McGuire's '87 FJ60 Build: SOA/ 12H-T swap (6 Viewers)

[mcguirejohnson]

What's up guys, just recently started doing a SOA setup on my 60 and thought I should share it. I still have some parts I need to order but this is the setup I am going to be running:

-Marlin crawler high steer setup (17mm pins)
-AALs on all four springs (using stock springs)
-Hydro-steer from redneck ram
-OME anti-inversion shackles stock length
-Ruff Stuff soa spring plates and u-bolts
-35in BFG km2s ( already had them on my rig for about a year)
-rebuilding front hubs
-Detroit locker in the front
- ARB front bumper with a warn m10000 winch
-rear bumper replacement with tire carrier
-man a fre sliders ( found on a wrecked cruiser )

That's about it for the main parts list, I am getting the bumpers and sliders coated in line-x because I am tired of patching them up with rattle can paint. The only parts that I still have to get is the high steer kit, the ruff-stuff kit, AALs and the shackles. I'm going to need some advise when I do the Cut and Turn on the front axle and when I get to setting up all the angles for the driveline, but I have been reading a lot of the SOA threads here on mud and I feel pretty good about doing all the work. I will post up pics as I go!

MJ

 

[mcguirejohnson]

Got the truck up on the lift ( my dads Christmas present to himself )




Tires off, getting ready to drop axles




Cutting off the old SR spring hangers




Burned them up a little bit with the torch










Had to cut and weld a plate to reinstall the stock spring hangers








Burned in




Not to bad for a 110
Mig




Working hard

 

[mcguirejohnson]

Grinding wheel action




Welding setup




About to rob the rear axle with a Detroit locker from the parts rig. We bought it off a guy from mud a couple years ago. My dads planning on doing a body swap and making it into a clean stock rig.



Here is a pic of the cruiser with the shackle reversal and 35s, I liked the setup but felt like it was time to go to the dark side and go SOA




Not afraid to get it dirty! And I'm sorry in advance for the cell phone pics, it all I can do right now.

 

[FARMAN33]

Looks like a great start! I love my SOA. Although it took awhile to get use to, I don't think I would ever go back to a spring under lift. Nice fab work!

 

[Spudman]

I saw this SOA done once on a Suzuki Sierra on Wheeler Dealers on Foxtel, it looked so simple. So I'll watch this thread with great anticipation, good luck mate

 

[mcguirejohnson]

Thanks guys, ya I'm really hoping the SOA is the ticket. I liked the SUA lift but it wasn't cutting it off-road. I am ordering my spring perches today from ruff stuff so hopefully I can start doing that soon. And it's kinda hard to get ahold of marlin crawler right now since there phones are down but I'm going to be ordering the high steer kit as soon as I can! Anyways here is some pics of the work I did last night, just in the process of taking apart and cleaning up the axles..




Taking apart the hubs
















I'm going out of town till Friday, but when I get home hopefully the spring perches will be in so that I can do the C&T. I will try to take as many pics as possible!

 

[bluehawk]

I know that you have probably done a lot of research, but keep on doing research. I asked the same question awhile back. Got a lot of different feed back. Be sure to put the weight of the vehicle back on the axles when you do your C&T. I to am doing a SOA and got my kit from RuffStuff. I also got a knuckle rebuild, knuckle gusset kit, and a rear axle rebuild kit from Marlin Crawler. Keep up the post and take lots of pictures. One question, why take off the SR??

 

[mcguirejohnson]

Thanks for the reply bluehawk, ya I know what you mean about going back and looking at other peoples threads for advise. I've been doing plenty of that lately along with researching still. And to answer your question about why I decided to take off the SR, I'd say it was more for practicality in my situation. I'm a senior in high school so it wasn't really an option for me to go out and buy some 37 in tires, beef up my axles, re gear, etc.. So ya I guess i removed them so my rig wouldn't be too tall because it seems like all the 60s that I've seen with the SR with a SOA lift have big tires, big motors, beefier axles, etc.
I think my old 2f and 5 speed are happy staying with the smaller 35 in meats haha
Mj

 

