3" Drivetrain/Body Lift + New Crossmembers = ...
10-07-2005, 06:15 AM
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3" Drivetrain/Body Lift + New Crossmembers = ...
a flat undercarriage on 3rd gen:
Basically, I've used FROR's transfer case skid plate, and custom fabbed a combination of 3x1.5x3/16" and 3x2x3/16" tubing to make the front crossmember.
As a result, I've got a flat undercarriage from just behind the front tires all the way back to the lower control arm mounts in the rear.
To achieve this, I did a 3" RB body lift, and the 3" RB motor mount spacers. The transfer case skid sits level with the bottom of the frame rails, and the front one I made sits about a 1/2" above the frame rails.
Chris
Basically, I've used FROR's transfer case skid plate, and custom fabbed a combination of 3x1.5x3/16" and 3x2x3/16" tubing to make the front crossmember.
As a result, I've got a flat undercarriage from just behind the front tires all the way back to the lower control arm mounts in the rear.
To achieve this, I did a 3" RB body lift, and the 3" RB motor mount spacers. The transfer case skid sits level with the bottom of the frame rails, and the front one I made sits about a 1/2" above the frame rails.
Chris
10-07-2005, 06:56 AM
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Originally Posted by seaflea
nice work Chris! 
Will, are you guys planning to come out this direction as we talked about in the past, briefly? If so, you and Mike and whoever else has a place to stay if you need it.
Chris
10-07-2005, 06:57 AM
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Originally Posted by FilthyRich
I take it your spare lives in the cargo area now? and yes nice work on the flat belly 
Chris
10-07-2005, 07:09 AM
#6
Looks good. The 3rd gens don't have stuff hanging down quite as far as the 1st and 2nd gens do. I did a 3" lift and have just the FWD portion of the t-case (mainly just the skid plate under it) and the skid plate under the gas tank (the tank itself is above the bottom of the frame) hanging below the frame rails:
http://www.4crawler.com/4x4/CheapTri...ft/index.shtml
http://www.4crawler.com/4x4/CheapTri...ft/index.shtml
10-07-2005, 07:19 AM
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Originally Posted by 4Crawler
Looks good. The 3rd gens don't have stuff hanging down quite as far as the 1st and 2nd gens do. I did a 3" lift and have just the FWD portion of the t-case (mainly just the skid plate under it) and the skid plate under the gas tank (the tank itself is above the bottom of the frame) hanging below the frame rails:
http://www.4crawler.com/4x4/CheapTri...ft/index.shtml
http://www.4crawler.com/4x4/CheapTri...ft/index.shtml
Chris
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10-07-2005, 07:25 AM
#8
Here is stock:
Gained about 5.5" over the stock clearance under the truck. And it does make a huge difference off-road. I used to get hung up all the time on the crossmember and since lifting the drivetrain, I think I have only gotten hung up once and that was from taking a bad line and slipping off that line onto a big rock.
Funny thing is the first trip I took over the Fordyce (Sierra Trek) trail after the lift, I thought it was cool that I didn't even hit the t-case skid plate the whole trip, or so I thought. After the trail, I looked underneath, and saw lots of scrapes on the skidplate. So, I guess I did still hit it, just never got hung up on it.
Gained about 5.5" over the stock clearance under the truck. And it does make a huge difference off-road. I used to get hung up all the time on the crossmember and since lifting the drivetrain, I think I have only gotten hung up once and that was from taking a bad line and slipping off that line onto a big rock.
Funny thing is the first trip I took over the Fordyce (Sierra Trek) trail after the lift, I thought it was cool that I didn't even hit the t-case skid plate the whole trip, or so I thought. After the trail, I looked underneath, and saw lots of scrapes on the skidplate. So, I guess I did still hit it, just never got hung up on it.
Last edited by 4Crawler; 10-07-2005 at 07:36 AM.
10-07-2005, 01:42 PM
#10
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Originally Posted by 4Crawler
Looks good. The 3rd gens don't have stuff hanging down quite as far as the 1st and 2nd gens do. I did a 3" lift and have just the FWD portion of the t-case (mainly just the skid plate under it) and the skid plate under the gas tank (the tank itself is above the bottom of the frame) hanging below the frame rails:
http://www.4crawler.com/4x4/CheapTri...ft/index.shtml
http://www.4crawler.com/4x4/CheapTri...ft/index.shtml
James
10-07-2005, 01:57 PM
#11
Yes, that is a high pinion front diff from an FJ80. A 3" drivetrain lift adds 2-3 degrees to the driveshaft angles. With CV joints at the top end of both driveshafts, there is no problem with that. I have near perfect front shaft alingment w/ no shimming needed. In back, I had to add a few degrees to the shims.
10-07-2005, 02:31 PM
#15
Basically, yes; X" body lift, X" motor mount lift then there are a number of aftermarket tranny mount crossmembers you can get to raise that part of the drivetrain:
http://www.4crawler.com/4x4/ForSale/...shtml#BudBuilt
Then some fab work to raise other stuff like the exhaust and gas tank:
- http://www.4crawler.com/4x4/CheapTri...ft/index.shtml
http://www.4crawler.com/4x4/ForSale/...shtml#BudBuilt
Then some fab work to raise other stuff like the exhaust and gas tank:
- http://www.4crawler.com/4x4/CheapTri...ft/index.shtml
Last edited by 4Crawler; 10-07-2005 at 02:32 PM.
10-07-2005, 02:42 PM
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Originally Posted by 4Crawler
Basically, yes; X" body lift, X" motor mount lift then there are a number of aftermarket tranny mount crossmembers you can get to raise that part of the drivetrain:
http://www.4crawler.com/4x4/ForSale/...shtml#BudBuilt
Then some fab work to raise other stuff like the exhaust and gas tank:
- http://www.4crawler.com/4x4/CheapTri...ft/index.shtml
http://www.4crawler.com/4x4/ForSale/...shtml#BudBuilt
Then some fab work to raise other stuff like the exhaust and gas tank:
- http://www.4crawler.com/4x4/CheapTri...ft/index.shtml
oh btw whats the smallest amount of BL i can get and still have that result? a 3"?
Last edited by Lone4runner; 10-07-2005 at 02:45 PM.
10-07-2005, 06:54 PM
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Originally Posted by Lone4runner
cool thank you it seems i have some reading to do
oh btw whats the smallest amount of BL i can get and still have that result? a 3"?
oh btw whats the smallest amount of BL i can get and still have that result? a 3"?
1) RB 3" Ultimate Body Lift w/ Grade 8 bolts - his top of the line body lift
2) RB 3" Motor Mount Spacers
3) FROR transfer case skid plate
4) Custom fab the front crossmember using 3x1.5x3/16" & 3x2x3/16" tubing
Obviously you have to cut out the old crossmembers, and install the new ones, but I can promise it's going to make a huge difference out on the trails.
Chris
10-07-2005, 07:01 PM
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looks good.
i'm thinking i'd like to achieve a similar result by clocking up the tcase and then putting in a custom cross member. i only have a 1.5" body lift.
i'm thinking i'd like to achieve a similar result by clocking up the tcase and then putting in a custom cross member. i only have a 1.5" body lift.
10-07-2005, 08:52 PM
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Originally Posted by calrockx
looks good.
i'm thinking i'd like to achieve a similar result by clocking up the tcase and then putting in a custom cross member. i only have a 1.5" body lift.
i'm thinking i'd like to achieve a similar result by clocking up the tcase and then putting in a custom cross member. i only have a 1.5" body lift.
Chris
