What do ya think flat belly or go for lower center of gravity? - Pirate4x4.Com : 4x4 and Off-Road Forum

JeepFarm · 03-10-2005, 05:35 PM

Hey guys,

I am installing my V8 Vortec and was wondering what would be better.

1. A flat belly pan

2. Keep the motor as low as I can for a better center of gravity!

The difference would only really be 3-4" but it's still 3-4", let me know what you think!

Thanks, Jay

bspencer · 03-10-2005, 05:55 PM

flat belly

87JeepWrangler · 03-10-2005, 05:55 PM

how about both

thejeepjeepkid · 03-10-2005, 07:46 PM

Idealy, you would have a flat belly and then drop the whole vehicle down 3-4 inches. Its all about sandwhiching the vehicle as much as posible. Just look at competition vehicles, they are as low as posible with the biggest posible tires (that work).

thejeepjeepkid · 03-10-2005, 07:49 PM

Idealy, you would put the drive train as high as posible then drop the whole vehicle. Just look at competition rigs- its all about sandwhiching then and keeping it as low as posible with the biggest tires posible (that work).

Dwest · 03-10-2005, 07:49 PM

Going to a flat skid was one of the best mods I have done to my Jeep, I highly recommend it.

junkyard joe · 03-10-2005, 08:12 PM

looks like your from the great north, i would suspect alot of mud eh? id say heck with the low center of gravity and just go flat belly to keep the truck out of the mud, ive got 24" under my zuk on 38's w/95"wb if that give a reference, i find it a good balance of both under body clearence and a decent center of gravity

joe

JeepFarm · 03-10-2005, 08:43 PM

Ok I will give you guys a little bit of a better idea of my rig!

It is riding on 4" springs SOA with 35's and a 2" body lift!!

I know I know get rid of the body lift, but I want to keep it because it's a lot easier to work on with that added room and I also need the room for wheel travel. I drive this biatch on the street so I can't cut it up to much this is why I have the body lift!

Yes we do have mud over here but I hate it and stick to the high ground and head for the rocks. We usually have to go threw the mud to get to the rocks though, lol!

Thanks for the replys keep'em coming!

MNBen · 03-10-2005, 09:37 PM

Holy excess lift batman. I have SOA with 7 leaf waggys (about 1" over stock) and have enough room for 38+ tires. Flat skid the belly, take out 5" of lift, and trim the fenders.

sceep · 03-11-2005, 07:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MNBen

Holy excess lift batman. I have SOA with 7 leaf waggys (about 1" over stock) and have enough room for 38+ tires. Flat skid the belly, take out 5" of lift, and trim the fenders.

no shit.

drop down to YJ springs, ditch the BL. flat belly the fawker, and rock and roll. no wonder you are so worried about your COG.. the thing is fuggin HUGE on dinky little 35's

JeepFarm · 03-11-2005, 12:10 PM

Hey guys,

Thanks for the advice!

Well I really couldn't imagine smaller springs! I need all the room I have now with the dinky 35's. I am going to be cutting up the fenders to make room for the TJ fenders. For this reason I could run with a smaller spring but I was thinking of the future and bigger tires!

Keep it comin, feedback or sarcasm welcome, lol!

Thanks, Jay

offroadman83 · 03-11-2005, 12:35 PM

How about some pics so we can see why you need 10 ft. of room for 35s==========Kyle

Po' riggity · 03-11-2005, 12:42 PM

I dont see how you could need that much lift with 35's. Here's my jeep, SOA on NEGATIVE arched stock YJ springs up front, with plenty of room for 35's and even 37's with the tube fenders.

Scott

apeters89 · 03-11-2005, 01:59 PM

Here's my YJ with no lift, SUA on 35's. Wheelbase lengthened to 97"

there's NO NEED for 10+ inches of lift to run 35's...

gumbojeepyj · 03-11-2005, 03:47 PM

That is all.

Happy Joe · 03-11-2005, 05:15 PM

I vote for lower the body and flatten the belly. I fabbed a flat pan on my Cj-7 (work jeep) as it doesnt carry any lift (ya gotta reclock the t-case & probably bend the t-case shifter). It worked so well that I'm gonna do it to the play jeep next.
Enjoy!

JeffsJeep04 · 03-11-2005, 05:50 PM

don't have no body lift mang...

