i'm looking for a lift kit for my '77 fj55. where can i get a good set up for a great price? will fj40 lift kits work in any way? what kits is everyone else using? if anybody needs info on a vortec swap, i just finished mine. thank you.

<IMG SRC="smilies/usa.gif" border="0"> josh <IMG SRC="smilies/usa.gif" border="0">

josh the front springs from a 40 are the same however the rear are a lot longer ..
if you dont mind spending a little cash alcan or national can build you custom springs . if you want to spend less but dont mind doing fab work then you could do some f350 fors springs . or you can do a spring over conversion and keep the stock springs they work really good ..
if you want to sell the rears my bro will buy them from you ...

alan

[ 09-17-2001: Message edited by: fj junkie ]

you are going to hear this allot on here but,.....spring over <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0"> If you have the recorces to do this, this really is the way to go. I tried to go with a 4" man-a-fre spring kit. It was ok. It was a little stiff and didnt give me quite the lift I wanted. I returned it and went spring over, and I LOVE IT <IMG SRC="smilies/bounce.gif" border="0">

oh, and fj40 fronts may be the same length as 55 fronts but the center pin on a 55 is dead center and is way offset on a 40. <IMG SRC="smilies/wink.gif" border="0">

<IMG SRC="smilies/fj.gif" border="0">

Some of us go into denial about the spring over thing and spend a shit load of money trying not to do it and then one day we wake up and realize.....Boink...I coulda had a spring over for what I spent on all this! <IMG SRC="smilies/rolleyes.gif" border="0">

Josh, when it came time for me to re-do the suspension on my FJ55 I considered spring-overs but chickened out (too tall, too tippy, too expensive, requires too many other changes, too unsafe - these were my concerns) and got an aftermarket kit. (JT Outfitters' "Pinnacle Engineering" 4" lift) I drove it daily and wheeled it for a year or two and then did the spring-over. It was worth it, but SOA suspension does make for a big truck. If you're going to be daily driving the FJ55, I'd put some aftermarket springs under it and call it good. MAF makes good but stiff +2" springs and with the addition of some extended shackles for a good shackle angle you'd be set. Alcan makes good custom springs, as do National Spring. There's no Old Man Emu springs for the 55, but some people have put FJ60 OME springs under an FJ55 by changing the spring hangers on the frame.

I love the spring-over on my FJ55, but it's no longer a daily driver. Now I just take it on wheeling trips.

morgan

Originally posted by morgan:
<STRONG>
I love the spring-over on my FJ55, but it's no longer a daily driver. Now I just take it on wheeling trips.

morgan</STRONG>


Let's see, wheeling to Flints, to 7Eleven, to the Shack, etc............. <IMG SRC="smilies/tongue.gif" border="0">

And just for good measure, in case you are getting withdrawl symptoms <IMG SRC="smilies/tongue.gif" border="0">

thanks for all of the info. if anybody has anymore, let it flow. my rig is a daily driver so a spring over is not what i am looking for, but thanks anyway.

<IMG SRC="smilies/usa.gif" border="0"> josh <IMG SRC="smilies/usa.gif" border="0">

Originally posted by KrustyKruiser:
<STRONG>
Let's see, wheeling to Flints, to 7Eleven, to the Shack, etc............. <IMG SRC="smilies/tongue.gif" border="0"> </STRONG>

The Monday after Rubithon I took my kids to school in it. The looks I get from the other parents...

Ha!

My kids dig it.

morgan

I have a 78 FJ55 and the rear springs are rotten especially the one side. (Ontario Rust!) They are basically a "W" shape. I have a line on fj60 springs and i am trying to find out whats involved in changing them. I dont want to re-weld the shackles. Could i just put longer hangers and possibly have them arched more? Thanks for any feedback.
Blake

damn! you dug up an OLD thread :D

flash back :smokin:

Since we're reviving an old thread, the McCoy springs that Man-a-fre and JTO sells are crap. Numerous people have had problems with these springs, and retailers aren't really that helpful. Mine have sagged back to about 1" of lift, and that includes some add-a-leafs. :mad3:

Custom springs that Alcan sells are worth the money, but make sure you have the shackle end built about 1" longer, otherwise tell them what you want and they'll build it.

The only stock off the shelf spring I'd recommend are Beltons. Cheaper than OME, and the quality is up there. Super adjustable too. The rear spring is ten leaves, 9 are 6mm thick, and an overload.

From Prairie Dog Parts (a wholesaler in Canada)

They are made with grade 10 springs steel, the factory is ISO9001 certified so the quality is very consistent, they are fully scragged and shot peened like EMU's, so they won't sag for a good long time. A really good leaf. The refinements that EMU's have on them is the 'flat spot', tapped ends, and the teflon sliders between the leaves. That's really the only difference. And price! Price is the difference!

http://www.prairiedogparts.com/ - the only wholesaler I know, can put you in touch with a resaler near you.

No affil. But I have bastardized stock 55 springs, worn out my McCoys, bought a set of custom alcans, and ridden in a few Belton equipped trucks.

EDIT: You'd be better off just buying another pair of 55 springs, although they're kinda rare in Canada.

Does that mean Belton make 55 series springs?
I can't get past the prairie dog home page...

