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Build Thread Jr's 74 CJ5 "fix" and build as I go...

Build Thread Jr's 74 CJ5 "fix" and build as I go...
:)JR...........Post a picture of those Shock mounts.............also did they tell you the travel of those shocks extended?

:D:D:D:D
 
They didn't tell me the lengths... just what came with the "kit" I figure I need to read up on how to measure for shocks to not limit the flex, or bottom out before the bump stops... I'll take pictures of the parts (especially the towers" and measure the shocks at full extended to fully compressed and compare it to the ones currently on the jeep, though they are not stock, so who knows if they are "right"...

I have a fork-lift at my work, so planning to test my full range of motion and flex in suspension after completed to make sure everything is working correctly with eachother..
 
tarry99 said:
:)JR...........Post a picture of those Shock mounts
Click to expand...

attachment.php


So these are what they gave me for the front. They're actually pretty beefy too, though I may strengthen them up a bit with a few welds and gussets...

:D

~Jr
 
JR74CJ5 said:
Yeah us clampers like our Red... Everyone else just seemed to fit in with us...

:D:D

:chug:
~ Jr
Click to expand...

awesome story... had me laughing like a kid with the breaker bar and hose clamp. Brilliant idea I have to admit. Looks like you all had a blast! Thanks!
 
So I got my new SM420 in! :dbanana:
attachment.php

I now have all of the parts I need to get this going.

Friday I removed the T-15 and Dana 20 from the jeep.

attachment.php

attachment.php


While doing so, I realized i kinda messed up my cross member for the Transmission mount. Tranny mount was also broken I noticed upon removal.

Now the Dana 20 is sitting on the bench and waiting for the re-build to begin! Novak sent some instructions with their kit, if anyone has a good link to detailed instructions I'd love to have a look at them first.

Otherwise, as normal, I'm diving right in!
51989793_SHark_224346c.jpg

Hope I can swim! :cool:

I'll be back soon!
:chug:
~ Jr
 
Last edited:
Well it is shark week after all, go for it.

Man that 420 is lowwwww geared. I only use it for climbing telephone poles now as I haven't spent much time off road yet.



Troy Cantrell
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Build thread - '66 CJ6 :
http://www.jeep-cj.com/forums/showthread.php?t=15075
 
JR74CJ5 said:
So I got my new SM420 in! :dbanana:
attachment.php


~ Jr
Click to expand...

Nice , I didnt know you were going with the turn key Transmission . I hope I dont regret not doing the same. When I added everything up I was saving about $500 doing everything myself. Its also something that I wanted to learn. :o
 
Petescj said:
Nice , I didnt know you were going with the turn key Transmission . I hope I dont regret not doing the same. When I added everything up I was saving about $500 doing everything myself. Its also something that I wanted to learn. :o
Click to expand...

Oh yeah! I could have saved big money not going with Novak turn key... The day after I ordered I seen a SM420 with bellhousing adapter and adapter to Dana 20 with Dana 20 on craigslist for $500.00... I paid over 4x that... though i got a lot of goodies too...

But what really let me know i made the right choice is when I called Novak and asked them for a status update, he said "well we finished it and threw it on the dyno and it was making a strange sound in 4th gear high RPM so hes throwing it back on the bench and starting from scratch." I said ok sounds good... Called again... "well its still making that sound in 4th we've rebuilt and tested it twice now. It's only in fourth at around 4000 RPM, we're getting a few new units from the local yard soon and are going to start fresh with a new block and gears."

I'm thinking to myself, I'll never have that thing in 4th (1:1) on the freeway presumably at 4k rpm... that would be over 100 mph... I like going fast, but not that fast in my CJ5 :cool:

Anyways point is, they wouldn't let the order leave the shop with a problem I'd probably never experience. So I'm pretty happy and confident with the tranny, and feel it was worth the extra cash :D

:chug:
~ Jr
 
The fokes at Novak have always been good to me but you make them sound even better.:chug:
Sounds like this story is going to kick in high gear now.:lpopcorn::beer:
 
So what do you guys think of those shock towers?

