SOA fj55

[cruiseroutfit]

The 75 series springs sure do look close and useable on a 55 huh?

(not my pig)...

And check out those overloads

 

[Grease Cruiser]

The 75 series springs sure do look close and useable on a 55 huh?

(not my pig)...

If you actually start to measure, they do work and work pretty well. At least they worked for me. Hey, not saying it's a bolt in swap but I opted for the OME route rather than going with custom springs.

They are quite beefy and they ride great.....trust me.

Dre: Who's pig is that with the 75 springs? Are they happy with the results?

 

[dieselcruiserhead]

And check out those overloads

I'm never going the hear the end of that...

 

[dieselcruiserhead]

If you actually start to measure, they do work and work pretty well. At least they worked for me. Hey, not saying it's a bolt in swap but I opted for the OME route rather than going with custom springs.

They are quite beefy and they ride great.....trust me.

Dre: Who's pig is that with the 75 springs? Are they happy with the results?

Scott Pelcher (former Portal-Tek dude)... Awesome dude and local cruiserhead north of SLC. Has a sweet 55, and check out this '79 40 that he built up (Vintage Air)... I'm in photo posting mode if you can't tell .

He had to yank the rear spring hangers (looked like a *****) to move them back a couple inches.

But I agree, well well worth it... As hinted towards earlier in this thread, Old Man Emu has this majic blend/style/quality that is just unbelievable.... I don't think anyone can argue against that (or I've never, ever heard it).

 

[Grease Cruiser]

OME makes a great product (no argument there) so it was worth it to me to go the extra mile to fit the 75 springs under my 55. I looked into having custom springs made but I had a bad experience with that on a different vehicle. That is why I started measuring all the different springs around the shop. That's when I discovered that the 75 springs would work with a little bit of modification.

I did not think it was that bad to move the shackle hangers back. Burn the rivets with a plasma cutter and then I air chiseled the hangers till they broke free. It took about 5 minutes for each one.

Back to the SOA topic: I chose to not go with a SOA on my 55 as I did not want it that big. I had already had a SOA 60 and felt that it was just a bit too big for me. It did take me everywhere I wanted to go but my plans with the 55 are a little different. So I opted to go with the OME 2.5" and run 33X10.50 route.

 

[the dude]

I also run the OME on my SOA and wouldn't want it any other way. I think I would modify my shackle points to run 60 series springs on a 55

The other thing to take into consideration is to get your spring perches as low as possible. it doesn't sound like a big deal but it all adds up. With the thickness of the OME spring pack, and a high mounted spring perch, your 5" lift you think your going to get now with old springs and a measured off the axle tube can turn into a 7-8 lift awfully quick.

 

[tacollie]

I talked to Proffitts resently about the 75 springs on the 55 and still may go that route. Seems pretty simple. Plus a 75 should be lighter than a 60 and give me a little better ride right?
I liked my alcans a lot but it will be a lot simpler going with the OMEs and they really do ride nice on a heavy truck. I may run SUA next summer and then go SOA since I have so much work to do already. It will give the springs some time to break in a little. I really do want to go SOA before then and I think that is the right route for my uses. The height that the OME is going to give me is a little more than I want but I think it is the right thing to do. All my OME stuff seems to sag pretty quick anyway.

 

[tacollie]

I also run the OME on my SOA and wouldn't want it any other way.

I actually decided to go SOA simply because if I had a 60 I would have already done it. Flawless logic right?:steak:

 

[tacollie]

While I am thinking about it I still haven't decided on axle width. SOA with FJ 60 axles and 3.5" bs seems to be a good idea but I wanted to here what you guys thought. My dad has a rear dana 60 in his garage I can have if I want but I like the idea of having Toyota axles.

 

[Grease Cruiser]

I talked to Proffitts resently about the 75 springs on the 55 and still may go that route. Seems pretty simple. Plus a 75 should be lighter than a 60 and give me a little better ride right?
I liked my alcans a lot but it will be a lot simpler going with the OMEs and they really do ride nice on a heavy truck. I may run SUA next summer and then go SOA since I have so much work to do already. It will give the springs some time to break in a little. I really do want to go SOA before then and I think that is the right route for my uses. The height that the OME is going to give me is a little more than I want but I think it is the right thing to do. All my OME stuff seems to sag pretty quick anyway.

