Project: TJ rear leaf spring conversion

[robertf03]

brett are you going to flip the leaf spring around to move the center pin back?

[bburris]

Originally posted by BMFScout
I have found out the hard way twice to wear GOGGLES not glasses when grinding underneath a vehicle. The optometrist dremel tool thing with the rotary eye drill attachment sucks...

I had glasses AND a full face mask on, so I figured I'd be ok. I wasn't. Luckily the doctor used about a bottle of those eye deadening drops so I didn't feel anything while he was drilling. Then I started realizing just how deep he went about 20 mins later while my mom and I (completely blind at this point) were eating lunch. I thought french fries and fried shrimp would be safe until I mistook three shrimp tails for a handful of fries...

Originally posted by robertf03
brett are you going to flip the leaf spring around to move the center pin back?

I'll do that eventually. I wanted near-stock wheelbase for now because to flip them would mean I would have to cut the rear fenders, which would result in the 33s looking even smaller than they do now... Damn I need some new tires.

[bburris]

Here's how the rear suspension looks. We ended up using a stock YJ shackle to get the angle right.



Here's the front with a 38.5" Gumbo Mudder next to it. The tire only measures out to about 35-36" tall, but this was for reference. The Jeep still has about 7-8" to go up since the front axle is at full coil droop.

[TXsizeK5]

Yeah, my friends 38.5x15 ground hawg is almost identical to my buddies 36x14.50 tsl rad.

What're your plans to level out the front? Coil Spacers? You should go 3/4 eliptical in the rear

[bburris]

those coils will make it sit level with the rear after the rear gets an add-a-leaf

[redcagepatrol]

amazing how fast you can do this, took Nutz how long to do his front???

[Chadnutz]

I'm not working on school days and I don't have enough money to get it on the trail until Christmas break anyway so why rush?

I have the most demanding semester so far right now. I spend at least 3 nights per week in open access labs. I have a boss that doesn't think twice about working me until 4am on a school night and I am busy from 6am-9pm almost M-Th.

Why do you even care?

[eight]

I think everyone just likes to give you **** for entertainment.

[redcagepatrol]

Originally posted by eight
I think everyone just likes to give you **** for entertainment.

Yeah, we really don't care but it's too easy to pick on you
we'll still buy you a beer for the effort

[Chadnutz]

I'm pretty sure of that.

[bburris]

Here's how the t-case came out. The 1350 flange looks really good up there.


I got my package from High Angle a couple of days ago.


Here's a comparison of the stock shaft to Jess' 1350 CV shaft.


Here's the shaft. I'm honestly not all that impressed by it. It's heavy, the packaging was OUTSTANDING, but it's just not all that impressive. It's just a driveshaft, and I honestly think most any local, reputable shop could build almost the same damned thing.


Here's the beast bolted up and ready to propel my junk.

[bburris]

Here's the axle, ready to roll under the Jeep for it's final test fitting.


axle going in


Here's the pinion angle...

[bburris]

and here's the current ride height...little taller than we expected/wanted...


and this is my reaction to the fact that it sits around 11" taller than a stock TJ... FAWK!

(chop fodder)

[bburris]

After thinking about things, I decided that the DOM I got was better suited for some homemade links, and I'll go ahead and use normal TREs for my steering.

Here's what we accomplished tonight before I got ****ty drunk...

[bburris]

These are the lower link frame brackets. They're mostly 1/4" strap stock.