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Post by Busted Knuckle Racing on May 8, 2006 17:02:42 GMT -5
And so it begins, phase III of the Project YJ...
I have located some XJ springs and will be going spring over in the rear and stretching the WB about 6.5 inches. I need thoughts and ideas on traction bars, shock mounting location, gas tank relocation, etc. I plan to take it one step at a time, but when I finish the rear, I want to do a shackle reversal with buggy springs on the front, stretching it out maybe 2" or until the steering box would have to be relocated. (I think I can get 2" out of it with the steering setup I have with the D44 without having to move the steering box.) First question, I assume the xj springs soa will net me about 5.5" of lift since they are pretty much flat. What kind of shackle angle should I be looking for? what provides the best ratio of compresion to droop? I know that the xj springs are 52.5" long and have an offset pin of 23.5 and 29". What kind of info can you guys give me? Suggestions, criticism, flaming, whatever... Of course there will be pics and such to come...
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Post by broncocraigellis on May 10, 2006 0:39:13 GMT -5
www.universityofjeep.ca/stretching_yj.html check this site out. you may have seen it already, but it has some good info. i got the idea for my dakota springs from this site. so you're SOA in rear and SUA in front when it's all done? you didn't mention going SOA on the front so i assumed you are gonna stay SUA. i guess you'd have better stability that way and with the buggy leaf you'd have plenty of travel. looking forward to pics
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Post by rsmith on May 10, 2006 9:43:52 GMT -5
Brad this is exciting! I knew the YJ would continue to grow since the first time I saw it. Why don't you throw some 78-79 F250 axles under while you have all of that stuff loose?
I have some issues with a shackle reversal especially in rockcrawling. I had that on my Bronco when it first debuted. It was so aggravating that I changed it back to the front. Here is why:
1. The shackle hanging in the rear of the spring hangs up on everything. It you try to back up off of a rock, instead of sliding on the frame down the leaf spring you are just stuck when that shackle digs into the rock.
2. When your axle flexes the rotation is going to be more apt to pull your yoke away from the transfer case thus resulting in separating your driveshaft (voice of experience). You will have to design a driveshaft with an extreme amount to travel. I have seen some make shafts out of square tubing to fix this problem. It is kind of like a drive shaft on a tractor implement. On the other hand, the flex with shackle reversal will move the tires forward rather than back in extreme trail riding. However, I cannot see this as an advantage that out weighs the other problems.
I certainly don't mean to be discouraging, but I just wanted to let you know what my experience was with shackle reversals - I will never do it again. If I remember correctly JWP tried to tell me the same thing and I didn't listen. I ended up eating my crow.
I have used F150 rear springs before with 7" offset pins and they worked good. The junkyard is full of them. Haven't used anythong else so i guess I can't relaly give a fair judge of anything else.
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Post by Busted Knuckle Racing on May 10, 2006 12:10:59 GMT -5
www.universityofjeep.ca/stretching_yj.html check this site out. you may have seen it already, but it has some good info. i got the idea for my dakota springs from this site. so you're SOA in rear and SUA in front when it's all done? you didn't mention going SOA on the front so i assumed you are gonna stay SUA. i guess you'd have better stability that way and with the buggy leaf you'd have plenty of travel. looking forward to pics yeah, I really don't want to have to deal with the steering issues by going soa in the front. The buggy leaf and srs idea is still being thrown around. I am not too concerned about the front right now. I will tackle that after I get the rear done. If I get the rear done and like it, I may not do anything to the front. I have a decent amount of travel up front now. I could still stretch it about an inch by just redrilling the center pin hole in the axle tube and not have to do a thing to the steering or other components. Actually, an 1-1/4" to have the steering geometry back to stock. The drag link used to connect on the front of the tie rod on the D30. on the waggy axle, with the tierod on top of the knuckle, the draglink comes in the back and so it is actually crossed over the tierod right now (stock yj pitman arm). the tierod is 1-1/4" diameter, so that is where that measurement comes from. I got to looking on BTF after I posted my plans here and they have a really trick bumper set up that is made to accept waggy springs. it is a little pricey but I may could copy the design myself...  Does anybody see a problem with totally removing the two most rear body mounts? that is what Blue Torch does... I am thinking maybe you could remove them and then tie the rear of the cage in to the frame with some sort of bushing to take their place... okay, my head hurts  |
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Post by rsmith on May 10, 2006 13:19:55 GMT -5
That rear bumper idea is sweet!! I think that is an awesome idea. I would do exactly like you said and tie the cage into the frame somehow on those back bushings.
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Post by broncocraigellis on May 10, 2006 14:02:42 GMT -5
i agree too. that would be really cool and i've seen a bunch of people do just what you're talking about to fit the xj springs.
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Post by Busted Knuckle Racing on May 10, 2006 15:49:29 GMT -5
so who has suggestions on fuel tank relocation? Fuel cells are so expensive... I am thinking about trying to raise my stock tank and keep it in the stock location. I have a 2" BL so I have that much to play with before I start cutting floor but I am skeptical that that will be enough. although this guy didn't even move his on this cj.. does a yj tank hang lower than a cj?  |
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Post by JWP on May 10, 2006 16:12:31 GMT -5
you will need to pay particular attention to axle wrap on this project. I have ridden with a couple of those blue torch guys with this spring set up and they had issues even with traction bars.
The only traction bar system that works well in the rear and does not restrict flex much is the one that I call the Sam Patton design. It is the y link design the has a pivot at the front. I had one on my jeep before I went to coils.
My advise on the tank is bite the bullet and get a fuel cell. you will never be satisfied with moving or modifying a stock tank to try and do what you want to do.
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Post by Busted Knuckle Racing on May 10, 2006 16:20:53 GMT -5
I plan to find another set of xj springs and cut the eye off the main leaf and add it under the main leaf to stiffen them up a tad if needed, along with a traction bar. Jason, is the design you are talking about like this:  that is kinda what I had in mind... |
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Post by rsmith on May 10, 2006 16:51:17 GMT -5
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Post by broncocraigellis on May 10, 2006 20:15:25 GMT -5
just try relocating it up tight with the body since you have the body lift first. that would save a lot of work and headaches i think. rob, that cell looks nice.
my bronco has a bad case of axlewrap with the offset dakota springs, but i'm gonna run it without a traction bar till it breaks a u-joint.
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Post by mississippi_xj on May 11, 2006 8:24:00 GMT -5
do a search on the petersons site. They have a really good article on building your own "custom" anti-wrap style packs....
............
googled it and could find it still.....
anyway... just add a main leaf to the bottom and then add a half leaf to the back half of the pack (on top) as I recall.. might be something to look at as far as your axle wrap issue.....
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Post by rccolacc on May 11, 2006 13:00:37 GMT -5
I plan to find another set of xj springs and cut the eye off the main leaf and add it under the main leaf to stiffen them up a tad if needed, along with a traction bar. Darn. Clint just threw his XJ spring packs away. They were missing the main eye (we had to cut it off to get the bolt out). I think he got $2 for it in metal scrap though... Who woulda thought they were worth something.... -RC |
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Post by Busted Knuckle Racing on May 11, 2006 13:26:53 GMT -5
yeah, I would have give him $2.50  |
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Post by Busted Knuckle Racing on May 13, 2006 10:19:09 GMT -5
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