Well I traded a 71 scamp for a 1981 fj60 with 4" SUA lift springs and a 383 chevy stroker motor last month. I drove it on a couple of wheeling trips and while it has tons of power can't get any of it to the ground with my worn 32" bfg a/t and stiff suspension. Probably would have been an OK wheeler with some decent 33's and a locker but I figured why not pull out the lift, SOA with 63" chevy's and throw in some 37's Got the rear mostly done today so thought I'd post some pics. Its not all finished in the rear but the springs are in and I can drive it out of the garage.
Maxed out the hi lift jack on rear driver bumper frame rail and neither tire was close to coming off the ground (32" tires).
Give an idea of just how much longer these are over stock
Double shackle setup, going to try to make the upper shackle longer to improve my shackle angle without adding anymore lift or relocating hanger
Sorry for bad pics but was raining hard and near dark. Gained 4" of lift over the lift springs so approx 8" over stock. Not sure for articulation yet but the axle drop is amazing compared to those stiff lift springs. So far I've managed to do the rear for less than $100 including the springs hardware, grinding/cutoff wheels and the steel I bought for front hangers/shackles(didn't use either yet) Still have to get new shocks a longer flexible brake line, I may end up needing to building some sort of anti-wrap and figure out how to keep my double shackle from reversing itself when not loaded(i.e jump). Few things I'd do different next time, buy new U bolts what a PIMA those were to get off and back on, Build perch mounts rather than removing and remounting. I think if we would have gone that route we would have been able to finish the rear in a day including all the fab work. As it were, took 2 of us 2 full days and 1, 3 hour day. (about 3 hours per perchmount and probably 6 total removing and installing the u bolts(even with new nuts) 15 years of scraping across the trail).
After the couple things to finish on the rear its on to the front for a SOA with stock springs(probably add 1 leaf out of the lifts) and a lift block made from the MASSIVE overload on the chevys. CNT for the front axle, rebuild hubs and some sort of highsteer(not certain what yet). Should have my new poly bushings on friday so start saturday. I'll try to get some better pics aswell. Thanks for all the info ya'll got on here.
Dan
Maxed out the hi lift jack on rear driver bumper frame rail and neither tire was close to coming off the ground (32" tires).
Give an idea of just how much longer these are over stock
Double shackle setup, going to try to make the upper shackle longer to improve my shackle angle without adding anymore lift or relocating hanger
Sorry for bad pics but was raining hard and near dark. Gained 4" of lift over the lift springs so approx 8" over stock. Not sure for articulation yet but the axle drop is amazing compared to those stiff lift springs. So far I've managed to do the rear for less than $100 including the springs hardware, grinding/cutoff wheels and the steel I bought for front hangers/shackles(didn't use either yet) Still have to get new shocks a longer flexible brake line, I may end up needing to building some sort of anti-wrap and figure out how to keep my double shackle from reversing itself when not loaded(i.e jump). Few things I'd do different next time, buy new U bolts what a PIMA those were to get off and back on, Build perch mounts rather than removing and remounting. I think if we would have gone that route we would have been able to finish the rear in a day including all the fab work. As it were, took 2 of us 2 full days and 1, 3 hour day. (about 3 hours per perchmount and probably 6 total removing and installing the u bolts(even with new nuts) 15 years of scraping across the trail).
After the couple things to finish on the rear its on to the front for a SOA with stock springs(probably add 1 leaf out of the lifts) and a lift block made from the MASSIVE overload on the chevys. CNT for the front axle, rebuild hubs and some sort of highsteer(not certain what yet). Should have my new poly bushings on friday so start saturday. I'll try to get some better pics aswell. Thanks for all the info ya'll got on here.
Dan
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