M715 SOA>>>>>>>>>

[FSJ Super Swamper]

I'm looking to do a SOA lift to my M715. Can anyone point me in the right direction, to get it started. I'm looking to run 15x42x16 swampers so help is appriciated...:fsj:

[j20brett]

here is a link to a soa kit for j10/20's. dont see why it wouldnt work for you.
http://home.comcast.net/~killertravel/soa_kit.htm

[FSJeeper]

here is a link to a soa kit for j10/20's. dont see why it wouldnt work for you.
http://home.comcast.net/~killertravel/soa_kit.htm

That kit won't work but Tad can make the perches he needs to do it.

All he needs to do is measure his front Dana 60 tube diameter and get perches for it. On the M715, the leaf spring perch on the pass side is on the tube, not the diff, very easy. Then flip the rear shackles in the back and go on his merry way.

He needs to dump the POS studs that hold the spindle on and replace with grade 8 bolts, or he will for sure pull them out with 42's.

[Tad]

That kit won't work but Tad can make the perches he needs to do it...
I've actually sent out a few templates to M715 owners, but like a lot of stuff, I never heard back how close they were..
Since we really only need the very uper portion of the radius i'm willing to think that my existing D60/14-Bolt ones would work, or if there is a big difference a slightly enlarged D44 tube perch.

[Grantshire]

Looks like you have the stock M715 axles. Are you running the big tires on the stock split rim? I am in the early stages of my M715 project. I have a couple 360's and a 401 I squirreled away and will put either a TH400/? or 727/208 behind it. I have a J20 donor truck for most parts and was considering using its axles to get disk brakes and a better turning radius. I would like to run 40" tires and have not found any wheels that fit the M715 bolt pattern.

[FSJ Super Swamper]

Stockton wheels out of California makes one piece rims to fit stock m715 hubs. I called them today and got a price quote

16x10 $205
16x12 $225
with 4 1/2" backspacing

He said it would take 4-5 weeks to make & ship.
http://www.stocktonwheel.com/military_wheels.htm

[FSJ Super Swamper]

The axle tubes on the m715 are 3" & summit racing has spring perches for a 3" tube with a 2.5" spring width $20. So I still need drop pitman arm, shocks, modified tie rods, extended brake lines, possible driveshafts, &

what else?????????

[Tad]

The axle tubes on the m715 are 3" & summit racing has spring perches for a 3" tube with a 2.5" spring width $20...

You might wish to read through those Summit descriptions again or at least give them a call and double check. The only ones I have ever seen on their site than give a thickness were the MOR-85090, 1/8" thick @ $20 each plus shipping.
You might also want to look at the ones from http://www.mountainoffroad.com
Their shipping was a bit steep last time I checked but they have some beefy 1/4" thick anti-wrap perches @ $45 a pair.

[Grantshire]

For the price of a set of their wheels I can almost swap in other axles. I will either go with a 14 bolt/Dana 60 combo or J20 Dana 60/HD44 setup. That way I get modern wheels, disk brakes front & back (you have to do a disk brake upgrade in back if you use a 14 bolt or Dana 60 because of spring clearance), open knuckles, more wheel options and parts availabilty.

Good luck with your project.

[Hammer]

I just cut the stock perches off and welded them on top. Very simple, and those suckers are BEEFY!
Not the biggest perches though, I would rather have something with a larger footprint.
As for the rear, you have to flip the rear shackle, and then flip the front stuf part of that rear spring to keep the correct pinion angle, and even out the amount of lift.
Flipping the front stud is the hardest part because you have to cut the bracket out around the stud, and that stud goes all the way through the frame and is welded to the bracket on the other side of the frame (this is the bracket you cut).
The existing bracket makes a perfect jig to cut another hole in your frame to relocate the stud lower. Put it all back together, bolt it up, THEN weld it.

Having said, and done, all of this, it would be MUCH easier to just dump those **** stud mounted springs and swap to simple bushing mounted ones.
That, and those stock axles are not worth it. About the only redeeming quality to them is that the dana 60 front has almost 1/2" thick metal for the tubing!!!

I wouldn't dream of using a 44/60 combo in one either, not worth the time to swap them.

Your right on the cost of rims, I had some made for cheap (I didn't have personal access to the machines needed at the time). If you know someone, have them cut the centers out of your stock rims, and weld them into some other rims, or rim shells (pretty cheap to buy these really).

I later gave up and went with rockwells. Never finished the project, and FSJeeper has that one now.

[Hammer]

Oh yeah, forgot to add, you have to do the high steering mod when you go with the spring over. The springs are right in the way.

[FSJ Guy]

Robert Cowan on www.m715zone.com has wheels IN STOCK for you. A little more $, but you don't have to wait.

[FSJ Super Swamper]

I'll ask him, I also post over their alot.

[FSJ Super Swamper]

Would 4" blocks work for the lift in the rear???

[Tad]

Personally I think 4" blocks are not a real great solution. From the info you gave above reguarding height and tire size I'm thinking they would just be a problem waiting to happen.

[j20brett]

if you're putting all the work into a soa conversion then why not build a set of dropped spring hangers? then you can use your stock springs and not have to worry about blocks. just my .02

[TexasJ10]

I'm curious as to whethr you would really need a SOA to run 42's on an M715. FSJeeper had some huge tires on his chop top without much lift if I remember right.

[FSJ Guy]

Max you can run on a 715 stock is 38.5". I have em and they ru EVER SO SLIGHTLY at full stuff when I turn the wheels. I also am using civilian inner fenders. The OEM fender inners may give a little more clearance.

Since you're looking at new wheels AND an SOA, you might want to just swap out axles. Get something modern, better gear ratio. lose the goofy bolt pattern and 2 piece wheels and get REAL disc brakes (up front at the very least). I suspect you'll find the $$$ are similar after all is said and done.

[Brad W.]

Get a set of 3/4 or 1-ton axles from a GM, Dodge, or J-20. Those match the offset of the transfer case, and are plenty beefy.

I know from my measurements that to sling a GM front D60 in, the passenger side perch ends up on the tube between the diff and the knuckle "C". I don't remember if you have to move the driver side perch, probably so.

Now, I can't verify this because after I measured it all, I changed my plans! I never went ahead with it because I decided to put the D60 in the wag and put... ROCKWELLS... in the m-715. muhahahaha...

I'm trading the body of my donor k-30 for the rear rockwell, so this has been a cheap swap so far. gotta love that.