Well, I didn't get the front springs done today for a couple of reasons:
1. I'm sore and stiff from working on the ground all day yesterday, and I couldn't get motivated to do it again today....
2. More relevant to this thread, the 6-degree caster shims I bought (which were arguably on the steep side already), turned out to be 8-degrees, which really isn't suitable for this project. I'll get some 4-degree shims in this week, and try again next weekend.
I was able to get some prep work done though, installing eye bushings, laying out parts, double checking all the hardware, etc.
I'm not too impressed with the Daystar grease-able main eye kit. The bushings were too oversized, to the point where I had to bevel the inside edges just to press them in, and that in turn squeezed down the bolt sleeve hole, and the sleeves were all but impossible to install. On top of that, two of the lock nuts had the wrong threads... I think they sent 14mm nuts for my 9/16 bolts!
The MORE grease-able shackle kits, on the other hand, are well made, and easy to install!
As I mentioned before (for those who aren't familiar with this swap) the rear springs bolt right in with no modifications necessary. OME springs are made for YJs, and YJ rear springs are the same width and length as CJ rear springs.
The front end is a different story. CJs (76-86) use a 2" wide front spring, and YJs use a 2-1/2" wide front spring which is also a little bit longer.
So, to install the OME YJ springs, I bought new front spring hangers from Rocky-Road, which are 2-1/2" wide, and move the front mounting point about 1" forward, and about 1/2" down. I also bought a MORE YJ grease-able shackle kit (as mentioned above).
For the spring plates, I'm using a YJ right-front plate on the right (yes, it has the correct u-bolt spacing), and a CJ right rear plate on the left. My shock mounts are welded to the axle tube, so I don't have to worry about welding extra studs to to the spring plates.
The CJ main-eye hangers are already 2-1/2" wide, so that end of the spring should fit right in.
Now, there are a few kits out there for installing YJ springs on CJs, but they are all pretty expensive, and include parts that I don't need to use. I think I have about $900 tied up in this conversion, and the kits seem to run about $1500. The Rubicon Express kit was most appealing to me, and that's the route I probably would have taken... but they no longer offer a 2-1/2" lift kit for CJs. Also, I did not buy new shock absorbers.
ABOUT the caster shims... I know there are differing opinions about this, especially using them on the front axle. However, I have NO intention of cutting and welding either the spring perches or the knuckles on this axle... so I'll be using shims.
The reason I'm adding caster from the get-go, is that I'm using longer shackles, and lower shackle hangers. Right now, it feels like I have almost no caster, but that could be the worn out springs, so I have no idea what the OMEs are going to feel like. The best I can do is pick a starting point, and adjust as necessary.
Rubicon Express recommends 3-5 degrees of adjustment on their kits, but that's with their own springs. I was going to play it safe with 6 degrees, but ended up with 8 degree shims by mistake.
Now, I think I'll start with 4 degrees, and see how it pans out... any thoughts?
Thanks, guys!