Lift Kit install

[Mporter]

So I got my lift kit about a week and a half ago, but I'm putting it on in 2 days.

Here are the pics of what all came on the palette and everything, Ill post some pics of the install, before/afters, etc.

http://s252.photobucket.com/albums/hh27/shotgun12321/Lift%20Kit/

[Patrolman]

Sweet kit! I have to admit though, the first pic popped up all by itself, and I thought you bought donuts! Yum....

[Chris]

I hope you've been soaking everything with PBBlaster!

[BlackRubi]

I hope you've been soaking everything with PBBlaster!
Mmmmm....peanut butter blaster......aaaaggggghhhhh......

[Brody]

I hope you've been soaking everything with PBBlaster!

Chris is right! I hope you have to as it will save you all sorts of grief along with saving skin! I always start soaking stuff down about a week before I have to take it apart...daily....Works, too.

Looks like you didn't go with the hanger reversal or maybe I missed something...You are going to be pretty happy with this. Looks like you got the whole enchilada!

Be prepared to cut off all of your old spring U bolts and spring hanger bolts. It is the fastest way to do this. I would try to unbolt everything as spare parts are spare parts, but don't hesitate to grab a sazall or grinder if they get cranky....

[Mporter]

I hope you've been soaking everything with PBBlaster!

Done and Done.


Looks like you didn't go with the hanger reversal or maybe I missed something...You are going to be pretty happy with this. Looks like you got the whole enchilada!

Be prepared to cut off all of your old spring U bolts and spring hanger bolts. It is the fastest way to do this. I would try to unbolt everything as spare parts are spare parts, but don't hesitate to grab a sazall or grinder if they get cranky....

I decided I was gonna hold off on the reversal for now (but its on the list). And yeah, I was expecting a few chopped bolts in the future, just from what I have read up on these kits. But yeah it's a full kit. :cool:

[edog]

Sweet, post up pics when you are done, I am guessing it will look sweet.

[1freaky1]

Looks like a nice kit to work with, I am not to familiar with Ol man Emu stuff.

[Brody]

Looks like a nice kit to work with, I am not to familiar with Ol man Emu stuff.

It is pretty standard stuff for the older Toyotas, especially for the FJ 55, FJ 60, FJ 62 and FJ 40s. A little dated as they seem to have made no effort to update their stuff, merely going on the principle " If it worked 20 years ago, why bother to update it?" This is my main complaint with their company as it seems to be run by people in their 90s who have a frozen mindset. Still, their stuff works and is built well and they have commandeered a niche market. It just could use some serious modernizing....

[Mporter]

Yeah I've noticed that pretty much FJ40-FJ62's all use the same set of spring pins....I guess it shows versatility....or laziness

[Chris]

Good luck with the install, you'll be very happy with it! I did the install on mine alone and it took 12 hours. I didn't have any cutting tools so the bulk of my time was wrestling with removing it. I wish I had known what I was in for and had an angle grinder.

Looking forward to the before & after pics!

[Brody]

Good luck with the install, you'll be very happy with it! I did the install on mine alone and it took 12 hours. I didn't have any cutting tools so the bulk of my time was wrestling with removing it. I wish I had known what I was in for and had an angle grinder.

Looking forward to the before & after pics!


You ever stop to consider that there is 42 years difference in your ages? This guy probably moves a lot faster than you do....with much less groaning and complaining, too. I mean, he can probably go from kneeling to an upright position in one simple step and not take 10 separate steps and 10 minutes to do it:lol::lol::lol::lol:

[Chris]

:lol: As if I need a reminder Pete!

Hey Matt, if you do it in 4 hours I don't want to hear about it! :p

[Mporter]

Haha...well i'm hoping it wont take 12 hours, It's gonna happen after school, so I don't wanna spend all day in Elizabeth (where my dad's friend is with a big body shop). It shouldn't take a long time since he has probably every tool possibly needed for any type of suspension swap...and then some. Plus there's gonna be me, my dad, and him working on it. There's probably 60+ years combined experience of working on cars there since his friend used to be the Auto Shop teacher at Bear Creek HS.

[Chris]

Nice, 3 people, a lift and tools should make a very quick job of it. :thunb:

[Roostercruiser]

good luck it will make a world of difference

[ShutUpHippie]

Can't wait to see pics of the finished product! Have fun wrenchin' :wrench:

[Funrover]

Have fun, looking forward to pics!

