Anyone cram 34x9.5s on a stock height 72-75 CJ5 yet?

I scored a set of 34x9.5 tsls with over 60% tread and a set of 15 x 6" steelies. This is going to be my budget build, so I want to see if I can get the tires to work by cutting instead of lifting. Just wondering if anyone has tried yet. The springs seem to be a little weak (from supporting the full metal top it's whole life), so that may be an issue. I need to repair the floor wells and supports, so I plan on replacing the body mounts as well. If I can't cram the tires on with no lift, I may opt for a 1 or 2" max BL since i need to replace the mounts anyway....

I know I may have rub between tires and springs (don't know rim backspacing), but since they are almost free I'm going to have them mounted and I can always swap rims later if needed.

Any thoughts on my success?

 

Do you have a Sawzall?

 

Yeah, I think the sawzall comment is apropos. As I recall, the diameter of the wheel opening is about 32", so you either have to lift or cut with a tire that's larger than that. I've seen a few with TJ flares that look ok.

 

This will be a 'trail only' machine so I need to make sure I clear everything at full flex.

I KNOW I'm gonna have to cut - that's not really a problem. I'm planning on fabbing some front tube fenders once I figure out how much to trim (or hack). I'm just wondering / hoping there is enough metal to cut in the rear wheel wells before I have to cut into the tub. There seems to be at least 3" in the rear and I'm hoping that will be enough.

I'm not sure on the flares since I want to keep it as narrow as possible, but we'll see....

Sawzall and / or jig saw - let the sparks, metal, rust fly!!

 

Trail only, stock height, 34"? Just doesn't add up too well, I'm afraid. Sometimes a spring kit will pop up on the classifieds for cheap. But a lift isn't terribly expensive if you have the disposable income to own a trail only vehicle. With a reasonably stiff 2.5 you could cram them in with some trimming. With a 4" you'd have no troubles.

 

LOL...you and me both.

Well, not much disposable income needed to own a 'trail only' vehicle when I've only invested $400 total into it so far and it's trailworthy as I write this...R)

I bit the bullet and just ordered a 2" BL for $82 with hardware. I will definitely snag some 2 or 2.5" in springs if they ever pop up for sale. I know BLs are not the best option, but a) I had one on my last CJ5 and had zero issues and b), no matter how much research I've done on BLs, I can't find any sound argument (other than looks) why a 2" BL is a bad thing. I realize you don't get the additional flex, but I can suffer with that since the BL was $82 and a 2.5" lift is $500 minimum.....

 

The body lift adds additional leverage/stress against the body mounts. This can equal body shift, mounts cracking, etc.
This also equates to possible problems with linkage issues, i.e. clutch, steering, transmission, transfer case, etc.
.
Early and Intermediate CJ's suffer especially from rear body mount breakage. This just adds to it imho as the leverage can put that much more stress on the failure prone rear body mounts which are basically sheet metal. A QUALITY lift can also give additional suspension flex vs. body/frame flex. Body/Frame flex creates body/frame cracks. Common issue with Early and Intermediate CJ's.

No saying you shouldn't do it, but I'm bringing up issues not previously mentioned and you mentioned you couldn't find an SOUND argument why not to do to it.

 

All very valid points.

I did learn on my last CJ project that the body mounts are quite weak (as I mangled a few trying to get the old bushings / bolts out). I intend to strengthen (and rebuilt the 4 missing ones under the floorboards) the mounts to keep them from breaking. I'm not sure on these slightly older CJs (last one was a 79), but I didn't really run into too much trouble with the linkages other than them being a bit shorter.

I probably didn't really specify, but 99% of my wheeling is old forest roads and a few sandy hill climbs in the northern woods of Michigan. No boulders, washouts or mud bogs so body / frame flex will only be an issue climbing over the odd log across the trail, etc.

Trust me, I would LOVE to find a good deal on lift springs

 

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/LIFT...ptZMotorsQ5fCarQ5fTruckQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories

New Rough country 2 inch lift, shock, add a leafs, and new steering stablizer for under 210$ shipped. little more than twice the cost, but add it to the body lift and put whatever tires you want with no cut. and more clearance.

