Hey off-road guys - can you help a gal out?
Beanpicker
Band Wagon
Hi Guys and gals!
I'm new to this forum (i didn't introduce myself properly) and have a 89 wagon I bought from a nice young man in Vancouver (thank you Cody!) I now need to get it raised up enough that I can drive on my driveway safely (9 mile BLM road in the middle of nowhere).
I have been perusing all the threads about raising - thanks, lots of good information here. But I do have questions. I need reliability here - we don't have good cell phone coverage here - and I want to do this right the first time. I'd rather not be walking home in the desert heat. I am getting ready to go back into town and get all the necessary tools and parts. Which method of raising do you all think I should pursue? Now, I do have to tell you that I do my own repairs when necessary (or broke). I once changed out a timing belt when `i didn't have the cash to give a mechanic - only cost parts and a big fat repair manual. Im not afraid at all to do this - will just take me longer than you all (hee-hee). I think I should mention that our dirt road consists of small rocks, washboards, potholes here and there. Not too bad, but clearance is an issue.
Another question I have which I havent seen addressed - I probably just missed it - but I am nervous about not having skid plates. What have you all done? do you just make your own? I have a big road sign that I might could use - and I have a blacksmith friend who has tools to curve metal - maybe he can help me out here. I just didn't see any for sale for an 89.
Thank you all!
I'm new to this forum (i didn't introduce myself properly) and have a 89 wagon I bought from a nice young man in Vancouver (thank you Cody!) I now need to get it raised up enough that I can drive on my driveway safely (9 mile BLM road in the middle of nowhere).
I have been perusing all the threads about raising - thanks, lots of good information here. But I do have questions. I need reliability here - we don't have good cell phone coverage here - and I want to do this right the first time. I'd rather not be walking home in the desert heat. I am getting ready to go back into town and get all the necessary tools and parts. Which method of raising do you all think I should pursue? Now, I do have to tell you that I do my own repairs when necessary (or broke). I once changed out a timing belt when `i didn't have the cash to give a mechanic - only cost parts and a big fat repair manual. Im not afraid at all to do this - will just take me longer than you all (hee-hee). I think I should mention that our dirt road consists of small rocks, washboards, potholes here and there. Not too bad, but clearance is an issue.
Another question I have which I havent seen addressed - I probably just missed it - but I am nervous about not having skid plates. What have you all done? do you just make your own? I have a big road sign that I might could use - and I have a blacksmith friend who has tools to curve metal - maybe he can help me out here. I just didn't see any for sale for an 89.
Thank you all!
Comments
Add 1.5" in the front and 3.5 out back.
Alternatively, there's the "for dummies" method. Don't be a dummy.
1/8" aluminum for mine and it holds up to some decent rocks at 50+ It slides right over over most stuff. It's bolted to some tabs on a traction bar but welding up a mounting solution shouldnt be too hard.
My only issue seems to be making the axles very unhappy hitting big potholes at speed or when turning, but my suspension is a bit odd and i don't expect you to run into similar situations.
I did just under 1" strut spacers for just about 2" of lift up front and that just barely allows the knuckles to kiss the struts at full droop. Much more than that and you are going to start banging stuff together rather hard.
Also at 2" total lift the front CVs have a greatly shortened life and vibrate over 60mph.
I blast fire roads all the time and have no clearance issues at 2" front and rear. On the BFG All Terrain 195/75r14.
Hell you can fit the 195/75r14 with a minimal amount of rubbing and no lift. Ran like that for a couple weeks.
I can get some used tires like yours for $30 apiece, but I don't know if my little automatic can handle them...it's pretty gutless. Runs good but gutless. Another option is six ply delivery van tires....I found some in a smaller tire - 185-70-14. Not as nice, but might be durable.
Another question for you Ryan...I do like the height of your lift - and I'm going the non-dummy route, as Bam suggested - what size spacers would my DX need for a lift like on your RT?
I'm going to try and upload a pic next as soon as I figure it out.
yep. 5 bolts in the front and 4 just past the subframe. it's not light or easy to swing around either. I run Amsoil Signature full synthetic though so if i didn't burn so much i could do one change a year. it could use a rib or two for stiffening though. My suspension comes off more often than most people change oil though so it's not a big deal for me.
I run full synthetic in the Ridge, but I don't know about this little wagon....it has 195k but has had the head milled. Do you think full synthetic would be OK in the wagon? Please pardon my dumb questions but I am a grandma, you know... Really. Like the little old lady from Pasadena. Heh.
being able to bash the plate on stuff makes it totally worth it though. I have zero worries smacking or dragging across big round rocks, high center ruts, saplings, or smartcars. Sharp rocks could still go through pretty easy though.
What i do is put the car on ramps if its not already on stands, put the jack rear of the center of the plate to hold it in place. Get my electric impact and zip the 4 rears off, then the four fronts, and just lower and roll the jack out. Install is reverse. Super easy that way, but it would also be impossible to just hold it there by myself and bolt in.
DX had 185/70-13 tires from the factory also making it lower. But the tires were also very light, 68lbs for 4 tires. Going to the BFG 195/75-14 is going to bring the total tire weight up to 124lbs. That is very noticeable in how a car accelerates.
The DX also was the 1.5 liter and combine with the automatic it will not be a speed racer but it should take the extra load with little issue. My RT with the stock 1.6 liter and manual and heavy tires is not a rocket ship by any means!
Thanks! My wheels are stock RT wheels that were refinished in stock colors. Really makes the car.
Here is what I started with for wheels.
And here is after sending them to the local powder coat place with a pile of cash.
My lift is right about 2" front and rear. I did 0.83" strut spacer up front and flipped the rear lower control arms over. The strut spacer I made with some 1/4" plate and some 1/4" wall tube that fit around the strut bushing. But as Bam-Bam said if you can find a second top hat to a strut to weld on top of the existing top hat that is a great way to go. That would be about the same lift. I thought I had a picture of my strut spacer but I can't find it right now.
Abide, thanks for the tip...I think I can do this...I .have a big floor jack and an impact wrench. And a great big steel sign. I'm going to use that...free is good.
Ryan, I totally love your wheels! They are perfect. I was looking at some last week, and my little car just wouldn't look right with a new style wheel. I have to make a trip to the junkyard for top hats (if they will let me by them without spending $20 for the strut too) so I am going to look for some wheels like yours. Thank you for the height dimensions, also. And tire weights are very helpful. Thank you, guys!
it will be a few weeks before I get a chance to start this, but I think I will start a "build" thread, heehee. I'll call it something like Granny's baja wagon, or something.