[Mporter]

Well it didn't happen today due to time constraints.
I think i'm gonna wait till a weekend and just start early.
However i'll keep ya guys posted :thunb:

[Chris]

Bummer :(

[Mporter]

Yeah just a little problem that it would be about 3:30pm when we got around to starting it and then a 6-8 hour install = about 11, + 1:30 drive back....no bueno for my school and dads work in the morning.

I just wanna get it on already! I've had it for like 2 weeks now and haven't been able to do anything about it

[porkchop]

if im not mistaken i old man emu suspension is made by arb

[Chris]

You're right James :thunb:

[Brody]

Don't hesitate to grab a cut off or sazall if you run into frozen bolts and you have new stuff to put on. The spring bolts tend to get frozen inside the springs, the axle u bolt nuts are usually frozen up, etc, even if you have hosed them down with rust buster for a couple of weeks.

Trying to loosen these is nice for spare parts, but a waste of time if they are frozen in place. Keep all the junk you can save for spare parts, including the old u bolts. The loop on the u bolts has quite a few uses and the main leaf on each spring is good to keep if you manage to break one on the trail (happens). I wouldn't keep any of the other spring pack leafs, but keep the mains with the military wrap for sure. Again, just cut off the centering pin on the leaf springs and drive it out. The spring pack will essentially fall apart.

[Mporter]

Yeah that's what I've heard about the bolts freezing up, since it's a 21 year old truck that hasn't had anything major repairs wise.

But I'm not super scared about having to cut off the old stuff, since I bought a complete kit, I am gonna be putting on all new stuff, so I can spare a few bolts if need be. But I agree that it would be nice to have some backup parts just in case.

[Chris]

When you have it in the air take some time and check the knuckles, if it hasn't had any major repairs they're probably due for a rebuild and are pretty critical. Not a hard job with the tools at your disposal. Also consider changing the fluids while it's up there Matt.

[Mporter]

Well good news. Lift kit should be going on tomarrow :D:thunb:

Up at 5:30, out the door at 6, start :wrench:'in at 7:30.
Ill remember to grab the camera and snap some shots

[ShutUpHippie]

There's still time for one last PB soak!

[Mporter]

LIFT IS DONE :D:thunb::2thumbs:

Only ran into a few problems: Had to move the exhaust to get the left rear packs in/out.
Basically the same problem in the front right but with the driveshaft.
Other than that, no torched/cut bolts, everything went pretty smooth with a few exceptions of bushings not lining up at first.

Pretty great now....time for some sliders with some steps (not used to being up so high :drive:)
Pics are below:
http://s252.photobucket.com/albums/hh27/shotgun12321/Lift%20Kit/Lift%20Kit%20Install/?albumview=slideshow

[white collar redneck dad]

I remember how excited I was when my lift parts finally came together. I felt like a "sanford and son" with all the stuff in my garage, but it was soooooo worth it. I look forward to wheelin with you.

Charlie

[Mporter]

Yeah I can't wait either...Only thing is, the guy who helped us thinks that the shocks don't have enough travel so I am gonna call the vendor I bought it from to see if they sent me different ones or if it's just because they are new and haven't had weight on them yet (which is what I think it is)

[ShutUpHippie]

Looks great, glad you could get it all done without any major issues this weekend!

[Mporter]

Also thought I'd add, it took roughly 7 hours start to finish. Not too bad since I've seen reports of anywhere between 6 and 12 hours.

[Chris]

Looks great Matt! Sure wish I had a setup like that when I did mine!

[Mporter]

Heh yeah, I tried to take a few shots of the shop we were in.

It belongs to an ex-shop teacher from Bear Creek High School so it has basically anything a shop class would have: bandsaws, drill presses, table saws, routers, etc. And all the car stuff too :wrench:

[96blkbeauty]

Nice. Now you just need some bigger tires.

[Brody]

Hey Matt

Glad you got this on!

Your buddy is right. If the shocks don't have enough travel now, they aren't going to have more when they 'break in'. Shocks don't need a break in period and the travel is determined by the length of the rod and shock body.

A very quick way to figure out if your shocks have enough travel is to simply unbolt the bottom of the shock and slide it off the bolt. Let it extend to the maximum length it can . Then jack the bumper of the rug up as high as you can so that the axle drops. If the axle drops way past where the end of the shock is, your shock is too short. If it is close, then you probably got sent the right shocks.

Chris' shocks are actually limiting the travel on both the front and rear of his rig by close to 2". And these are supposed to be the correct shocks for his lift...y