(no, not my items for sale, though am thinking about picking it up one day)

 

David, you are truely evil. I need new shocks anyway which will cost me $64 plus tax from my local Napa, so that brings the price of this kit down to around $150. ARRGGGHHHHHHH!!! Looks like I'm making another unexpected purchase.......

Thanks.....I think.....

 

I had a 1973 CJ5 for 20 years since 1985.
And I ran the exact same tires as you snagged. Mine were found at a garage sale mounted on aftermarket steel wheels. They had about 200 miles on them, the owner did not like them because one was out of round and they all flat spotted if sitting for a week.
I contacted Interco and they exchanged the one out of round tire via snailmail for the cost of me mailing out the bad one.
Anyways, they worked fine for me with max flex possible. It was a trail only Jeep for western Michigan and for the Smokey Mtns trail rides.
Stock saggy springs were repacked and reconfigured with additional CJ springs and one long leaf from a mobile home trailer axle spring. Which gave me around 1.5" over what the specs said was stock height when new.
The body sides broke at the foot wells, body mounts were gone, firewall/dash front of body was folding towards the back half.
Ran it another 15 years after adding some angle iron to the rockers and some plate on the sides. Body mounting was solved via some steel fence post that were laid on top of frame rails. Those gave me about another inch of lift.
The rear wheel openings were trimmed back at the bottom as much as possible without cutting the inner fender well. The front fenders were trimmed back the same at the bottom.
It had enough flex that the tires would touch the sheet metal inside the fender wells at the very top. But not enough to tear anything up, just enough to polish the steel.

 

Music to my ears HeepaJeep!!

I'm actually cancelling the body lift since I know I can cobble up my own and I'm putting the $82 towards the 2" lift. I figure $64 for shocks plus the $82, I've almost paid for the kit and get some help on my saggy suspension.

 

Hey, I have 33x10.50 SSR's and a 3/4" body lift and at full flex with 2 or 3 tires touching the ground, body rubs only on each tire lug. I have a set of stock YJ spring shackles that should lift it another 1". I have not installed them yet.

 

did you end up picking up that kit? satisfied with it?

 

I did pick it up and I have the rear 1/2 installed. It's going a little slower than I'd like cuz when you pull anything 30 years apart, other stuff breaks. I had to fix the brakes, a fuel line, did some work to the diff, etc. I plan on finishing it up over this weekend. So far I'm VERY happy with it although the shocks seem a bit short. I'll see when I get the front done and it sits level. It looks to be every bit of 2". I installed my 34" TSLs and there is plenty of room in the rear. I don't even think I will need to trim!!

I'll make sure I post a link to picks and build sheet once I'm done. So far, I have under $500 total invested and that includes the Jeep, full tune up, complete rear brakes (minus drums), brake lines, lift kit, etc. Unless something crazy breaks, I'll have a sweet trail rig for about $700 total!!

 

sounds great. i wish i could say i have only 700 in mine, i think im 400-500 in it this month. i know what you mean about stuff breaking. seems like not much goes easy. i break as many bolts as i manage to keep whole most the time. i found out today that i have a leak in my gas tank...yay. but luckily i have a spare off my parts jeep that the PO cleaned up and painted.

 

Well, I'll update this post with a picture of my 74 with a 2" add a leaf kit, some fender trimming and 34"x9.50 TSLs. Fit's fine and only rubs the frame a bit at full lock. I plan on adjusting the stops because I don't want to go any wider with the stance for those tight trails.

Remember, this is my trail beater so I'm not real concerned with the body work. I am removing as much rust as possible and welding in clean metal, but I'm not worried about smoothing the edges.....

 

Wow, looks like I saw this thread too late. Im working on a spring swap on my 75 and have a set of 2.5 lift springs that are in pretty fair shape I would get rid of for the cost of shipping if they can help the cause for a fellow Jeeper.