1. Registration trouble? Please use the "Contact Us" link at the bottom right corner of the page and your issue will be resolved.
    Dismiss Notice

71 Wheeling Rig

Discussion in 'Builds and Fabricators Forum' started by Fireball, Jan 18, 2021.

  1. Apr 23, 2024
    Fireball

    Fireball Well-Known Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Pullman, WA
    Joined:
    Feb 9, 2018
    Messages:
    6,069
    You're welcome, and as always "Your results may vary" these are just my observations. High backs are definitely safer in a rear-end collision.
     
    Ol Fogie likes this.
  2. Apr 23, 2024
    T. M.

    T. M. Certified bench-racer

    Boise, ID
    Joined:
    Jan 11, 2024
    Messages:
    351
    Interesting what you did on the BDS springs. I may do that when I get to throwing some on my Jeep.

    How long have those springs been on your Jeep? Long enough to settle, or could it drop down more than usual now that you've pulled that leaf?
     
  3. Apr 23, 2024
    blalp!

    blalp! Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Concord, NH
    Joined:
    Aug 16, 2019
    Messages:
    256
    This was the primary motivation for high back seats in my rig. I agree, low backs are more enjoyable.
     
    Ol Fogie likes this.
  4. Apr 23, 2024
    Fireball

    Fireball Well-Known Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Pullman, WA
    Joined:
    Feb 9, 2018
    Messages:
    6,069
    They have been on the Jeep since April 2021, so right at three years now. One disadvantage to yanking a leaf is that the spring clamps now have a gaps to the top leaf. This will provide less resistance to the springs S-bending under torque. Whether it matters in practice is hard to say. I'm going to run them like this for a while to see what happens.

    You can see the gap in this picture. There isn't quite enough room to drill a new, lower hole without welding up the existing one:
    [​IMG]
     
    dozerjim, Ol Fogie and ITLKSEZ like this.
  5. Apr 23, 2024
    T. M.

    T. M. Certified bench-racer

    Boise, ID
    Joined:
    Jan 11, 2024
    Messages:
    351
    Ok, thank you. Can you throw a shim in there perhaps?
     
  6. Apr 23, 2024
    ITLKSEZ

    ITLKSEZ Hope for the best, prepare for the worst

    Veradale, WA
    Joined:
    Aug 13, 2015
    Messages:
    6,764
    But noticeably more articulation. :sneak:
     
    wheelie, Rich M. and Fireball like this.
  7. Apr 23, 2024
    T. M.

    T. M. Certified bench-racer

    Boise, ID
    Joined:
    Jan 11, 2024
    Messages:
    351
    Interesting. I s'pose I should read up on leaf springs...
     
  8. Apr 23, 2024
    ITLKSEZ

    ITLKSEZ Hope for the best, prepare for the worst

    Veradale, WA
    Joined:
    Aug 13, 2015
    Messages:
    6,764
    There’s very surprisingly A LOT to read.
     
    Fireball and T. M. like this.
  9. Apr 23, 2024
    Jw60

    Jw60 Safety Control Rod Axe Man 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Trails end,...
    Joined:
    Apr 8, 2008
    Messages:
    5,511
    You just need a section of pipe to act as a collar around the bolt. And you only need it on the clips in front of the axles... or is it behind...
     
    Ol Fogie and T. M. like this.
  10. Apr 23, 2024
    ITLKSEZ

    ITLKSEZ Hope for the best, prepare for the worst

    Veradale, WA
    Joined:
    Aug 13, 2015
    Messages:
    6,764
    Are you going forward or backwards? :sneak:
     
    Fireball and Jw60 like this.
  11. Apr 23, 2024
    timsresort

    timsresort Well-Known Member 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    South Lake Tahoe CA
    Joined:
    Jan 22, 2014
    Messages:
    1,538
    I have always liked low backs, and have them in my 4 jeeps. In my opinion, they look better, fold and tumble for access to the tool box, are relatively comfortable (except for the original thin seats in my 3B), and I like that my brimmed hat doesn't bump into them like a high back.
     
