Jeepin' by Al 4" Lift Revised

JeepinbyAl · **Posted:** Mon Feb 11, 2008 8:20 am

dieselenthusiast wrote:

Is KJ pilot using setting #1 in the pictures you provided?

Yes, he is on setting #1, I am waiting for more feed back from KJ pilot.

jerbacher · **Posted:** Mon Feb 11, 2008 9:19 am

JeepinbyAl wrote:

Yes, he is on setting #1, I am waiting for more feed back from KJ pilot.

Maybe KJ pilot will share his feedback with us on here... oh...

JeepinbyAl · **Posted:** Mon Feb 11, 2008 10:11 am

jerbacher wrote:

JeepinbyAl wrote:

Yes, he is on setting #1, I am waiting for more feed back from KJ pilot.

Maybe KJ pilot will share his feedback with us on here... oh...

KJ pilot was suspended from LOST

I do not understand what happened.

http://www.lostjeeps.com/forum/phpBB3/vie ... sc&start=0

jerbacher · **Posted:** Mon Feb 11, 2008 10:14 am

yes, i know. my post carried a hint of sarcasm. thats what the "oh..." was for. i probably should have added a " :roll:

"

dieselenthusiast · **Posted:** Tue Feb 12, 2008 11:17 pm

How difficult would it be to install rings later down the road? For example: Let’s say I install the basic 4” lift on a stock KJ, then two years later I decide to add a front and rear bumper and roof rack. If I want to add a ring, is this going to be an easy task to do, or something difficult to add later without a lot of work?

dieselenthusiast · **Posted:** Sun Feb 17, 2008 9:58 pm

Any news from those of you who have this lift? :?:

Updates?

Pros?

Cons?

Pictures?

ANYTHING

dog_party · **Posted:** Sun Feb 17, 2008 10:37 pm

JeepinbyAl wrote:

I am in need of a CRD to test and prove how this new strut system works. If you or someone you know would like to test this on your KJ, Please call or email me for details. marlin.gehman@jeepinbyal.com

Hmmmmm, do tell...

DaveKJ02 · **Posted:** Mon Feb 18, 2008 10:58 pm

dieselenthusiast wrote:

Any news from those of you who have this lift? :?:

Updates?

Pros?

Cons?

Pictures?

ANYTHING

Ask Marlin, he's very responsive. Here's a cut and paste of an email he sent me. No further comments from me on this lift.

Dave,
In answer to your questions.

On how many KJ's have you successfully installed this lift, not counting
JoeJeepers (Jeff Daniels did that) or Al's old test mule since that has
a custom cradle drop. All the testing and engineering was done with Als testmule and JoeJeepers KJ. There were two installations that were done at this time. One by Rocklizards and the other by Dennis Shannon, Both have a problem with the front springs being to strong. All the spring calculations were done with Als old KJ. I used Jeff Daniels notes to design the struts. I assumed Als KJ and Joes were the same weight. I assumed wrong! I am very thankful for all the info and feed back these guys are giving me. Yes, there is a big risk in a new lift, I am trying to limit the risk by using high quality parts and quality advice from experienced Jeepers.

Where has the testing of the components been done? Most of the testing was done in and around my fabrication shop, a road trip of 500 + miles to the mountains. (Tioga PA)

Any pictures? I did not take any pictures just notes of what worked and what needed to be changed.

What kind of trails were you running? I took Als old KJ on a dirt bike track to see how it all worked when it was finished.

What is you experience with lifting or working on Jeeps? My experiences are not limited to just working on Jeeps. God gave me exceptional mechanical abilities. I was taking things apart and putting them back together at a very young age. I turned down a job offer at the age of 17 to work for West German Auto as a Mercedes-Benz mechanic. I have been building custom fabricated products for the last 20 years http://www.kmg-inc.com

Do you like to wheel? Yes, Most of my wheeling has been done on a Yamaha 4 wheeler in Tioga PA. Now I take my KJ on those same trails.

