Wildman's TJ is getting a face lift

[toximus]

Here is one of Dave's builds. When I talked with him he said he could get 12" of travel out of a stock width TJ.
I don't know and will be happy if I can hit 11" in the front and 12" in the rear.

View attachment 161031

This doesn't show the full story unless you remove the coils.

 

[toximus]

That's a few days or weeks down the road. I don't have a drivetrain in the Jeep right now and then I need to get the rear extended for the rear stretch I did.

Than either build conservatively, plan on using limit straps, or you're going to have to come back to it.

It's easier if you pick a belly height, wheelbase, and tire size now and you can mock things in (clamps, jacks, string, tape), move toward roughing things in (clamps and little tacks), finalize placement (good tack welds), and then do a final burn on everything.

 

[Wildman]

WB is 99"
Tire size is 36"
Belly height is adjustable

At this point I have a ton of little things I can do until I can set the drivetrain back into the Jeep to get some measurements. I have a bunch of work I can do to the front axle, ie: Ball joints, axle shafts, truss to diff cover tie-in, new hubs plus other stuff I am sure I am forgetting.

I'm suppose to get the engine back from the machine shop next week I hope. Then I think I'll set things in place to get an idea where I'm at. Plus I need to start working on my wiring harness. It isn't like I don't have a ton of other things to do right now.

 

[toximus]

Belly height is adjustable

Does your belly skid move up and down relative to the frame?

 

[Wildman]

Yes since it is bolted to the frame I would say that it does.

 

[toximus]

So you have air bags that adjust ride height and something that moves the belly up and down?

 

[Wildman]

So you have air bags that adjust ride height and something that moves the belly up and down?

Doesn't the belly move up and down as the distance between the spring mounts increase or decrease?

I'm going to say my belly height is going to be around 22" but this is a SWAG at this point until I get things setup a little more. And I just got my new tires which I need to get mounted and see what they measure out to be.

 

[BuildBreakRepeat]

Doesn't the belly move up and down as the distance between the spring mounts increase or decrease?

I'm going to say my belly height is going to be around 22" but this is a SWAG at this point until I get things setup a little more. And I just got my new tires which I need to get mounted and see what they measure out to be.

Belly height relative to the frame. So no it doesn’t move unless you are tucking the skid more or dropping it down

 

[Wildman]

Belly height relative to the frame. So no it doesn’t move unless you are tucking the skid more or dropping it down

Got it, guess I was reading that wrong. But again at this point I am SWAG on the belly/frame height and will have a better number in a few weeks. Don't remember if I ever measured frame/belly height. I'm sure I did but just can't remember what it was.

 

[toximus]

Doesn't the belly move up and down as the distance between the spring mounts increase or decrease?

Relative to the ground, yes, relative to the frame, no.

If you change the ride height using the AiRock you're going to have a compromise on either the street or offroad (it sounds like this is the 2 main positions?). Choose which one you don't want to compromise on and choose a belly height for that ride height (I suggest choosing the one that you want the steering wheel to be center for). The other ride height(s) will be compromises. Next figure out where the transfer case needs to roughly sit (if you don't have a crossmember yet, use a jack with plywood to set it on) to achieve that belly height. Then you can place a driveshaft in and and figure out what angle it binds. That will give you a rough starting point.

 

[Wildman]

I've already figured out I am setting the Jeep up for what my ride height is going to be off-road since that is where it will spend 80+% of it's time. I'm not super concerned about on-road driving since it won't see much time there.

 

[Wildman]

Just got the final parts for the compressor in. Here's hoping I'm back working with air soon.

 

[Wildman]

Whoot Whoot wahooo I'm cooking with air again.....
compressor is up ☝and running. Will see how it performs over the next few days.

 

[Brianj5600]

Not with that wheelbase or some serious shock travel compromise.

Would you only limit travel at the middle? Would that allow longer shock travel? Would there be a downside?

 

[mrblaine]

Would you only limit travel at the middle? Would that allow longer shock travel? Would there be a downside?

I don't do that. I build around the total package.

 

[jjvw]

Given the axle width and tire size, I doubt that 14" fits into any part of the package.

 

[Wildman]

Given the axle width and tire size, I doubt that 14" fits into any part of the package.

I never said I was going to get 14" of travel. But I did say that based on the numbers that the bags could stretch to if it was possible there was the possibility for 14" of travel. As I said before I'll be more than satisfied and happy with 12" front and rear.

 

[Wildman]

Just a little better comparison of the old Super Swamper SX sitting next to the new Super Swamper IROCK.
The SX is listed as a 38x12.5x16.5 while the IROCK is listed as a 36x13.5x16.5 tire'

 

[Wildman]

For a fairer comparison here is the SX mounted next to the IROCK mounted. The SX is maybe a 1/2" taller than the IROCK.
Since I've never ran the IROCK before I can't say how it'll perform off-road other than from seeing others who have ran this tire.

Only time will tell once I hit the trails.

 

[Wildman]

Here is about 1 hour of bead blasting.

Before I blasted the spring pads.

Here is after. I think I need a little more abrasive media. But they are a lot better.

Now I've got to primer them with weld thru paint. Then measure 3 times and tack once...
Then I can move on to figuring out my ride height and start measuring...
Lots and lots of numbers... makes my head hurt .