New year, new beginnings. 4.5" Lift questions.

[Automan2164]

Finally, after many many months of inactivity and neglect, my '87 Metric Ton "Farmer" project is getting some love.

 

 

 

I've been waiting to pull the trigger on some lift stuff for the old man in the garage and it's time. The only thing I was sure of was that I wanted an OME lift. I had it narrowed down to a 3" or 4.5" ordered from DPG offroad. After a conversation with Neohic, he made the decision that it should be 4.5", since the truck will already be rolling on a D30/D44 with 4.10's and AX15. That, and IIRC "Those longbeds are just so... Long. Might as well make it 4.5" and 33's to make it noticeable."

 

I am eager to have it rolling on its build axles that have been prepped and sitting next to it for the longest time.

 

After hum-hoing the LA/SA thing, I decided that LA isn't the way to go for me, this truck will most likely be a weekend warrior anyway, SA will do. I am a proponent of spending good money where you need to, and this is also the case. I placed the order with Dirk at DPG a couple days ago, and now am at a crossroad.

 

Parts ordered:

OME coils (I told him I didn't think OME made these in a 4.5" flavor, he reassured me he had something)

OME Shocks

JKS Adjustable UCA's

JKS Adjustable LCA's

JKS Adjustable trackbar

JKS Quicker Disconnects

DPG offroad Disco Cables

DPG offroad bumpstops

RE CA drop brackets

 

So... Now for the rear. The D44 I have is an MJ specific one, and is set up for SOA/SUA with perches still on both sides. I sent an email off to Tom over at Hell Creek for prices and availability on springs. He said the lead time on springs is about 3 weeks, and the factory will be closed until the 10th. I have some time to mull this over. Dirk said we will wait until the rear springs are in until we order rear shocks, since we have some options depending on height.

 

My next decision is what to do. This is where I wanted to spit ball with the guys who I trust. I want to keep the truck useable without making it ride like a dump truck. I haven't talked to Tom about spring rates yet, but have been tossing a few things around.

 

A: Order 4.5" Lift springs for the back, keep it SUA, and hope it doesn't ride like a gravel truck. Maybe someone who has the HC 4.5" springs can chime in about the ride or just some insight.

 

B: Order 3" Lift springs for the back, keep it SUA, and use Chevy drop shackles to get the extra height. This may be a good option just in case the front lift comes out a little shy of 4.5". The movement of the shackle might help tune the height to match, as well as using a less aggressive lift spring may help the ride. I don't want to have negative effects from the shackle affecting pinion angle either though.

 

C: Go SOA with 2WD leaf packs. Use the other perches on the axle to go SOA, and use 2WD packs to keep the SOA to a minimum. I know this may possibly put me up closer to 6". I could use XJ shackles to bring it down some, but even then, it may not be enough. Of the options, this is the one I want to stay away from if possible... Unless someone sways me.

 

So what say you?

Rob

 

 

[ComancheKid45]

I vote for 3" Springs and Drop Shackles. Should give you a nice firm classic Jeep ride but not jar out your teeth everytime you run over a pebble. ;)  

[neohic]

After a conversation with Neohic..."Those longbeds are just so... Long. Might as well make it 4.5" and 33's to make it noticeable."

 

:laughin: Something like that... what a train.

[shelbyluvv]

I have 4.5" HC packs on my SWB. It rides like a gravel truck. I attribute 90% of the crappy ride to the white rocket F250 shocks I have in the rear. I have the PNs for OME shocks that will hopefully smooth it out. I an hesitate on spending $150+ on shocks as an experiment. I have also been looking into RS9000s because I can dial in the ride to what I want.

[ggcnash]

Do not have 4.5" ,but can say the 3" rides great after break in I'm running bilsteins in rear. I've actually just got a pair of GM drop shackles for XMAS will be putting them on in the next week or so can report back then. I will also add that the 3" springs gave me a little over 4"s of lift in the beginning but now after several big loads in rear and time it has settled to around 3.5".

[Automan2164]

Bo, how long have you had those leaves in? Many miles on them? Did you happen to measure the actual gain of lift? Any pictures of it out in the wild before/after?

 

ggcnash, did you run any other shocks besides the bilsteins? Any pictures of the truck before/after?

 

Thanks,
Rob

[Automan2164]

Emailed Tom, and I'm glad I did. This was his response to my questioning ride/spring rates.

 

 

Hi, Rob,

 

The 4.5” springs are what I am using on my daily driver MJ.  The rear springs are the same configuration as the factory 1440 lb. capacity 4 + 1 leaf springs.  They don’t ride quite as smoothly as the 3 + 1 leaf springs that came on the truck, but I am well pleased with the ride.  Our 3” lift springs are actually the same configuration as our 4.4” springs, just with less arch.  If you are looking for a level-looking truck, you might consider what BLHTAZ did:  he used our 3” rear springs with his 4.5” front springs.  Our rear springs are designed to give your truck the factory 1.5” rear rake with the corresponding front springs.  The real test of ride quality is as the Packard slogan stated, “Ask the man who owns one.”

 

Thanks,

Tom

[shelbyluvv]

Rob,

They have been on the truck for over 5 years. The pics are in the Onyx build thread. I actually gained almost 5.5" of lift. Onyx was a 2wd Eliminator I converted to 4wd. After about 6 months they settled down about 3/4". They are still holding well to this day. I love the HC springs. Like I said I think the ride all comes down to crappy shocks.

[ggcnash]

Excuse mess one of dads rent homes/projects neways this is right after install,my profile pic is the original state.I also have added 1" spacers to the 3.5" RE coils in front since this pic and now that the rear has had time to break in it sets pretty lvl. Got some pics of its original height in build thread that I need to update. The truck was converted from a 2wd with worn stock springs so the actual lift was even more than I mentioned. I was able to obtain a pretty good measurement from my fathers 88 4wd MJ which he put new stock springs on about 5yrs ago. As far as shocks go, no I haven't run anything else just the bilsteins.