The 60 gets a lift!

[AKcruiserfreak]

After about a year of owning this 60, I finally bit the bullet and bought a OME medium/heavy lift with anti-inversion shackles and the works from IPOR. All I've got to say is that I am sooo glad I did. This thing handles way better and no longer rattles my teeth out over bumps. I also installed an older set of BFG 33x10.5's.
The main reasons I did the lift was because my rear springs were 1" away from the bumpstops and I had the original shocks, bushings, and steering stabilzer. Needless to say they were all wore out.
The only hiccups in the installation were the removal of front steering stabilizer that I ended up spending half on hour beating on until it finally came free, and the need to burn out the old bushings on the rear springs. The latter did not make my wife happy as we have an attached garage and the smell was quite potent. Other than that, it was an easy Saturday project.

Anyways, I know all y'all care about are pics, so here they are.
The first is obviously the "before" shot the rest are after.

TK

 

[AKcruiserfreak]

One more just for kicks and giggles! Next on the list is lights-lots of lights!

 

[alkarich]

Looks great! What an improvement!

 

[plumcrazy]

Looks awesome i cant wait until i get some cash and can get it done what an improvement, mine is riding rough as well still has the oringal shocks haha.....Is that just black paint on the bottom or is it rhino lined?

 

[legion]

It does my heart good to see that this 60 went to such a good home ! All the changes you've made to it look great and you're right... it needed suspenders more than anything else. The rest is just little piddly stuff.

Thanks for the update and my best to you and your family !

 

[wengejor]

Ahh, It's great to have new suspension isn't it...it's like a real truck now.

Truck looks great.

 

[Spike Strip]

What's that cord for in the top pic ? You got one-a-them-there electric vehicles ??

 

[Branch]

Block heater i bet.

 

[AKcruiserfreak]

Thanks for the compliments! It definitely looks like a "real" Cruiser now. I came close to going SOA, but after doing some research, I just couldn't justify doing it to a rig that sees more asphalt and gravel roads than anything else,plus I'd still be on old springs and bushings. I'm really happy with how it turned out.
With the lift and tires I have close to 6" of lift, which is quite a bit more than expected, but it still (barely) fits in the garage. Stinkbug isn't bad either, and it has no "lean" at all.
I Herculined the bottom of the 60 a while back after sanding off some surface rust. It seems to be holding up well.
The best by-product of the lift and tires has to be the lower RPM's a highway speeds. I'm right at 2200 RPM now as opposed to 3K with the little tires. I just have to correct the speedo in the near future to match up with the GPS.

 

[AKcruiserfreak]

The extension cord runs a block heater, battery tender, oil pan heater, interior heater, and tranny heater.
It gets a little cold here from time to time.

TK

 

[kling-on]

Clean lookin ride ... As for light look at HID's a pair will do as much as 4 or more lights

 

[vipergrhd]

you forgot

The extension cord runs a block heater, battery tender, oil pan heater, interior heater, and tranny heater.
It gets a little cold here from time to time.

TK

something to add on your list,i think you could use some butt warmers during the cold months.nice rig you got and excellent job aswell. time to get it muddy.

John

 

[RogueBetty]

I almost didn't click this thread only because I knew I would be jealous. Looks wicked!!! Great job as for the bad smell could be worse try brewing beer in the house more than once a month!!

 

[AKcruiserfreak]

I almost didn't click this thread only because I knew I would be jealous. Looks wicked!!! Great job as for the bad smell could be worse try brewing beer in the house more than once a month!!

Ha! I had the same problem When I saw other people's posts on their lifts. Just think, the longer you have your stock springs, the more you will appreciate a new lift. Just be thankful you don't have to spend as extra $400 just to ship it!
I have no idea what beer brewing smells like, but you would have a hard time convincing my wife anything is worse than the smell of burning rubber.

 

[fjatl]

I had a similar situation with springs and as you said the results after adding the OME's makes a WORLD of difference...great job, it looks awesome! (I now have to pick my 4 year old to get in the truck!)

I thought it was cold in Atlanta this morning at 27 degrees, but I'll shut up about it now...looks colder there!

 

[legion]

I thought it was cold in Atlanta this morning at 27 degrees, but I'll shut up about it now...looks colder there!

This is a pic from last winter. Fluke digital meter reading *f.

Ballpark: 82 degrees cooler.

 

[fjatl]

This is a pic from last winter. Fluke digital meter reading *f.

Ballpark: 82 degrees cooler.

 

[GLTHFJ60]

The extension cord runs a block heater, battery tender, oil pan heater, interior heater, and tranny heater.
It gets a little cold here from time to time.

TK

How do you have that all wired up? I'd like to know.

 

[legion]

Just be thankful you don't have to spend as extra $400 just to ship it!

Oh ho, man. You need to meet Alaska45. I just picked up a full set of OME suspension from him, some lights and other goodies and the cost to get it here was closer to a quarter of that. Bummer, T.

He's also an ARB, distr, etc. Good guy, sharp, low overhead, knows freight, knows cruisers inside and out, etc. He's on this board and definitely worth giving a shout for any of the Alaska guys looking to cut a deal on parts. Highly recommended.

 

[AKcruiserfreak]

I run everything into a four-way box. The male end of the cord runs out of the "hand crank" hole out the front of the 60. It's really the best way to hook up all your gagets. I run the interior heater off of a splitter when needed. Not sure how many total amps it pulls when it's plugged in, but the cord never gets hot even with the interior heater plugged in.
Woke up today and it was 28 degrees above zero outside, so I didn't have to plug it in to go to church!

Also for kicks and grins, here's a pic of the daily drivers. Total poser shot I know.