really pissed me off. Also they wanted almost $100 to swap some tires inside out(blackwall out), Discount would do it for almost nothing.

adding a leaf means talking the springs off and pulling the packs apart and adding the leaf, kinda a PITA.

If it were me I would go with 33x10.5's on your 40, they will work great for your use and fit for sure, drive alot better then a 33x12.5, but they only come in a BFG MT however. I wish I had done those on my 45, the 35s look cool and drive OK but they are really too big. I think the 12.5's might rub on the rear fenders with your set up(which is the same as on my green 82 fj40)

oh and turn your bezel around......its upside down

can't help it......

Awesome, thanks for all of the tips. You live close to me landpimp, do you have anything for sale? I'm impressed by all your pictures. I am going to go ahead and put the 33's on there, should look great, I took it to les schwab, but they said they wouldn't fit, I'll give it a shot. How hard is it to add an extra leaf landpimp?

 

[bad_religion_au]

just do it you nancy, i'm runnin 33 x 12.5's on my 40, with no lift, and saggy rear springs.

yes i trimmed a little, but you said you had a lift didn't you?

 

[skyshark186]

I just put 33x12.5 ssrs on mine yesterday. Uhhh....it went from being a bald tired box, to looking like it might eat you if you look at it wrong. It looookkkkkssss badddd assss now. Ill attempt to post a before and after shot for ya.

 

[sandcruiser]

<snip> Plus they'll fill your tires with Nitrogen now!

Air is already 80% nitrogen... how much of a difference does that 20% make?

 

[fj40charles]

Air is already 80% nitrogen... how much of a difference does that 20% make?

Probably not enough to make a difference unless you're competing. Nitrogen does not expand when it when the tires get warm so you have the same pressure.

Costwise.. nitrogen is not expensive to buy.

 

[Chase77]

How bout selling the OME springs to get HFS or SJ 4"? There are plenty of people who only want a little lift and will you ever really be happy with 33's? Much more work than goin with the 33's but probably worth it if your heart is set on 35's.

 

[e rock]

Air is already 80% nitrogen... how much of a difference does that 20% make?

I couldn't find the 'tongue in cheek' smiley for that one. I was just at Costco the other day and they were trying to promote the benefits of using Nitrogen, but I don't remember much except the 'less pressure change due to temperature' point.

Short answer: not much that I can tell. After a week, mine would be mostly CO2 anyway...