New Sammy, New obsesssion, advice sought

HJAlbert

HJAlbert

New Member
Joined
May 27, 2013
Location
WIlmington, NC
Hello to all. I am new to the off road modification side of things. Up to this point I have owned more vehicles than I can remember, but the most modifying I ever did to suspension was a 3-4 inch spring lift on my 72 GMC Jimmy, which was just replacing the spings and shocks. For the past eight years have stuck to diesels. When I saw this, I had to get it.
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A sammy with an isuzu diesel. Unfortunately who ever did the work, did not do it right. I would like some advice on how to proceed. I want it to be a safe reliable every day driver that is capable offroad. It already has a SPOA lift, which was done incorrectly, as you can see in this photo.
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If you can not see it there, you can here.
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Luckily no real harm has been done. My plan is to fix the lift, get some new old man emu springs, which will give me an extra 1.5", possibly do a rear to front relocation, looking into swapping toyota axles... the list goes on. Any advice is welcome. Thanks!
 
YJ springs SPUA
 
I do not think I can go back to spring under, due to the oil pan. What do I plan to do? Driving wise? Daily driver, some fun on the weekends but nothing too hard core. My main priority is for it to be a stable, highway safe 4x4. Definitely not going to be doing any rock crawling in the foreseeable future. I am going to take my vegetable oil conversion off of my 4x4 pup and put it on this. Right now it has unevenly worn 31s. I will probably stick with this size, at most go up an inch or 2. It has no lack of power right now, but then again I am used to having the same engine in a vehicle that weighs about 600 pounds more and was full of tools.
 
if you spring under with yjs it should get you enough lift to clear the oil pan....for a daily driver i would rather have it under just because of axle wrap

-oh and yjs ride 1000x's better then sammy springs
 
Thanks, that is good to know about the ride and the lift given. I will have to take some measurements. I have been reading about the yj kits for the past few hours. Any recommendations
as far as which brand? Obviously they all claim to be the best. Edit: I just found a thread that addresses this, along with RRs claim that the missing link is unstable. will continue reading.
 
Choices Choices. Thanks in advance for input. I have sent out some emails to various vendors. Hopefully I get some replies, I would like to get this thing on the road So I can pan a trip this summer. The most appealing kit to me is the one by Trail Tough, 1400 and it does not come with springs. If I go the spring under route, I want to know I can use YJ lift springs, I also want to make sure I can swap to spring over in the future.
this is the one I am looking at from them. I would probaly use fab tech yj springs with 3.5 inch lift, full military wrap.
http://www.trailtough.com/index.php...category_id=7&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=53
these from ROcky ROad are more inclusive, it would appear, for what appears to be a near equal price (1465) price. From what I have read does not have the missing link, but will I really need it? If I went rocky road I would go with the ultimate ome kit.
then there is this one from sky much less inclusive, much cheaper. The Benefit is I make sure I only get what I need, down side it extra shipping charges for soursing parts, and time. (logistical benefits, not quality obviously)
http://www.sky-manufacturing.com/new/detaproduct.php?id=378

2 spring plates (passenger side larger pattern, drivers side smaller pattern)
2 shackles (with bushings and sleeves)
2 bumpstops (Mounts to Center Hole)
2 spring hangers
4 1/2" x 13 x 1" bolts, nylocks (for rear frame mount)
2 1/2" x 20 x 4" bolts (for missing link)
4 1/2" x 20 x 5" bolts (for shackles)
16 1/2" flat washers (for shackles and frame mounts)
6 1/2" x 20 nylocks (for shackles and frame mounts)
2 9/16" x 4 1/2" bolts, nylocks (for frame mount)
4 9/16" flat washers (for frame mount bolts)
8 3/8" x 1" bolts, nylocks (for frame mount)
2 3/8" x 3" bolts, nylocks (for bumpstop mount lower)
2 3/8" x 3 1/2" bolts, nylocks (for bumpstop mount upper)
4 3/8" x 1 3/4" sleeves (inside of frame on bumpstop mou
 
I might be mistaken, but I do not think I will be able to run the spring under lift. I do not have much clearance between the oil pan and the front diff as it is now, and when my dad hopped on the bumper for me it came very close to hitting, to the point that I am sure it has hit when driven off road. Here is a picture to show the clearance. Here it looks like it is already dented.

3543.jpg
 
The Zuk crowd prefers Trail Tough over Rocky Road any day of the week. Trail Tough kit is very good quality as is the Sky setup. Low Range offroad is a good place to get parts and advice as well as Brent at Trail Tough.

For a strictly Zuk audience and advice look up Zuwharrie (mild) or Zukikrawlers (wild).

I am SPOA with stock springs and fully streetable. A panhard bar helps handling on an SPOA rig. Ride with stock springs is not great but oh well!
 
Well one more thing to pay attention to, your springs are pretty much shot. A good pair of stock springs would probably pick you back up 2-3 inches im sure
 
Yes, I was pretty aware of that, unfortunately I think replacing with stock springs is not really an option, due to the weight of the diesel. This is probably what destroyed the springs that are on there to begin with I am no sure what the 1.3 weighs, I have heard 150#, pretty sure my c223 weighs about 450. I pulled one recently, and it is an awkward motor to have on an engine stand. Cast Iron Block and head.
 
I have made up my mind to go with the YJ swap, So thanks to yall for pointing me that way. Going to hopefully have made a decision on manufacturer and have it ordered by this weekend. Going to have to make some room in the Garage.
 
Thanks, I am going to attempt that, I definitely am going to run spring over, There is no way I could get enough lift by going spring under to clear the oil pan and still have any amount of compression. Found a set of stock YJs. Gonna go pick them up ASAP
 
i think youll be really happy with that set-up....i would suggest however, since ive been there, had a pan hard bar and traction bar on the rear
 
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