SO EXCITED!!!

Bullet · **Posted:** Mon Jul 31, 2006 9:22 pm

I know I am silly but I just had to say how excited I am that after MONTHS of saving and things going wrong.....then saving again, I finally ordered my Frankenlift today and should get it in time for my lift party this weekend!!!

Having said that, are there any "tricks" I should know or tools I should be sure I have before beginning to make this as easy as possible? Any pitfalls I should watch for. I plan on doing this solo as much as possible, just so i can say that I did. Let me know your thoughts.....

JFortier777 · **Posted:** Mon Jul 31, 2006 9:46 pm

You need 20 washers with 7/8"(someone confirm this measurement) center diameter in order to properly fit the shocks. I literally just walked back to my computer seconds ago after adding the washers to my ranchos. Believe me the sounds it will make if you dont use the washers will drive your soul to hell and let it rot there for all of eternity.

IE: put on the washers you'll be happy later.

I should have taken some pictures but the sun was diving faster than I could work, I am without rear wheels right now because its too dark to see anything outside.

Anywho:

Two washers on each side of the bushing on the bottom.(Over the bushing insert)
Two washers on each side of the bushing on the top.(Over the bushing insert)
Then two washers on the ends of the whole top piece. (So really there will be three washers on each side of the top bushing but only two will fit over the sleeve, the third will just sit over the upper shock bolt.)

I can snap some pics tomorrow if youd like. (Wont be hard since the wheels arent on LOL)

Also I have some recommended reading for you, written by none other than, yours truly, Miah.
How to install a Frankenlift

Jeepjeepster · **Posted:** Mon Jul 31, 2006 10:24 pm

Hey bullet! Been awhile since youve posted. Still have that waggy? Glad bullet is finally making a move from a street jeep to an offroad rig! Take it easy and have fun putting that lift on!!

Bullet · **Posted:** Mon Jul 31, 2006 10:37 pm

Yes, it has been awhile...first it was baseball season, then it was sand dunes with the four wheelers....but truely, mostly it was because I had Franken envy and had to stay away in order to resist blowing my sons birthday money on my lift!!!! Funny, and sad, but true! So I finally did it and I should have it on Thursday!! According to the tracking # anyway. I will have it on in time to bring in mud season!! I have been wheeling Bullet a little this summer, whenever I see something that looks like fun. She now has pinstripes (her badges of honor) and quite a few rock dings. I found these when I waxed her two days ago. I can only say that Bullet and I are thrilled that we put those on having fun rather than having some senior whack at her in the grocery store parking lot!! Although I am sure that has happened a couple of times.....anyway to make a short story long....I AM GLAD TO BE BACK!!!

jpzkj · **Posted:** Mon Jul 31, 2006 11:31 pm

JFortier777 wrote:

You need 20 washers with 7/8"(someone confirm this measurement) center diameter in order to properly fit the shocks. I literally just walked back to my computer seconds ago after adding the washers to my ranchos. Believe me the sounds it will make if you dont use the washers will drive your soul to hell and let it rot there for all of eternity.

IE: put on the washers you'll be happy later.

I should have taken some pictures but the sun was diving faster than I could work, I am without rear wheels right now because its too dark to see anything outside.

Anywho:

Two washers on each side of the bushing on the bottom.(Over the bushing insert)
Two washers on each side of the bushing on the top.(Over the bushing insert)
Then two washers on the ends of the whole top piece. (So really there will be three washers on each side of the top bushing but only two will fit over the sleeve, the third will just sit over the upper shock bolt.)

I can snap some pics tomorrow if youd like. (Wont be hard since the wheels arent on LOL)

Also I have some recommended reading for you, written by none other than, yours truly, Miah.
How to install a Frankenlift

This is news to me, I've got the Frankenlift and have no washers and no noises at all...as a matter of fact I don't know anyone running the Frankenlift with any extra washers or extra noises. Are you putting these washers on the rear shocks ? I used an impact gun to tighten the upper rear shock mount which caused the mounting sheetmetal to bend inward to the shock, the lowers were fine without anything special either. 20 washers...5 on top /bottom for each shock ?