TNScrambler · 03-11-2005, 09:52 PM

I talked to a guy one time that had just had his YJ sprung over, had 4in. springs SOA and a 3in. body lift on stock axles and 35s

Then the guy talked to me for about 5min explaining to me how street locks were better than beadlocks, cause they were street legal and had a reinforced safty bead

So, don't be that guy....take the body lift off, or leave it and put it on stock springs.....I had 4in. springs SOA on 42s on the scrambler. And now my Jimmy has only 4in. of lift and I run 39.5s

Justin

383yjper · 03-12-2005, 09:50 PM

flat bell it i have 4 in springs soa and 2" bd and 35 cant drop the bd lift 'cause of clearance issue's w rad. but i am ditching 4" springs for some stock waggies asap in the mean time it helps that i have full width axles

Suter · 03-12-2005, 10:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 383yjper

flat bell it i have 4 in springs soa and 2" bd and 35 cant drop the bd lift 'cause of clearance issue's w rad. but i am ditching 4" springs for some stock waggies asap in the mean time it helps that i have full width axles

What the fawk did you just say?

gumbojeepyj · 03-12-2005, 11:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Suter

What the fawk did you just say?

Quote:

Location: searcy ar

thundr undrgrond · 03-13-2005, 01:57 AM

i have 4''springss, spring over and full width, and my jeep is really big, and ive had 44'' boggers under it. and they had room. i dont see how u need that much lift for a 35. if they come that close to your fenders, buy some bumpstops, cause ur leafs are gonna be dead in a hurry.

i run mud with this thing, i need it that high

NE-RokToy · 03-13-2005, 12:19 PM

its very obvious that you don't believe in the usefullness of bumpstops...

also are you still running stock shock mounts?

that lift setup to clear 35's is just plan and simply ignorant

flatbelly7 · 03-13-2005, 02:52 PM

flatbelly & lower center of gravity best of both worlds.
flatbelly7

JeepFarm · 03-13-2005, 08:17 PM

NE-RokToy,

Oh ya for sure I still have the shock mounts pointing down at the ground, is that not better then have them up out of the way!

Anyway I have plans to run with bigger meats in the future and will be needing the lift as is. I am also not a trail queen quite yet and drive my rig hour and half to the trail beat on it and then drive home. This is the wheelin I like to do. So I do need to keep it some what street legal. There pretty sticky over here with tire coverage! So I have some TJ extended flairs that I am going to throw on to cover th full width diffs up a bit.

Anyway I installed the motor today and for to many reasons I couldn't get the flat belly I was looking for. It is close but not quite a flat belly. The D300 clocked flat sits pretty high. Also with using the 4L60-E I have some issues with the driveshaft being 3/16 away from the oil pan.

So know I will have to figure out how much space I need at full stuff for the front driveshaft? I mached it up with a peice of 1.5 DOM today and it only leaves me with 3/16 of space between the pan and shaft. I know there is ways to use a skinny front driveshaft but don't know how much the suspension is going to swing towords the pan!

Trial and error I guess!

Thanks for the, to much lift chit chat but do any of you have any EXPERIENCE with trying to run a skinny in tight spots and how close could you get to your oil pan without making contact with the shaft and oil pan?

Thanks again,

03-10-2005, 05:35 PM	#1 (permalink)
JeepFarm Registered User Join Date: Dec 2003 Member # 25428 Location: CANADA EH! Posts: 141	What do ya think flat belly or go for lower center of gravity? Hey guys, I am installing my V8 Vortec and was wondering what would be better. 1. A flat belly pan 2. Keep the motor as low as I can for a better center of gravity! The difference would only really be 3-4" but it's still 3-4", let me know what you think! Thanks, Jay __________________ "Giver the ONION"

03-10-2005, 05:55 PM	#3 (permalink)
87JeepWrangler Registered User Join Date: Sep 2002 Member # 13959 Location: Pa Posts: 3,170	how about both __________________ rob [URL="http://www.tr-motorsports.com"]TR Motorsports #108[/URL]

