SOA - lots of questions

Jkientz

Jkientz

New member
Hi all, I am looking for some advice. I just recently purchased a 73 scout from out of state to bring it into CA. There was a SOA partially done on the vehicle.

So here is my dilemma. The bushings are shot in all 4 springs. I also don't love the height and would love to drop it 2-3 inches. So I am considering custom springs.

I ordered my high steering setup already - it's unknown as to when it will be delivered. IHParts is telling me possibly 60 days. Anyways, I also need to order spring mounts for the front and determine where to weld the shock mounts. So lots of questions here.

PITMANARM
Power Steering Pitman Arms for Custom Steering Applications - REAMPITMANARM
PM-TRT100
PartsMike Hysteer Tie Rod and Drag Link Kit

I have attached photos and would appreciate any advice you all can give, and before you all jump all over me I'm not a gear head, but love the trucks. I have a master mechanic working on this for me. it's non-op at the moment.

I do like for now the truck with 37's and plan on driving them around. This is not intended to be a crawler - everyday with some light offroad.

73 scout ii
350 chevy with TH350
Transfer case - unknown donor vehicle
Dana 44's front and back from a Scout ii (from what I am told)
37" tires
 

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Also looking for recommendations on shocks as well, or anything else you may see that would make this better to drive.
 
I'm far from an expert, but the rear shackles and shackle angle just look wrong to me. Also, I'd say you have a very questionable U-bolt plate up front. Looks to me like the bolts could "walk" out of the plate? Fixing those 2 problems could result in some improvement.

What diff gears do you have to turn those 37's?
 
Got a better look on my desktop. Wow bad case of PO (previous Owner) virus there. Like Codeman said, don't run that front shackle plate, that along with those tie rod ends are an accident waiting to happen.
 
codeman said:
I'm far from an expert, but the rear shackles and shackle angle just look wrong to me. Also, I'd say you have a very questionable U-bolt plate up front. Looks to me like the bolts could "walk" out of the plate? Fixing those 2 problems could result in some improvement.

What diff gears do you have to turn those 37's?
Click to expand...
Yeah those plates are super bad. I am wanting to purchase new ones, but now that I need new bushings or new springs I wanted to wait until I purchased it all together. I was shocked when I saw that as well.

I am told that the dana 44's have 4.56's - Although I am planning on going to a different setup so I can drive it on the freeway.
 
FDChappie said:
Got a better look on my desktop. Wow bad case of PO (previous Owner) virus there. Like Codeman said, don't run that front shackle plate, that along with those tie rod ends are an accident waiting to happen.
Click to expand...
agreed. thats why I am wanting all new to get this rig driving correctly with a SOA setup.
 
4.56 would be fine on the high way with light 37's. I'm running 4.88s with alum 10" wheels and 35" Maxxis Mt rubber. And I'm doing like 3500 rpm at 70 MPH. I think the 4.88's would be perfect with 37's for cruising and wheeling. 4.56s will be a compromise on acceleration but better high way drive.
 
Winchested said:
4.56 would be fine on the high way with light 37's. I'm running 4.88s with alum 10" wheels and 35" Maxxis Mt rubber. And I'm doing like 3500 rpm at 70 MPH. I think the 4.88's would be perfect with 37's for cruising and wheeling. 4.56s will be a compromise on acceleration but better high way drive.
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What size lift do you have for the 35's? and the setup? Been talking with IHpartsAmerica to figure out what to get and do to make this drivable. Still would love to drop it 2 more inches.
 
Spring over, Stock springs plus 1 main leaf (gives another 1/2" maybe) 5" shackles, 1.5" body lift on new poly body mounts. It still rubs at full stuff. I've trimmed my front edges of my front fenders about an inch. I just touch the front of the rear fenders at full stuff (rear axle moved back 1").

I'm going to 40's and full width 1 tons on the same amount of lift so it's just going to be cutting sheet metal from here out lol. Might eventually do chevy 63's for more flex in the back with a 30-45 degree shackle angle. Or 4 Link not sure yet.

And thinking of 3 linking the front eventually.
 
Okay - anyone know where to look for stock height springs? I can't seem to find anything out there unless going custom. Any recommendations? I was told that it looks like I have a 4" lifted spring that is old showing about a 2" lift. Wanting to drop it another 2" gives me a stock spring.

