Round spring project, almost there!

[ChrisO]

I'm putting the finishing touches on the YJ rear suspension/F8.8 project. Here is some spy photos of the junk I'm messing with:




And the upper shock mounts:



I'm hoping to have this project driveable in a month or so. Been too long!!!

[Allen]

It looks like an alien craft!

Is that a truss?

If so, that's very interesting. Very little welding, adjustable in case you are slightly off with measurements, and pretty strong.

I like all the shock options you got!

Also, what gears are in your Atlas II?

What are you rinning up front axle wise? Coils or leafs?

Allen

[Robert J. Yates]

Very nice Chris.

[JMyerz]

So chris,

How much for set of those neat shock mounts

they look like the perfect solution to my newly aquired shock "problem"

Justin

[Hellbender]

Nice work! (And lots of it!!)

Please explain the hiem jointed truss arms.

HB

[ChrisO]

Originally posted by Allen
It looks like an alien craft!

Is that a truss?

If so, that's very interesting. Very little welding, adjustable in case you are slightly off with measurements, and pretty strong.

I like all the shock options you got!

Also, what gears are in your Atlas II?

What are you rinning up front axle wise? Coils or leafs?

Allen

The truss is just a way of pre-loading the housing. When I had the housing in my jig/fixture with the alignment bar, it was slightly out of straight. With the adjustable truss, I could "crank" it to where I needed it to be, without welding and possible more distortion. Plus, the heims are the same size (5/8") as my steering linkage, so those are my spares!

My Atlas is the "Currie" case (which means it can be clocked to flat) and I got it with 3.8 ratio and the 32 spline front output shaft.

The front axle is a D30HP, Warn shafts, 5 on 5-1/2" hub conversion, 4.56 R&P, Detriot Locker. Suspension is Old Man Emu leafs, SOA. For now.

My next project will be to coil it, and still kicking around different axle combos. Leaning toward a Ford 9" housing with a Currie 8.8 HP center, but not sure what I want to do for knuckles/joints.

I'm gonna get this thing together and drive it for a while!

[ChrisO]

Originally posted by JMyerz
So chris,

How much for set of those neat shock mounts

they look like the perfect solution to my newly aquired shock "problem"

Justin

Email me and we'll talk!

[Paradiddle]

I like all the speed holes - you've added at least 35 horse power to your YJ!!! Very nice work.

Jeff

[slander]

YOU TRADOR!!!!!!!

J/k, looks sweet man, im the last person to be asking, but does that thing have LCA's on it?? Nice jeep man, im very intrested to see what the finished project looks like.

Geoff- Coil spring inept

[ChrisO]

Originally posted by slander
YOU TRADOR!!!!!!!

J/k, looks sweet man, im the last person to be asking, but does that thing have LCA's on it?? Nice jeep man, im very intrested to see what the finished project looks like.

Geoff- Coil spring inept

Hey, get it correct. I'm just half a TRADOR! . The front is still leafs, for the present time. I'm not going as far as round headlights, though!!!

Here is the fronf view:

[William]

I really dig the exhaust routing you've done.

A few questions if you have a moment:

How much body lift do you have?

Do you run into any heat issues from the exhaust pipe? Specifically around the tub area.. with concern for passengers at that point..

How long have you had this in this way?

Does the location of the exhaust have any effect of it blowing back into the jeep at all that you've noticed?

[ChrisO]

Originally posted by William
I really dig the exhaust routing you've done.

A few questions if you have a moment:

How much body lift do you have?

Do you run into any heat issues from the exhaust pipe? Specifically around the tub area.. with concern for passengers at that point..

How long have you had this in this way?

Does the location of the exhaust have any effect of it blowing back into the jeep at all that you've noticed?

No body lift.

I dunno! Just built it and haven't fired up the engine in 7 months!
I have built other Jeeps with the exhaust kicking out the side and so far have not had any complaints about heat. It is a bit louder, however.

In my case, I pushed the rear axle back 5 inches, so had plenty of room to run it there. With the upper links, it would have been real tough to snake it through there with-out contact. Plus, with the custom fuel tank I designed, it can now take all the room between frame rails, and not loose too much capacity, since the exhaust no longer needs to be there.

For more details on the F8.8 check out the article on my site here:
http://www.code4x4.com/projects/axle_88/axle_88.html

[mrblaine]

Originally posted by ChrisO
Hey, get it correct. I'm just half a TRADOR! . The front is still leafs, for the present time. I'm not going as far as round headlights, though!!!

Here is the fronf view:

I'm real interested in how the rear traction is with the links mounted at the centerline of the tube. I've had an internal debate over the engineering on that one for a loong time.

Looks very nice Chris.

I do think that someone needs to take away your dimpling dies though.

[Daless2]

Very nice Chris,

I'm sure you can't wait to get it all finished up and out the door to wheel. Please keep us posted as to how it all works out on the trail and on the road.

Frank

[bart]

Very cool. I must have missed this thread when you first posted.


I like the mounting options for the upper links - playing with AS? The lowers mount up even with the frame for a nice smooth belly.

You got some extra wheelbase - I would like to know more about your gas tank. Did you you cut the floor? Does it use the stock pickup, etc?

Are those 35s or 37s? How much clearance under the diff? Wanna rework my bent 8.8 like that??

How wide would you say the axle has to be to use shock mounts like that?

You can email me if you prefer. Thanks.

-Bart

[ChrisO]

Originally posted by bart
I like the mounting options for the upper links - playing with AS? The lowers mount up even with the frame for a nice smooth belly. You got some extra wheelbase - I would like to know more about your gas tank. Did you you cut the floor? Does it use the stock pickup, etc? Are those 35s or 37s? How much clearance under the diff? Wanna rework my bent 8.8 like that?? How wide would you say the axle has to be to use shock mounts like that?

Bart,
Yes, I built in the adjustablity for A/S.

I added 5" to the WB.

I have designed the tank to use the stock pick-up/sender and baffeled it like the factory did. It's being made from .125" aluminum with a .250" bottom. Full width is 33" but is is only 8" front to back, 11" deep (with a tapered back for clearance and a "notch" for future anti-sway bar). It will fit under the floor so no floor mods are needed. I still have a tool box and rear seat in my Jeep (gotta take the wife & kid ).

37" on 15x8's.

Email me for the work on your F8.8.

My WMS to WMS is 65". And yes, you need that kinda width to run the shocks outside the frame with no frame notching). My tires just barily rub the shocks at full stuff.

I'll post more pics later as work progresses (fuel tank etc.)

KOJ,
Chris O

[mckeddie]

Originally posted by ChrisO
Bart,

My WMS to WMS is 65". And yes, you need that kinda width to run the shocks outside the frame with no frame notching). My tires just barily rub the shocks at full stuff.

you just answered my question. i'm runnning 66.5" WMS to WMS, with mine outboarded like yours, and mine just hit at full stuff, no probs from it, just hard to keep paint on em and looking nice. it looks sweet, real sweet. can't wait to see it done.

greg