Changing from post mount Springs

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tedlovesjeeps71
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Joined: Fri Jul 22, 2016 4:39 pm

Changing from post mount Springs

Post by tedlovesjeeps71 »

Figured I’d post this question here looking for thoughts.
The shop I’m at is currently “building” a ‘72 J4000 for a customer. Some of the modifications are swapping the dash and replacing the stock axles with ones from a 79 Cherokee chief. The internet is to make a little more user friendly truck the guy can enjoy and eventually pass on to his son.
The 4000 currently has the pin mounted leaf springs with the fronts being early narrow ones. Our donor chief has the wider springs (in much better shape) and are attached to the Dana 44s in an SOA configuration.
The issue is dealing with the pins. Cutting them off and building new mounting brackets seems the most straight forward idea. The question is height. If adding spring/shackle brackets under the frame it seems like it will be crazy tall.
Does anyone have any advice or (even better) links to where this has been well covered? My google isn’t turning much up that’s useful.
Figured since I’m just hanging out over the holiday I may as well do some homework.
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44bz
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Joined: Fri Jun 08, 2012 6:17 pm
Location: Oregon City, OR

Re: Changing from post mount Springs

Post by 44bz »

There was a j3000 built by Gambler68 that he converted to spring under frame on a Chevy front axle. I forget how much lift he ended up with but I think he had bald 36s with tons of room. It also had M715 fenders though.

Won’t the Cherokee axles be too narrow any way?


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1968 J2000 - AMC 327/T18/D20 (twin stick), stock D44s, 3" body lift, 35x12.50 Goodyear MTRs w/ Kevlar
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44bz
Posts: 1081
Joined: Fri Jun 08, 2012 6:17 pm
Location: Oregon City, OR

Changing from post mount Springs

Post by 44bz »

There was a j3000 built by Gambler68 that he converted to spring under frame on a Chevy front axle. His build is on ifsja but I’m sure all the photos are gone thanks to photobucket. I forget how much lift he ended up with but I think he had bald 36s with tons of room. It also had M715 fenders though.

Won’t the Cherokee axles be too narrow any way?


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1968 J2000 - AMC 327/T18/D20 (twin stick), stock D44s, 3" body lift, 35x12.50 Goodyear MTRs w/ Kevlar
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Cecil14
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Joined: Mon Oct 01, 2012 6:40 am

Re: Changing from post mount Springs

Post by Cecil14 »

Stock front axles were spring under to account for the extra lift of moving the springs under the frame. That's really your only option unless you want to have a ton of lift; even with stock springs, SOA is around at least 4-5" lift from everything I've ever seen.

As 44bz said, that Chero rear axle is going to be way too narrow, the front should be fine, though, provided it was a wide track.


aa
1983 J-10 - 4.6L(MPFI)/CS130D/Hydroboost/NV3550/D300/44/44/3.54/Disc-Disc/32s/42 gallon 'burb tank
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