1979 cj5 lift advice

[cumminsjeep]

i ha a 79 CJ5 and i just bought some 4in jeep lift springs and i am doing a full 1/8in tread plate body and redoing all the body mounts on it with a 1in body lift it has a chevy axel swap on it and a spring over. i am wonder what all i need to change when i put this 4in lift on it i know i need a drop pitman arm but what else do i need to change. such as

-drive line changes
-Transfer Case droping

what do i need to do i am on a budget
i can weld and have all the tools and steal to do whatever it takes

 

[IOPort51]

Brake hose length is the first thing that comes to mind.

And:ww:, glad to have you aboard.

 

[Petescj]

You'll need some new spring perches to weld on the axles ,a Transfer Case drop and some degree shims for the rear axle also. Dont know what was done with your steering without pics but odds are it was modified in some way
when the spring over was done that will need correcting.

 

[mylittlecj5]

i ha a 79 CJ5 and i just bought some 4in jeep lift springs and i am doing a full 1/8in tread plate body and redoing all the body mounts on it with a 1in body lift it has a chevy axel swap on it and a spring over. i am wonder what all i need to change when i put this 4in lift on it i know i need a drop pitman arm but what else do i need to change. such as

-drive line changes
-Transfer Case droping

what do i need to do i am on a budget
i can weld and have all the tools and steal to do whatever it takes

If you are really doing a 1/8th inch tread plate body, you better find some bigger springs or you will be driving a low-rider when you are done!
And just how big of tires are you going to run that you need 10+ inches of lift (around 6" for the spring-over and the 4" springs)? and where are you going to run it at?
Anyways..Its guaranteed you will need new driveshafts with that much lift on a CJ5 . And most likely new U-Joints every week... So to help that along...
Lessee... Rotate the differentials to compensate for the U-Joint angles. The front will have to be cut and turned to correct caster. CV shaft on the back, and a Transfer Case drop will help in the back. I'm sure you will have oiling problems back there, due to the extreme angle of the pinion, but you can live with that.
Wheel hop, due to the extreme lift and being a spring-over. Have you thought about any traction aiding/anti-hop devices?
Well, there is a start off the top of my head, and I know very little about this. Hopefully someone will chime in that knows what they are talking about soon...

 

[Petescj]

I was under the impression he was going spring under with 4 in. springs. But um if hes doing what you think , adding 4 in. lift springs to the s.o.a. not a good idea.

 

[cumminsjeep]

if i extend the frame and move my axel back farther will that help with the rear driveshaft angle and i am going to run probly just some 34 10.5 ltb superswampers

 

[Petescj]

Moving the rear axle back further would reduce the driveshaft angle yes. But you dont need 10 in of lift to run 34s. Are you ditching the s.o.a. and going with regular spring under 4 in lift springs?

 

[elwood blues]

If you do plan on doing a soa, here's a list of things to think about,

you will need:
spring pads (30+ year old springs might as well replace them too)
axle pack center bolts
shock mounts (possibly upper and lower especially in the front)
brake lines (at least 6" extended over stock)
drive shafts (preferrable double cardin both front and rear to prevent binding)
high steer kit (something to move the tie rods to the top of the axle knuckles)
drop pitman arm (again 4-6")
possibly a longer drag link (it's going to have to be moved so it doesn't hit the drop pitman arm)
gonna have to do something to correct front axle caster angle (cut steering yoke from axle realign to correct angle and reweld)
If you have a V8 you're probably going to need traction/tortion bars for the rear axle (to control axle wrap/wheel hop)


I think that about covers it.


***most, okay almost all, of this information came from Willie's Workbench January 2010 issue of Four Wheeler mag***

 

[cumminsjeep]

no going to try and keep it all because i may eventually run a 38 on the jeep

 

[cumminsjeep]

it already has a soa and i have been offroading it for a while with the soa it has had a chevy axel swap but i dont really know if it has a drop pitman arm already

 

[Old Dog]

A short CJ5 with 10+ inches of lift.
This is going to be a nightmare.
Yes moving the rear axle will help angles but only so much, you will also have to go with a fuel cell when you move it back.
You said you already have 4" springs, what are the made for? I'm sure you no longer have cj springs on it now with the chevy axles do you.