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Green Hell...the Never Ending Project

Discussion in 'Builds and Fabricators Forum' started by johneyboy03, Nov 6, 2011.

  1. Nov 6, 2011
    johneyboy03

    johneyboy03 The green beast

    Quebec, Canada
    Joined:
    Jan 15, 2011
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    2,115
    Hi guy's, i'm planning to do a front coil spring conversion on my jeep cj5 1975.

    For now here my setup.
    Amc 360
    t-18
    dana 20

    I"m using 33 inch tire, i dont want to get bigger

    For now i'm just planning the work to do and doing research to do the best job i could.

    I'm starting with a dana 44 from a international scout. I'm gonna cut the axle 3 inch shorter on the long side axle shaft and replace the stock inner axle by a ford bronco 1971-77 inner axle shaft. For the rear i'm gonna use some 1.25 spacer to get the front dana 44 lenght. I'm also changing the caster angle, turning the dana knuckkle. I will need to know the good angle to give to the knukkle.

    For the coil conversion i'll use the the radius arm system from a ford bronco that i'm going to modify for my application.



    I'm going to cut the radius arm and use only the part that goes on the axle. From here i will use a 1.5 inch dom with .5 inch wall that i'm gonna insert into the radius arm, weld and bolt up everything. The goal is to use the radius arm axle attachement system and his coil bucket but to use a johnny joint because the stock bushing system from the bronco radius arm limit the flex.

    suspension 2.JPG


    Anyone ahve any concern about my idea?
     
    Last edited: Sep 2, 2016
  2. Nov 6, 2011
    sherpa

    sherpa Member

    Mooresville NC
    Joined:
    Sep 25, 2011
    Messages:
    87
    Will you be driving this on road? If so the shock transfer thru the joints are going to make for a very harsh ride. And they really arent needed if wheel travel will be less then 10-12 inches (given a radius arm that will be atleast 20"long), you cound run a poly-urethane barrel bushing and improve ride dramatically. Im not knocking the idea by no means, just something to think about

    I love the idea, over the winter I am going to be doing the same on my cj5 utlizing 10" coilovers (maybe or factory JK springs) but using land rover discovery 2 radius arms, they mount to the axle with brackets instead of the wedge the ford style uses.

    Good luck!!
     
  3. Nov 6, 2011
    garage gnome

    garage gnome ECJ5 welder

    Western MA
    Joined:
    Jun 19, 2009
    Messages:
    3,083
    When I did my coil spring frame build, I used rod ends as my johnny joints. They are holding up very well and I love the coil springs on the Jalopy. Something you may want to think about is making your links adjustable. I have had to adjust mine several times to where I like it (and accidentally got rid of the death wobble R)). Stock Rubicon coil springs seem to work well too. Makes lifting the jeep easier in the future and replacements are cheap too.

    my $.02
     
  4. Nov 6, 2011
    johneyboy03

    johneyboy03 The green beast

    Quebec, Canada
    Joined:
    Jan 15, 2011
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    Hum i like the idea of the poly-urethame but couple of guy told me to use a rubber bushing that absord more shock transfert. The johny joint idea came for the flexibility. But i'm planning to do more on-road than off road.

    Yeah i did folow you're build topic about the new frame and you complete coil conversion you did. You did something aweson but i dont have youre building skill. The idea to use ford broncos radius arm is to take something that already prouve their capacity and adapt it to my jeep. The radius arm have the coil bucket bolted on it and i can use the stock track bar braket too. But you got a very good point about the ajustement fact.

    I've been told to use stock Tj coil spring for the front.
     
  5. Nov 7, 2011
    cj6/442

    cj6/442 Sponsor

    Fallbrook, Calif
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  6. Nov 7, 2011
    johneyboy03

    johneyboy03 The green beast

    Quebec, Canada
    Joined:
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    Hum not a bad idea...but i dont have the tools needed for this thing and i have a very low budget...but htnak for the idea :)
     
  7. Nov 9, 2011
    johneyboy03

    johneyboy03 The green beast

    Quebec, Canada
    Joined:
    Jan 15, 2011
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    Just found that on the internet, i'm gonna do the same with my radius arm

    [​IMG]
     
  8. Nov 9, 2011
    colojeepguy

    colojeepguy Colorado Springs

    At the foot of...
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    Apr 4, 2010
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    7,110
    Don't forget you'll need a panhard bar (like a Bronco uses) to position the axle side to side.
     
  9. Nov 10, 2011
    johneyboy03

    johneyboy03 The green beast

    Quebec, Canada
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    yeah i know thank for advice!!!
     
