SOA lift vs 4" spring/shackle lift. Which is best???

[King Kong]

Ok Mud gang,
I picked up a 78 FJ40 with zero rust. It was a basket case project that someone had torn down and gave up on about 8 years ago. The 2F and hard top were sold by a nephew short on cash a few years ago unfortunately.

Barn find 1978 Freeborn Red FJ40! man I am excited!

Anyhow, I am in the process of planning out how to piece things back together.
There is already a 4" lift bolted on to the frame/axles. Would an SOA lift ride and drive better than a SUA lift? Advantages and disadvantages?

I already have two axles set up and ready for a SOA from another project that I could easily swap over.

Pics later.......

Thanks!

 

[lcwizard]

It does no good to surf opinions on a forum. Their are devotee's on both sides. Find a local club and visit a meeting. Most cruiser owners are dying to show off their rides. They'll even find a place for you on a ride along. Look at the work and cost in both and make an decision based on what your plans for this are.
Remember, in most cases, the more stock a cruiser is the higher the resale so if you aren't certain you're keeping this for a spell make as many modifications as possible reversible

 

[King Kong]

Good advice. Thanks LCW.

 

[shelfboy1]

i did my first soa 35 years ago and drove that truck for 35 years also had other 40,s with spring lifts for dds and i liked them all .gonna be a tough choice figure out what your going to do with the truck for the time you own it and go from there.good luck

 

[Mud dawg]

Hello: my two cents. I have a 40 that had an sua 4" spring lift. I hated the stiff ride from the stiff springs I had from man a fre. I recently changed to a soa and the ride is 150% better. Flex is also better but I feel a little less stable due to the added 2". I would not go back to the sua unless I was going back to stock ride and height. Ed

 

[Fast Eddy]

Would an SOA lift ride and drive better than a SUA lift? Advantages and disadvantages?

SOA is going to ride better but it's bound to be very tall unless you really work at making it not tall. 6-7" lift is likely. You're going to run into all kinds of issues you haven't thought of yet, like longer brake lines and new drive shafts.

For a barn find, I would tend to keep it stockish. A soft 2" lift is possible. Alcan springs can be made to your specs. Learn about spring rates.

It depends a lot on what you plan to do with the rig.

 

[reddingcruiser]

An SOA using stock springs will get you a softer for essentially the same lift as 4" springs. BUT, this is truly a personal choice thing. I agree with lcwizard, if you have never ridden in or driven an SOA FJ40, find a way. It is definitely different.

Wider axles and/or tires and wheels will improve the off road stability. If you like the ride of an SOA rig you'll just need to figure how much $$$$ you want to throw at the project.

 

[brew8]

Keep the four inch, add some bigger tires, fix the other stuff, drive it a while you might be fine with it

 

[King Kong]

Well, I can always go SOA later I guess....

SUA is the cheaper way to go for now and I can throw the spare $$ at the bodywork, all new wiring, new brake lines, fuel lines,, custom bumpers, roll cage, seats, top, glass, gauges, wheels, tires, winch, etc. etc. etc.

Still contemplating the SOA though......I already have two disc brake axles prepped. I will post up the decision later.

HOLY ......

 

[DSRTRDR]

it depends on whether you wanted the 40 primarily for driving or for wrenching - way less wrenching involved in an SUA lift

 

[jstncse]

The ride and flex are waaaaaaayyyyyyyyy better with a SOA.
Body roll is a bit worse but that is the reason the flex is so much better.

 

[hairy_apple]

Mine is SOA and I love it. Yeah, it's tall, but I don't find it handles that bad. Actually, I think it handles pretty good for what it is. The ride is awesome. WAY better then my wifes pickup with lift springs. Night and day in ride quality.

 

[lrowe_csp]

SOA and 2.5 OME Dakar springs

The ride and flex are waaaaaaayyyyyyyyy better with a SOA.
Body roll is a bit worse but that is the reason the flex is so much better.

I think Jstncse nailed that pretty well! Ride is much better with SOA.

 

[Mud dawg]

If you do go the sua lift way, make sure you save your stock springs (if you still have them and they are in good shape). You will want them for the soa if you go that way later. I only had my 4" lift springs so I had to buy new close to stock height springs. Ed

 

[lcwizard]

There is only one "soft rate" lift spring for the 40 I'm aware of. That would be the Mohaves that Man-a-fre sells.
For a comparison the spring rate is as follows

Dakar front : 350 lbs per inch
Rancho front: 391 lbs per inch
Mohave front 225 lbs per inch

Daker rear 300/450 lbs/inch ( two stage, second number is the overload )
Rancho rear 290 lbs/inch
Mohave rear 170 lbs/inch or 205 with the optional extra leaf

The trade off for soft springs is load carrying capacity. If you want to drive the outback with 50 extra gallons of fuel and 1000 lbs of gear then the Dakar would suit that better. I can't find any reason why most if not all of the major spring builders are making the 40 springs with as much as a 50 percent higher spring rate than the 60 springs. Dakar 60 springs have a 220 lb/in in front and a 247 lb rear.
Unfortunately somebody back in the 70's decided FJ40's should ride like a rock and every mfg followed that recipe until the Mohave spring. I remember a 4" spring by Burbank in the late 70's that had a rate over 500 lbs/in. Your rear spring perches would break off before you'd hit bump stops.
If you want a good 4" or better lift start calling it a "system". A SOA is a system as is a proper 4" SUA.
Both involve more than just slapping on 4" springs four shackles and shocks. The Mohave 4" requires
a shackle reversal, front driveshaft mods, brake lines and in my opinion, as with all 4" or better lifts,
a cut and turn. You can forego the cut and turn but you'll limit your droop. Because a SOA lift starts at 6" the cut and turn is necessary. The front U-joint simply doesn't do well at more than 27 degrees of angle.

 

[camcruiser13]

Soa baby

 

[pbgbottle]

X2 you'll love it .

Soa baby

 

[King Kong]

After much thought and debate, I have the SOA conversion underway........... Will post pic's later. Now to find some stock springs that dont cost $600.

KK.

 

[pbgbottle]

good choice

 

[DDUBLU]

Kevin, nice to meet you tonight, hope the quarters work out well. Good luck with the hunt for springs, and the work. Anxious to see how it goes for you. If I decide to keep mine the way it is, I may sell you my stock springs.