In other semi related 55 Spring news...I talked with alcan about De-Arching my 4" springs, they charge $30.00 a spring....hmmm...as opposed to $300.00 locally...I think I'm still better off shipping and knowing it's done right...

I can smell the SOA coming closer....

For what it's worth go with Alcans, you can custom the springs for gear, racks, or whatever your needs are, not to mention the customer service they give you is great, when Dad & I ordered ours we received updates of the progress. All I can say is good things about the products & service. By the way we had 3" lift springs made & so far so good.

thanks for all of the info. if anybody has anymore, let it flow. my rig is a daily driver so a spring over is not what i am looking for, but thanks anyway.

<IMG SRC="smilies/usa.gif" border="0"> josh <IMG SRC="smilies/usa.gif" border="0">


famous last words :D
you know how many people I know that said the same thing that roll springovers now?

Spring over.... :smokin:

TJK

Does that mean Belton make 55 series springs?
I can't get past the prairie dog home page...

Very much so. Send them an email.

Spring over.... :smokin:

TJK

Is that stock springs used on that SOA??? 36" tires? I'm trying to get mine as low as possible.

Here is the lowest I was able to get mine. IMO I think a regular lift kit is cheaper and probably the better way to go for a DD'r and if you are going Alcan then you can still get a good ride as far as I've heard. But I would still get a 4 or 5" lift and nothing less then you at least have room for 35's because it doesn't matter what you tell yourself, you'll be on them eventually anyway :D

Stock height shackles and pretty close to flat spring packs:
http://www.collegeinternetsolutions.com/pigrun04/IMAG0153.JPG

Is that stock springs used on that SOA??? 36" tires? I'm trying to get mine as low as possible.

Custom/flat springs on 36" Swampers. It sat down a little after I drove it for a while.

TJK

Those both look bad ass! TJK, did the 36's rub after the springs settled?

Thanks for the info...Just to compare...

here is a pic of the Alcan 4" lift, and slightly longer shackles on 35 a/t's
I've got close to the height of SOA without the benefits... :rolleyes: :D that will change!

Might as well throw mine in

33X12.50, SUA, Man-a-crap springs with extended shackles.

http://img73.exs.cx/img73/3272/CrusherAfterPaintRear.jpg

RevMaynard, I dig the flat black color.

N00b vote for SOA.

SOA, stock springs, SR on 36" SX's >>> (only side shot I could find online)



http://cascadecruisers.com/122703/slide_12.jpg

[QUOTE=Guyute]RevMaynard, I dig the flat black color.QUOTE]

Thanks. Previous to that, our rigs could have been twins. I had that same color scheme as yours.

soa all the way,nice and flexeeeeee :D gonna do it to my 40 next year.posier pics sorry :shaking:

The question isn't spring over or sprung under, it's what kind of springs are available to those with worn out springs. If bgfj55's springs are as bad as they say, they're definately not SOA material.

The question isn't spring over or sprung under, it's what kind of springs are available to those with worn out springs. If bgfj55's springs are as bad as they say, they're definately not SOA material.

I would look at welding tube steel to the frame and putting the axles right on that :grinpimp: If they are pretty hammered, I'd be looking at Alcan...they have a great reputation and can build them the way you want. It seems that most of the other springs from vendors just don't hold up in a 55...

oh...I wanted to play the post your SOA 55 game as well....

http://users.adelphia.net/~bkfj55/pig-at-cmcc.JPG

right click save...right click save...right click save!


PIGS rock.

soa all the way,nice and flexeeeeee :D gonna do it to my 40 next year.posier pics sorry :shaking:

Bah. Spring overs are way overrated. Spring under forever!
http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=96648&stc=1
:flipoff2:

Bah. Spring overs are way overrated. Spring under forever!
http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=96648&stc=1
:flipoff2:

If those are mogs then you suck :flipoff2:
(I dont see a smiley for jealousy :D

The question isn't spring over or sprung under, it's what kind of springs are available to those with worn out springs. If bgfj55's springs are as bad as they say, they're definately not SOA material.
depending on how much lift you want.....i got 6inches out of my soa with 20yr old stockers w/add a leafs. i'm sure that you could get springs any where from 0-2inch sor a soa. you callin my 60 ugly? i love the look of the 55's all lifted, 55 was my first choice but could'nt find a decent one,so 60 it was :D just my 2ct. thanx

depending on how much lift you want.....i got 6inches out of my soa with 20yr old stockers w/add a leafs. i'm sure that you could get springs any where from 0-2inch sor a soa. you callin my 60 ugly? i love the look of the 55's all lifted, 55 was my first choice but could'nt find a decent one,so 60 it was :D just my 2ct. thanx

No, we're talking apples and oranges. Spring overs with stock springs in good condition is no big deal. But if your springs are as bad as bgfj55 makes his out to be, you're just prolonging the inevitable.

rusted, pitted, W sagged out springs are not SOA worthy. A friend had some shot factory springs on a '65 in the stock SUA configuration. He hit a speed bump at 5mph, and the whole fricken pack busted in half except for the bottom leaf. It wasn't big deal getting the truck the 3 miles back to his house, but what are you going to do when a spring you know is bad breaks 30 miles into a trail when you're 500 miles from home?

(don't give me this I'll put on my trailer and tow it home crap.)

And the 60 looks good. :D