Lowering a Jeep - Page 2

bradyman1 · 05-14-2008, 11:32 AM

Put some lift blocks on it between the axle and springs. Since it is spring under it will lower it. Good luck. Sorry but I think most jeep guys are going to

at you.

machinehead131 · 05-14-2008, 11:34 AM

With the wheelbase on that thing you are going to die.

flame0086 · 05-14-2008, 11:47 AM

Wrong vechile for the appliction; short wheel base will make it hard to keep it staright (not to mention there is no weight in the rear end), shaped like a brick makes it hard to part the air, and lots of extra carp that you need to get rid of such as the front axle and transfer case.

All of these problems can be fixed by finding a Nova or Chevelle.

Please don't let this jeep go to waste like fat wing on honda or toyota.

**Lee3333** · 05-14-2008, 11:48 AM

Jeeps may want to be in the dirt, but there is not any around here in New York City.

I should clarify that the main purpose of the project is not a track car. It will mostly be used for cruising and car shows. It will only see occassional track runs, mostly for bragging rights. With 2 young kids and a non-understanding wife, I wont get much opportunity to get to the drag strip, the nearest being 2 hours away.

I am putting a small block Chevy in-already have a 450 HP beast ready to go. Just need the tranny and rear (Ford 9 inch). I am removing the transfer case, and in the future will get a 2 WD unit, perhaps from a Cherokee.

I have spoken to several other drag Jeep owners and they said stability going straight was not a problem. It would only be over 100 mph for a few seconds, and being lowered should improve the aerodynamics. Besides, the profile is no worse than the altered or T-Buckets that used to be popular in the 50's and 60's. They also had the motorcycle type front fenders, similar to the Jeeps.

flame0086 · 05-14-2008, 11:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lee3333

Jeeps may want to be in the dirt, but there is not any around here in New York City.

I should clarify that the main purpose of the project is not a track car. It will mostly be used for cruising and car shows. It will only see occassional track runs, mostly for bragging rights. With 2 young kids and a non-understanding wife, I wont get much opportunity to get to the drag strip, the nearest being 2 hours away.

I am putting a small block Chevy in-already have a 450 HP beast ready to go. Just need the tranny and rear (Ford 9 inch). I am removing the transfer case, and in the future will get a 2 WD unit, perhaps from a Cherokee.

I have spoken to several other drag Jeep owners and they said stability going straight was not a problem. It would only be over 100 mph for a few seconds, and being lowered should improve the aerodynamics. Besides, the profile is no worse than the altered or T-Buckets that used to be popular in the 50's and 60's. They also had the motorcycle type front fenders, similar to the Jeeps.

What drag jeep owners? Short wheel base, no wieght in the rear end, slick tires and 450 HP is going to make you crash and burn

**Lee3333** · 05-14-2008, 12:17 PM

One is Mouatracing.com. Check it out

**Lee3333** · 05-14-2008, 12:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flame0086

Wrong vechile for the appliction; short wheel base will make it hard to keep it staright (not to mention there is no weight in the rear end), shaped like a brick makes it hard to part the air, and lots of extra carp that you need to get rid of such as the front axle and transfer case.

All of these problems can be fixed by finding a Nova or Chevelle.

Please don't let this jeep go to waste like fat wing on honda or toyota.

I would guess that here in NYC, 99% of the Jeeps are 'wasted'. They are never driven off road- they are only a status symbol of yuppies that want to look rugged.

Here on this forum, people are dedicated and into their Jeeps. But there are many more Jeep owners out there just using it like a Toyota or Honda, driving to work and to the mall.

EVERYONE has Novas and Chevelles. What do you think would be more fun to cruise around in-a sealed box or a nice Jeep, no top or doors, small block Chevy rumbling loudly in the hot summer sun?

JeepsOLot · 05-14-2008, 12:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yjcrawlr

You could just drag with the windshield down and wear a spandex body suit!

LMAO!!! I would pay GOOD money to see that at an NHRA event!!

To make that better, get a Bestop duster and windjammer, mount the windjammer so you can roll it down even with the duster, now, you would have the back area sealed, just the two-seat cockpit would be all that would be open. One other thing, take out the rear seat if it has one, and put some cement blocks in place of the seat, that would help your weight issue.

Jerry

danielgoforth · 05-14-2008, 12:55 PM

Wow lol. You should get a fast car instead.

Jeepfreak81 · 05-14-2008, 01:17 PM

FWIW I had 4.10 gears, a 300HP 355 and 30" tires.... Granted they weren't drag radials, but it was downright scary when you got into it. I spun out once or twice on dry pavement when just trying to throttle around a turn until I got used to it, even then I wouldn't let others even think of driving it. The V8 also destroyed the factory springs in less then a year. If your plan is to remove leaves to lower it, your in for a WORLD of hurt unless you have a serious plan for spring wrap. Not to mention in street handling.

