Jon And Sheri's Vitamin D Wagon

[Turdle]

I am also building a "Lt.Jim" console extension-cb mount-switch plate thingy like this

The wooden parts are cut and pre drilled. I made it from maple which was going to be a bread box before I got burned out on the project.

I plan on covering it with gray vinyl

 

[Dan Whitaker]

we have to get you over to walmart and get a usb card reader , cause,,:ttiwwp:

Word.

 

[Maniak]

Word.

Here.. should work for him (I don't know which kind of card his camera has).. and its in his price range
$3 shipped. takes a couple weeks to get as it comes from over seas..

http://www.meritline.com/usb-memory-card-reader-blue-816---p-36152.aspx

Soo.. no more excuses. we need pics..


~Mark

 

[Turdle]

http://www.quadratec.com/products/16311_5110.htm

Will these work? I found them looking for OME springs.

 

[IZwack]

Probably not - too soft for the weight of the vehicle. Just to put things into perspective, YJ springs are a popular swap for Suzuki Samurais.

EDIT - the leaf spring you are looking for is "OME-36" (Old Man Emu).

 

[Burns]

Ah thanks for building one of these and posting it up. I have to get the cb in the explorer before uwharrie.

 

[SVO42]

FYI, I'm using 4" front lift leaf springs for a full size Jeep for my SAS. The SJ series (Waggys, J-trucks) weigh just a bit more than an Explorer and could be a possibility. Check all the measurements of your rear springs and contact BJ's Offroad (http://www.bjsoffroad.com) once you have the measurements. They are very cool people. They're into FSJs and started their business. Their stuff is also made in the USA! One of their lift spring sets for an FSJ might work for you vs. AALs or shackles.

 

[Turdle]

Probably not - too soft for the weight of the vehicle. Just to put things into perspective, YJ springs are a popular swap for Suzuki Samurais.

EDIT - the leaf spring you are looking for is "OME-36" (Old Man Emu).

Thanks IZ

 

[Turdle]

Going in for the radius arm swap today.

So I have the front axle at full--or as far as it will go droop and the panhard (trac) bar is limiting, but the springs are unloaded and loose.

 

[crazyflights]

Pics of flex soon thanks!!!

 

[Turdle]

Pics of flex soon thanks!!!

Gonna be a minute

I have it all dis assembled now finally, but I do have a few questions

First, should I use 4 degree c bushings?

And 2nd question. In the form of some info--
I have what I will call coil spring isolators at the top of the coil springs. There is what looks like a tube going down the center of the spring to guide it back under full droop. The springs are not "attached" at the top but merely float on these isolator "donuts"

Kind of like this. See the top of the coil spring?

They are constructed of metal inside and then rubberized I assume, however all my rubber is about gone.

They look like this but I have no idea which application to get.

 

[Burns]

Ah so you want your coil to fall away and then be able to come back during stuff?

 

[Turdle]

Ah so you want your coil to fall away and then be able to come back during stuff?

Yeah. That is how it is set up.

Well, lack of prior planning has me in a pickle. I need new c bushings. I was counting on using the present ones but no they aren;t in as good of shape as I thought.

So, I need to order them before I can assemble the arms and measure for shock length. Bad weekend for needing parts.

Summit says estimated ship date of 6-10-2010 for them. Bummer

Orielly has em on back order. bummer bummer

Looks like i have to wait until tuesday for an answer.

Edit
Found 2 sets at a place about 2 hours away, and they are open tomorrow!! I am thinking of driving up for them and some other things.

 

[tdavis]

Those spring buckets remind me of Jeep TJ buckets..

 

[Turdle]

Looking for the coil spring insulators.

After searching all I can come up with is this may be a Jeep Wrangler type coil insulator

The rubber is worn pretty badly but from what I can tell the inner diameter is approx 2"
the outer is well over 4.5"

thickness is about 1/2"

Can anyone confirm this is indeed a "tj" part and from which year group?

 

[Turdle]

Those spring buckets remind me of Jeep TJ buckets..

HA ha I was searching and hit post without checking my thread first--you answered as I asked-

Thanks Tom

 

[Turdle]

I got the upper and lower coil buckets, the radius arm clamps and coil springs blasted and coated today.

 

[Turdle]

I went to LMC truck today. That place is awesome!!

They had everything in stock. Didja know they have brand new B2 gas tanks for 120 bux?

 

[Turdle]

Ok
I just about have the courage to chop off the trac bar mounts and address the steering now. I have the parts but I do realize I don't have the skills to weld the new ones back on

Thankfully Joe needs some things powder coated and said he'd take a look at it

 

[Turdle]

Just double checking before I drill.
Since my "new" radius arm brackets are a different design, moving them back is more of a deal than merely measuring back from the current holes.

So....

Following the wild horses instructions, I measured back 11 1/4" from the stock radius arm mount on the passenger side and made a mark. I used the actual radius arm pivot point as the reference. I looked over the driver side mount location and by making some side to side measurements, determined the old bracket was mounted pretty "square".
I then double checked the length of the new arms to verify they are 11 1/4" longer than stock arms. Good to go there.



So, I went back to the passenger side mark I made earlier and measured back to the leaf spring mount, then made a measurement to the eye. To the mount I measured 37 3/8".

I then went to the driver side and made a mark 37 3/8" ahead of the driver side leaf spring mount. I then verified this mark was the same distance to the eye also. I hope this is the proper way to get the new radius arm brackets mounted square.