Wishbone Runner's Build

Cool, good to know. I will be doing more than just plating though, mine are annihilated, and I plan to cut them out and french them into the frame, as well as plate them with as much surface area as possible to the frame to distribute the forces.

 

Hey what engine do you have? Someone asked on my youtube video. lol

 

The 4.0 6 banger, zero performance mods.

 

Cool thats what I thought!

 

Got my Metal Tech speced Icon VS 2.0s installed, I will put the springs on after I finish the links.

OME vs Icon






They have about 3.5" of shaft left with Superflex springs, I expect the MT springs to give back another 2" or so of lift, which should leave me sitting on about 5" of up and and 6.5" droop. I plan to build some shin guards similar to the Icon ones for these guys once I get all my other projects under control.





Made some progress on the bumper as well, got everything tacked together. Up next, cut and install the hitch receiver tube, and then fully weld everything and grind smooth, a final fitment and then paint!

 

Bumper's looking great!

 

Thanks, I haven't driven the damn thing in like a month, I am ready for this to be done so I can break in the new suspension.

 

Almost ready to get er back on wheels. Finished up the bumper, links and springs this weekend.

 

Did a test fit of the new tires with the new Icons as well, looks like I should have plenty of clearance with these and even a size up as well, the body lift definitely gave me a nice cushion to work with.

 

Shocks are at full stuff, I will need to drop the bumps a few inches to avoid bottoming them, which was expected with the MT kit. Eventually I plan to relocate the top mounts up a bit and get back that up travel.




I also trimmed up the rear fender wells for tons of clearance, and again for bigger tires down the road. First trimmed them, then tacked, ground and painted. The welding was tough, as the metal is quite thin and there is rubber liner between the layers, which caught flame pretty quick.

 

Finally got the truck back on its wheels this weekend for the first time in a month, bumper finished, extended brake lines installed, rear suspension put back together, a few issues on the way though. The bumper clearance on the body was not where I wanted it, so had to take it off and do some grinding and then repaint, will get it mounted up this week. Installed extended brake lines for the extra droop on the new rear setup, got the ones from the group buy, 3/4 of the factory nuts on the hard lines were stripped though so I needed to cut the hard lines, put on new nuts and then reflare the lines which was a PITA, hope to never have to do that again.

Getting the new MT springs with a Daystar spacer on the driver side was a bitch, had to disconnect shock, upper and lower links to get the axle to droop enough to get them in, passenger was much easier, just dropped the lower link. Fabbed up some bump stop drops that are needed with the MT speced Icons, the ones MT sells with the kit are 3" drop, I cycled the suspension and came up with 2.5" drops, which I can easily adjust for additional up travel once I relocate the shocks top mounts by moving the bumps in on the brackets by drilling new mounting holes.

Here we go; test fit for the Hankooks, centered in the wheel well by the adjustable lower lower links, should clear the bumper once I get more up travel back, but if not I made it in a way that it will be easy to trim and get more clearance.





Mock up, template, test fit of the bumps, I have them drilled and painted, just need to put them back on.














Finally, test drive! Found a loading ramp to check out the new flex, ran out of room on the ramp, and also did not have the bumps on so I couldn't push it to the full flex, I will need to find a better spot to see what it is capable of.

 

A few guys on the FJ forum put spacers on top of both MT coils so they hit the bumps less often, not sure if you saw that one or not or if it interests you at all. You already know how difficult it is to put the coils on with spacers on top.

 

Your dyanpro ATMs are 32s right?

Regardless that flex is looking good

Did you happen to get of picutre of how bent the old lower links are? It'd be interesting to see them off the truck.

 

I did know about doing both, but then I am still back to having the lean. Also, hitting the bumps isn't the problem, it's over compressing the shock, and adding the spacer on top of the spring really just limits the up travel even more. The right fix is to move the top mount up, which will be done, eventually.

Yup, they are 265s, just under 32". Thanks man, ready to get some real flex on the trail.

I don't have any pics taken, but i will get some LOL. One of them is pretty bad. My slider mounts are also pretty bent, glad I took them off and will weld them on this to around.

 

Bumper complete. Overall pretty happy with it being my first welding and metal work project, fit is not perfect, and some of the welds are not the prettiest, but I learned a ton and will take that knowledge to the front that I will start on next.

I was able to retain the spare mounting system, it sits on the welded in crossmember in the rear, and while I wont wheel with a tire mounted down there, it will work for road trips, and it will fit inside for offroad adventures until I build a hitch mount tire carrier, and eventually add a swingout to the bumper itself. Plus I could probably fit like a 37" bogger down there LOL, the limit being the width inside the frame rails which is 39" IIRC.

 

Drove it around yesterday for the first time in nearly a month, felt good to be back on the road! Overall with the new suspension the ride is a bit firmer than with the OME/Toytec, but should be about perfect once I get the additional weight back on with sliders, bumper and skids. Rear sway was also removed when the new setup went in, no noticeable difference during around town driving, haven;t gotten on the highway yet though, but I suspect the stiffer springs F&R as well as better dampening are going to make it stable enough to leave it off for good.

Next projects are to start on the front bumper, maybe this weekend, and get the sliders blasted, painted and welded back on. Also found out last night when trying to get an alignment that my front LCA bushings are seized, so could not get the caster into spec Replacing those looks to be a giant PITA, and I will probably hold off on taking that on until next winter.

 

the bumper looks good to me. cant wait to see that front bumper.

 

Great work on that bumper James, looks great man

 

Looks amazing man! Great job especially considering it was your first major project!

 

Thanks guys, it was a lot of work, but worth it in the end.