My fellow cruisers, I have some questions...

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B

boost addict

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I've looked in the FAQ, I've read hours and hours on this site and it's come down to asking some direct questions of my all-knowing friends here on the site.

I'm in the middle of restoring my '79 (jan) FJ40. It will be a V8 conversion (LT-1), driven mainly on the street, and needs to be safe for my wife to drive with the kids. The frame is about ready to go to the powdercoaters but I need to get the steering situation straight before I do. I talked to Bob at TPI for quite some time today. He recommended his saginaw kit. I'm not sure as the mounting bracket for the box is cast and has no reinforcement provisions for the frame. My question is, who has the absolute best saginaw conversion (keep in mind I'm doing an LT-1/4L60e swap). If money wasn't an object, cut through the crap...just who do I need to order a saginaw conversion from?

Next question, after talking to Bob and expressing my desire to run 33's, possibly 35's I was told that the OME-Dakar 2.5" lift wouldn't be sufficient for even 33's. He recommended TPI's 4" lift. I was under the impression that the OME was the best riding lift out there after researching this site, but he says the TPI 4" lift will even be better for the highly limited wheeling and 99% street duty my FJ will see. Is this true to those of you have been in the real world of cruisers more than I and have no profit motive? lol

I've got to make these decisions rather quickly, especially on the steering as I have to finish welding before powdercoat. Any help you guys could give specific to my situation would be greatly appreciated.

TIA!!!
 
Get the plates like BTB has. There was someone on here that was selling the plates, but I don't remember who it was. Maybe they will chime in when they see this thread.
Stear clear (pun) :) of the cast ones...............
 
boost addict said:
...needs to be safe for my wife to drive with the kids... my desire to run 33's, possibly 35's I was told that the OME-Dakar 2.5" lift wouldn't be sufficient for even 33's. He recommended TPI's 4" lift.
Click to expand...

A '40 with 250+hp a 4" lift and 35s would not be "safe for my wife to drive with the kids". What happens if she blows a front tire at 75mph on the freeway?

You asked, so I recommend you run 31s at stock height, or get the 4" lift, 35s and get her a nice '97 fjz80.

Edit: I see your big list of cars. They'd be ok driving it around town every now and then. Check out 34x10.5 TSL Radials. Best look going, IMO.
 
llih said:
Mark has a nice kit. It is pretty complete. I was more than happy with it. Check out Mark's Offroad. He is a regular on this site and at Pirate.

http://marksoffroad.net/ I have also heard good things about Kurts Kit .


http://cruiseroutfitters.com/suspension.html
Click to expand...

Thanks for the plug. Here's the straight dope. Cast bracket is sold by TPI, Downey and Advanced Adapters. Like you said, no bolt-thru provisions. There is also a thread in this forum where someone has posted a picture of one that tore out of the frame. Pin Head has explained some of the metalurgical problems with welding the bracket. I used to sell it; I don't any more.

The OTHER bracket, the steel plate one, is available many places. The first place I saw one offered was BTB, but I know there are many others now. I sell them too. Poser and Orangefj45 on this board also sell them. IIRC, we're all around the same price of ~$60-65. These are easier to place, easier to weld, and have two bolts that go thru the framerail.

My advise, just buy and mount the plate now. Cut your hole for your power steering and then you can send your frame out to powdercoat. You can do the research for the 'rest' of your kit at your convenience. Buying this plate should not affect your purchase of the remaining parts you need with most vendors.

Best

Mark A.
 
numtel said:
I have 2.5" rancho springs in the rear and 2.5" skyjackers in the front and fit 34" tires no problem. You don't need the 4" kit.
Click to expand...

I'm running 2.5" Rancho springs front and rear, with 33" tires. I had to put 3" over stock shackles in the rear to keep from rubbing during corning and hitting bumps. I consider this amount of lift to be "adequate" and the bare minimum for off-roading.

Note, however, in my case, I'm running 12.5" wide tires with uncut wheelwells. If you are running a narrower tire, like 10" or 10.5", then no problem. Tire width is a major factor.
 
You guys are great. I just didn't like the idea of a cast plate....especially welded.

Mark, I'll probably give you a call today and get that plate coming. I'll have some more questions for you, too. Thanks for chiming in!

Fast Eddy, As for this being safe to drive for the wife and kids, I'm not too worried about her handling it. But I greatly, greatly appreciate your words of caution. BTW, I offered a new '06 Landcruiser....and instead she traded the Passat for a Cadillac Escalade. Now that's truly a car I hate. lol There is a lady here driving a '97 fjz80 that I'm in love with. Looks like the day it left the showroom, not a scratch on it. Someday I'm gonna catch her and see if I can't pick that one up. It's my favorite body style other than the fj40.

Thanks again guys!
 
Poser on here sells the Saginaw plates. If you are only looking to fit 33"s I would go with the OME as it would give a better ride considering that it will be used mostly on the street.
 
Q, fast eddy: A '40 with 250+hp a 4" lift and 35s would not be "safe for my wife to drive with the kids". What happens if she blows a front tire at 75mph on the freeway?

then i guess he'll need a real good cage and a real good restraint system.
 
My PO put on the TPI 4" and I have no complaints. I have no experience w/ the cast plates... but hell... I'd trust Mark and Poser over many many.

good luck
Scott
 
2.5 inch lift 33 no prob, a little rub but since itll see more street your fine.

cruiserotfitters for all you ps needs.
 
I ran 33x12.50's with a skyjacker 2.5 inch without any issues. I have longer shackles now for a little more clearance, but it was fine before. I also have the cast saginaw plate downey sells. I haven't had any issues, and my rig doesn't get wheeled very hard, but after all I have read I do wish I had used the other style plate just in case. I used this style because I was in the middle of a frame off resto, and needed to mount the plate without the rest of the steering on the truck. The truck was just a frame when I welded it on and made the hole in the crossmember, and the flat plate on the top made it easy to position it. One other thing that wasn't mentioned about this style plate is the mounting bolts. They have to be installed into the plate before you weld it on. They become captive. I recall it being a real pain to tighten the box to the plate.
 
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