J-money build thread

[t4r4life]

That 12 ga is junk! the stock track bar mount on the axle is beefy though. thats about it...


I was set on running 63" chevy leafs out back. The local yards have piles of them for $60 a pair and ruff stuff sells a complete swap kit for $120. I was thinking this was going to be my next thing. Leafs are easy, stable and proven. and the swap would be easy. I think they are a great option for any budget build. It will only take a day and you will be wheeling again. You may have to change the shocks out and run em on top of the axle but thats no biggie. So 63 leafs are about $200
plus new shocks

I did some math and its only a little more to go to a 3 link and It fits. Its going to run me around $300-$350. Esp if i salvage the 7/8 heims all ready on my links. plus I can dial in the ride. The only fitment issue will be re routing the exhaust. thats not a main worry. Ill cut it off then worry about it once its built. Links flex like crazy. You just have to spend some time thinking about it so you dont get crazy body roll and funky things goin on. I just really like the coil sprung rear


Im trying to get the roll center higher on my design, I would like it in the 30's or high 20's but its not going to happen with the stock track bar mounts. I think ill biuld it with the stock track bar location and if I end up with too much body roll ill change that.

ya its just decisions, cuz i know the leafs are not gonna flex as well as link system, i was just gonna wait till i save a buncha money so i can do 3 link front with rock assult axle with Double Triangulated 4 Link rear with the modified stock rear axle. but i dont wanna wait that long to wheel. why cant money grow on trees!

 

[J-money$$$]

No reason for the 4 link in the back. I would but moving the gas tank is quite costly. Plus i like having my fuel gauge and the ford tank that fits has a different sender and the gauge wont rear right any more.


Hey thanks on the pics. Im gonna go run that trail on tuesday night. make it a little more interesting

 

[J-money$$$]

Finally went up hammerdown last night/afternoon.
I Know a few of my friends have made it down, But no one i know has tried it up yet. Here are a few from the gatekeeper (hardest spot)


These are big rocks

right up

out of it

Im happy with the truck. been wheeling it hard since the 35's/5.29s and its doing great

 

[MDST]

Awesome!!

That's the beauty of 35" tires je je!!

 

[mien4x4]

hey j-money its mien4x4 again sorry for the questions but im a newb on here and i was wondering how you fit the 35s under your runner?

 

[J-money$$$]

hey j-money its mien4x4 again sorry for the questions but im a newb on here and i was wondering how you fit the 35s under your runner?

Hey no worries. I will answer any questions if i can.

To get the 35's under the truck took a little work. My good friend Brian. Brian2sun on this forum documented us clearancing his truck for 35's in his build thread. I did mine the exact same way. we both have 1" body lifts.

First off you need to trim some of the front fender off. right infront of the drivers side door. Then you cut that plastic fender liner out of your way. And get a massive sledge hammer and beat the pinch weld over until the 35's no longer rub. I took the front coilovers off and used a jack with the tire on to test clearance.

The main difference between brian's and mine is that I am running 8" wide wheels with 3.75" bs (they stick off the truck much further) and he is running the stock 5 start wheels which are 7" wide and 4 5/8" bs. (these sit way inside) so brian was able to run 1.5" wheel spacers and had no issues with the uca hitting the tire. I had some major interference so i shaved my UCA's like sonoransteel.com use to do. Im just running the 1/4" pep boy spacers just to make shaving easier.

I also had to loose the wind sheild sprayer container. The rear was easy. Hacl my bumper back. extend the bump stops and that was about it

Like I said its a lot of work. Check brian2suns build for some pictures.

 

[J-money$$$]

Limit Straps

Finally got around to installing limit straps in the rear. The last inch of droop I was getting was causing more issues than its worth. Drive shaft/gas tank problems and Binding problems in the link system, Plus I have always worried about snapping the top off a shock then you are SCREWED. my coil springs will fall out with no shock.


