Stock SOA?

[Brian]

I just remembered something. While I was looking for lift options awhile back I noticed that my truck was already converted to SOA. Did early J-Trucks come stock with SOA or was it a conversion by some previous owner? How could I tell? Thanks for any info.

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Brian
66' J-3000 "Great White Ghost"
327AMC/T-18a/Dana20
Dana 44 front & rear
32x11.50 BFG A/T KO's
My FSJ (http://www.geocities.com/punkrock405/myfsj.html)

[joe]

A 66 J-truck came stock SOA at both ends. My 73 J-4000 is still SOA from the factory at both axles. I think in 74 with the new open-knuckle D44 front axle the front axle was SUA but the rear remained SOA for some years afterwards.

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Regards,
-joe
63 2-dr Wag, 73 J-4000, 82 CJ-8

[scotty]

where are the leaf springs on a 66?are they beside the frame rails,or under?i thot i remembered a post awhile back about moving the springs under the frame rails,like the newer models,to gain lift.



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scott
85 grand wagoneer
258 with motorcraft 2bbl/904/twin stick dana 300/dana 44/welded amc 20
38x15.5 gumbo mudders
snorkel/dual batteries/onboard air/"custom" convertable
3 inch body lift/mostly stock suspension/"modified" fender openings
custom front/rear bumpers and brushgaurd

T18/dana-spicer 18 with drum E brake and PTO swap very soon
searching for offset QT rear and PTO winch

[Kenall]

pre open knuckle jtrucks are OE SOA. and the springs r outside the frame rails.

when open knuckles came they brought with them a tighter turning radii which inturn demanded an increase of the angle in degrees that the front tires must pivot at.

with the springs outside of the rails, the tires wood stick out much to far to allow for needed tire clearance.

placing the springs under the frame, as they were on the wags, allowed for the retention of the 63" wide track and the introduction of the tighter turing radii.

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Ken
1966 Super Wagoneer (http://www.home.earthlink.net/~kenns9/)
'The Predecessor'

[Brian]

I was planning on switching over to open knucke steering in the future. Does this mean I have to relocate my springs when I do this?

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Brian
66' J-3000 Custom Cab "Great White Ghost"
327AMC/T-18a/Dana20
Dana 44 front & rear
32x11.50 BFG A/T KO's
My FSJ (http://www.geocities.com/punkrock405/myfsj.html)

[Kenall]

its a distinct possiblity. also, since the pre 74 jtrucks had the springs outboard the rails, AND were OE SOA, there is insufficient room to place the post 74 axles between the springs and the frame, since they are OE SUA (spring under axle).

u wood then HAVE to move the springs below the frame or weld on nu spring pads to the SUA axle u select to make it SOA to match ur current frame.

its best if u get out the poleroid or the digi cam and hit the yards to check out the different engineering of the 2 systems. ur next step shood be based on this research...

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Ken
1966 Super Wagoneer (http://www.home.earthlink.net/~kenns9/)
'The Predecessor'