Another FSJ guy in El Centro

[Heavy_Metal_Thunder_81]

Hey guys, My name is Jon and Ive just been stationed here in El Sweatro...I mean El Centro. Ive been an auto mechanic most my life and now Im a powerplant mech on F/A-18s for the Navy.  Ive never been on the west coast and the only 4 wheelin I know is mud.  My Jeep isnt really set up for any rock trails or whatever it is yall do out here but I would be willing to adapt it to be a little more flexy as I cannot find any mud out here to save my life The rig is a '79 Cherokee Golden Eagle (de-badged unfortunatly) Powered by a 360 followed up by a TH400 and converted from Quadratrac to a part time, twin sticked Dana 20.  Suspension is 4 inch Rusty's lift springs and a 1.5 inch block in the rear and 1 inch shackle in the front to fit 33x12.5x15 Mudstars.

[Metal Twister]

Hey Jon welcome to the dry half of the country and to the SCUFF. Poke around the forum and get a feel for how it works and post away. Pretty good showing of FSJ's here so much the toyota and baby jeeps are starting to get worried.   Anyhow welcome and enjoy.  

http://www.socalultimate4x4.com/index.php/board,98.0.html

[moorehouse77]

Welcome.  You'll be supprised what a 4" lift and 33's will do under an FSJ.  I'll show ya when the weather cools down.


Dave.

[Heavy_Metal_Thunder_81]

Registered 

Oh and pics!

[Heavy_Metal_Thunder_81]

Welcome.  You'll be supprised what a 4" lift and 33's will do under an FSJ.  I'll show ya when the weather cools down.


Dave.

Its not so much of a tire size issue for me, trust me, I know these things are way capable its just that my lift is WAY stiff...literally no flex at all...I dont even notice that i dont have a swaybar anymore...

[2wdrckcrwlr]

Welcome to SCUFF!  You might want to see how your FSJ works before you throw more $ at it. It might surprise you. How long have you had you springs. They may just need to be flexed some and broke in. Look forward to seeing you on the trails!

[Metal Twister]

Humm sounds very familiar. How about you Dave.  

[Heavy_Metal_Thunder_81]

The springs are OLD and sagged out, even jumped it a few times...still rock solid.  I can flex out in a ditch 2 of the wheels will come off the ground before the other 2 are even close to being stuffed up into the wheel wells.  Im thinking of ditching this lift for a BJ's lift (had awesome results with them in the past) or trading for a set of stock spring and going SOA (dont have access to a wleder though)  Still up in the air what Ill do with it at this point.

[moorehouse77]

Yeah my soft ride springs are the same way...




 
But we can still get down the trail with our old stiff iron!  


Dave.

[Chief Gunner]

Hey,
Welcome to SCUFF.  Always good to see another FSJ here.  Moorehouse and I just did a SOA lift on my Jeep, and in my opinion, it is the only way to go.  I was debating the BJ's 6" lift and the SOA.  I am glad I was talked into the SOA.  Do your research and figure out what is best for you.  When your ready, post up and I am sure you will find all the help you need.

[SNOTROCKET]

welcome to SCUFF. where you from before you joined the navy? is el centro your first duty station? mine was yuma. theres lots of good wheelin over that way. just got to do it at night this time of year.

[Heavy_Metal_Thunder_81]

Man I wish my Cherokee even flexed that much! And yes this is my first real duty station...I was staitioned in Virginia Beach with VFA-106 for 3 months on temp. duty.  Id LOVE to go SOA but 1. I dont have a welder... 2. I cant afford high steer or even crossover steering or the bigger tires that will go with it haha

[wiebewagon]

welcome to the FSJ forum, i mean SCUFF, love seeing more FSJ's, even without flex i think you'll do pretty well.  however that being said, im currently doing the debate of SOA vs Bj's im still torn, my only fear is my 30+ year old springs will start to break when i start flexing them real hard after i do the conversion...but both directions have definate advantages.  I have talked to a few people that LOVED how well the Bj's kit flexed. on that note i have also heard a few people say "it was really stiff and rode like a truck" but hey.

[Heavy_Metal_Thunder_81]

I have talked to a few people that LOVED how well the Bj's kit flexed. on that note i have also heard a few people say "it was really stiff and rode like a truck" but hey.

I have personal experiance with the BJs kit and it rides just as good as stock IMHO...Ill probly end up going that route as its less to replace because I already have the shocks, DPA and brake lines installed for it.

[moorehouse77]

You can also scavenge some stock leafs from the junk yards and swap them out for some of your stiffer leafs just leaving your main leaf you have now.  Thats the absolute cheapest way.  Also for me bouncing the crap out of them never helped soften them up but a trail run with good cossed up flexing helped the most.  By the way thats a good lookin cheif man I like it.


Dave.

[Heavy_Metal_Thunder_81]

Also for me bouncing the crap out of them never helped soften them up but a trail run with good cossed up flexing helped the most.

Well then I guess Ill have to get out and do some more flexin and see what it can do as is!

By the way thats a good lookin cheif man I like it.

Its actually a de-badged Golden Eagle.  Has the gold tinted rear windows, and came with the gold steel wheels when I bought it.  The PO painted the bottom half black like that and I hate it.  New decal kits are onle around $350, waiting to get everything else done on it before that though.

[71-ACE]

Welcome to the Scuff and to Hel Centro. The weather is pretty bad right now but just wait one more month and there will be lots of 4x4 action around the corner. At your local Superstition Mountain.

[Metal Twister]

Maybe 2 mos. 

[DavidWymore]

let'sgolet'slet'sgolet'sgo

Went out Sunday, it was nice.

[DavidWymore]

Stop by Sonic on a Thurs night, bout 6 or 7 ish, the IV bunch will be hangin out.