  10. Nov 10, 2011
    cj6/442

    cj6/442 Sponsor

    Fallbrook, Calif
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    you better double shear the point on the frame where the JJ will be , lot of stress on a wimpy jeep frame. EB frames are way thicker ,and actual spring placement will be key , you'll really have to stuff them inboard to alow the top of the tire to stuff in there ,and the drag link will be very cerative ...... good luck ,your being watched .:)
     
  11. Nov 10, 2011
    johneyboy03

    johneyboy03 The green beast

    Quebec, Canada
    Joined:
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    Hum my front dana 44 with be 4 inch larger than my stock widetrack axle. Normaly i will outboard the coil spring if i got the space for it. For the drag link i already seen couple guy who did it here and i got my idea.
     
  12. Nov 10, 2011
    johneyboy03

    johneyboy03 The green beast

    Quebec, Canada
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    Just think about something, what coul be the difference doing a rear coil spring conversion instead of a front one...
     
  13. Mar 9, 2012
    johneyboy03

    johneyboy03 The green beast

    Quebec, Canada
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    Ok well i'm bringing this post to life. I'm getting prepare for my project and it change a little bit

    I will do a complete 4 corner coil sprig swap using radius arm on the axle on i will put johnny joint on each arm. I will use my scout axle uncut to get the extra 5 inch widnt and i will lift the jeep around 5 inch. My arm will have something around 30-33 inch long and i will fab two panhard bar to complete the suspension. Him using oem jeep tj coil for my setup.

    Next week i'm starting working on both axle to get them prepare for the swap.
    Axle work list:
    -Dissamble the front axle ( i will use my dana 30 knukkle)
    -Grind the weld of the knukkle to give them the right caster angle
    -MOdification of the front axle passenger side to recieve the c-wedge of the bronco.
    -Take all the rust off the axle
    -Replace stock 3.07 gear by 3.73 and the rear going to receive a weld gear carrier.

    Pics will come!!!
     
    Last edited: Mar 9, 2012
  14. Mar 9, 2012
    TexasBlues

    TexasBlues JEEP-Hockey-Holic

    Marietta, GA
    Joined:
    Jun 5, 2007
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    529
    this sounds not only interesting... but WAY out MY league... this should be fun to watch

    :lurk:
     
  15. Mar 9, 2012
    johneyboy03

    johneyboy03 The green beast

    Quebec, Canada
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    Lot of trust on me here :dead horse:

    I'm a little scare to do that....i'm not able to say how it will be on the road.
    Hope i don't go strait on the wall with that kind of project but.

    I'll try to not disapoint you guy's!!!
     
  16. Mar 9, 2012
    cj6/442

    cj6/442 Sponsor

    Fallbrook, Calif
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    is it possible to get before and after pics of this jeep twisted ,so we can see how much you will gain?
     
  17. Mar 9, 2012
    johneyboy03

    johneyboy03 The green beast

    Quebec, Canada
    Joined:
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    Yeah good idea, but i wont be so much signifiant because my rear leaf are good for srapp metal but i'll do it with the lift at the shop!!!
     
  18. Mar 11, 2012
    Posimoto

    Posimoto Hopeless JEEP Addict

    Minden, Nevada
    Joined:
    Aug 7, 2003
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    4,538
    When I rotated the knuckles on my D30 the passenger side was no problem but the driver side was a real bear. The "C" had rough spots on it that made gouges on the axletube when it was pressed on. The gouges acted just like splines and no way could I get it to turn. In the end I ended up rigging my shop press so I could get the axle housing in it and I pressed the "C" off the end of the tube (with a fair amount of brute force), cleaned up the casting and the axle tube and then was able to rotate it easily. Just wasn't what I was expecting to have to go through. I took my axle housing to a machine shop and they mounted it in a monster lather and cut the welds loose on the "C's" for me. Hope you have better luck that I had.
     
  19. Mar 12, 2012
    johneyboy03

    johneyboy03 The green beast

    Quebec, Canada
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    Hum i hope i wont get that kind of problem but if it's the case there is a show here that can do it for me....in last resort.

    I took out all the part i need from the snow yesterday and i'm starting tonight working on axle preparation.
     
    Last edited: Mar 12, 2012
  20. Mar 12, 2012
    Posimoto

    Posimoto Hopeless JEEP Addict

    Minden, Nevada
    Joined:
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    Here's what I ended up with. I used a 12 ton press to get it off. Barely adequate.

    [​IMG]
     
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