reverse shackle conversion ??????/

[la mula pescadora]

hello

i'm doing a reverse shackle conversion on my 76 chief i have been looking at Todd J. Grisko. web and a did almost exactly what he did but when i lower it the shackle came up i'm planing to move the rear bracket so i can have the shackle pretty much streight has any one run into this longer leave will also do but i want to keep the same ones. also has any one install blocks in the front

[joe]

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by vallehermosense:
also has any one install blocks in the front<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>Not only is that illegal in all 50 states it's seriously dangerous for you and the other folks on the road you may happen to be near when the blocks tumble and you lose control :(
If you crash and hurt someone and they find front lift blocks on your rig your insurance is "poof" and you're lawyer food from then on. Regardless if you're paid up in advance, insurance coverage is only for "street legal" rigs. Read your policy.

[la mula pescadora]

o.k so front block are ilegal what about shackle reverse

[ndheep]

I resently bought a d44 for my blazer that has 1 inch blocks welded to it. Is that o.k. If not I will have to cut then off. It is already been put in. Thanks.

[joe]

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by azheep:
I resently bought a d44 for my blazer that has 1 inch blocks welded to it. Is that o.k. If not I will have to cut then off. It is already been put in. Thanks.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

I dunno about welded in blocks Brent but it'd be worth a call to your local state vehicle dept and your insurance co. May save you some grief later on?

[GaWd]

Well, since the worry about front liftblocks is them collapsing or slipping out and causing major front-end failure, I'd say that welded it's probably not a problem.

Mind you, I'm not the state DNV or your insurance company, but it seems that the worry about front blocks is avoided if welded.

Sam

[RustyJeep]

This is exactly why I am putting new front springs in my Jeep. The PO did a shackle reversal in the back, and to make up for it in the front, he put in lift blocks. So, now I'm puttin new springs under it. No harm, no foul, I say. smile.gif Of course, it hasn't been out on the road, yet.

[ September 26, 2001: Message edited by: RustyJeep ]

[ndheep]

That was what I was thinking. But I will call my inc. and dmv. Thank you for the input. I just got the front end in i hope I don't have to take it out.

[la mula pescadora]

well no one as said anything about the shackles

[la mula pescadora]

well no one as said anything about the shackles

[bchesley]

You dont want the shackle pointing straight up and down. You need to have the shackle on about a 45 degree angle. It will have to move fore and aft of where ever it is mounted. If the shackle was mounted straight up and down you would limit some of the droop and flex.

[la mula pescadora]

o.k at 45 angle does it mater to front or back?

[la mula pescadora]

here are some pics of my atemptweb page (http://citaris.digicentro.com/vallehermosense/shackle.htm)

[la mula pescadora]

here are some pics of my atemptweb page (http://citaris.digicentro.com/vallehermosense/shackle.htm)

[River Beast]

You ran into the same problem I initially had.... the mounting hole for the shackle needs to be moved 1.25" forward of the original mount.... look...it works great...
http://albums.photopoint.com/j/AlbumIndex?u=1388365&a=10360822&f=0


BTW... this is commonly referred to as a shackle flip for shackle inversion. A shackle reversal is known to most as relocating the front shackle to the rear of the front springs... FYI...

[ September 27, 2001: Message edited by: River Beast ]

[newbie]

Looks like you need to move the shackle mount up (towards the front of the vehicle) Your shackle currently has no room to move when the springs are compressed. Don't drive it like that! It looks like you're running the risk of breaking a spring if you leave it like that. Your passenger side shackle should be at about 7 or 8 o'clock and your driver's side shackle should be at about 4 or 5 o'clock. Remember the shackle is one of the key elements of you suspension and was only designed to work properly under certian geometrical limits.

[ September 27, 2001: Message edited by: newbie ]

[la mula pescadora]

so i have to move the shackle mount foward what other alternatives do i have how have you all acomplish this task wich seems to be pretty easy but is a pain

[newbie]

That's pretty much it, unless you can find longer springs.

