I am almost ready to have my fj62 sprung over. Unfortunately I don't have the tools, or the skills to do it myself. I have been looking around for a while, but have yet to find a good cruiser shop to perform this modification for me. I live in Wa state and would be willing to drive a resonable distance to have it done by a professional shop. Anyone know of a shop that fits the bill?

I know this is a :rainbow: newbie question but what tire/size tire would you guys recommend i run on my fj62 when i finally do get the soa? It's a daily driver, so boggers are out of the question...:rolleyes:
and i'll be going to 4.88s also.

Muddog -


you would run 35" tires, and you might want to regear to 4.88's.

As for SOA: you could buy an Aqualu (they are in Kelona) front housing that would be ready to go. YOu could buy the rear too, but its pretty easy if you have a friend who can weld. It all depends on your mechanical prowess.

Define resonable?

There is a cruiser shop in Portland, OR called Over The Hill 4x4 you can check out their site at www.overthehill4x4.com I talked to the guy and he will do anything you want.

Travis

I guess it's easier to be a smart ass than just help:flipoff2: Reasonalbe is...well...lets see...10hr drive or less...Of course there are exceptions...

I wasnt being a smart ass, Resonable to some people is different hten others

For me It all depends on if I can find a shop in my area to do the work, if not I will drive 10+ hrs or someplace to get what Ineed done

www.mudrak.com Actually with the SOA you can run up to a 37" tire with a few variables in your favor. :)

Thanks for the help guys. I already knew about both OTH4x4 and MUDRAK, but I just wanted to see if there were any other shops I didn't know about. I know Henry had his SOA done at Mudraks, who obviously do very very nice work, but I'm not shure it's worth the price I heard (from Henry). I've also spoken with OTH4x4 a while back and I was quoted an AWSOME price, however, i'm not sure this price still stands today.

Since i'm already running OME springs, i'll have the SOA performed with the same springs, and I'm also running extended MAF 4+ shackles, so i'm going to have about as much height as I can get out of my rig once it's sprung over. I am planning on running between 36"-38" tires. My first choice is, and most likely my last, 37" Goodyear MT-Rs.

A couple questions for Henry C. Which 37" tire are you planning on running? Which 15x8 2" BS wheel are you planning on running? And what company do you plan to get your 4.88s from? I like the look of West Coast Differential's Sierra Gears...maily b/c they have an fj60 on the box!:D

If you spring over a '60 with stock axles, I suggest the 36 x 14.50 Super Swamper radial or the 35 x 14.50 SSR.

YOu need some width to go with the height you are about to have....

Nolen,

I understand where you're coming from. I was hoping that a 12.5 on a 8" wide 2" backspaced rim would give me about the same width as a lets say 14.5 on a 10" wide rim with 4" backspacing. I have read some posts about this, mainly Henry C. views on the subject and it seems like the best alternative.

Not to mention turning a 14.5" wide tire with my stock fj62 powersteering would be a biatch!

Any other tips/suggestions?

Originally posted by muddogbob
Not to mention turning a 14.5" wide tire with my stock fj62 powersteering would be a biatch!

Tap the box and run a rock ram. I LOVE mine! It rally helps a ton and if you are going to spend the $4 on a SOA you may as well set it all up right.

Kinda on-topic, but what have people been paying for a SOA/SR? The guy that built mine wants $2k for the SO/SR, modify a set of springs for more flex before they go on, shock towers, (4) 9012's, traction bars, D/S mods, body trimming, and a manual clutch conversion.

Basically, drop it off SUA, and pick it up ready to max the 9012's front and rear...

Oh yeah, his work *is* top notch, by allll means.. just wondering what others pay...

He doesn't run hi-steer because it has limited his stuff... the drag link hits the frame way before the tire is fully stuffed. (He runs 37" boggers on his own rig)

I consider what I paid Mudrak a *bargain* considering that two years later, all I've ever had to do has been grease the shackles and tighten the u-bolts...it was worth it to *me*, but that doesn't mean it will be worth it for the next guy.

