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Skyjacker Soft Ride Kit For Cj3b?

Discussion in 'Flat Fender Tech' started by Henri Watson, Feb 16, 2019.

  1. Feb 16, 2019
    Henri Watson

    Henri Watson Member

    Mississippi
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    Oct 27, 2018
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    189
    I just put a skyjacker soft ride kit on my '66 Cj5 and have been really happy with the improved ride quality. My dad has a 1960 CJ3B and we are wondering if skyjacker has a kit that will fit this model or if there is a preferred soft riding suspension kit out there that we could do for him. On skyjacker's website it doesn't explicitly have a kit for his model but I am wondering if any of their kits would fit anyway. Does anyone know?

    -Henri
     
  2. Feb 16, 2019
    garage gnome

    garage gnome ECJ5 welder

    Western MA
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  3. Feb 16, 2019
    Henri Watson

    Henri Watson Member

    Mississippi
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    Great! thanks for the suggestion
     
  4. Feb 17, 2019
    Sierra Bum

    Sierra Bum Member

    The High Sierra
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    Oct 23, 2017
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    The flatfender springs are slightly different lengths then Ecj5. I’m pretty sure that applies to the 3b.

    Approx Cj5: front 38”. Rear 44”

    Approx Flatfender: 36.25” front, 41” rear

    Aside from a custom suspension build, you’ll have to find flatfender specific springs.
     
  5. Feb 17, 2019
    Henri Watson

    Henri Watson Member

    Mississippi
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    That's the info I was looking for, thank you. I'm guessing it would be a bad idea to try to make up the difference with shackles?
     
  6. Feb 17, 2019
    Sierra Bum

    Sierra Bum Member

    The High Sierra
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    Yeah that’s not a good idea... too much difference. It’s common to play with shackle angles some on a custom suspension to achieve more droop vs up-travel...but you don’t want to be limited to exact spring hanger locations. In that case it involves mock-up, measurements, tacking things in place, and trial and error before fixing the hangers permanently. Addiionally, you need to be conscious of axle locations in relation to their current position.

    A common Willys old school mod is to put the 41” rear springs on the front (involves moving the front hangers) Otherwise for eCj5 springs, you’ll have to cut and weld all the hangers and possibly extend the frame. If you go that far, then you’re open to many options: Late model CJ springs, wrangler springs etc...
     
    Last edited: Feb 17, 2019
  7. Feb 17, 2019
    Norcal69

    Norcal69 Out of the box thinker 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Northern California
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    I would run away from those rancho springs as fast as possible. I've ridden/ driven on Stock grooved cj Springs (friends jeep) , rancho 2.5" springs (my jeep), removed a leaf from the rancho 2.5" springs for better ride (my jeep), and yj springs in a friends jeep that I previously rode in with the stock cj springs. In my build thread, I'm removing rancho's and installing yj springs right now......
     
  8. Feb 17, 2019
    Henri Watson

    Henri Watson Member

    Mississippi
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    Oct 27, 2018
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    Yes I've heard mixed things on Ranchos, they offer various models so I'm never quite sure. I believe my dad has old ranchos on his 3b currently and they have never been comfortable. We just want to figure out the softest ride possible. I'll check out how the YJ spring conversion works. Don't want to hack his jeep up too much, it's fully original.
     
  9. Feb 17, 2019
    Sierra Bum

    Sierra Bum Member

    The High Sierra
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    Henri,
    -I did a perfunctory search of the the major suspension manufacturers and it looks like Pro Comp makes 2.5" springs to fit your dad's jeep. Also, Crown offers a stockish spring, and of course there's Omix which lots of people bag on due to bad quality.

    -ProComp makes a good product as far as I know. There's some out there in the ECJ5 group

    -Rancho jeep springs are known for being stiff. That seems like the other major option. They used to offer a 1" spring that I used on my old Jeep in the rear on a SPOA. They were good, and they flexed well. But that was 20+ years ago.

    -If your dads jeep is stock and he wants to keep it that way, think about where you guys want to go with this. Wrangler springs are popular with four wheelers due to the 2.5" width, which offers stability, and the length (44.5ish" front and rear) which offers more flex. I'm no Willys guru but I'm pretty sure that conversion will require you to lengthen the frame 4-6" in the front and rear. That can be done without hacking it up but will require fabrication skills.
     
  10. Feb 17, 2019
    73 cj5

    73 cj5 Not ready for the junkyard yet

    Clinton, Mississippi
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    Remove some leaves from the spring pack(s). That may help ride quality some.
     
  11. Feb 18, 2019
    Norcal69

    Norcal69 Out of the box thinker 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Northern California
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    Might be better off having Alcan or deaver spring build you some spring packs like the old Holbrook springs were. They would look pretty stock to the untrained eye.
     
    Sierra Bum and ITLKSEZ like this.
  12. Feb 18, 2019
    garage gnome

    garage gnome ECJ5 welder

    Western MA
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    I don't know what you guys are talking about. My rancho's ride very well.
     
    CJMark and Sierra Bum like this.
  13. Feb 18, 2019
    GeorgiaFlattie

    GeorgiaFlattie Member

    Canton, GA
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    What is the current shackle angle? Moving the shackle mount in order to adjust the angle can have a significant impact on ride quality. Also, it will still appear stock.
     
    ojgrsoi likes this.
  14. Feb 18, 2019
    duffer

    duffer Rodent Power

    Bozeman, MT
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    That was my experience also Nate. Used them for at least 2 1/2 decades. Far, far superior to the stock springs in every aspect. Never did develop a lean, better ground clearance, and a much better ride.
     
    CJMark and Sierra Bum like this.
  15. Feb 18, 2019
    jpflat2a

    jpflat2a what's that noise?

    Hermosa, SD
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    I've run Ranchos in front for a loooong time....no complaints here.
     
    CJMark likes this.
  16. Feb 18, 2019
    Rich M.

    Rich M. Shoe salesman 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Maryland
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    My Rancho's are a little on the stiff side but with properly adjusted tire pressure they are not hateful.
     
  17. Feb 19, 2019
    wheelie

    wheelie beeg dummy 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor

    York, PA
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    Well, I'll chime in with another thumbs up for the Ranchos. I like mine and they flex well enough for me on the trail. I am not entirely sure that they are still making springs for early jeeps though. They may still be available from someone's warehouse stock though. I'd buy them again, FWIW.
     
    cookieman likes this.
  18. Feb 22, 2019
    Warloch

    Warloch Did you say Flattie??? Staff Member

    Falcon, CO
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    Got a set of Rancho Soft Ride 2.5" on the Blue '49 (has a CJ 5 Frame under it). No problems here, and I have Holbrooks on the Red '51.
     
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