|
|
Post by CORE 4WD on Aug 7, 2008 18:22:56 GMT -5
Saaaweeet!
(o ====== o)
|
|
|
|
Post by BESRK on Aug 9, 2008 19:14:41 GMT -5
The Waggy front D44 axle I have is narrowed to 54". It wasn't going to leave much room for shock mounting and the tires were rubbing the springs pretty bad at full lock. So, I moved my 2" wheel spacers from the rear axle to the front and will replace the rear axle with a Scout Dana 44 which is 58" wide. That'll even up both front/rear axle widths. I scored some Rancho RS9000 adjustable shocks off eBay. They have 12.5" of travel but are really big shocks. So, no factory mount was gonna work, I had to make a pair of shock hoops and custom mounts on the axle tubes.  Here you can see how the lower mount is also a gusset for the inner steering knuckle.. it also shows how "busy" everything is.. not much space.  Upper mount..  Flexes pretty good for a "spring under" CJ5... I'm looking for "firm flexibility" with good road manners. No slinky here...   Here's the current stance. You can definately see the difference between the front and rear widths. I'll fix that this week.  |
|
|
|
Post by 87B2XLT on Aug 9, 2008 20:40:09 GMT -5
Lookin' great, Eddie! Can't wait to see it in action ;D
Dave G
|
|
|
|
Post by BESRK on Aug 23, 2008 19:44:57 GMT -5
Okay.. got quite a bit done this weekend. I got my stuff back from the powder coater. Steering linkage is installed, front driveshaft installed, windshield frame installed, and rear Scout Dana 44 installed. Here's the 1.5"x.250" wall steering linkage. I also made a quick diff guard out of some scrap 1/4" thick steel.  High Steer.. woohoo!  Drilled out the stock hinge pin and replaced it with a stainless hitch pin so I can pull the windshield frame off in about 5 minutes..  The windshield frame really makes the Jeep look wider.  Scout D44 (58" wide flange to flange). 3.73 gears and a Detroit Locker. Drums for now.. I'll come back later and do a disk conversion using the old Dana 30 rotors.  Here's the front driveshaft installed..  Shortened the XJ CV shaft to 15.5" for the rear driveshaft.. just FYI, the tube is 2"x.120" wall.. pretty tough. I'll run this and see if it wobbles. If it does, I'll buy a new one and use this for a trail spare.  This came in the mail... my new steering box bracket. I was going to make my own but for $75.. why bother?  While messing with the rear driveline, I discovered my transfer case output shaft has too much "end play" in it. So, tomorrow I'll pull the output housing, remove a few shims and hopefully tighten it up. I'll also focus on bleeding the back brakes, getting the parking brake hooked up, filling the diffs with oil and tightening all the suspension nuts/bolts. Monday, I'll call the glass shop to come put in a windshield. Then, it's off to the muffler shop. I may try to knock out the front/rear bumpers for it this week. If I can get all that done, it should be on the road in about a week. |
|
|
|
Post by CORE 4WD on Aug 25, 2008 5:55:39 GMT -5
So all this in the name of staying "legal" at Oak Ridge? heh heh Really neat Jeep!
|
|
|
|
Post by BESRK on Aug 25, 2008 7:53:14 GMT -5
So all this in the name of staying "legal" at Oak Ridge? heh heh Really neat Jeep! Hey.. I'm a "Law Abiding Citizen"!! ;D Actually, for me it's always about the "build". I think I enjoy building as much as wheeling. Mix that with a little OC Disorder and this is the result... ;D Here's where I'm at... 15.5" Rear CV shaft..   Fairly flat belly skid..  Rear axle before.. Rear axle now...   Not bad.. fairly low/stable for a CJ5 on 4" of lift and 33s.  |
|
|
|
Post by toynrnd on Aug 25, 2008 8:09:36 GMT -5
So how did you get it so flexy? Who's lift are you using? Do you think it is mainly from the taller shock towers? Looks sweet, that's for sure.
|
|
|
|
Post by bensredyj on Aug 25, 2008 8:20:00 GMT -5
I would think its a combinations of the weight of the tires, the make of the springs, the shackle length, and the tightness of the bolts, but most of my money it on the TYRES, thoes aren't light weights HAHA
NICE 5 you've got there.
|
|
|
|
Post by JeepCJ5 on Aug 25, 2008 8:32:45 GMT -5
The wider axles seem to make a huge difference in flex. More leverage on the springs?
|
|
|
|
Post by BESRK on Aug 25, 2008 16:38:03 GMT -5
Thanks for the kind words!!
It's a Rubicon Express 4" YJ Lift. The "standard" springs.. not the "extreme duty". I've had the lift for about 3 years. Love it. Rides great and to be honest, that's the first time I've ever flexed them.. I had the lift under my other CJ5 (that I sold) and it only saw street duty while I had it. Didn't even have a front driveshaft.
The shackles are 4" eye to eye.. and the spring/shackle bolts are only cinched down enough to keep everything together. Those front shocks are 12.5" travel Rancho 9000s that I got off eBay. I just made my own shock hoops to allow about 5-6 inches of shock stickout at static ride height. That's plenty enough to keep from bottoming out during normal driving while still allowing 6-7 inches of droop. Keep in mind, that much travel at the shock gets multiplied a bit out at the tire because of the axle width. Tires are traveling about 16-17 inches.. with the engine hoist. I'll ramp it soon and force even more articulation before welding the hoops in solid. I just want to double check all front clearances before welding up the shock setup.
Yep.. those tires are pretty heavy with the steel wheels. Plus they each received about a pound of lead to balance them out.. ;D
|
|
|
|
Post by BESRK on Aug 27, 2008 16:12:04 GMT -5
|
|
|
|
Post by BESRK on Sept 1, 2008 17:40:39 GMT -5
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Sept 1, 2008 19:54:30 GMT -5
Eddie, that thing looks fantastic. I still admire your fab skills. This will be a great trail rig! See you at the annual, this time things might actually be a challenge for you!
|
|
|
|
Post by JeepCJ5 on Sept 2, 2008 6:38:08 GMT -5
Eddie, that thing looks fantastic. I still admire your fab skills. I wish Eddie was my neighbor. I'd hang out at his shop and maybe learn something. |
|
|
|
Post by BESRK on Sept 2, 2008 17:21:04 GMT -5
Eddie, that thing looks fantastic. I still admire your fab skills. I wish Eddie was my neighbor. I'd hang out at his shop and maybe learn something. You'd have to bring beer.. ;D |
|
