Lifting my Grand
02-21-2009, 07:30 PM
#4
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Year: 1997
Model: Grand Cherokee
Engine: 5.2
Five hours later and we are 5 inches up and on 33's. I will post a detailed description of what I did. I chose not to use a lot of the common kits and fabricated a lot of my own parts.
02-21-2009, 09:48 PM
#7
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Year: 1997
Model: Grand Cherokee
Engine: 5.2
I used 4.5 inch OME springs up front and some Iron rock adjustable control arms that i scored off Craigslist for a steal. The wheels are a craigslist score and the tires are new (less than 500 miles!) 33/12.50-15's that a friend scored off a total at the wrecking yard.
I didn't see a whole lot of need for the adjustment on the lower arms but the uppers are adjusted out for compensation of the pinion angle. the front sway bar has a standard set of lengthened end link that convert it to a dog bone rather than threaded on one end. i think that was a rough country part.
I made a sleeve for the track bar that extended it's length 1.25 inches to compensate for the lift. It is .250 wall hardened steel tig welded both ends and more than adequate for the job.
I moved the front springs to the rear with a 1 inch spacer turned on the lathe from billet aluminum and cut the sway bar end link's. Legthened them 3 inches with hardened steel DOM tubing and Tig welded them up.
The rear axle sits too far forward at this point but it does not rub and of course when it hits a bump the travel arcs up and rearward. However I will make up some rear control arms in the next week.
This is the tip of the iceberg and I am having fun doing something different than making race car parts and chassis.
My finish plan will be more of a Baja blend than a rock crawler. I have line on a 6.1 roller motor that may find it's way into the engine bay but I doubt the drivetrain will handle it as-is.
If some of the parts I fab up are usuable to anyone on the forum and I can do them in a cost effective manner; I will let you know and make them available.
I didn't see a whole lot of need for the adjustment on the lower arms but the uppers are adjusted out for compensation of the pinion angle. the front sway bar has a standard set of lengthened end link that convert it to a dog bone rather than threaded on one end. i think that was a rough country part.
I made a sleeve for the track bar that extended it's length 1.25 inches to compensate for the lift. It is .250 wall hardened steel tig welded both ends and more than adequate for the job.
I moved the front springs to the rear with a 1 inch spacer turned on the lathe from billet aluminum and cut the sway bar end link's. Legthened them 3 inches with hardened steel DOM tubing and Tig welded them up.
The rear axle sits too far forward at this point but it does not rub and of course when it hits a bump the travel arcs up and rearward. However I will make up some rear control arms in the next week.
This is the tip of the iceberg and I am having fun doing something different than making race car parts and chassis.
My finish plan will be more of a Baja blend than a rock crawler. I have line on a 6.1 roller motor that may find it's way into the engine bay but I doubt the drivetrain will handle it as-is.
If some of the parts I fab up are usuable to anyone on the forum and I can do them in a cost effective manner; I will let you know and make them available.
Last edited by chassis research; 02-21-2009 at 10:20 PM.
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02-21-2009, 09:58 PM
#8
CF Veteran
Very cool and inventive in your out of the box thinking on this build.. Keep the pictures and information about this coming..
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