TJ Long Arm Build

[Casey L]

2003 TJ Rubicon

[05rckymtn]

Nice...whats the game plan??

Looks like a great work area you have there.....good lighting.   I'll be watching.

[Ian]

Nice!

Are those your scales?

[Corey G.]

It's about time!

This is gonna be sweet.. Let me know if you want a hand with it.

[SPYDER]

ok since nobody else asked...are you building your own kit or did you buy something?  details, I need details.  and don't forget the swaybar disco's...

[jps4jeep]

Happy for you Casey! let me know if you need help with something, I have no time and will probably have an excuse, but internet offering has to be worth something.  Also if you have a girlfriend, make sure she helps, while wearing a bikini. pictures to prove help would be appreciated.

[Casey L]

The scales belong to a friends friend. He races older VW's or used to.

The plan? This is my "do it once, do it right" build thread.

Everything will be custom. I bought a ton of parts to get me going from ballistic. I believe I will have what is called a mid arm rear 4 link, similar to claytons. I am using 2.625" 1.25-12 johny joints at the frame end and OEM cleivite bushings at the axle end. The front will be a long arm 3 link with the same end conditions on the links except the upper link will share the driver side upper control arm mount on the pumpkin. I will replace the bushing with a johny joint. The trackbar will be custom as well, using johny joints on both ends.




I spent most of today removing all these oem brackets that I did not like. It was still a bit of a pain even with the torch. 


By the end of the day all of the rear brackets have been removed. I still need to grind down the welds flush and fill some holes where I pierced through the frame with the torch. 

[Casey L]

I wanted some inspiration so I tacked the rear together.



Im thinking that my lower mounts are a little low. I bought these combo ballistic brackets to make my job easier, but in order to use them I have to do about a 1" body lift' or heavily notch the body.

I never really realized how little space I have to work with in the rear. I can see how much better an LJ or a JK would be for a rear long arm. As of right now I am thinking about a 30" long rear LCA and a 36" front LCA

[Ian]

there's nothing wrong with a 1 inch body lift

[Casey L]

Monday starts off with this little problem. Last week I removed the spring retainer mount. My plan was to use the ballistic spring and shock adjustable combo bracket. My problem is that this mount is rediculously large and would never work for my application.


Sam Finch, of Finch Welding and Fabrication (Westford, MA) was able to repair my OEM mount that I hacked off. Sam is a much better fabricator than I and was able to stich the mount back together.




Good as new. A good lesson in thinking before I go crazy with the torch.



The rear mounts fit nicely here. There is an indentation in the tub right above the mounts so with a 1.25" body lift there shouldnt be any rubbing.


Got started on the rear axle as well. Anyone have any recomendations on a truss design? I am debating on either using 2x2x.25 box (like a 1st gen claytons truss) or getting a little more intricate with some .25" plate.

[Ian]

https://artecindustries.3dcartstores.com/mobile/home.asp?#page-65

[SPYDER]

I second Ian's opinion....artec is the

[Krome]

Wanna sell those rims and tires ? :-)

[Corey G.]

Is it done yet?!?!

[Krome]

Please wear safety goggles when working on anything. Please.