03-10-2005, 07:46 PM	#4 (permalink)
thejeepjeepkid Registered User Join Date: Dec 2002 Member # 15727 Location: New Jersey Posts: 322	Idealy, you would have a flat belly and then drop the whole vehicle down 3-4 inches. Its all about sandwhiching the vehicle as much as posible. Just look at competition vehicles, they are as low as posible with the biggest posible tires (that work). __________________ team #313 Rock Diamond Racing Specail thanks to the4x4place.com

03-10-2005, 08:12 PM	#7 (permalink)
junkyard joe Registered User Join Date: Feb 2003 Member # 17147 Location: Oshkosh WI Posts: 442	looks like your from the great north, i would suspect alot of mud eh? id say heck with the low center of gravity and just go flat belly to keep the truck out of the mud, ive got 24" under my zuk on 38's w/95"wb if that give a reference, i find it a good balance of both under body clearence and a decent center of gravity joe __________________ UCORA.org Psalm 40:2 He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. Isiah 29:13

03-10-2005, 08:43 PM	#8 (permalink)
JeepFarm Registered User Join Date: Dec 2003 Member # 25428 Location: CANADA EH! Posts: 141	Ok I will give you guys a little bit of a better idea of my rig! It is riding on 4" springs SOA with 35's and a 2" body lift!! I know I know get rid of the body lift, but I want to keep it because it's a lot easier to work on with that added room and I also need the room for wheel travel. I drive this biatch on the street so I can't cut it up to much this is why I have the body lift! Yes we do have mud over here but I hate it and stick to the high ground and head for the rocks. We usually have to go threw the mud to get to the rocks though, lol! Thanks for the replys keep'em coming! __________________ "Giver the ONION"

03-10-2005, 07:49 PM	#5 (permalink)
thejeepjeepkid Registered User Join Date: Dec 2002 Member # 15727 Location: New Jersey Posts: 322	Idealy, you would put the drive train as high as posible then drop the whole vehicle. Just look at competition rigs- its all about sandwhiching then and keeping it as low as posible with the biggest tires posible (that work).

03-10-2005, 07:49 PM	#6 (permalink)
Dwest Registered User Join Date: Feb 2003 Member # 17108 Location: Missouri Posts: 834	Going to a flat skid was one of the best mods I have done to my Jeep, I highly recommend it.

03-10-2005, 09:37 PM	#9 (permalink)
MNBen Registered User Join Date: Oct 2001 Member # 7711 Location: Burnsville MN Posts: 606	Holy excess lift batman. I have SOA with 7 leaf waggys (about 1" over stock) and have enough room for 38+ tires. Flat skid the belly, take out 5" of lift, and trim the fenders. __________________ Sunset the unconstitutional USA Patriot Act!! Serious discussion makes Bubba sad -BRB

03-11-2005, 12:10 PM	#11 (permalink)
JeepFarm Registered User Join Date: Dec 2003 Member # 25428 Location: CANADA EH! Posts: 141	Hey guys, Thanks for the advice! Well I really couldn't imagine smaller springs! I need all the room I have now with the dinky 35's. I am going to be cutting up the fenders to make room for the TJ fenders. For this reason I could run with a smaller spring but I was thinking of the future and bigger tires! Keep it comin, feedback or sarcasm welcome, lol! Thanks, Jay __________________ "Giver the ONION"

03-11-2005, 12:35 PM	#12 (permalink)
offroadman83 Rock God Join Date: Oct 2001 Member # 7624 Location: McAllen,Tx Posts: 2,292	How about some pics so we can see why you need 10 ft. of room for 35s==========Kyle

03-11-2005, 01:59 PM	#14 (permalink)
apeters89 Moderator Join Date: Oct 2001 Member # 7647 Location: Oklahoma City Posts: 7,540 Blog Entries: 2	Here's my YJ with no lift, SUA on 35's. Wheelbase lengthened to 97" there's NO NEED for 10+ inches of lift to run 35's... Attached Images __________________ Check out our new Team Ape Eater Racing Like us on FaceBook KF5EQF Sniper Fab 4x4Oil SBwinVPS Custom Splice C2GFab

03-11-2005, 03:47 PM	#15 (permalink)
gumbojeepyj Registered User Join Date: Jun 2003 Member # 20592 Location: Mobile, AL Posts: 1,259	That is all. __________________ Blake http://www.lockitupoffroad.net

03-11-2005, 05:15 PM	#16 (permalink)
Happy Joe Registered User Join Date: Mar 2005 Member # 44305 Posts: 15	I vote for lower the body and flatten the belly. I fabbed a flat pan on my Cj-7 (work jeep) as it doesnt carry any lift (ya gotta reclock the t-case & probably bend the t-case shifter). It worked so well that I'm gonna do it to the play jeep next. Enjoy!