[River Beast]

my custom mounts are completely bolt-on... I can remove everything if I wanted to... none of the bracketry is welded except my shock mounts in the rear.

Cut off what you have welded and make a new bracket like mine. Drill a hole in the center of the new bracket and mount it thru the center hole of the existing mount TIGHTLY and then lower the rig down... loosen the bolt and adjust as necessary.... then if you want, re-weld it on in place or use grade-8 bolts and drill 4 holes in each new mount like I did... I have had it airborne with no breakage... works great....

[la mula pescadora]

hy tod i went to your site to look for info and the brackets sure look to be weld but in these they look diferent another thing did u had to mess with the drive shaft?

[newbie]

RB's got 100% right. You gotta move the rear bracket up, there's no other way, unless you use longer springs. We discussed a bolt on shackle flipper a few months back, check out :shackle flip idea discussion (http://www.ifsja.org/cgi-bin/ubbcgi/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=2&t=003302) and Shackle flip bracket (http://www.ifsja.org/cgi-bin/ubbcgi/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=2&t=003326)

[la mula pescadora]

hy River Beast can you send me the blue print of mesurementos of the mods on the shackle flip i will reciated tks
:rolleyes:

[newbie]

Here's the sketch of a shackle bracket http://www.geocities.com/newbiefsj/shackleflipper.html

RB can get the measurements you need.

[ September 27, 2001: Message edited by: newbie ]

[88grand]

how hard is it to do a spring over in the front of an 1988 grand wagoneer and how much lift will it give me?
-thanks, nick

[River Beast]

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by 88grand:
how hard is it to do a spring over in the front of an 1988 grand wagoneer and how much lift will it give me?
-thanks, nick<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Welcome 88grand...jumping into the mix right away eh? :D Do a search for SOA and it should answer most of your questions.

SOA's are as easy( or hard) as you make them...some are cheap...some are not....mine is not...due to steering mods I needed for 11" of suspension lift. Her are some pics of the high cross-over steering mods I needed...
http://albums.photopoint.com/j/AlbumIndex?u=1388365&a=12142173&f=0

As for the pics (old and first design) on my site of the brackets being welded.... yes... those WERE welded... look at the Photopoint link for the final design of the bolt-on ones I made.

MY brackets were cut from .25" thick 3.5" box steel to my liking.... if you want exact measurements.... I have to measure and get the angles tomorrow.....lemme know

[littlechief]

wow RB, that set up looks pretty sweet and clean. Think I know what I'm doing to my suspension next :D , that combined with the soa and high steering should give me all the lift that I need. You probably gained what..6" on the rear just with the inversion?Is there a down side? Any nasty side effects? so many things I want to do........might have to take a leave of abscence so that I can devote myself to the important stuff...lol :rolleyes: like thats gonna happen ;)

[la mula pescadora]

wow
Nice conversion river beast is this how much u paid for the spindless
$220.00 per pair

[la mula pescadora]

i forgot to ask u why did u took off the old z bar

[River Beast]

Z-Bar was VERY unsafe... WAY too much play and wandered EVERYWHERE!!!! I will advise ALL:

---- DO NOT FAB A Z-BAR -----

The high cross-over steering is nothing more than a pre-76 flattop Dana 44 knuckle from a Chevy... machined, drilled and tapped to accept a case-hardened 9/16" stud to move the draglink off the meain tierod and onto the top of the knuckle.
www.partsmike.net (http://www.partsmike.net) has ALL the parts necessary to do this steering setup... that's where I got mt parts... ready to install...he does all the work. AWESOME repore with ALOT of other 4x4 owners of ALL makes. check it out... I called him... he's a great guy and stands behind his products/work

[River Beast]

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by vallehermosense:
wow
Nice conversion river beast is this how much u paid for the spindless
$220.00 per pair<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

I got all the parts (less the draglink and parts for it) for $300 from www.partsmike.net (http://www.partsmike.net)

[la mula pescadora]

hey RB do you have any other lift in the front cause i think mine will need a little more in the front planing to use longer shakles in the front

[la mula pescadora]

anothe cuestion RB (sorry) in the shackle reverse in your front bracket did you also repositioned the hole for the bolt?