If you want to know more about me or my lifts for the KJs please ask and I will do my best to answer you as quick as I can.

Thanks
Marlin Gehman

3430 Unionville Pike
Hatfield Pa. 19440

Phone: 1-888-792-9343
Fax: 215-253-3966
www.jeepinbyal.com

Jeep4me99 · **Posted:** Mon Feb 18, 2008 11:13 pm

I got to speak with Marlin today regarding my toasted CV. The man is very knowledgable and willing to assist any way he can. He answered all my questions above and beyond what any other shop has. He is a great guy and a great asset to the LOST community. If you really look through is site, there is tons of stuff on there not just the lift. everyting from tie rod ends to gaskets, and he ain't trying to rip us off.

Tokyojoe · **Posted:** Thu Feb 21, 2008 11:31 pm

JoeJeeper........have you been tossing your KJ into 4x4 mode Full or Part time) after the new struts have been installed? Any issues?

Joe Jeeper · **Posted:** Sat Feb 23, 2008 12:26 am

Yes, I've had it in a few times including today with the snow/ice, no difference that I've noticed? Joe

Joe Jeeper · **Posted:** Sat Feb 23, 2008 12:27 am

I only have part-time, I don't have Select-trac. Joe

DoverKJ · **Posted:** Mon Feb 25, 2008 10:45 am

Any more updates? Did Marlin switch to a softer spring?

dieselenthusiast · **Posted:** Mon Feb 25, 2008 12:44 pm

DoverKJ wrote:

Any more updates? Did Marlin switch to a softer spring?

NO, or at least not yet.

Joe Jeeper · **Posted:** Mon Feb 25, 2008 11:02 pm

The spring wasn't the problem it was the pressure his dimension was off, when the softer springs came in they didn't work he tested my springs and found it was the assembly that was incorrect and now has been revised I have the new strut assys on now so does Tokyojoe.
Joe

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Mon Feb 25, 2008 11:34 pm

Joe Jeeper wrote:

The spring wasn't the problem it was the pressure his dimension was off, when the softer springs came in they didn't work he tested my springs and found it was the assembly that was incorrect and now has been revised I have the new strut assys on now so does Tokyojoe.
Joe

The spring rate is the problem(unless you have a CRD with a ARB bumber and winch),it wasn't the upper strut plate.The new upper strut plate made it virtually impossible to re-install the strut/coil assembly with the 450lbs springs.

Tokyojoe · **Posted:** Mon Feb 25, 2008 11:37 pm

Joe,

Incorrect. The fix did not work. 450 lb springs are too much. We could not get the strut assembly installed because it was LONGER.

For now, that is all I will say since I am waiting on word from Marlin.

A different issue though is the brake line fittings. For some reason, the threads do not fit my brak line male fitting. Marlin has sent three fittings and none worked. All of us have tried to screw them together but will not work. I can only guess that my male fitting might be different from others and just won't work with the female fittings he is sending. Kinda like the story of my life....... :lol:

tommudd · **Posted:** Mon Feb 25, 2008 11:43 pm

Joe, do you know how much softer of a spring rate he went to? I am not an mechanical engineer or anything but it seems just from past experience building other 4WDs and also from reading so far that what Troy says is correct, spring rate is just too high to allow the system to properly work.

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Tue Feb 26, 2008 12:05 am

Just to be clear I'm in no way knocking the 4" lift,some tweaking of the front coil spring rates and it'll be a good lift.The rear set-up is darn near perfect.

Joe Jeeper · **Posted:** Tue Feb 26, 2008 1:06 am

Hey, I'll be the first to admit I don't know squat about what the spring rate should be? I just know the assemblies I have on seem okay to me. Maybe what I had as a prototype was just as hard and I didn't know any better? I don't have any extended brake lines so I can't comment on that, haven't needed to extend mine. I thought the problem was solved since I've been running these struts the last 4 weeks or so. Joe

Jeepin' by Al 4" Lift Revised

Who is online