SOA lift questions

[THACH_Gunner]

So,
I am getting ready to do a SOA lift on my '86 GW. I have a few questions I hope can be answered here.
First, I am looking into doing cross over steering. I am picking up a flat top knuckle from the junk yard in a week or so when they have a half price sale. I plan on buying some new TRE's for the drop pitman arm and for the steering arm, but what do I need to use to connect the TRE's together? Is it as simple as using some small tubing?
Second, what size shock do y'all recommend? I know the best option would be to meassure everything once you have it together, but if I were impatient(Which I am), what ballpark figures should I be looking at?
Thanks in advance for any help y'all can provide. I am really looking forward to getting this done and getting my Jeep dirty.

[chief1ton]

for the steering link you should go with 1.50 Dom tubing and threaded weld in tube adapters. for the shocks just measure your shocks mount to mount and add 7".

you may know this, but factory flat top nuckles are not pre drilled, you will have to have it machined and tapped. IF you can find one.

also FYI. most high steer arms are designed to work with 1ton gm tie rods.

[THACH_Gunner]

I think I can find a D44 flat top knuckle. If I can't find one at the half price sale, there are a few truck only yards around here that I know have a few. I didn't know the steering arms are set up for 1-ton TREs, I will have to look into that. I have a friend who has a fab shop, he can mill and drill the knuckle. I have a few things working for me, but I still have a little bit I have to figure out. Thanks for the help.

[jeeping1974]

If you do full high steer, Partsmike.com has sets of high steer arms for decent prices and you only need 3/4 ton TREs. Most D44 high steer arms come drilled for 3/4 ton TRE and can be drilled out for 1 ton TREs. 3/4 ton is more than enough though if you are only going to a 35" tire.

[buggyman]

Maybe you could have the friend with the fab shop make your high steer arms.There's not much to it for a machinist.I have used 1" stock and drilled for heim joints using 5/8" herc alloy bolts.If you decide to go this route you may want to tack the bolt heads to the high steer arm once they are torqued down to the knuckle. I have had them try to back out after some hard use.

[jeeping1974]

Originally Posted by buggyman

I have used 1" stock and drilled for heim joints using 5/8" herc alloy bolts.

Why go with heims when TREs are cheaper and easier to find if you need a replacement?

Originally Posted by buggyman

If you decide to go this route you may want to tack the bolt heads to the high steer arm once they are torqued down to the knuckle. I have had them try to back out after some hard use.

Extra strength loc-tite will take care of that, plus you can still remove them if you ever had to.

[buggyman]

may be that I just beat on my junk a little harder than I should but then again most of my experiance comes from rock crawling.

[Ryan]

Jep, skip the heims and go with TRE's as they are available at any parts store around the country.....heims, however, are not.

Also, we are coming out with our own high-steer kit that will include knuckles, arms, etc.