They're probably 6" - 8" higher than "stock"...

I'm not sure yet the bump stop and shock travel measurements I'll need. Hopefully the shocks that came with the lift and shock towers in the kit are going to be acceptable length compressed and extended...
 
JR74CJ5 said:
So what do you guys think of those shock towers?

They're probably 6" - 8" higher than "stock"...

I'm not sure yet the bump stop and shock travel measurements I'll need. Hopefully the shocks that came with the lift and shock towers in the kit are going to be acceptable length compressed and extended...
Click to expand...

So JR, are you planning to move the lower shock mounts up on to the axle as well? or buy really long shocks?
 
you know how the shock thing works, all the way out less all the way in is travel. what is the distance between the axle shock mount and the tower mount when it is setting on the ground? this measurement should be about 2" more than all the way in and the rest of the travel( whatever you have left) is able to go down. What shocks did they send??:D
 
Torxhead said:
So JR, are you planning to move the lower shock mounts up on to the axle as well? or buy really long shocks?
Click to expand...
Now that you have the shock travel, you should get them up out of the way. My mounts are on the axle now with the ford towers.
 
So you guys are talking moving the shock mount on top of axle instead of on the heavy duty spring plate under the axle?

The new spring plates have incorporated shock mounting provisions, but I may look into this instead...

As far as the shocks I got, I'm not sure.

Everything came in the kit. I can look it up though and let you know. Will also post the measurments too when I'm getting to the lift section. Plan is to get the Transmission swap finished, then work on lift, then measure for driveshaft modifications. At that time will measure all the shock info too...

All Rocky Road Outfitters lists as info is "Long travel shocks included" ;)

:chug:

~ Jr
 
JR, With that extended upper mount installed, I assumed that you would install the lower mount on the front axle similar to the wide track versions. This helps keep those big rocks on the Rubicon trail clear of that lower shock mount that is vulnerable to getting clobbered in its current location. I really don't think you are going to get much in long travel with leaf springs anyway.
 
Torxhead said:
I really don't think you are going to get much in long travel with leaf springs anyway.
Click to expand...

These springs are supposed to... :cool:

cjtoyj1.webp

(though this picture is of their spring over kit, but otherwise identical)

We'll see how they actually do... :D:D

:chug:
~ Jr
 
JR74CJ5 said:
So you guys are talking moving the shock mount on top of axle instead of on the heavy duty spring plate under the axle?

The new spring plates have incorporated shock mounting provisions, but I may look into this instead...

As far as the shocks I got, I'm not sure.

Everything came in the kit. I can look it up though and let you know. Will also post the measurments too when I'm getting to the lift section. Plan is to get the Transmission swap finished, then work on lift, then measure for driveshaft modifications. At that time will measure all the shock info too...

All Rocky Road Outfitters lists as info is "Long travel shocks included" ;)

:chug:

~ Jr
Click to expand...

JR.......get a part number off them if you can........there normally is three sizes other than a racing shock....Stock. collapsed 12.07" extended 19.07" Intermediate Collapsed 13.71" extended 22.58" Long Collapsed 14.82" extended 24.84".........If you have a 2-3" lift that should be the Intermediate shock.

Yes you have to weld new mounts on your axle , no big deal Ruff Stuff in West Sacramento has some nice axle mounts........the measuring is important so that you do not bottom out the shock prior to hitting your new rubber bump stop.......that is why the extended top mount is needed.....extension of the shock is normally not an issue with a leaf spring. That mount goes behind the axle.............what length is it and where did it come from?


:D:D:D:D
 
JR. this isn't the best pic. (pretty crappy, really) but it seems I don't have many pics. of that side of the axle. :o
You can see where the shock is mounted to the axle though.
I would also think about doing the u-bolt flip to gain some clearance and make the bottom of the springs smoother.
 
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