Jdmdavey's 84 FJ60 SOA + Chevy 63" Spring Swap

[jdmdavey]

Hey guys,
Finally decided to get going and get her modified to suit my taste..straight into SOA cut & turn, then a 63" Chevy spring swap out back! Plan on some armor and other awesome trail mods after the SOA is complete.. Would love some feedback and as always I'm open to your guys input and help!

Front Axle is out!

Starting the tear down..

Removing old worn out leaf spring bushings..

Heat the spring eye and they pop right out!

Went to mount the Ruff Stuff diff side perch and it doesn't fit the U Bolt..going to be making a call on Monday. Not happy. But decided to plasma out my own mount so I can keep going..

I'll be back with more updates soon.

 

[jdmdavey]

Cleaned up axle parts just need to sand blast and paint the knuckles.

63" Chevy Springs are ready to go.. blasted, primed and several coats of Hammerite

 

[cruisermatt]

Awesome. You will love it. What are you doing for front springs?

As for the U-bolts not fitting through the differential-side perch, they aren’t made to take a u-bolt. You’re supposed to use a 5/8” hex bolt through those. The hole spacing in that perch is 4.25”, so definitely too wide to fit a U-bolt for a 3” axle through. It’s stronger having the holes farther apart like that.

However, it doesn’t look like any of the U-bolts I got fit around my axle tubes. What about yours?

 

[jdmdavey]

Thanks cruisermatt for saving me from making that phone call ..for the ubolts..they fit ok. I think once I snug them down they should be fine. I am using the stock 60 springs up front.

Got a question for you SOA guys. I kept a little bit of my original spring perch for refrence..but it seems that I'm not lining up. The diff side mount is up against the pumpkin, have you guys had to grind out the diff side perch alot to get back to the original mounting location for the spring perches?? These are ruff stuff perches btw.

diff side..

 

[jdmdavey]

If you didnt keep a line from the old perch. What are you guys using for a reference to get the axle square left to right under the truck??

 

[jdmdavey]

I'm just going to grind the diff side perch until it lines up with the factory perch location ..

 

[jdmdavey]

Anyone have any tips here? I'd have to grind l alot of the diff side perch to line it up..

 

[jdmdavey]

My biggest worry is a misalignment and having the truck dog walk! No replies???

 

[Cruiserdrew]

Here is mine. I like a regular RuffStuff perch, ground to fit up against the differential. Then a square ubolt with bent legs to make the U-bolt on that side. Pics are not great but best I could do with my phone.

 

[jdmdavey]

Basically I need a measurement from the spring perch to the birf on each side so I can center the axle. Help!!

 

[cruisermatt]

Basically I need a measurement from the spring perch to the birf on each side so I can center the axle. Help!!

Measure the width of the sori g hangers on the frame, and the width of the axle housing using a good reference point, subtract one from the other then divide by two. Done.

 

[jdmdavey]

Great idea! Got the axle all centered up..but the bolt on the diff side perch is hitting the housing..did you have this problem?? Not loving the ruff stuff diff side perch today!

 

[jdmdavey]

Thinking about chopping one whole ear off and losing that bolt, otherwise I dont see me getting my pinion angle..ideas??

 

[Cruiserdrew]

Thinking about chopping one whole ear off and losing that bolt, otherwise I dont see me getting my pinion angle..ideas??

You may be making it too hard. Do not "chop off an ear". That's not smart. You want good support of that spring on the axle.

 

[jdmdavey]

I got it trimmed and down on the axle now things are looking great! Thanks for the help so far! Got my driveline hooked up for mock up and have my pinion set at 10°. It looks pretty good and rotates nicely with no binding.. I'll let you guys be the judge...!
Keep the input coming!

 

[FJ40Jim]

If there is a CV joint at the T-case, shouldn't the u-jt angle at the pinion be 0*?

And that d-shaft is gonna get re-tubed longer, right?

 

[jdmdavey]

It is just a factory driveline. Yes I am going to get a new longer drive line made. Was thinking of going with a double cardan
(CV shaft) to help with ground clearance. If I kept the stock driveline I would want 0° I believe..

 

[Cruiserdrew]

Looks to me like you have a "CV" drive shaft already. Just get the length sized correctly. What year is the stock truck?

Most drive shaft shops want the flange to flange distance measured very accurately. They will set up the drive line perfectly with that number.

10 degree pinion angle is fine, even more is OK. But then you will need to "cut and turn" and rotate the knuckles back for proper caster.

 

[FJ40Jim]

I assumed there was a cut-n-turn happening with a SOA and the pinion pointed up (which means losing caster angle)?

So what is the caster angle now, with pinion pointed up & knuckles uncut? Maybe zero or even negative?

 

[jdmdavey]

I'm going to cut and turn..just getting my spring perches tacked on then removing axle for cut n turn.. no worries