rubicon express 4.5 extreme duty conversion....

now i've been looking into doing this switch on my 74 cj5.

i was lookin around and saw this jeep which i kind of wana base myn off of.....
http://www.4x4offroads.com/1973-jeep-cj-5.html

now this guy said states he used "LEAF SPRING………………… RUBICON EXPRESS 4.5” EXTREME DUTY (YJ)"

and i was looking at this thread.....
http://www.earlycj5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=65373&highlight=RUBICON+EXPRESS

and hudsonhawk says that he used "he RE1450 would be for the front and the RE1451 would be for the rear." now these are for a 76-86 cj.

now whats the difference between these springs??

also does anyone have a pictures of there fabrication and what not??

basically this conversion involves welding new spring pearches right??

now can't you just use your existing axle purches...the springs might hang off a little but wont they still work??

and also does this require any steering modifications?? or extended driveshaft?? or anything?? all the drive trail axles and what not are stock.

also all in all i was thinking it would cost me about 900 bucks..

comments

 

The difference is the length of the springs. The CJ springs are shorter eye to eye.

As for fabrication: http://www.hudsonhawk.net/jeep/jeepmain.htm
I used new wider perches on the rear and stock perches on the front. You get alittle bit of twist on the front drivers side as the axle articulates and makes just a little bit of noise. Its not bad now that I figured out where it comes from.

With 4.5" lift you will probalby need steerig modifications. And you may have to lengthen the driveshafts as well.

 

wow that looks awesome. did you box in your frame??

and uh where did you get you front and rear spring hanger's from? could you maybe give me the part number?

and how much do ya think all in all it cost ya for the whole spring conversion??

what did you have to do to your steering??

how much does it cost to get drive shafts lengthened??

and how did you come up with the measurment for mounting the hangers...?? or did you do them in the same spot??

 

No, I did not. The cage extends the full length of the Jeep so there was no raesonto box the frame.

4WD Hardware. They are the stock hangers for a 76-86 CJ. No idea what the part number is as that was 5 years ago.

Springs were ~$650. Probalby close to $900 for all the hardware. No idea what the total cost was once the steering and driveshafts were corrected.

Make sure all your steerign components are in good shape. Replace anything that even has a little bit of wiggle in it.

Total of about $350 for both. The rear includes the CV joint.

I mounted the main eye hangers to the same location on the frame as the origionals. Then mounted the spring and kinda eyeballed the shackle hangers till they were to my liking.

 

M.O.R.E sells the shackle hangars. Steering, probably a dropped pitman arm is all you would need. Drive shaft lengthening varies in price depending on where you go, shop around.

For mounting your spring hangars you can bolt one side of the springs up and swing the other end up to the frame and see where it lands. Make sure you keep an eye on center pin placement on the springs in relation to your perches. You may end up pushing your axle forward or backward to retain stock sping mount locations.

 

okay im looking on m.o.r.e.'s website. and im looking for new hangers. and if i go with the RE1450 for the front and the RE1451 for the rear. would i get the spring shackle hangers SR9851 and SR9861 from more's website: http://www.mountainoffroad.com/Catalog/Catalog #10.pdf

meaning do they have the 1.25" diameter hole?? or what? and if they are the 1" diameter hole i cant find the eye

 

Those would be the ones I used. I used YJ springs. You on the other hand are after SR101 and SR102 for the CJ springs you have listed the RE1450 and 1451. Someone correct me if I am wrong, but the 76 and up CJ's had the 1" spring eye in the front and the 1.25" in the rear.

The spring hangers (fixed) side you can pick up through Quadratech.

 

you said you used the yj springs....now hudsonhawk said he used the cj ones because they were closer to the same length as stock. now did you have any problems mounting them up?? do you have any pictures or anything??

thanks, Matt

 

The YJ springs are longer so both ends of the mounts had to move. Hudsonhawk did it with the CJ springs. It is probably a bit easier to do it his way since you aren't moving the mounts on the frame, just replacing, and using the old holes to line things up.

I used YJ springs for a few of reasons. I went spring over in the front and wanted a 2.5" flat spring. Wanted the rear to match in a spring under fashion. Heard a lot of good things about the YJ spring. Going the way I did will require lots and lots of measuring checking and double checking making sure everything is square and lined up.

Only problems mounting was my front frame horns were splayed out so my shackles sit at a slight angle with the tops pointing in. There is no loss of movement, but that is something I will be fixing this winter. Other problem was the rear springs settled about an inch. That was something I did not take into account when I set my shackle angles, so I had to cut off the shackle mounts and move them back to correct the angle. By using the stock locations I don't think that would be a problem, your shackle angles would be a little off at first, then once the springs settled you would be spot on. Other than that things are good.

I'll send you some pics, pm me your email address. I am traveling tomorrow, so it might not be ,til Thursday when they show up.

 

alright well what would be the advantages/disavantages of using the cj vs yj R.U. 4.5" lift springs??? other than mounting the pearches and what not.

 

You probalby won't be able to tell any difference between them . The YJ springs should ride slightly softer because they are a bit longer. Other then that they should be almost identicle.

 

The YJ springs will ride better, and from what I've heard, they will flex better. I will be going to YJ springs when I'm ready to do my lift.

 

okay so im trying to get this straight...in order to fit a pair of 4.5" heavy duty rubicon express (yj) springs on my 74 cj i would need:

the springs all around: The 2 rear leaf springs HERE and the 2 front leaf springs HERE $720

Hangers:4x shackle end hangers.((((whats the difference between cj and yj spring hangers?? is the diameter hole different?? cause i found that the cj hangers are much cheaper.)))))
4x main eye hangers. but both hangers from HERE part number SR9851 and SR9861 $?? around $$120

and rear axle pearch/ pad HERE $26

guna need some shackles all around like HERE so those x2. $180

...i think thats it...

besides that i might need longer brake lines$130, extended driveshafts$300, and maybe a longer pitman arm for my steering($100)....does that sum if up??? $1575 later...ekkk

also i plan on make some sort of roll bar. i was thinking of using the existing roll bar and making it come forward and have three bars over the top (one on each side and one in the middle.) and having a 45 or something going from the base down by my feet to the existing roll bar behind me.... now does anyone have any suggestions of how i could make this roll bar connect to the frame?? any pictures...??

thanks, Matt

 

Or you can buy the whole kit here...

http://www.rubiconexpress.com/SuspensionSystems/CJ.aspx

 

no. i dont think i can just buy the kit. i have a 74 and i need to replace my springs hangers and what not.....the kit is for a 76-86....

 

Sounds about right. If you want an lil' extra wheel base, now is the time since your weld new hangers all around.
Grind a little on the front frame rails and slide some 2x4 over it with a new crossmember and you'll be able to climb with out pooping your pants

 

Or you could just buy this and its already done for you. Inlcuding cage work, fuel injection, gearing, tires... etc.

http://www.earlycj5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=68498

 

lol im a little short on cash i dont wana buy your rig. even though its very nice.