JeepinLee
Builder of all things covered in rust
- Joined
- Mar 7, 2024
- Member Number
- 7583
- Messages
- 5
Well its my first post in this community so go easy on me but I figured is start a thread on this old cj7 that I'm helping friend build. Were doing this as cheap as physically possible while also stretching the wheel base and lowering the jeep 3 inches so it will still fit into a garage when 40s go on in the future. Starting point is your basic cj7 with spring over conversion on stock axles, 37s, and yj leaf conversion kit. End goal is 18-20 inches to the belly and 102-104 inch wheel base.
We found a set of axles with a Chevy king pin for the front and a 14 bolt in the back. they were already geared with 4.88s, spool in the rear, ratchet locker up front, and a old blue torch fab high steer arm with tie rod and drag link. grand total = 1500
We started in the front of the jeep to get that axle set and stretched to see if the idea to lower the jeep with spring over was even possible. For the first Barnes 4wd parts order included 4 inch shackles, a set of shackle hangers, their king pin swap kit, and new high steer studs because 2 out of the 4 studs where broke. grand total of a 230ish bucks
Tearing down begins.
Trying to visualize there the new hangers are going to live. We ended up just reusing part of the old hangers for now. Once again this is trying to be done for next to nothing so reusing as much as possible and making all the other bracketry.
New hangers I came up with welder the nut side into the frame and had the outer piece made from the old hanger. I'm sure ill get some push back for this and it might not be the best way but I didn't want to chop up the frame since the likely hood of this all coming off for links in the next couple years is pretty high.
front hanger location mock up. Ended up mounting them a smidge lower then pictured
My buddy refused to give up his Motobilt Bumper, so I went to town with a grinder. Now that it fits again Im pretty happy we stayed with using it because it helps hide how forward the front hangers are mounted
And of course the flex test. Ended up with 4 inches of up travel and just shy of 10 inches of down travel before the shackle inverts. I'm still thinking about adding a stopper to make sure it doesn't ever invert. The drag link isn't connected in the picture.
We found a set of axles with a Chevy king pin for the front and a 14 bolt in the back. they were already geared with 4.88s, spool in the rear, ratchet locker up front, and a old blue torch fab high steer arm with tie rod and drag link. grand total = 1500
We started in the front of the jeep to get that axle set and stretched to see if the idea to lower the jeep with spring over was even possible. For the first Barnes 4wd parts order included 4 inch shackles, a set of shackle hangers, their king pin swap kit, and new high steer studs because 2 out of the 4 studs where broke. grand total of a 230ish bucks
Tearing down begins.
Trying to visualize there the new hangers are going to live. We ended up just reusing part of the old hangers for now. Once again this is trying to be done for next to nothing so reusing as much as possible and making all the other bracketry.
New hangers I came up with welder the nut side into the frame and had the outer piece made from the old hanger. I'm sure ill get some push back for this and it might not be the best way but I didn't want to chop up the frame since the likely hood of this all coming off for links in the next couple years is pretty high.
front hanger location mock up. Ended up mounting them a smidge lower then pictured
My buddy refused to give up his Motobilt Bumper, so I went to town with a grinder. Now that it fits again Im pretty happy we stayed with using it because it helps hide how forward the front hangers are mounted
And of course the flex test. Ended up with 4 inches of up travel and just shy of 10 inches of down travel before the shackle inverts. I'm still thinking about adding a stopper to make sure it doesn't ever invert. The drag link isn't connected in the picture.
