looking for build input

[sickandtwisted]

Not that I'm going to run it, but I'm leaning toward what I can only explain as a KOH inspired build, (being able to take it through the desert and bomb it but still be plenty capable of crawling trails)
which leaves me scavenging old threads :compwork: looking for info and my head spinning.

Right now I'm looking to get my suspension dialed in... What I'm thinking to do for now is just get the front setup: bumped and strapped with good shocks and just something to hold me over in the rear till I'm ready to cage it and go through the floor.
I'm leaning toward a 9100 front and a 5100 rear (for now) Then I start thinking... Is that good enough? Would it be worth it to do bypasses? Even coilovers?

My mounts in front are stock so I'm at a bit of a loss as far as the mounting... JKS style or T&J style conversion? Should I change my lower mount as well? I know coilovers will bring on a whole new set of obstacles so we'll just sideline that idea at the moment (unless it is definitely the way to go)

I also wonder should I continue to work with the Dana 30 up front or scrap it and go with a Rubi 44 or something?

To give some info on the rig: I'm Running RE long arms 5.5" coils, and ACOS front with 5.5" RE leafs JKS shackles and JKS crossover shock mount rear

Again I'm not racing but I do plan on using it like I am

 

[PahlMc]

I can tell you the route I am currently going since we have very similar wants as far as capability of our Jeeps.

Front
I don't have long arms yet, just the RE 5.5 kit, but I'm adding 2.5" SAW shocks off a Jeepspeed to the front. Bump and strap it. I'm going to start with T&J front upper mounts and build new lowers so I could mount the shocks exactly where I need them.

Rear
Deavers and shocks through the cargo area unless I can convince my fabricator friend to do a cantilever on a unibody hehe. I am going to run a shackle relocation kit. The corssover shock mount rear SUCKS in the desert, but thats what I have for now.

I'll add motor mounts and frame stiffeners soon as well, but really once the shocks and Deavers are on, test, re-valve, test, re-valve, etc. If I decide this set up isn't giving me the performance I want, I'll upgrade to C/O and figure out how to get more travel. Coilovers (unless you can do most of the work yourself) really are a step up in a project. Mine is a DD for now so it's staying more basic as far as desert goes.

I'm keeping my Dana 30 but will add a truss to it. Cage down the road.

 

[sallys xj]

Here is my set up but im building it to meet Ultra 4 stock class (46XX).

Front:
5.5 Jeepspeed deaver coils, Long arms, Bilstein foam filled bumps currie anti rock sway bars, Bilstein 5165's valved and tuned. HD offroad engineering full length frame stiffeners, PSC steering

Rear:
4" Deaver race pack 1.5" shackles, HD offroad engineering shackle relocation kit, matched shocks.

that is the start I have a build thread going on in the section plus its on face book at www.facebook.come/teammad

best of luck and have fun

 

[sickandtwisted]

I can tell you the route I am currently going since we have very similar wants as far as capability of our Jeeps.

Front
I don't have long arms yet, just the RE 5.5 kit, but I'm adding 2.5" SAW shocks off a Jeepspeed to the front. Bump and strap it. I'm going to start with T&J front upper mounts and build new lowers so I could mount the shocks exactly where I need them.

Rear
Deavers and shocks through the cargo area unless I can convince my fabricator friend to do a cantilever on a unibody hehe. I am going to run a shackle relocation kit. The corssover shock mount rear SUCKS in the desert, but thats what I have for now.

I'll add motor mounts and frame stiffeners soon as well, but really once the shocks and Deavers are on, test, re-valve, test, re-valve, etc. If I decide this set up isn't giving me the performance I want, I'll upgrade to C/O and figure out how to get more travel. Coilovers (unless you can do most of the work yourself) really are a step up in a project. Mine is a DD for now so it's staying more basic as far as desert goes.

I'm keeping my Dana 30 but will add a truss to it. Cage down the road.

Yup..Sounds like we are on a similar path....
I've already done the driver/passenger steering brace and motor mounts but i did not do the motor plates, I'm also running the trac bar brace. Only reason I did the crossover was my shocks were to long when i was on 3.5" springs and I didn't want to change them cause I knew I was going to 5.5"s but they're getting changed out now anyway and then again when I cage it

Here is my set up but im building it to meet Ultra 4 stock class (46XX).

