Offroad-Express

My "give a crap-o-meter" finally got going again and tonight I got the original plate off, marked up the side holes and tacked the 500mm x 25mm box into place on the proposed new one. I say "proposed" as im still not sure that the driveline angles wont be totally ballsed up with the new plate on.

The 1.25inch body lift went in, the engine mounts went up 1 inch (and held over the weekend too thankfully) and it appears the pan will lift up around 2 inches. Those figures just dont sit well in my little brain.... however, according to the many websites ive looked at, and different designs ive seen, it should be sweet.... after all if the Americans do it, it must all fit together ok.........

Any-hoo.... tonights pics below and more progress pics to come. All going well i should just about have it on tomorrow night. Which will give me enough time to modify the stock one before QB weekend if this all goes pear shaped.

The old and the in progress


Box section added


Side holes marked


Height comparisons


The centre secion will be built up a bit though. The pad will sit directly on the plate, and the threads will stick straight through, therefore a small section will be built up around the square created by the four threads, opposite to how they sit stock, to protect the threads and nuts..
Only doing it this way, as, again, im concerned about having to lift the tranny any higher. Hopefully it works out.

Tomorrow will tell

Looks good. How thick is the steel plate you are using? You might need rear upper adjustable control arms to re-align your pinion angle. Front driveshaft is long enough not be impact much, but the rear one even with SYE (which you already have) will need some adjustment.

TJ wrote:Looks good. How thick is the steel plate you are using? You might need rear upper adjustable control arms to re-align your pinion angle. Front driveshaft is long enough not be impact much, but the rear one even with SYE (which you already have) will need some adjustment.

Oh yeah, the wifes just gunna love that.

I can always make it, mod the original one to take the shovel out of the equation, and sell the new one if it doesnt work.

Hoping that the pinion is already set to near enough the right angle when the lift was put in with the length of the after market lower arms.... time will tell

Plate is 6mm

Lifting the back end of your transfer case has the same impact on driveline as a suspension lift on driveline. So, you raise your transfer case 2" - driveshaft angle at pinion end becomes steeper (i.e. pinion angle is not in near zero position with the driveshaft). Longer lower arms actually make it worse as the pinion would be point down (more than it should). Only real solution is upgraded upper arms in the back

They're known as "The Shovel". I think i had 14.75 inches between the bottom of the pan and the the concrete floor. Be aiming for another 2 inches on that.

TJ wrote:Lifting the back end of your transfer case has the same impact on driveline as a suspension lift on driveline. So, you raise your transfer case 2" - driveshaft angle at pinion end becomes steeper (i.e. pinion angle is not in near zero position with the driveshaft). Longer lower arms actually make it worse as the pinion would be point down (more than it should). Only real solution is upgraded upper arms in the back

That depends on how much longer the arms are in relation to how high the suspension lift was. If the lift is 4inch and the arms were extended 5 inches, then the pinion is pushed down, the mounting point on the chassis is constant. If the lift is 4 inches and the arms were extended 3 inches, then the pinion raises by way of the arm, in essence, pulling it/rotating it, up.

Hence my hope that the arms have raised the pinion ('cause you dont get lower arms in a lift kit that point your pinion down... or do you?) enough that the change wont have any ill effect.

I have also dropped the suspension by 1 inch from 5 to 4 as well, which may well help compensate. Also, it originally had 5 inches with transfer case spacers, the angle then was pretty steep.

Bah, its all doing my head in now........

Lack of enthusiasm strikes again..... maybe tomorrow.....

Keep it up. Looking good. Your logic in your last posting gave me a headache too.

Things I've learn tonight......

1) When changing height of a skid plate, the positioning of the mounting and chassis holes needs to be taken into account too... lift the trans up.... move the holes for the chassis.

2) Part of the transmission sits lower than the mounting pad, hence a raised centre must be used, or a section of the plate lowered.... dead flat doesnt work.

3) When lifting the trans up bu such an amount, the gearstick hits the dash.... bit of a bugger that.

so....

a) A raised centre has been made and added, still need to realign the holes to mount the trans onto though.

b) A second 2inch by 1 inch box will be added to the first. Wont be as high as i wanted, but still about 2 inches more clearance than stock.

c) the gearstick will still probably have to be "abbreviated" or "angular-ily repositioned"

d) I might just get so pissed off that i modify the stock one by cutting off the leading and trailing lip and adding bevelled edges, and put that back on.

