Spring Over write up

[2pwrlftrs4u]

i read past threads for an hour and used "search" found some good info but i am looking for a complete write up on the spring over conversion. do any of you have a link. thanks in advance from afghanistan. :usflag:

[Joe Dillard]

This isn't going to be what you wanna hear, but.......

Each write-up will be different due to each SOA conversion starts out with various mods already installed - plus each SOA is done a bit differently component choice wise.

I've seen a good share of write-ups that were excellent - and some that were below poor, plus lots in between.

What you may possibly end-up doing is sorting through all the stuff & applying the items that are of interest/value to what you are going to do.

What exact components are you going to use/add, and what are the end goals?

Also, you can try typing "SOA conversion" into Yahoo/Google etc, and come up with all sorts of write-ups.

Here's just one example link:

http://www.jedi.com/obiwan/jeep/soa.html

My research & component gathering took about 5 months and the work about 2 weeks to complete. Plus I've dialed it in with a few other items/modifications afterwards once I saw where improvements were needed or required.

[chef]

i didn't use any one writeup while researching mine, just read every thread i came across having to do with the subject. seemed to have worked well, it's held up for a year and a half now. Run a couple of the Hammers trails, lots of the local stuff, no problems. If you've got specific questions post up. There's a lot of ways to go about the whole conversion and a lot of opinions on each component.

[2pwrlftrs4u]

i know there is more to it than the spring over kit supplies. i am still in the decision making process of what i will buy, TJ/YJ. i have owned a YJ. i am leaning toward the another YJ 92-95. i am looking into doing shackle rev/spring over. i want to end up w/about 6" lift... would like to run 35's. thanks for the suggestions

[2pwrlftrs4u]

This isn't going to be what you wanna hear, but.......

Each write-up will be different due to each SOA conversion starts out with various mods already installed - plus each SOA is done a bit differently component choice wise.

I've seen a good share of write-ups that were excellent - and some that were below poor, plus lots in between.

What you may possibly end-up doing is sorting through all the stuff & applying the items that are of interest/value to what you are going to do.

What exact components are you going to use/add, and what are the end goals?

Also, you can try typing "SOA conversion" into Yahoo/Google etc, and come up with all sorts of write-ups.

Here's just one example link:

http://www.jedi.com/obiwan/jeep/soa.html

My research & component gathering took about 5 months and the work about 2 weeks to complete. Plus I've dialed it in with a few other items/modifications afterwards once I saw where improvements were needed or required.


would it be safe to say i can do this for around 1500.00 (not including wheels/tires) just talking the SOA.

[angrykid]

would it be safe to say i can do this for around 1500.00 (not including wheels/tires) just talking the SOA.

you should be able to do it for a lot cheaper ; )
last year I found a deal, dude parting out his YJ, I bought both axles off him already setup for SOA & his tcase already had 4:1 in it... also bought a set of 37" boggers off him. all that for the price you said ; )
specs are in the sig.
friend and I are going to a local u-pull-it scrap yard to find him some nice axles to fix up for his.. I think the place will let us take one complete for $15 :brows:
hope its true!

[2pwrlftrs4u]

you should be able to do it for a lot cheaper ; )
last year I found a deal, dude parting out his YJ, I bought both axles off him already setup for SOA & his tcase already had 4:1 in it... also bought a set of 37" boggers off him. all that for the price you said ; )
specs are in the sig.
friend and I are going to a local u-pull-it scrap yard to find him some nice axles to fix up for his.. I think the place will let us take one complete for $15 :brows:
hope its true!

i was thinking cheaper also but you know how you have to plan ahead when you budget builds... my bud planed 3k on a axle swap on a tacoma and went 5k into it....

[angrykid]

i was thinking cheaper also but you know how you have to plan ahead when you budget builds... my bud planed 3k on a axle swap on a tacoma and went 5k into it....

I know what you mean dude... when I got these parts.. I ended up re-building both axles ; ( cost me about... 700 extra on the rear... and 200 on the front... also threw in a 2wd low into the tcase for 75. it adds up fast ; (
the leaf springs were the cheapest but still cost me another 100 bucks.
also, I broke my power steering reservoir when I did the lift.... so I had to junk yard search a new one. that cost some money

[LeadFoot]

There really isn't too much to it. Make sure the axle is centered left to right, and when you think your close, leave the perches tacked on, and let the weight down on the springs. Check pinion angle, double check everything else, lift back up, and weld on. Do shock mounts same way, just flex the axle to check for compression/droop to measure for shocks. To get it moving, you don't even need a traction bar. Brake lines...measure for a new shaft, your good to go!

[trailblazer95]

i've been researching it as well, there are a couple "bolt-on" kits, from full-traction, and rocky road outfitters, but no one really seems to like them because they don't require welding and they aren't hardcore enough. since i can't weld very good myself, i plan on having someone do mine, i'd like to find someone who knows about the way they should be set up. most 4x4 shops can help you out there, or check your local 4x4 club. usually you'll find someone who knows what they're doing. Although there seems to be a lot more involved than just the perches. driveshaft mods, traction bar, steering correction, etc.

the thought of SOA front and SUA rear has been floating around also, seen some pretty positive results.

Keep researching!

[angrykid]

yea I dont know why people stay SUA rear.... I think thats the biggest waste ; (
bolt on kits are no good dont trust something thats not securely bonded.. as metal to metal as possible.
the harder part of SOA is probably the front... getting the perches set right to maintain proper caster while having a good pinion angle. rear is easy, its ALL about the pinion angle ; )

[zman]

yea I dont know why people stay SUA rear.... I think thats the biggest waste

Come out to Moab and I will show you why. My SOA rear bounces like a superball on the steep grades. There were obsticles that I could do easier with my 3"SUA kit than I can with my SOA. Here in the local AZ washes my SOA does better due to ground clearance. I am actually considering changing my SOA in the rear to SUA.