03-11-2005, 05:50 PM	#17 (permalink)
JeffsJeep04 Registered User Join Date: Nov 2003 Member # 24475 Location: Menomonie, WI Posts: 1,142	don't have no body lift mang... __________________ 2000 WJ Limited 4.7 quadradrive

03-11-2005, 09:52 PM	#18 (permalink)
TNScrambler Registered User Join Date: Mar 2002 Member # 10818 Location: Knoxville, TN Posts: 843	I talked to a guy one time that had just had his YJ sprung over, had 4in. springs SOA and a 3in. body lift on stock axles and 35s Then the guy talked to me for about 5min explaining to me how street locks were better than beadlocks, cause they were street legal and had a reinforced safty bead So, don't be that guy....take the body lift off, or leave it and put it on stock springs.....I had 4in. springs SOA on 42s on the scrambler. And now my Jimmy has only 4in. of lift and I run 39.5s Justin __________________ random parts stashed in various locations that might someday become part of a Jeep ;)

03-12-2005, 09:50 PM	#19 (permalink)
383yjper Registered User Join Date: Mar 2005 Member # 44144 Location: searcy ar Posts: 26	flat bell it i have 4 in springs soa and 2" bd and 35 cant drop the bd lift 'cause of clearance issue's w rad. but i am ditching 4" springs for some stock waggies asap in the mean time it helps that i have full width axles __________________ [COLOR=DarkRed]Forgive me, I ate my chevy.[/COLOR]

03-13-2005, 01:57 AM	#22 (permalink)
thundr undrgrond Registered User Join Date: Jul 2003 Member # 21461 Location: shamokin PA Posts: 507	i have 4''springss, spring over and full width, and my jeep is really big, and ive had 44'' boggers under it. and they had room. i dont see how u need that much lift for a 35. if they come that close to your fenders, buy some bumpstops, cause ur leafs are gonna be dead in a hurry. i run mud with this thing, i need it that high

03-13-2005, 12:19 PM	#23 (permalink)
NE-RokToy Registered User Join Date: Feb 2000 Member # 62 Location: Omaha NE Posts: 5,992	its very obvious that you don't believe in the usefullness of bumpstops... also are you still running stock shock mounts? that lift setup to clear 35's is just plan and simply ignorant __________________ Jeff Neves

03-13-2005, 02:52 PM	#24 (permalink)
flatbelly7 Granite Guru Join Date: Nov 2003 Member # 24434 Location: hitman's corner Posts: 573	flatbelly & lower center of gravity best of both worlds. flatbelly7

03-13-2005, 08:17 PM	#25 (permalink)
JeepFarm Registered User Join Date: Dec 2003 Member # 25428 Location: CANADA EH! Posts: 141	NE-RokToy, Oh ya for sure I still have the shock mounts pointing down at the ground, is that not better then have them up out of the way! Anyway I have plans to run with bigger meats in the future and will be needing the lift as is. I am also not a trail queen quite yet and drive my rig hour and half to the trail beat on it and then drive home. This is the wheelin I like to do. So I do need to keep it some what street legal. There pretty sticky over here with tire coverage! So I have some TJ extended flairs that I am going to throw on to cover th full width diffs up a bit. Anyway I installed the motor today and for to many reasons I couldn't get the flat belly I was looking for. It is close but not quite a flat belly. The D300 clocked flat sits pretty high. Also with using the 4L60-E I have some issues with the driveshaft being 3/16 away from the oil pan. So know I will have to figure out how much space I need at full stuff for the front driveshaft? I mached it up with a peice of 1.5 DOM today and it only leaves me with 3/16 of space between the pan and shaft. I know there is ways to use a skinny front driveshaft but don't know how much the suspension is going to swing towords the pan! Trial and error I guess! Thanks for the, to much lift chit chat but do any of you have any EXPERIENCE with trying to run a skinny in tight spots and how close could you get to your oil pan without making contact with the shaft and oil pan? Thanks again, __________________ "Giver the ONION"

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