As for the size of the tires, you can run 37's with slight changes to the location of the springs, or even 38's if you're using any kind of lift springs, which I don't recommend doing.

Keep in mind that going to bigger tires is going to start pushing the envelope on the axles; these are HEAVY pigs, and the strain on the axles will be bigger than on an FJ40 with similar drivetrain/tires. For example, breaking a rear fine-spline SF Cruiser axle is not that common, but I know of at least 5 SO FJ60's that have broken one while running big tires. One of them resulted in a hard roll that smeared the truck and totalled it.

Not to mention turning a 14.5" wide tire with my stock fj62 powersteering would be a biatch!

We don't have any trouble turing the 14.5 x 33 SSRs with the PS in our FJ60. I doubt that the 35" models would be much different.

Henry,

What do you suggest doing about the weak axle? Does anybody make stronger shafts?

It seems like you are really against SOA on wagons. I just want my shit to be big and use it for what is was made for. I'm not planning on rockcrawling it, just using it for running trails, mud, sand, nothing too extreme. I just want clearance and larger meats.

1. SOA wagons are great !!!
2. Paying Mudrak is not for everybody but it worked for me. Zero regrets. Probably not necessary for most reading this, but for a newbie with more money than time it ensured getting the job done right the first time.
3. Maximum backspacing (a little caliper grinding) 10-inch rims work great with 35x12.5. I'd like taller, but the extra weight (including spare) and overdrive effect just aren't worth it - yet. (I have 4.56s and the speedo is back to normal.)
4. Full Floater would be nice, meantime I'll keep an eye out for a spare axle.
5. Be sure to save some $$ for lockers.

Think about your intended use. If it's hard core in a wagon I'd be thinking about loosing some glass, roof?, trim some fenders and bob the rear. I wouldn't need the AC either. Wait, it doesn't sound like a wagon anymore. :eek:

henry you are starting to describe my rig http://bbs.off-road.com/wwwthreads_uploads/53-690881-Dscn1913.jpg
i am with you about the lift springs and soa[bad idea to top heavy]. i run 38.5s with stock springs and it damn tall. it feels pretty top heavy. i am planning to lower it some more in the f&r and redo the shocks. get a traction bar made, you will have spring wrap[hell i get it with a 3f and a auto] i had to cut my front fenders to clear the 38s on 11.5 rims. mike

henry you are starting to describe my rig

Actually, it was me, Jim, sounding like Henry. :)

Mike, your rig is awesome. That is exactly what I'm talking about. :flipoff2:

Someday, in my future ....

Meantime this will have to do:


http://home.off-road.com/~cruiserhead/rub2000/img0013.htm

Wait, wait, wait. I am NOT against SOA on wagons. In fact, if you want to run anything bigger than 35's on a 60 series with plenty of flex, I think it's the *only* way to do it right. If you read my comment, I never said anything negative about the SOA, and even in my previous comments I'm completely happy with mine. I just think it's not for everyone, that's all. And I wouldn't use lift springs if I was to do it all over again.

As for my comment on the axles, I didn't say the 60 series axles were weak, just that if you're going to start running tires bigger than 35", you have to account for the added stress from the big tires and the truck's weight. There are different solutions depending on your budget, you could try to score a non-US Land Cruiser FF rear axle, swap to Dana 60's, go completely custom, etc...

I see what you are saying, but I am definitely ready for a SOA. I am currently running OME spring and MAF 4+ extended shackles. Do you suggest I sell these and get some stock springs? How much could I get for the entire suspension shocks, springs, shackles, in good condition? I'm planning on keeping my stock axles, since it's not an extreme trail rig they will suffice. I think a soa, 37s, 4.88s, ft/rr arbs and a 4x4labs rear bumper and my cruiser should be just about done.