My opinion is what your doing is retarded, and you will likely get laughed at a lot but it's your vehicle do what you want if you can take it... You will be hard pressed to make it a trophy winning racer, if you do though mad props. I am extremely competitive and would want every edge in a race, it's to expensive a hobby not to get some money back out of it. I think drag racing is worse then jeeping.

It looked like this when it had a V8, 30's and no front driveshaft (V8 went in a couple months after this pic with no major changes other then shackles and an 8.8)

**TrailWorthyFab** · 05-14-2008, 01:31 PM

I'm going to the NHRA races in Topeka here in 2 weeks. Think I'll get a chance to see this one run with the top fuel dragsters

I would take the money you plan on spending and invest in a full welded roll cage first off. I have seen jeeps that run low 13's. The amount of time and money that is put into one IMHO is a waist. Jeeps don't have big HP engines because it is all lost in gearing when you put it into 4wd so it's a waist. Keeping your stock motor and thinking it's gong to be fast. Well. don't hold your breath. I don't care how big of a turbo you can find it isn't going to help much. Plus. People will laugh their *** off when you pull up to the pole for your first race

I'm just trying to help you out bro. Drive down south and sell of the wheels. Find some stock ones and sell off the jeep while it is still worth something. If you want to be different go get an old gremlin and race it. They are light. Low and I've seen some that will flat mop it up.

xeroid81 · 05-14-2008, 01:35 PM

For your family's sake ,please update your will!

Jeepfreak81 · 05-14-2008, 01:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Toxic TJ

I'm going to the NHRA races in Topeka here in 2 weeks. Think I'll get a chance to see this one run with the top fuel dragsters

I would take the money you plan on spending and invest in a full welded roll cage first off. I have seen jeeps that run low 13's. The amount of time and money that is put into one IMHO is a waist. Jeeps don't have big HP engines because it is all lost in gearing when you put it into 4wd so it's a waist. Keeping your stock motor and thinking it's gong to be fast. Well. don't hold your breath. I don't care how big of a turbo you can find it isn't going to help much. Plus. People will laugh their *** off when you pull up to the pole for your first race

I'm just trying to help you out bro. Drive down south and sell of the wheels. Find some stock ones and sell off the jeep while it is still worth something. If you want to be different go get an old gremlin and race it. They are light. Low and I've seen some that will flat mop it up.

Not to mention you can buy a family car off the lot now for under 25k that will run low 13's or better in the quarter with a 5.7-6.3 sec 0-60 time. To get that in a Jeep your going to have 8-10k into the motor alone I bet.

The new Cobalt SS and HHR SS both would do that.... and I am sure there are Camry's and Hondas that do as well...

Grumpy_chef · 05-14-2008, 02:01 PM

Lee,
What about converting to coil-over suspension and getting rid of teh leaf springs all together. At least up front anyway. In the rear you would have to worry about spring wrap, but a 4-link and coil-over shocks would take care of that. I dig what you are trying to do, but to me it seems like a look of work for not a lot of results, except for the stares you would get going down the road

**Lee3333** · 05-14-2008, 02:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Toxic TJ

I'm going to the NHRA races in Topeka here in 2 weeks. Think I'll get a chance to see this one run with the top fuel dragsters

I would take the money you plan on spending and invest in a full welded roll cage first off. I have seen jeeps that run low 13's. The amount of time and money that is put into one IMHO is a waist. Jeeps don't have big HP engines because it is all lost in gearing when you put it into 4wd so it's a waist. Keeping your stock motor and thinking it's gong to be fast. Well. don't hold your breath. I don't care how big of a turbo you can find it isn't going to help much. Plus. People will laugh their *** off when you pull up to the pole for your first race I'm just trying to help you out bro. Drive down south and sell of the wheels. Find some stock ones and sell off the jeep while it is still worth something. If you want to be different go get an old gremlin and race it. They are light. Low and I've seen some that will flat mop it up.

Who is talking anything about turbos? I am doing a VERY common engine swap for a small block Chevy. Motor brackets are readily sold everywhere. The only thing I am doing different than most of you is lowering it instead of jacking it up. I will be using it for street cruising and the occassional trip down the quater mile. While the back is certainly lighter than the front, it is NO DIFFERENT than any other American car. And while the wheel base is short, others have told me it is not a problem. Remember, altereds and T-Buckets also had short wheelbases and used to drag race all the time without incidents. Plus, I can always increase the wb-kits are available to move the front foward and the rear back, should I want to.

But please remember, this is NOT a serious track car. It is being built for fun. Something to cruise around in with the wife and kids, show off at local car shows, etc. Much cooler (literally and figuratively) than some hard topped sedan.

Laugh if you will, but at least I am building my Jeep for a purpose that it will be used for. As I said before, most Jeep owners NEVER intend to go off road-they just like the Jeep image. Personally, it seems as silly as the giant wings on Hondas to set up a Jeep for off-road and never use it there. In NYC, not that I am a Jeeper, I notice them. And I can honestly say that I see at least one Jeep on every block or two. And I can also say that NONE of them are ever covered in dirt or mud