OME 2.5" install questions...

[DanS HJ-45]

Three more after pics. Like I said: we gained around 1.5" all around, so it isn't radical, but looks (and rides) much better.

Bull: when I get home I'll see if I can't get some pics of all the power wagons for you (there are 4 in the family ).

Next up is those 33x9.50 tires on the stock wheels....

Dan

 

[FJROSS]

Dan, what size tires are you currently running. Are you going with the 9.50 because of the stock rim width?

 

[DanS HJ-45]

The tires on there now are 30x10.50. They measure out to 29" in diameter by my tape measure.

Yes, the 33x9.50 is so we get that "tall and skinny" look with the OEM 15x5.5 wheels. Apparently nobody makes a 31 or 32 inch tire that's less than 10.50 wide. We really didn't want the tires to bulge out or bowl out on the sides.

Can't wait to get home in a week--the tires should be in then!

Dan

 

[FJROSS]

Dan, I've been looking at some vendors that sell the 2-1/2" O.M.E. along with geaseable anti-inversion shackles that are 2"over stock. From past threads that I read, it looks like I will aslo install the 4 degree front caster shims do to the 2" over stock shackles. I currently have chrome FJ60 rims that I believe are a bit wider that the stock steel rims and should handle 33x10.50s. I'm hoping the exra inch will let me run the 10.50s without rubbing. Altough do like the look of the stock steels with caps and the 33x9.50. Thanks Dave

 

[DanS HJ-45]

Well guess what came in yesterday....

Tires. BFG A/T KO 33x9.50 to be exact.




Mounted on the OEM steel wheels I painted a couple of weeks ago with DP50LF and a clear coat.

One last look at it before the chrome wagon wheels and old tires go away....

 

[DanS HJ-45]

Couple of minutes with a wrench, floor jack and some gloves.....



And here's one of it in the same exact spot...



And one of the overall look from 20 feet away. The 33x9.50s look great on there, IMHO. Not too big, not too fat, etc....

 

[DanS HJ-45]

Three quick pics for bull. The Dodge was in the way of the cruiser. I wish it would snow enough for me to go put the plow to use. It hasn't pushed a single flake this year--that's what we get for hooking it up while the weather was still warm and dry.

 

[DanS HJ-45]

But something was missing.....



Those hubcaps are tough to put onto brand new wheels! Nothing a rubber mallet wouldn't take care of though (bending the tabs just a bit)

 

[DanS HJ-45]

All done!

Took it for a quick 15 mile drive to the grocery store. Still rides nicely, definitely can tell that we got a little bit of a rubber overdrive, but it is fantastic.

Not quite as peppy going up the hills, but not as loud as it was cruising along either. The new tires feel like they are the same weight, if not lighter than the old fat tires when I pick them up, and the brakes feel the same.

It looks "right" sitting there with the tall/skinny 33's. We weren't sure if the 33 would be too big of a tire, but now that they are on--they are clear winners in my book.

Dan

 

[trucruiser]

AHHH!
Now doesnt that feel and look better?
Makes me miss my old 73

Just looks right

 

[HamanaRob]

PW pics

The lift and tires look great! I am runnig the same tires a little smaller tho. No lift yet.
As a Powerwagon owner I am breathlessly waiting for pics they look to be really well done.

 

[bsevans]

Have you re-torqued the U-bolts? They should be re-torqued 1 or 2 times after initial install. I was surprised by the stretch in my 9/16" grade 5 U-bolts.

 

[DanS HJ-45]

Have you re-torqued the U-bolts? They should be re-torqued 1 or 2 times after initial install. I was surprised by the stretch in my 9/16" grade 5 U-bolts.

Yep, they've been retightened once. I figure in another hundred miles or so I'll do it again. I think the 22mm deep well socket will live in the glove box for a little while...

Hopefully I'll have the time to get pics of the powerwagons tomorrow morning. I'm not sure if I've got good pics of all of them or not...

Dan

 

[kcustom73]

Nice work.

Those hubcaps made a huge difference in the look of those wheels (for the better).

Glad to see a good post about the OME 2.5" lift. This what I'm planning on putting on my 40 and it nice to hear good comments about it before I buy.

 

[tired80]

OME Vendor

Great work Dan, and love the 40. Where did you (or your dad) buy the OME suspension kit? I've shopped around a little, but it looks like certain vendors swap parts out at will, and I'd like to get all OME components.

Also, what do you think of the OME shackles? I trust OME/ARB quality, but the laser-cut barbell shackles from CCOT look so beefy I'm thinking about ordering them instead.

 

[FJROSS]

Great work Dan, and love the 40. Where did you (or your dad) buy the OME suspension kit? I've shopped around a little, but it looks like certain vendors swap parts out at will, and I'd like to get all OME components.

Also, what do you think of the OME shackles? I trust OME/ARB quality, but the laser-cut barbell shackles from CCOT look so beefy I'm thinking about ordering them instead.

I myself will be on the market for an .O.M.E. kit soon. I found that some suppliers like I.P.O.R and Manafre offer kits with upgrade or shall I say other manufacturers over stock height greasable anti- inversion shackles such as 4+Plus. I'm only looking to go about 2" over stock height shackle to gain about an inch of kift for 33x10.50. I guess the only thing to keep in mind, if you buy the shackles else where is that the bushing diameters and bores will still match up. I've read a few threads where people have run into a problems in this area.

Thanks Dave

 

[DanS HJ-45]

Dad bought the stuff from Classic Cruisers in Salida, CO. We've both bought stuff from Merl in the past, and he's been great to work with. They just had ARB send the stuff straight here.

I like the OME shackles. Obviously this isn't a hardcore wheeler (nor is my 45), so the idea of a beefy shackle (it's pretty thick--1/4" steel maybe) that just has a little tab on it to keep them from inverting appeals to me. It looks more original, but definitely isn't weak. That said, the CCOT barbell shackles look beefier to me as well (and they look pretty good too). We're still waiting on the front shackles to arrive (could be today even) and I'll post up some good pics of them for you.

If I was going to use taller shackles I'd probably go with something else (the OMEGS8 and OMEGS9 are the front and rear shackles provided here in our case).

Dan

 

[69 FJ40]

Do you have extended shackles with the lift? (if so can we see pics, please). Did you get a chance to flex the new springs? Any rubbing of the tires? Very nice cruiser. Cheers!

 

[DanS HJ-45]

First off: a pic of the shackle. You can see the AI tab that OME builds into it to keep it from inverting. This is the OMEGS9 shackle.


Second: we took it out to do just a bit of easy wheeling. Just wanted to see it flex, you know? It really, really did well. Way more flex than it had before. I wasn't able to get it to rub at all, from what I can see.

Here's a quick pic of it. I'm sure I could get a better picture, but we weren't out to pose it, we were out to go make it flex and stretch it's new suspension.


We turned around early because we smelled some smoke coming form under the dash, but after shutting it off, we weren't able to find the source, nor were we able to duplicate it on the entire ride home. Gonna have to do some investigating there....

Dan

 

[69 FJ40]

Thank you for the pics and info. Do you know how much longer those shackles are from stock length? Nice cruiser by the way. Cheers