You should be able to do a decent SOA for around $1500. Don't be surprised if you spend a little more. It's not uncommon to do some changes within the first 5 months.

zman

[angrykid]

yea it probably is really due to the terrain you go over.
you know why your rig bounces right ; )
going up the right incline where I offroad.... mine will bounce too
I believe thats the traction bar over-doing its job right ; )
keeping the leafs from twisting but putting too much downward force.

[jkirisits]

I have to date:

Ford 8.8.... $300
front and rear perches.... $50
drop pitman arm... $40
all welding... $50
WJ knuckles... $150
8.8 brakes... $168
terra manu. ess... $450 (with cv driveshaft)
5 35" tires ... $500


what I am trying to say... it adds up quick. I started this with a $2000 budget. Plan for more...

JOhn

[Hackle]

I watched Extreme 4x4 on Spike TV last weekend and they showed how to do a SOA for $50 :bangtard:
What a bunch of fools. and to think they are putting this type of info on TV :not4me:

[2pwrlftrs4u]

i am studying the shopping list close. i plan on having all the parts/SOA kit waiting on me when i get home in feb/mar 2006. thanks for the help

[LeadFoot]

I watched Extreme 4x4 on Spike TV last weekend and they showed how to do a SOA for $50 :bangtard:
What a bunch of fools. and to think they are putting this type of info on TV :not4me:


You can do an SOA for 50 bucks. Re route front hard lines under frame. Theres 4". Bend the metal tab in the back down for the rear brakes. Drop the t-case an inch or so. Rotate rear pinion up and weld on new perches and shock mounts. What else is there for a street cruiser? Notice.....they didn't tell how to do it properly, but to do a basic soa? Pretty cheap actually.

[Joe Dillard]

would it be safe to say i can do this for around 1500.00 (not including wheels/tires) just talking the SOA.
What you can do for ~$1500 towards this project (almost nothing of real value is known at this point, and much too vague input still to give a seasoned input) and what almost anybody else could do with $1500 is a gamble to do it 1/2 way right.

Nope - in no way, shape, or form, could that be safe for me to say.

You have not listed what components you will buy. Nor have you listed what you already have installed. Only that you mentioned some sort of "kit", and a shackle reversal.

Things are MUCH too vague at this point for anybody with a good game plan to take bait & say ~$1500 will do the trick, ESPECIALLY when labor charges might be added which haven't been mentioned. I smell something fishy here.

[2pwrlftrs4u]

"I smell something fishy here."

uh... nothing fishy. just trying to get a good idea of what this will cost. no labor charges, i will do all work, even gears/lockers set up. i was looking at another YJ v/s buying a TJ. i was about to start buying parts to do SFA (D44)swap on my 04 tacoma and decided to buy another jeep as a trail vehicle. i know you can not say exactly what i can/cant do for that amount of money, but i was looking for ball park figures or what others have spent. thanks for the help the link you provided helped explain some things.

[Rufjeep]

Well, here's the estimated costs on my recent build up. This is a basic SOA with a SR, useing YJ springs & D44 axles:
4 35" tires -$400
4 15X10 6 lug rims-$100
Dana 44 front & rear axles $200
4.56 gears $250
Master install kits $150
Aussie Lockers $450
Bearings, seals, gear lube, etc $150
Spring perches $30
F350 shock towers $20
Ling travel Bisteins $110 (Front)
Rear driveshaft (built from XJ front shaft) $25
Long slip front shaft $225
Rear shocks...free
Ladder bar...$25 for bushings, 1.5" DOM $20
brake lines $30
Springs $100
Shackles $10
Shackle reversal mounts ($20 worth of steel)
Misc crap (nuts, bolts, paint, gear lube, etc) $100
hi-steer arms, hardware, milling knuckles, etc $250
TRE's for hi-steer, DOM inserts, and tube...$200
Reverse reamed TJ pitman arm $50

So, even doing all the work yourself & looking for deals it is easy to sink $2500 in a rig that isn't going to make any magazine covers. There are plenty of areas to cut costs, but IMO this is a reasonable cost to properly address issues such as steering, driveshafts, gearing, etc.

[angrykid]

and with that, you'd have a pretty reliable setup that wont cause you any tremendous problems down the road ; )
cheers (assuming welder's skills) ;p

[DPTDAWG]

And I've got almost 5k into mine and its not done yet. And I still don't have tires/wheels.
HP D44 front, detroit, 4.88s
9" rear, detroit, 4.88s, Truehigh 9 3rd member
custom flat skid
custom tank
custom Alcan springs
high steer conversion
and the list goes on...

All depends on what you want/can afford to do.

[angrykid]

sounds like you're affording the right stuff ; )

[DPTDAWG]

sounds like you're affording the right stuff ; )
That remains to be seen :eyemo: . It hasn't been off jackstands in quite a while. Hoping to have it ready for test runs by the end of June.

[2pwrlftrs4u]

and with that, you'd have a pretty reliable setup that wont cause you any tremendous problems down the road ; )
cheers (assuming welder's skills) ;p

is there any one kit you would suggest buying. is there a certian one that has more included than any others? thanks again

[angrykid]

a spring over kit > ?
get parts from like.... mountain off road express I think they are, MORE, spring pads and shock mount brackets and u-bolts bent to fit your axle tube diameter and long enough to fit your leaf pack in. get some extended brake lines and you should be set. also some kinda antiswaybar linkup if you still want that.