So i bout a set of quad wrapped limit straps with the mounts from ruff stuff. These straps are real nice. I was worried about them being to short but trusted the info on the stretch of the straps and they are absolutely perfect. THey are 18" and stretch to 19" and that leaves me around 3/4" before the shocks maxed out. They are perfect. Now I just need some rubber bands ore something to hold them to the shock when compressing. Ill probably just use an inner tube.

Pics

Over all: I used the bottom shock mount. I used a bolt that was about 1" longer so it is way in the mount

Upper mount. Double shear setup with grade 8 hardware

Label on the strap. I was reading somewhere ruff stuff uses a local rock climbing company that makes nylon straps for these. Must be the company's name. Im stoked on the quality. And it was under $60 shipped for 2 straps. 4 mounts and hardware

 

[brian2sun]

Cool, man. I like them Ass Vaults, lol.

 

[t4r4life]

nice, i think its way better than installing a bigger bump stop.

 

[J-money$$$]

nice, i think its way better than installing a bigger bump stop.

I have pretty big bump stops installed, but now I can shorten them up. and gain my lost inch in some compression.
THe work never stops. LOL

These really work good and they stretch to avoid shock in the system

 

[t4r4life]

I have pretty big bump stops installed, but now I can shorten them up. and gain my lost inch in some compression.
THe work never stops. LOL

These really work good and they stretch to avoid shock in the system

might have to do that in the future, my gas tank skid... scratch that, my gas tank hits the lil weight on the drive shaft and peel out the skid like a banana, im already on my second skid , also my link pop when i flex it, but i still have 3/4" left on the shock, so i might just sacrifice half in of flex to save my links from bending. BTW BAMF is going to make some links for 4runners and FJs, they will be 2 inch USA DOM tubes with 3.0" FORGED Ultra Duty BALLISTIC joint on one end and Poly Bushing Joint on the other end, they are going to be beef!

 

[J-money$$$]

good luck with the 3.0 joints fitting in the oem front mount. My links have held up good enough and were pretty cheap to make. They are a little bent its about to throw some new heims and bushings on em and call it good for another year. These straps took all the clunks and pops out of the articulation. Def look into it. I bought 18" straps

 

[t4r4life]

good luck with the 3.0 joints fitting in the oem front mount. My links have held up good enough and were pretty cheap to make. They are a little bent its about to throw some new heims and bushings on em and call it good for another year. These straps took all the clunks and pops out of the articulation. Def look into it. I bought 18" straps

will do may have to look in to a smaller size, i love the ballistic joints, they have plastic bushing in them and totally rebuildable, for for 60 bucks a piece they are pretty $$$$, but its worth not having joint making noise driving down the road. i will deff get the limiting straps, its a no brainier really, pretty simple mod.

 

[J-money$$$]

Ran the rubicon a few weeks ago. took my fiend who has only been wheeling his taco since december. Had no issues and made great time. didn't really get pictures because I was driving and there were no passengers.

I also tracked my mpg on the trip up and back and averages 19.7 mpg. Not bad for a 5 spd with 5.29's and 35's.

Loon

Observation point

 

[FrankM23]

jeez. did you have to coast at 65 the whole time. bet it was a great trip though

 

[J-money$$$]

jeez. did you have to coast at 65 the whole time. bet it was a great trip though

Make it 60 the whole time. still I'm at 2600 rpms at 60

 

[brian2sun]

Glad you had a good trip buddy! Wish I could have gone, but you know how it is.

 

[BigFishAllDay]

Must be nice to be able to hit the Rubicon for a day trip. Good stuff as always.

 

[FrankM23]

Make it 60 the whole time. still I'm at 2600 rpms at 60

i'm gonna love 5.29's and 33's. not lol. Great time to go too. I bet the weather was awesome up there.

 

[rickashay]

Wow, jelly.... J-Money I want you to be my guide when I hit up the con! Good gas mileage and no body damage is what I'm after! haha