You probably talked to me about the 75 springs on the 55.

If you go with the 75 springs and then go SOA, I'd suggest breaking them down first. Pull a few leaves out of the bottom of the pack while you do the SOA conversion. Let the springs settle out a little to where they are nice and soft. Then.... after a few weeks, add the leaves that you took out back to the spring packs. This makes a nice SOA setup. Some of the best SOA rides we have done, have been de-arched OME packs.

I'd go with the FJ60 axles. Dana 60's are great but they are wide...really wide. Unless, you want to pay to have them narrowed, they will look kind of funny on your 55 unless you are running 39's or bigger. My personal opinion.

Also, locked FJ60 axles with Longfields are plenty strong enough to run 39's or smaller. We suggest going with Dana 60's if you are going bigger than 38's.
Hope that helps.

 

[dieselcruiserhead]

If it helps pretty much all of those photos are FJ60 front, IFS rear with 3.75" backspacing. So yes I'd recommend it strongly if you do go SOA (or even less).

 

[cruiseroutfit]

...I'd suggest breaking them down first. Pull a few leaves out of the bottom of the pack while you do the SOA conversion. Let the springs settle out a little to where they are nice and soft. Then.... after a few weeks, add the leaves that you took out back to the spring packs. This makes a nice SOA setup. Some of the best SOA rides we have done, have been de-arched OME packs...

Absolutely agree, every OME equipped SOA I've worked on had the same protocol, the exception would be my heavy beast FJ40 in which I left the front light 40 springs in tact, I pulled 2 out of the rear though

I've got pics of 40,45,60 and 70's that are SOA using OME springs. Who's going to be the first with a 55

 

[tacollie]

The only reason I considered the dana 60 is my motor is going to have a lot of torque. My dad has cut a lot of them down so that is not a problem, but I think I am going to stay toy.

OME SOA is in the next 6-8 months hopefully.

 

[tacollie]

I have been thinking about this a lot lately. SUA with 3" lift, 33s, lockers, and winch have always gotten the job done for me, but I just can't seem to get excited about setting the cruiser up that way. Everytime I think about a SOA cruiser with 35s I get like a kid in a candy shop. The practical part of me says go SUA for a year or two but I that just isn't doing much for me. My tacoma gets 14 mpg on a good day and I am pretty sure the V8 can at least match that if not do better. The height issue isn't huge as it wont be much higher than my old taco. Once my taco is sold I will probably throw some of that money at the cruiser so the extra cost should fit into my budget. That coupled with the fact that everyone with SOA trucks(I have found only 1 exception on mud) stays with them despite their size. After pricing out tires I don't consider that a good reason to stay sprung under, a 255/85 KM2 isn't much cheaper than 315/75r16 BFG AT. Those are the tires I am considering. Also the truck is pretty far apart so it just seems the right way to go. What do you guys think, should I just drive it SUA for a set of tires or 2 then go SOA or should I just do it now? I was going to SAC the 02 Taco and go to 35s before I sold it if that helps. I would appreciate some input on my conclusions. Thanks

 

[locrwln]

I have been thinking about this a lot lately. SUA with 3" lift, 33s, lockers, and winch have always gotten the job done for me, but I just can't seem to get excited about setting the cruiser up that way. Everytime I think about a SOA cruiser with 35s I get like a kid in a candy shop. The practical part of me says go SUA for a year or two but I that just isn't doing much for me. My tacoma gets 14 mpg on a good day and I am pretty sure the V8 can at least match that if not do better. The height issue isn't huge as it wont be much higher than my old taco. Once my taco is sold I will probably throw some of that money at the cruiser so the extra cost should fit into my budget. That coupled with the fact that everyone with SOA trucks(I have found only 1 exception on mud) stays with them despite their size. After pricing out tires I don't consider that a good reason to stay sprung under, a 255/85 KM2 isn't much cheaper than 315/75r16 BFG AT. Those are the tires I am considering. Also the truck is pretty far apart so it just seems the right way to go. What do you guys think, should I just drive it SUA for a set of tires or 2 then go SOA or should I just do it now? I was going to SAC the 02 Taco and go to 35s before I sold it if that helps. I would appreciate some input on my conclusions. Thanks

Do it once, do it right. Trust me, I went through two lifts before I SOA'd my Wrangler. Rode and wheeled much better, never had a problem with driving it anywhere.

Jack