Re: Custom Spring Perches

[Tom Mandera <tsm1@domain.elided>]

josad@domain.elided wrote:
> >for *this* truck.  I'm trying to stick with stock driveshafts on this
> 
> I would think that you'd have to change those, or are you gonna limit
> your suspension travel?

I guess I should clarify "stock" driveshafts... and I'm *trying* which
doesn't mean I'll succeed. ;-)

To do a spring over "right" you should go CVs front and rear.  This is
my racer.. and my "low-buck" racer at this point.. so I'm *trying* to
make it work.. and changing U-joints frequently isn't an issue on a race
rig that will see limited miles anyhow..

I have a front driveshaft from a '72 manual tranny w/ Dana 30.  This is
1" longer than the same setup with a '44.

I have a rear driveshaft from a '727 equipped Scout II.  Shorter than
the stick rear.

I also (will) have front and rear driveshafts from another manual
transmission Scout w/ 44s.

Roughly, I have a stock stick front, a stock stick +1", a stock auto
rear, and a stock stick rear (stick rear being ~ 1" longer than auto)

The truck is going to have a 727 and Dana 20.  I'm hoping to find a
combination among the driveshafts available that'll work sufficiently
well to use.  If not, I'll go have 'em customized a bit.. but I'm trying
to avoid that (at least, immediately).

I'm not reversing the front shackles at this point.. that's for next
spring's season.

> >only leave 3 leaves, and no overload, and I plan on jumping.. ;-)
> >It's
> >sitting on 7" of lift right now.
> 
> 7" with what?  what size tires are you running?

I measured a few stock Scout IIs I have, and measured.. (from memory)
3.5" of clearance, at-rest, from the top of the rear axle tube to the
bottom of the bump stop bracket (subtract .5" if you don't have a bump
stop bracket but just the frame)

The Scout with the Spring Over is a '77/78.. stock springs from a '77,
springs-over, sitting on a Travelall Dana 44 (spring over) rear axle.  I
measure 10.5" from the top of the axle tube to the bottom of the bump
stop bracket..

It has 235/75R15 recap snow tires on it.  :-)

http://walnut.tmcom.com/~tsm1/scout/jpg/racer/moving/contact.jpg

Has some pictures (haven't made the HTML yet).. you can see the
individual (larger) pics by just going to "moving/" and you'll get the
directory listing.

I hope to scan new pics tonight.. of the racer with my 33x12.50s on
it...

> well, i've got a really good deal on a running diesel terra, I want to
> put 38" tires under it, so i'll use a spring over, and then any of (or
> maybe all) the following: ~2" spring lift, tubbing the fenders (no back
> seat to worry about), fender trimming, extended shackles, and beefed up
> mounts like we're talking about here.

John Comer has 38s on Banshee.. with just a 2" suspension lift.  Tire
Clearance provided by Sawzall.

IMO, you won't fit larger.. where John's at, to get anything bigger, you
have to cut the bottom of the firewall out! ;-)

> or go visit a local machine shop, i think it was Landry who said: "Beer

I think I'm going to be acquiring a Craftsman 8" Drill Press on my next
pay day... ;-)  $125..  Between wanting to hole-saw spring perches, and
I just determined I need to completely re-do the rollcage for the racer
(Found out it's 1.5" Schedule 40 tube!  UGH), I'm going to be doing a
lot of "fish-mouthing" with hole saws... time for a press.


-Tom "building a machine shop out of the garage" Mandera
http://www.tmcom.com/~tsm1/scout