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CJ-5 Springs on a flatfender?

Discussion in 'Flat Fender Tech' started by Andy4802, Aug 13, 2006.

  1. Andy4802

    Andy4802 Canadian Jeep junkie

    have any of you guys ever transplanted the 55-75 CJ-5 Springs onto a flattie? From what i understand, they are only a couple inches longer at either end.. im just not sure about width. I found a good deal on some 4" lift springs for a CJ-5 and im wondering if i should go for it.

    is it do-able with out changing or moving spring hangers? Pics and stories would be really appreciated :) Thanks all!
     
  2. neptco19

    neptco19 That guy....

    You'll have to move the spring hangers, since the springs are longer.
     
  3. Andy4802

    Andy4802 Canadian Jeep junkie

    couldnt i use a boomerang shackle to make up for the extra 1-2 inches?
     
  4. runnamuck

    runnamuck look out!

    nope, the shakles would invert or extrovert. however you want to say it, they will not work.
     
  5. Andy4802

    Andy4802 Canadian Jeep junkie

    ok well if anyone out there has done it before, please give me the details of what mods you had to do.
    thanks!
     
  6. Glenn

    Glenn Kinda grumpy old man Staff Member

    Don't forget you would have to move all the hangers including the shackles, an equal distance. Doesn't seem worth the effort.
     
  7. jd7

    jd7 Sponsor

    Pretty simple really. Get the CJ5 frame with them and just swap bodies. (sorry):rofl: ;)
    When I did it I just droped a plum bob and found my axle center where it was under the flatty. Then I bolted the CJ 5 springs to my axle and that gave me the approx area that I built mounts, You'll note I said approxamately that was because I had the old CJ5 frame that they came off of to get the right measurements from. I left my driveshafts on my axles also just to anchor them. Not as simple as I made it sound but you get the idea. I've done it twice more(same springs) since then and changed something each time. hth
    this might help also:http://www.earlycj5.com/tech/SpringsShocks/leaf_springs.shtml
     
  8. Andy4802

    Andy4802 Canadian Jeep junkie

    now thats the advice i was looking for!! :) ok so if i understand correctly, you had to relocate both spring hangers/brackets for each spring, right? are the springs the same width as the stock cj2's and 3's? did you have to mess with driveshaft lengths or angles? if you have any pics of it, could you fire em over to me at brian_shaar@hotmail.com ? thanks man!
     
  9. WarMachine

    WarMachine Junk Monger

    From the math I did awhile back concerning using 4 stock CJ5 rear springs on my 3A...

    By keeping the main eyes (non-shackle end) of the front and rear springs the same, you'd end up moving the front axle forward aprox 4"...and the rear backward aprox 1".

    Like I said, these were just my figures, probably not applicable to your setup, but might help?
     
  10. Andy4802

    Andy4802 Canadian Jeep junkie

    yeah that does help... im hoping to not have to mess with driveshaft lengths too much so if i decide to do it, im going to cut off all 8 mounts and bolt on and weld the new ones in place keeping the axles in stock configuration (except a little lower that is ;))
    only reason i want to do this to begin with is i want a 4 inch lift... and the highest i can find for a willys so far is 2.5 and 3.
     
  11. w3srl

    w3srl All-around swell dude Staff Member

    I guess I'm missing something here, but on my '2A the rear mounts for the rear springs, and the front mounts for the front springs are already at the ends of the frame. To me that means that you couldn't move the spring mounts unless you extended the frame...
     
  12. WarMachine

    WarMachine Junk Monger

    There is a million different configurations you can use for lifting it up that much. The more experienced people around here can probably advise you better on any multitude of them. Everything from rearching, spring over's, combinations of spring lifts, add-a-leaf, and shackle lift...you name it. IMHO anything you do to try and gain 4" of lift is going to require some additional modification to the rest of the driveline/steering linkage/suspension mounting systems.:beer:
     
  13. Andy4802

    Andy4802 Canadian Jeep junkie

    with the bumpers off, ive got 2 inches at both ends AFTER the mounts.. which is about all i will need at either end of the springs in order to get the axle re-centered ( i think)

    oh by the way... if any one has cheap set of springs for a CJ-2-3 kicking around for a good price, i'd consider it. Anything to get rid of my too-long shackles ;)
     
  14. scottz1946cj2a

    scottz1946cj2a New Member

    So......is the green jeep pic yours......if it is I need some info
     
  15. Andy4802

    Andy4802 Canadian Jeep junkie

    hey Scott, yeah thats my baby, although shes not on the road yet... i just had knee surgery last week so its all on hold for now but i've been collecting parts...
    i finally got a hold of a lift kit (2.5" superlift, with what looks like some conferr shackles)... so as soon as i can get it installed, im going to ditch the too long shackles. I also have an alternator kit that i need to install... my generator hasnt worked since i've had the jeep (almost a year now).
    Oh! and i just found a guy up here about a couple hours away that has a hardtop for me so i'll be making that drive in a week or two to go pick it up :) i just need to figure out how im going to heat the inside of the jeep now for the colder months ;)

    what kind of info are you looking for?
     
  16. jeepfreak81

    jeepfreak81 When in Doubt, Pedal out!

    Kinda funny really... I ditched using my 2A frame this weekend as I picked up a ECJ5 frame that was complete, but needed a body... I will be swapping that in the next couple weeks.... I hope the tub swap goes ok R) Not really something I wanted to do, but it saves me TONS of work, and the frame is thicker too...