Front:
5.5 Jeepspeed deaver coils, Long arms, Bilstein foam filled bumps currie anti rock sway bars, Bilstein 5165's valved and tuned. HD offroad engineering full length frame stiffeners, PSC steering

Rear:
4" Deaver race pack 1.5" shackles, HD offroad engineering shackle relocation kit, matched shocks.

that is the start I have a build thread going on in the section plus its on face book at www.facebook.come/teammad

best of luck and have fun

I've previously combed through your build thread..the first post is missing all the photos :eyes: But the build looks good! I'll check you out on FB

Couple of ?'s for you...

what upper shock mounts are you using up front?

are the 5165's enough shock?

What are they valved at?

how do you like the HD Offroad stiffeners?

i'd been leaning toward HD but now I am lookling Dirtbound as well since they go into the floorboard 1" but is that even necessary?

 

[sallys xj]

I've previously combed through your build thread..the first post is missing all the photos :eyes: But the build looks good! I'll check you out on FB
hhmm thats odd, ill have to check in to that. But yeah the team FB page has all the most current updates.

Couple of ?'s for you...

what upper shock mounts are you using up front?
Im using JKS upper mounts but try to keep the stem. I if do it over again which I may ill use Bilstein still but go the stem mounting point in the stock fender with shock and length I need but run a heim on the bottom to all more articulation when in the rocks. Joel witl Bilsein wanted me to go this route but already had the shocks so figured id run what i got.

are the 5165's enough shock?
They were way to soft when i got them, but i bought them used from a member on here. Joel (have is contact info your interested) tuned and valved them on the lake bed at 2012 King Of The Hammers now they are amazing!

What are they valved at?
This I do not know. I pulled the shocks dropped them off with Joel and came back later, he had a custome valve stack he used due to the type of racing i was getting in to and the weight i have. Best to talk to him.

how do you like the HD Offroad stiffeners?
They are not on yet, in fact they are in the process of going on but for the full length I couldnt beat the price. Plus I alread had their shackle relocation kit and loved it so im sure ill love the stiffeners as well. it will be nice to have some rigidness.

i'd been leaning toward HD but now I am lookling Dirtbound as well since they go into the floorboard 1" but is that even necessary?
I think it comes down to personal choice at the time. As long as you have the steering box area plated ( i will have stiffeners and a c-roc brace), and the rear near the leaf springs mount you should be good. The body portion being plated just gives it more rigidness plus a great place to weld on sliders or cage tie ins.

 

[Papercut]

JKS style or T&J style conversion? Should I change my lower mount as well?

If you plan on running 2.5's go with the T&J ones and weld them on. You would also need the change your lower mount to make a larger shock work.

I also wonder should I continue to work with the Dana 30 up front or scrap it and go with a Rubi 44 or something?

What gears are you planing to run? With a d30 you can only go up to 4.88's.

 

[POSJ]

I'll sell you an HPD44 out of a Cherokee then you can get it lower:shhh:

 

[sickandtwisted]

Thanks for the feedback!


Papercut
I'm running 4:11 gears


sallys xj
I'm wondering why keeping the stem would be a good idea

I'll sell you an HPD44 out of a Cherokee then you can get it lower:shhh:

I checked out your post on this d44. Are parts readily available for it?

 

[sallys xj]

sallys xj
I'm wondering why keeping the stem

I was told that having eye style top mount with the JKS or other converison bracket plus a heim on the axle side would move to much and could fight each other (top vs. bottom) causing issues. Im no shock expert so may want to talk to a shock company for more clearfication.

 

[cal]

The bigger diameter shocks you have, the better. I've talked to a few Jeepspeed teams that took 2" bypass shocks off to run 2.65" smoothbody's, with an increase in overall performance (less fade, mainly).

I can't imagine why anyone would want to keep a stem top over a rod end?

 

[XJLI]

Take a look at my build. I'm no master fabricator but I have a KOH-inspired kinda build as well. 44/60, 35s, bilstein 9100s and deavers, cage, etc.

 

[sickandtwisted]

I can't imagine why anyone would want to keep a stem top over a rod end?

Just based on shock selection or what else?

Take a look at my build. I'm no master fabricator but I have a KOH-inspired kinda build as well. 44/60, 35s, bilstein 9100s and deavers, cage, etc.

Nice build!

In post #318 you say "send back my 2.5 9100s to bilstein to get 'rebuilt' with a piggyback resi" in your list of things to do over the winter.

Is that even a option? 9100 piggy back?

 

[XJLI]

i know crazyjim on here had a set built that were piggybacks. maybe not in the same sense that 5150s were built, but that the hose was short enough that you could mount the resi on the shock body. i wouldnt mind a shorter resi hose.

 

[sickandtwisted]

haven't been on much...I ended up having the front 5160's I already had on the Jeep re done by Joel they were brand new and it seemed like the most reasonable thing to do. The rear still needs to be addressed.