Wildman's TJ is getting a face lift

[Wildman]

How much straight tube do you have in front of your mid arm rear mount?

I'm 15" from the COB for the skid. Sorry I missed that earlier.

If I only extended the frame back 4" then I would had room for the body mounts to sit flat. And since I have already cut the upper spring pads off I can weld them back on where ever I want. I'm just spitballing here.

 

[toximus]

5" front & 5.5" rear

The limit in the rear is the crossmember? Removing it gains 2-3" iirc. I went through the floor but denting the floor is also an easy option and the carpet can hide it well.

What is the limit in the front?

I think you'll benefit from having at a minimum 6" front and rear and that should be very doable with an 6" lift equivalent.

 

[Wildman]

The limit in the rear is the crossmember? Removing it gains 2-3" iirc. I went through the floor but denting the floor is also an easy option and the carpet can hide it well.

What is the limit in the front?

I think you'll benefit from having at a minimum 6" front and rear and that should be very doable with an 6" lift equivalent.

The limit in the front is how the air bags mount and that they can only compress so much. Max for the front is 11" of separation between the upper and lower spring mounts. I could cut and raise the front upper spring mount 1" to give me more up travel. Or as you said I can set my ride height a little taller. The air bag also limits droop with a extended length of 21" so in the front being at 5" sets me in the middle of a 10" shock.

 

[toximus]

The limit in the front is how the air bags mount and that they can only compress so much. Max for the front is 11" of separation between the upper and lower spring mounts. I could cut and raise the front upper spring mount 1" to give me more up travel. Or as you said I can set my ride height a little taller. The air bag also limits droop with a extended length of 21" so in the front being at 5" sets me in the middle of a 10" shock.

There is about 5" of up travel on my khaki TJ (not my doing) and there is a noticeable difference of having more on the red LJ. I'd suggest cutting and raising or even frenching it up into the frame even more while you have everything apart.

 

[Wildman]

There is about 5" of up travel on my khaki TJ (not my doing) and there is a noticeable difference of having more on the red LJ. I'd suggest cutting and raising or even frenching it up into the frame even more while you have everything apart.

Okay but then I would be 6" up and only 4" down travel . Doesn't that throw stuff off? I'm just going by what @jjvw has been saying.

 

[toximus]

Okay but then I would be 6" up and only 4" down travel . Doesn't that throw stuff off? I'm just going by what @jjvw has been saying.

What's your down travel limitation?

 

[Wildman]

What's your down travel limitation?

The limit that the air bags can stretch. That limit is 21". In the rear I can compress the bags more which give me more travel but in the front the way they mount it means that there is only 10" of travel. I'll go back and double check the information ORO gave me.

 

[toximus]

The limit that the air bags can stretch. That limit is 21". In the rear I can compress the bags more which give me more travel but in the front the way they mount it means that there is only 10" of travel. I'll go back and double check the information ORO gave me.

Gotcha. Well, if 10" of travel from fully compressed to fully extended is the limit you'll have to work around that. I don't have enough experience to recommend 5"/5" or a slight bias like 5.5"/4.5" and will rely on the knowledge of others to answer that.

Having too little up travel will also mess with how your Jeep rides when lowered on the street.

 

[mrblaine]

I hit my rear "bumper" last trip out backing into a rock. It just deflected and I went over the rock as planned. After that it made me wonder what would happen to the tub if I didn't have the bumper the full width. Yes more clearance, but weaker when it does hit. A cut like Blaine did on that blue is an option. I don't know the answer for mine yet.

I don't like that look and don't do them that way any longer. I do them this way now.

 

[jjvw]

Okay but then I would be 6" up and only 4" down travel . Doesn't that throw stuff off? I'm just going by what @jjvw has been saying.

On mine for reference, the rear limit to up is the lower arm almost hitting the frame. I forget how close the upper axle mounts are from the tub, but they are close. That gets me about 6-6.5" of up at ride height. At 5.5-6"of droop, the springs are just able to be turned by hand.

The front limit to up is the track bar almost touching the diff cover after some work and the mini stretch. That makes for about 5.5 up/ down

 

[Wildman]

I hit my rear "bumper" last trip out backing into a rock. It just deflected and I went over the rock as planned. After that it made me wonder what would happen to the tub if I didn't have the bumper the full width. Yes more clearance, but weaker when it does hit. A cut like Blaine did on that blue is an option. I don't know the answer for mine yet.

Your rear bumper is also your rear crossmember correct? I've been looking at this for a rear bumper and could cut that crossmember out and this can be both.

https://www.swagoffroad.com/SWAG-BIG-HIT-TJ-YJ-Rear-Bumper-V20_p_91.html

 

[toximus]

Your rear bumper is also your rear crossmember correct?

Yes.

 

[jjvw]

Your rear bumper is also your rear crossmember correct? I've been looking at this for a rear bumper and could cut that crossmember out and this can be both.

https://www.swagoffroad.com/SWAG-BIG-HIT-TJ-YJ-Rear-Bumper-V20_p_91.html

Motobilt has a new weld on option similar to what Blaine and Tox are doing.

 

[Wildman]

Motobilt has a new weld on option similar to what Blaine and Tox are doing.

Yes SWAG is a local company so I like helping them out and I like the looks of this bumper.

Here is the Motobuilt one.

https://motobilt.com/collections/je...ion-cut-corner-weld-on-rear-bumper-for-yj-tj#

 

[Wildman]

Also I need the receiver hitch as I tow a small trailer once in a while.

 

[toximus]

Also I need the receiver hitch as I tow a small trailer once in a while.

Just understand what it means to tow with a hitch that isn't rated for towing if it ever fails (your fault or someone else's). I would also recommend welding on loops for chains to hook on.

 

[B00mb00m]

I don't like that look and don't do them that way any longer. I do them this way now. View attachment 161630

Hot damn. Tell me everything about this jeep. I WANTS.

 

[Wildman]

Just understand what it means to tow with a hitch that isn't rated for towing if it ever fails (your fault or someone else's). I would also recommend welding on loops for chains to hook on.

Yes I am fully aware of the legalities of towing with a unrated hitch. It's my grandpa's old Jeep trailer and I'd only be hauling camping gear in it. And yes I'd add loops of the chains. But I don't want a hitch hangin down under the Jeep so I either get a bumper that has a receiver hitch or?

Built in 1947. He use to take me to Pismo Dunes with 4 almost bald tires in the trailer when I was a youngin and then we'd change the tires in the parking lot and go play on the dunes. The bald tires were for running in the sand.
He had a 1966 CJ-5 Tuxedo Park Mark IV with the V-6. Or he would take me up into the mountains on camping trips.
Thanks for the concern.

 

[toximus]

or?

Make one that bolts onto your rear that you can remove (or use the MOPAR hitch if you're keeping the factory frame)?

 

[Wildman]

I'm still a long ways from needing this. I've got to figure out where to cut the frame and then how I am going to support the rear section once I get it cut off. I need to really look at what is back there and go back and read Blaine's post in jjvw's thread about what he does with the torque box.

I'm definitely not trying to reinvent the wheel when it comes to doing this. Blaine is the SMA when it comes to doing stuff like this.