Project 4x4 Commuter Mazda

[legoms013]

Hmmm.

Look at like the third paragraph:

http://f-o-a.com/faq.html

 

[4.0B2]

yeah i saw that.. i just talked to dave. he says he meant that and not air, he was just saying it wrong.. no biggie. i'm not buying any of them. i am thinking bilstiens in the future tho. i picked up some stock jk shocks today that seem like they'll work for my axle swap. and be a better shock than those dang RC nitro's. but those may not be bad.. i just got those stiff coils. so idk...

 

[legoms013]

Yeah depends a lot on the coils too. My coils seem pretty soft, but from my videos I've determined they still don't like to compress very much. They extended very easily though.

My old Tuff Country Nitro shocks rode like crap back when I ran those...maybe they are similar to your RC nitros.

 

[4.0B2]

probably close to the same thing.. i like the way the stock jk's feel, and they look just as long as my RC ones.. if they don't work- i'll just go ahead and get the bilstiens. we'll see what happens.

i wish you could see a video of my suspension. those 540 ppi coils.... those coils are useless. i can jump on my bumper and it might go down 2 inches.. MIGHT

 

[legoms013]

probably close to the same thing.. i like the way the stock jk's feel, and they look just as long as my RC ones.. if they don't work- i'll just go ahead and get the bilstiens. we'll see what happens.

i wish you could see a video of my suspension. those 540 ppi coils.... those coils are useless. i can jump on my bumper and it might go down 2 inches.. MIGHT

Next time you are in CALI hit me up.

I was scanning the FOA webisite thanks to you and they have pretty good prices on shocks....Im considering buying some 12" travel resi from them now instead of Bilstien. They are $50 cheaper per shock!

 

[4.0B2]

Dave loves his.. had some issues at SMORR over the weekend a couple weeks ago. but after an email he got it replaced.. he had a "gasta lean" going on lol.. he is running a dual spring coil over set up on his.. let me see if i can find the link to his jeep.

 

[legoms013]

I have read good things about FOA, I'll keep them in mind when I change shocks.

Anybody know about chevy 63" leaf springs? I'm wanting to convert to them when I do my explorer disc brake swap. My main question is about how far forward and at what angle to mount the spring hangers?

General consensous seems to be stock chevy C/K1500 3 leaf pack, w/o overloads, w/ stock 2" block and beltech 6400 giving around 5-6" of lift. I need 6 maybe even 7"...I haven't actually measure yet.

I hear they flex and ride much better than the RBV short leafs I have now. Mine ride great over all little inconsistencies in the road, but soon as I need to cross speed bumps or whoops of any kind, the Skyjackers just plain suck.

It also doesn't look like a very hard swap, just some rivet grinding, and emergency brake line mods. A mostly bolt on affair (my favorite )

 

[4.0B2]

flex and ride better.. yes.. stock 63's w/ belltech's is probably around 3.5 inches of lift, so w/ 2 inch blocks-- maybe 6 overall...

i'm gonna do the swap to i think...

 

[ronclark]

I been thinking of this swap as well, my truck just sucks on logging/gravel forest service roads. The front with the sway bar disconected seems ok, the backs jars me around to no end. Right know I am just 2inch over stock.

 

[legoms013]

Yeah I'd like some leafs that handled better. I do so much driving in this truck that anything that slightly bothers me, eventually ends up bugging me bad knowing that it could be better.

 

[Bennybooster]

You have to move the front hanger forward 6in IIRC

 

[legoms013]

So if I move the hanger forward 6", but what kind of angle do I put it at, if any? And does this keep the axle/wheels centered pretty good in the fender wells?

Looks like I could do the whole swap for $200 or less since I can get chevy leafs for cheap on craigslist all day long.

 

[Sasquatch_Ryda]

I kept it at the factory angle. You reuse one factory lower rivet hole and that moves them forwards 6" and keeps it all lined up. You will need to modify the rear cab mount so the spring hanger can be integrated into it.

PS what is with all the extra nuts on your U bolts?

 

[legoms013]

I kept it at the factory angle. You reuse one factory lower rivet hole and that moves them forwards 6" and keeps it all lined up. You will need to modify the rear cab mount so the spring hanger can be integrated into it.

PS what is with all the extra nuts on your U bolts?

Ok thanks.

The extras are to keep the overload from getting crooked and sideways. I have put a washer sandwiched between two 3/4 fine thread nuts on either side with the washer up tight against the overload. Otherwise it gets real cock-eyed in there.

 

[legoms013]

Just ordered some of this for the bed of the truck:

If it truly looks like pictured, and holds up to some abuse I will use it to coat my rocker panels, roof and rock sliders. I bought the 2 gal kit, and will use the first gallon on the bed as a test to see if this stuff is for real or not. Crap's expensive, but its about 1/4 the cost to have it Herculined or Line-X'd by a professionall and IMHO looks better (cuz its slightly glossy).

I also might have a line at a free explorer 31 spline axle from a '92. All I need to know is if I can convert to disk brakes and if it will be worth it to do so.