Appreciate your R&D and discoveries. This guy seems to have done it as a flat bottom:

http://www.jeepforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=665298&page=2

He is running some sort of channel inside. Photos are not that clear.

Yup, seen that one, which is nigh on exactly how ive done mine..... yet..... well.... bah, its a Jeep thing!!!

Getting grumpy now......

I moved the angled mounting plate, and tacked it back into its new possie (also learnt today that it pays to tack weld things until youre sure about the placement.)

Got one side bolted in, only to find that no matter how much one swears and curses and carries on, that if something doesnt fit, it just doesnt fit. Seems that there just simply isnt enough room in the trans tunnel. Where the gearstick comes through, the trans is sitting hard against the tunnel, with still an inch to go up on one side before being able to bolt it all together.

I can only assume that the other that are online are either a later modle TJ (with the different trans) or autos.

Solution at this stage is to add another hunk of 50mm box on top, grab some longer bolts, and see what happens.

Pics to follow.

With the 2 inches of box........

Still need to pop some reinforcing through it yet, just want to get it fitting first.

What the FARK are you up to!!!

Bigger Hammer and a grinder, axe that floor out of the Farken way!! (or bigger bod lift, OR adds some shims cousin).

What are ya gaining from stock if you add that extra box along the edge? it hardly looks worth it. If that Transfer box rides on the tunnel mate she be all vibration and feel like a Lada!!

with extra box it sits down off the tunnel.

get ur arse back up here with the mig man.....

Sorted some holes, everything lines up now. Fitted it and all seems to be honky dory. Tacked some gussetts into place. Hopefully tomorrow ill get it painted and on and take it for a spin.

After that i'll probably have to take it back off again until i can afford to get some adjustable upper arms..... the joys of Jeep-dom

Have you test driven it yet? Whats the verdict?

TJ wrote:Have you test driven it yet? Whats the verdict?

just finished it off and bolted it in. Ill go for a drive in about an hour and see whats what.
Rear pinion angle is pretty steep. We will see soon.

xj wrote:with extra box it sits down off the tunnel.

get ur arse back up here with the mig man.....

Il bring my sticking plasters.... got to keep things factory...ha ha

How did the new ark go? post some pics of ya handy work big fella!!

xj wrote:

TJ wrote:Have you test driven it yet? Whats the verdict?

just finished it off and bolted it in. Ill go for a drive in about an hour and see whats what.
Rear pinion angle is pretty steep. We will see soon.

AND? ya back yet or are ya still pushing it home....

dixie wrote: Il bring my sticking plasters.... got to keep things factory...ha ha
How did the new ark go? post some pics of ya handy work big fella!!

Shut-up dickwad.... Dont make me get Mandy to sort you out.

Im back... but my care factor has hit zero......

In it went and out it has come



Drives fine, no driveline vibe or anything... all is good. Until it comes time to sit and idle. Then theres a horrid rythmic rattle-ey droney effed up noise.

Thought maybe the exhaust was hitting the cover, but no.... clambered all around under it to no avail... cant see what it is.

The original one is back on and the new one will be looked at again some time down the track

While i was at it, i went out and bought a little 140 amp arc. At one stage i looked up to see an entire flock of seagulls laughing and pointing and saying... "eewwwww loook at what he did...... eeewwwwwww"

Safe to say im better of with a mig. However, some more practice will sort things out.

Mandy only has Candy for Mikey if ya no what im saying!!!oooohhh yyeeaahhh!!!

Give a trip or two and your plate may settle in, or maybe its just the fact now it has character with a real bit of steel bolted to it and wants to grunt and groan like a real 4X4.... ha ha it can only be steel on steel for it to be making those noises.

I could almost smell your welding from here...ark takes a few more goes at mastering it than just a few runs dude everyone has there own signature when it comes to welding.

Wonder if its the exhaust brackets maxing out upwards, meaning it cant move about as it would have in stock position where the rubber bits did their work...

As much as my enthusiasm is depleted, ill still be laying in bed tonight wondering what the hell is up with it.

If it is rythemic and on idle only, chances are it is exhaust shake. Possibly the tranny bracket holder is too tight on the exhaust or the cat is touching somethine ever so lightly. You are nearly there, don't give up. How else would the other copy your design?

we can eliminate the cat... there aint one there.

More i think about it the only thing i come up with is the exhaust brackt being maxed out and not allowing the rubber to do its job.
Quite possible too that it follows that it maybe wasnt the tunnel limiting the lift of the trans, but the same exhaust bracket.....

Plenty of time after QB weekend to worry about it.