I read your install write up and think that you did a really nice job. You did find out that you didn't need to take the tie rods off, but I would imagin that it made things less of a battle. The rear springs are the easiest part.

Jackstands under the rear unibody
Shocks off (sway bar can stay or just take it off and throw it away)
Floor Jack under one side of the axle and lift (watch the jackstands !!) The springs should be easy to get out...if not just step on the wheel studs and push down as needed.

Tokyojoe · **Posted:** Mon Jul 31, 2006 11:55 pm

Wow Bullet. I find that picture of snow, offensive, during the summer months.....LOL! :lol:

snowsport · **Joined:** Tue Oct 18, 2005 11:52 pm **Posts:** 1211

Tokyojoe wrote:

snow, offensive,

Amazing. I never thought I'd see those two words in the same sentence... :lol:

Se7enLC · **Posted:** Tue Aug 01, 2006 11:52 am

Tokyojoe wrote:

Wow Bullet. I find that picture of snow, offensive, during the summer months.....LOL! :lol:

I find that you find snow offensive offensive! :-P

The howto is pretty good, and I'd also suggest taking a look at the 4wd magazine article (I think it's linked from boulderbars.com). Make sure you have all the sockets you need, some long breaker bars, the ratchet straps, a small (preferably right-angle) drill, a hammer, and a lot of patience. a hydraulic floor jack is nice, too.

Guyute1210 · **Posted:** Tue Aug 01, 2006 1:05 pm

jpzkj wrote:

JFortier777 wrote:

You need 20 washers with 7/8"(someone confirm this measurement) center diameter in order to properly fit the shocks. I literally just walked back to my computer seconds ago after adding the washers to my ranchos. Believe me the sounds it will make if you dont use the washers will drive your soul to hell and let it rot there for all of eternity.

IE: put on the washers you'll be happy later.

I should have taken some pictures but the sun was diving faster than I could work, I am without rear wheels right now because its too dark to see anything outside.

Anywho:

Two washers on each side of the bushing on the bottom.(Over the bushing insert)
Two washers on each side of the bushing on the top.(Over the bushing insert)
Then two washers on the ends of the whole top piece. (So really there will be three washers on each side of the top bushing but only two will fit over the sleeve, the third will just sit over the upper shock bolt.)

I can snap some pics tomorrow if youd like. (Wont be hard since the wheels arent on LOL)

Also I have some recommended reading for you, written by none other than, yours truly, Miah.
How to install a Frankenlift

This is news to me, I've got the Frankenlift and have no washers and no noises at all...as a matter of fact I don't know anyone running the Frankenlift with any extra washers or extra noises. Are you putting these washers on the rear shocks ? I used an impact gun to tighten the upper rear shock mount which caused the mounting sheetmetal to bend inward to the shock, the lowers were fine without anything special either. 20 washers...5 on top /bottom for each shock ?

I read your install write up and think that you did a really nice job. You did find out that you didn't need to take the tie rods off, but I would imagin that it made things less of a battle. The rear springs are the easiest part.

Jackstands under the rear unibody
Shocks off (sway bar can stay or just take it off and throw it away)
Floor Jack under one side of the axle and lift (watch the jackstands !!) The springs should be easy to get out...if not just step on the wheel studs and push down as needed.

I used two washers for each top of the back shocks. I didn't need any on the bottoms. I used the washers, so i didnt just use an impact gun and bend them. bending them also weakens them.

JFortier777 · **Posted:** Tue Aug 01, 2006 1:21 pm

Guyute1210 wrote:

I used two washers for each top of the back shocks. I didn't need any on the bottoms. I used the washers, so i didnt just use an impact gun and bend them. bending them also weakens them.