Also - how are your shocks mounted after the SOA conversion?

Also for the changing out the back to matching 44's I now do not have an Emergency break - are there options out there for emergency breaks in my situation?
 
Winchested said:
Spring over, Stock springs plus 1 main leaf (gives another 1/2" maybe) 5" shackles, 1.5" body lift on new poly body mounts. It still rubs at full stuff. I've trimmed my front edges of my front fenders about an inch. I just touch the front of the rear fenders at full stuff (rear axle moved back 1").

I'm going to 40's and full width 1 tons on the same amount of lift so it's just going to be cutting sheet metal from here out lol. Might eventually do chevy 63's for more flex in the back with a 30-45 degree shackle angle. Or 4 Link not sure yet.

And thinking of 3 linking the front eventually.
Click to expand...
Do you have photos of your truck? Would love to see it.

Also if I go back to stock springs do you think my 37's would still fit? I was told by IHPartsAmerica that they thought I had a sagging 4" spring that was roughly 2" of lift.
 
37s would fit with a bit of cutting. Also moving the rear axle back 1-2".

My front axle is moved forward 2.5" with the reverse shackle and 3 hole perches. The rear right now is only 1" rearward with the 3 hole perches.

This is with 1.5" body lift. Still rub the front of the rear fenders at full stuff on 35's. Trimmed away about an inch of metal on the forward edge of the front fenders too.

Heavy 37's are at the tipping point on these old 44's and thats only if you've got 1541H rear axle shafts and 4340 or RCV's up front. Stock isn't going to cut it offroad.
 
Okay well I have finally made a decision as to too many unknowns and issues - I am looking to swap out or sell and replace the Dana 44's SOA conversion and go back to a stock setup with a 4 inch RC spring lift and 5" shackles. I think the gearing is 5:18s or larger - this would kill me for a daily. So parting ways with the 37" super swampers as well and going to a 35". Both front and back are disc breaks, posi, and SOA currently.

So where do I post these axels and tires? Hoping to get a trade or situation that betters me if possible. Looking for 4:09 or 4:56 gears disc front and drum back. Would love the steering included.

OR if someone has a better idea on how to get this back to a running machine I would be greatly appreciative! I live in Orange County, CA so any leads around the area would be helpful.
 
Jkientz said:
Yeah those plates are super bad. I am wanting to purchase new ones, but now that I need new bushings or new springs I wanted to wait until I purchased it all together. I was shocked when I saw that as well.

I am told that the dana 44's have 4.56's - Although I am planning on going to a different setup so I can drive it on the freeway.
Click to expand...
4.56 gears aren't that bad on the freeway. They kind of do a balancing act of rolling on larger tires. I once had a full size '90 Bronco that ran those gears rolling on 33x12.5 tires. There was only a slight variation in MPH.

I was just looking at your photos. Man, there be some P.O. hack work there. I have had to deal with a lot of that with my 73 beast. For a good read, I have a build thread on here. Links list in my profile signature
 
Okay so my hysteer is set up perfect. I had both axels redone. Everything was gone through and we ended up woth 3.92 gears. I found stock springs so I have now a SOA woth stock springs no reverse shackle yet. I did purchase it but waiting to install.

found a setof 35” tires so now trying to figure out what shocks to buy? I measured Shocks - front are 17” shock mount top to middle of axel (needing to weld on shock mounts below) and the Back are 14” top to bottom.
Any recommendations of which shocks and length?
 
Jkientz said:
Okay so my hysteer is set up perfect. I had both axels redone. Everything was gone through and we ended up woth 3.92 gears. I found stock springs so I have now a SOA woth stock springs no reverse shackle yet. I did purchase it but waiting to install.

found a setof 35” tires so now trying to figure out what shocks to buy? I measured Shocks - front are 17” shock mount top to middle of axel (needing to weld on shock mounts below) and the Back are 14” top to bottom.
Any recommendations of which shocks and length?
Click to expand...
Bilsteins. Call up IH Parts America with those measurements. They will help you out.

Did you do a Cut-n-Turn on the C's for the front axle?

If you haven't done an alignment yet, I recommend getting the shackle reversal kit installed first. Otherwise you would need to do it again. Or, at least having it checked
 
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