Those who have outboarded your front springs!

Looking for ideas on how to design a way to outboard my front springs without buying a kit. Using stock xj springs front and rear but only outboarding the front...if thats possable. So any pics would be greatly apreciated! Thanks.

 

I'm working on the same project right now. I have it figured out, and I have the materials. Now I just to get it done. I'm using new rear wrangler leaf's on all fours with two extra leaves added for a 7 leaf pack. Out board springs front and rear Springover with 44's.

 

Lets see who posts pictures first?

 

What are you doing the build on?

 

My build is a 1966 cj-6. Rebuilt 225 dauntless, sm420 trans, dana 18 tera low with overdrive. 1974 wagoneer dana 44 axles springover. I have 4.56 gears and one set of 4.88's will need to find another set of 4.88's if I decide to use that ratio instead of 4.56's. Not sure yet on gears but probably going with 4.56's either Ox lockers or detroit?

 

You got any pictures of it? Or is it in the middle of a build? And thanks for the pics Danstew. You doing a reversal in the front?

 

Mine is similar to Dan's except I didn't put the flat plate that saddles the underside of the frame. I also had to notch the gusset on the driver's side to clear one of the steering box mounting bolt.

I have a rear mounted tank and without outboarding, the rear shackles hit the skidplate and tank. I don't know if it's just because of the big shackles I was using but I ended up outboarding the rear also just to clear the tank.

 

I looked at a lot of picts on pirate4x4 to see what others did. I decided it was stonger to do as Dan did. I started messing with the axle geometry and the steering and stuff and decided to go the Blue Torch Fabworks route. I really like it now that it is on. One of the these days I might actually get to drive it......

 

Those kits are kind of pricey, arnt they? Also, I flat tow my jeep quite often and would that BTF kit be strong enough to flat tow with? Thats the one with the brackets mounted to the bumper, correct?

 

After welding mine on, I would say you could hang it from a tree from the front bumper or even one of the D ring tabs and it would stay up there until it rusted off.......

The BTF kit runs about 500 bucks but it gives you a new front bumper, shackle reverse and the outboard hanger locations. It is very well built and I'm very impressed with the quality of workmanship and how well it's thougth out.

How the kit arrived in several weld on pieces.........


tack welded on...


More of a front view


It's kinda expensive but I'd do it again in a heartbeat........ When I think about how critical all the measurments of getting the axle square on the frame and everyhthing, and I'd need a front bumper anyway, and I would have spent how much on steel and gas and mig wire, I decided the price difference was not as much as I first thought......

 

Looks good. There is a 4x4 shop in Modesto, Ca that only does crawlers. Im not wanting to do a reversal really so I think I will see how much they will charge to make me a front bumper with outboarded purches on it and see how much it compares to the BTF kit. I like that unit though ALOT on your rig and will copy it as close as I can. But like I said if price is almost the same, I will just order the BTF kit. With doing a reversal, the shackle in the back will have to point towards the rear axle correct? Now by me wanting to gain a couple inces in the front for WB, wont that just push it back to were it was?

 

Well, the camp seems to be split about 50/50 on shackle reversals and if they are good or bad. Personally, I wanted a little bit better road manners. And I also moved the front axle a little more forward when I mounted the BTF kit. As far as shackle goes, the kit is fairly good at telling how far back to mount the rear hanger. It is very specific. I'd say you need to spend some time learning the pros and cons of a shackel reversal. Then make up your mind. For me, it was the way to go........ I think. Because I have not be able to drive it yet.........

 

Well I have read alot about pros and cons of a shackle reversal and what I have found out is that yes, they do give a better ride and offer a bit more articulation (acording to some folks). However when a front tire is pressed up to a rock or somthing and as that tire starts to climb and compress the suspention, a reversal will pull the tire backwards just a smidge compared to a regular front shackle that will press the tire even more so into the obstical since as the suspention compresses, the shackle moves frontward and the axle has to follow. I dont think its enough to really matter but the main reason for me wanting to keep my shackle in the front is to add a little more protection to the gear box. I would much rather smoke a shackle on a rock then a gear box.
Also, what springs and axles are you using on your '5?

 

72CJ5, If you are asking me about my 5, it's a CJ6 tub on a CJ8 frame. I'm kinda building one from scratch. Anyway, I am currently using CJ 4" Superlift springs mounted SOA. But I think it might be too tall. I have a set of stock YJ springs as well. And a set of stock CJ springs. It depends on how tall it is when I'm done as to what springs I'll be using. That and ride and articulation.

 

Ya my bad, I took a quick look at it and it looked like a 5 untill you corrected me then on closer inspection....ya its a 6, sorry bout that. I was thinking thats a darn long wheelbase for a 5 haha. Ya she sits up there purdy tall. My buddy's CJ7 had 4" superlift springs over the axle with stock narrow track axles and 1 1/4" lift shackles. Needless to say its on wide tracks now and dropped about 3 inches. Your rig has a nice stance as it is now with those F/W axles under it.

 

I am planning on running stock YJ springs on top of FW axles for my 6. I am definitely going with a shackle reversal because it will protect the springs much better. When you hit something with the front shackle it will usually bend the spring, or even if the tire hits hard enough.

However with the shackle reversed it can only pull on the spring when going forward, so the only way to bend a spring is backing up. I have heard from some guys that run YJ springs and bend them all the time when wheeling because they have the shackles up front.

 

I can see that point. I actually have a bent drivers front springs now, but not from hitting a shackle or smoking my tire againest somthing. I found a kit from Daves performance or Daves fab or somthing with Dave in the begining the other night and its the same price as the BTF but I like Daves bumper better and it lets me keep my shackles up front. I think the shackles in front vs. shackles in rear is on the same line as auto vs stick...it aint ever going to be settled.

 

http://davescustoms4wd.com/mm5/merc...=DCU&Product_Code=FWAKIT&Category_Code=FWAKIT
Here is the Link to the kit I found and like. Looks about the same as the BTF kit but the is isn't a reversal and comes made with a winch mount which is always a plus since I have a winch, but no plate.