[River Beast]

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by vallehermosense:
hey RB do you have any other lift in the front cause i think mine will need a little more in the front planing to use longer shakles in the front<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

I am running 4" Skyjacker Softride springs at all corners... the SOA up front and the shackle inversion out back.. and a 3" bodylift.

Your rear inversion bracket can be adjusted (slide forward or back) to raise or lower the rig aobut 1.5" max. I have a slightly downward pitch at the front... on purpose....if I carry all my gear, I sit level... a spare for my rig is aobut 100 lbs alone!!!

You can fab extended shackles for the front if you want... I didn't ....yet ;) just make sure when you weld up the perches on the front axle you take this into consideration... it will pivot the pinion up higher...if your perches are done... you may want to look at it closely to see if you will over pivot the pinion angle to the shaft...you should be around 2 degrees of angle to take up for axle wrap.

[la mula pescadora]

anothe cuestion RB (sorry) in the shackle reverse in your front bracket did you also repositioned the hole for the bolt?

[River Beast]

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by vallehermosense:
anothe cuestion RB (sorry) in the shackle reverse in your front bracket did you also repositioned the hole for the bolt?<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

NO.... the front mounting hole is 5.5" directly below the original mount.Since the rear mount is inverted (about 9" total), This gives you a natural rotation of the pinion upward about 4-5 degrees which is needed to relieve stress on the rear u-joint.

[Maynard]

since we are talking about shackle reversals, i noticed on my dad's 75 chevy 3/4ton that the front shackles are already behind the axle, never noticed before. thats just a side note, no useful info from me smile.gif

[oldyellowwagoneer]

Just an added note,
you can get the flattop knuckles(drivers and passengers' side)from almost any grand waggy.We have butt-loads of them in the wrecking yards up here.They're the same ones as a chevy and are interchangeable.
scoutgrl

[River Beast]

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Maynard:
since we are talking about shackle reversals, i noticed on my dad's 75 chevy 3/4ton that the front shackles are already behind the axle, never noticed before. thats just a side note, no useful info from me smile.gif<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

This thread was mislabeled.....it's not a shackle reversal but a SHACKLE INVERSION or SHACKLE FLIP....rear springs is what we are talking about here...

[River Beast]

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by scoutgrl:
Just an added note,
you can get the flattop knuckles(drivers and passengers' side)from almost any grand waggy.We have butt-loads of them in the wrecking yards up here.They're the same ones as a chevy and are interchangeable.
scoutgrl<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>


I have noever seen a flattop knuckle on the GW's...haven't really looked tha hard... but every FSJ I looked at had the rounded top knuckles.... you can see the difference here... http://albums.photopoint.com/j/AlbumIndex?u=1388365&a=12142173&f=0

4th, 5th and 6th pic have a depiction...

[graham]

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by vallehermosense:
hello

i'm doing a reverse shackle conversion on my 76 chief<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

vallehermosense,
Heres another way, Check out the link below, this is how I "flipped" my rear shackles. Have tested them out a couple of times on the beach, with no ill effects. The beach was not my main problem, getting to the beach was. some very rough ground to cover.
My Shackle Flip (http://www.geocities.com/ozbearhunter/suspension.html)
If you need any more info, just ask.

[oldyellowwagoneer]

RiverBeast....as I said they're on the late grands about '82 and up,every one I've ever seen has them. scoutgrl

[la mula pescadora]

hello people after a long weakend i whant to give tks to hevery one who help me on this topic you all have been of a big help to me .

i will be working on it today i will post later how it goes tks to all.

my next thing to do will probably the spindles i like the ones u have river beast o another question how can i get another extra inch on the front shoul i add a leaf or change the shackles?
:confused:

[River Beast]

Choice is yours...AAL's or shackles....I would go with extended shackles...but for those who don't fab parts, AAL's may be the way to go.