  12. Apr 24, 2024
    Fireball

    Fireball Well-Known Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Pullman, WA
    Joined:
    Feb 9, 2018
    Messages:
    6,069
    The Monroe shocks came in last night. They are shorter than the BDS shocks, but the dirt marks on the BDS shocks show that they never used the last two inches of travel:
    [​IMG]

    BDS 855900: Compressed - 13.4", Extended 21.7"

    Monroe 31000: Compressed - 12", Extended 19.5"

    Compression wasn't a concern, but I was worried that the Monroe shocks would limit droop (and therefor flex) since they are 1.8" shorter. I ran the Jeep out to a bank to see what the max droop was with the BDS shocks still installed.

    This is with the Jeep just teetering:
    [​IMG]

    The front could probably flex a little more, but I have the bump-stops extended to keep the compressed tire out of the fender:
    [​IMG]

    With a leaf yanked out of the springs, I am getting more flex in the rear. I used to be about an inch from the bump-stop at full flex and is now just touching it:
    [​IMG]

    All that said, the extended length of the shocks at full flex was 19.5" both front an rear, so the Monroe 31000s do not limit droop in practice.

    However, after switching all the shocks out, I think the Monroe shocks might actually ride a little firmer over bumpy stuff than the BDS shocks. It's hard to be completely sure since it's so subjective, but I didn't expect that.

    I'll probably swap the BDS shocks back in.

    I need to measure and order some new U-bolts tonight. I don't trust these after I've re-used them for these experiments.

    Beyond that, I'm waiting for the seats to show up.
     
  13. Apr 28, 2024
    Snoops

    Snoops Making progress, slow but at least it's forward! 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Idaho
    Joined:
    Sep 4, 2019
    Messages:
    441
    Sorry I'm a bit late to this post, I have a pair in the garage just wanting a new home. Posted them in classifieds a year ago or so for $100 for the set, at this point, I'd take $50 for the set :)
     
  14. Apr 28, 2024
    T. M.

    T. M. Certified bench-racer

    Boise, ID
    Joined:
    Jan 11, 2024
    Messages:
    351
    Where in ID are you? I might be interested in those seats if Fireball isn't. I won't be around until about mid-month, but if the seats are in good condition I might buy them.

    By all means, if Fireball wants them then he gets first grabs.
     
  15. Apr 28, 2024
    Fireball

    Fireball Well-Known Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Pullman, WA
    Joined:
    Feb 9, 2018
    Messages:
    6,069
    I would be very interested in that but it will be a while before I can get down to Boise.
     
    T. M. likes this.
  16. Apr 29, 2024
    Snoops

    Snoops Making progress, slow but at least it's forward! 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Idaho
    Joined:
    Sep 4, 2019
    Messages:
    441
    I am in Boise, no need to rush, seats are new and never installed (came with the pile-o-parts that eventually ended up being my Jeep). Well OK, installed one just to see if they fit, too tall for me, but yep they are cushy. They will just hang out in the garage until someone comes to claim them.
     
  17. Apr 29, 2024
    Fireball

    Fireball Well-Known Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Pullman, WA
    Joined:
    Feb 9, 2018
    Messages:
    6,069
    I'll try to figure out when I can get down there and will be in touch.
     
    Snoops likes this.
  18. Apr 30, 2024
    Fireball

    Fireball Well-Known Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Pullman, WA
    Joined:
    Feb 9, 2018
    Messages:
    6,069
    This showed up yesterday from user mriffio.

    NOS Jeep cigarette ligher:
    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    I suppose is should be red/blue for the '71, but it looks pretty darned good in it anyway:
    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    ...And these showed up. I don't trust the old ones after re-using them, but they were fine for testing:
    [​IMG]

    I'll get them painted and on the Jeep some time.
     
  19. Apr 30, 2024
    Jw60

    Jw60 Safety Control Rod Axe Man 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Trails end,...
    Joined:
    Apr 8, 2008
    Messages:
    5,511
    You need to make sure you don't drag them on any rocks....

    You know where I'm going with this... :twist:
     
    dozerjim likes this.
  20. Apr 30, 2024
    wheelie

    wheelie beeg dummy 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor

    York, PA
    Joined:
    Mar 6, 2004
    Messages:
    4,607
    Whose U bolts are they? They look decent. I usually go to the local truck shop and have them bent for me but if these are a decent alternative....
     
New Posts