I added washers until they came flush with the end of the sleeve insert in the shock bushing. that added up to 8 per shock, then I added four , one on each side of the top of the shock, this made things fit so that I did not need to bend anything and it all fit very nicely.

I totally agree with you Guyute that bending it is just plain bad. Why bend the irreplacable shock mount to fit when you can spend 50 cents and buy a bunch of washers to make it fit right.

There are lots of people in this forum who also use the washers to take care of the shock mounting. I actually made a thread about it just a few days ago.

Bullet · **Posted:** Tue Aug 01, 2006 6:36 pm

sorry about the snow pic...lol. It has been that long since I have been on. I will get the article from the BB webpage link to help as well. I need to go over the instructions again. They looked pretty simple if I recall correctly, but then again.......

auggy · **Posted:** Tue Aug 01, 2006 7:15 pm

I too find snow offensive.

Congratulations on the lift though!

jpzkj · **Posted:** Tue Aug 01, 2006 11:44 pm

Quote:

There are lots of people in this forum who also use the washers to take care of the shock mounting. I actually made a thread about it just a few days ago.

Funny...been here since '03 and never heard of it....maybe I missed it.

The amount that the shock mount location is bent is very small. If there is a loss of structural integrity it must be so minimal that none of the 15+ Frankenlifts in my chapter have ever had a failure or its never been reported. If you like washers, thats cool, They're not necessary at all in my experience, but if you like them ....ok.

Snow is good....wish it would snow in So Cal thats for sure !

Bullet · **Posted:** Wed Aug 02, 2006 12:24 am

Snow is great....BUT as soon as I get the lift installed this weekend of course there will be a new pic up there. Bear with me folks!! :wink:

JFortier777 · **Posted:** Wed Aug 02, 2006 7:29 am

jpzkj wrote:

Quote:

There are lots of people in this forum who also use the washers to take care of the shock mounting. I actually made a thread about it just a few days ago.

Funny...been here since '03 and never heard of it....maybe I missed it.

The amount that the shock mount location is bent is very small. If there is a loss of structural integrity it must be so minimal that none of the 15+ Frankenlifts in my chapter have ever had a failure or its never been reported. If you like washers, thats cool, They're not necessary at all in my experience, but if you like them ....ok.

Snow is good....wish it would snow in So Cal thats for sure !

http://www.lostjeeps.com/forum/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?t=10930

jpzkj · **Posted:** Wed Aug 02, 2006 8:55 pm

Great...that still didnt' add one washer to any of the KJ's i've lifted. I've personally participated in the Frankenlifting of 6 KJ's and not one washer was used or needed down the road to my knowlege. 20 washers....ok...no arguement here....you used them, and some others added a couple to some Rusty's lifts per the link.

Can we agree that you used 20 washers and I didn't ?

Jeepjeepster · **Posted:** Wed Aug 02, 2006 11:14 pm

I like snow.

JFortier777 · **Posted:** Thu Aug 03, 2006 7:32 am

Jeepjeepster wrote:

I like snow.

Trees are seriously some great plants.

Se7enLC · **Posted:** Thu Aug 03, 2006 9:03 am

JFortier777 wrote:

You need 20 washers with 7/8"(someone confirm this measurement) center diameter in order to properly fit the shocks. I literally just walked back to my computer seconds ago after adding the washers to my ranchos. Believe me the sounds it will make if you dont use the washers will drive your soul to hell and let it rot there for all of eternity.

IE: put on the washers you'll be happy later.

I might have to try washers. I sometimes hear noise in the back that sounds sorta like a loose tailgate or a trailer banging around, but I've never really been able to identify the source. I guess it could very well be the shocks sliding around and banging.

Bullet · **Posted:** Thu Aug 03, 2006 11:26 am

I will call Heather because I ordered the Frankenlift with the OME stut assembely. There are Ranchos in the rear tho....better to ask first than wonder later....lol.

SO EXCITED!!!

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