[bluehawk]

Thanks for the reply bluehawk, ya I know what you mean about going back and looking at other peoples threads for advise. I've been doing plenty of that lately along with researching still. And to answer your question about why I decided to take off the SR, I'd say it was more for practicality in my situation. I'm a senior in high school so it wasn't really an option for me to go out and buy some 37 in tires, beef up my axles, re gear, etc.. So ya I guess i removed them so my rig wouldn't be too tall because it seems like all the 60s that I've seen with the SR with a SOA lift have big tires, big motors, beefier axles, etc.
I think my old 2f and 5 speed are happy staying with the smaller 35 in meats haha
Mj

That's cool.. I hope that the engine that I am going with will help settle the front end down some. It is heavier than the 2F. Guess thats why I am doing a SR and adding a bumper and winch later on. Staying with the stock gears and 35" BFG KM2's for now. From what I have researched and been told, it puts the engine right in the sweet spot for interstate travel and works real well on the trail. Keep up the good work

 

[mcguirejohnson]

You too man I will be checking out your thread as well I like the diesel conversion stuff. Hopefully one day I can put one in my rig!

 

[Tapage]

your already have AAL in your SU with SR pic .? your spring packs looks pretty healty / hi .. so with AAL and SO it will become real tall cruiser ..

SO with flat springs it's more than enough for 35" ..

 

[Mid TN]

Getting ready to do my 60 as soon as I get a garage built. See you put a Atlas lift in, you like it? Lots of pics now!

 

[mcguirejohnson]

your already have AAL in your SU with SR pic .? your spring packs looks pretty healty / hi .. so with AAL and SO it will become real tall cruiser .. SO with flat springs it's more than enough for 35" ..

Thanks for the feedback man, ya I have a set of pretty descent 62 springs that I am going to be using for the SO and they need will need some help holding up my bumbers, sliders, winch, etc. so that's why I'm going to be going with the AALs. The springs that were in there with the SR SU setup are still good but from what I have seen searching around on other SO threads everyone tends to go with the stock spring setup that's why I am taking that route. Another thing is I can easily put the SR back on my rig if later down the road I decide to make it higher or whatever. You have a sweet rig by the way Tapage! One that I admire man!

 

[mcguirejohnson]

Getting ready to do my 60 as soon as I get a garage built. See you put a Atlas lift in, you like it? Lots of pics now!

Oh ya man the lift is a dream! It makes a world of difference when working on the truck! It's really nice being able to work on the truck without rolling around on the ground and shuffling jack stands and stuff all over the place. Definitely recommend it! I will be home Friday from North Carolina so the pics and progress will start coming back as soon as I get home! Thanks for the interest man.
Mj

 

[Tapage]

You have a sweet rig by the way Tapage! One that I admire man!

thanks ... you will tell down the road how it's been working for you ..

 

[mcguirejohnson]

Hey do you guys think it would be okay to put a Detroit locker in the front axle? I have one laying around in the shop and was curious if it only engages while in 4wd.

Mj

 

[mcguirejohnson]

 

[mcguirejohnson]

Scratch that it is an Aussie locker..

 

[slowandsteady BJ]

Scratch that it is an Aussie locker..

Aussie should be fine as long as you don't get too much snow there. Also.... with a front locker youll have to be really careful about breaking Birfs. Not much of a worry in the mud/snow but in a high traction situation the front locker will stress the Birfs.

Chromoly Birfs (Longfields or Dirty 30's) will help with that.

I'm SOA on 37's with lockers (selectable) front and rear and haven't broken a Birf since I went chromoly.

Keep up the good work.

 

[Pacer]

Hey do you guys think it would be okay to put a Detroit locker in the front axle? I have one laying around in the shop and was curious if it only engages while in 4wd.

Mj

You can, but it will drive very differently. If you need you can deselect one free wheel hub and drive around as a three wheel drive. Works, but strange still.
I'd say sure if it was a dedicated wheeler, but maybe save up for a selectable up front...

So, pops finally gets himself a lift and you go and clog it up with your junk?... Typical

Really good looking rig Mj, keep after it!