Ironman foamcell pros

[Whitey]

Yeh bought the rig off an older couple that just used it for towing a TVAN camper around so it needs a few little upgrades here and there but especially the suspension so on the edge of my seat waiting for your kit to get up and going.... don't want to sound pushing as you can't rush a custom setup like this but what sort of time do you think Whitey you'll start rolling them out ???????
Regards Luke

Hey Luke,

Monday should be the big day!

Still testing my softer rear valving and some different front coils this weekend, but they will be straightforward tests.

All the logistics are in place and I'm hoping no stock delays!

Fingers crossed the Group Buy thread will be up on Monday.

Best

Mark

[luke666]

Yeh bought the rig off an older couple that just used it for towing a TVAN camper around so it needs a few little upgrades here and there but especially the suspension so on the edge of my seat waiting for your kit to get up and going.... don't want to sound pushing as you can't rush a custom setup like this but what sort of time do you think Whitey you'll start rolling them out ???????
Regards Luke

[Whitey]

Getting pretty keen to get some new legs under the rig, 150,000km still original springs and shocks. Lets just say the ride isn't that smooth

Hey,

That's a lot of km's on the OEM suspension!

Get ready for a serious transformation!

Best

Mark

[luke666]

Getting pretty keen to get some new legs under the rig, 150,000km still original springs and shocks. Lets just say the ride isn't that smooth

[Whitey]

Hi Mark,

I'm following this thread and I am very interested to be involved when you're ready,

Regards
Aaron

Hey Aaron,

I've added you to the list!

Best

Mark

[Azzman77]

Hi Mark,

I'm following this thread and I am very interested to be involved when you're ready,

Regards
Aaron

[404pug]

I suspect that mine is like a lot on here. Steel bull bar, 2nd . battery, a couple of driving lights, no winch [ nor is one likely], just maybe a bash plate. So I guess that that 669 lb coil that you have will suit a lot of us in the buy and keep things as simple as possible. You are really educating us Mark. Good stuff.

[Whitey]

Thanks Mark. That solves that. My choice will be whatever works best with your shocks. Sounds like the Dobinsons 327 then for the back and whatever you recommend for the heavy front. Can't wait.

Hey Neil,

Yep the Dobbos 327 coil is a pretty good off the shelf choice for the rear. If you're struggling for lift with a heavy constant load rear like built in draws, rear bar etc., you can always go up to the 420mm 627 or the 430mm 487 coil which is what I run.

If you're heavy up front, I'd try the 725lb/in 150 spec Dobinsons coils, they'll work well with the valving, and you can always get a shorter free height 380mm coil and wind it up on the preload. The height adjustability on the front simplifies everything!

I think you should also not go over 725lb/in on the front, as the front:rear suspension frequency ratio begins to look crappy!

Some will prefer King coils obviously, but everyone should keep in mind there's a big gap in coil rate, from 660 to 800lb/in for the front Kings.

I am running the Ironman 669lb/in TOYO55B front coil with my steel ARB bar, and my front end has never ridden so nicely!

There's a lot of coil choices, so I'll also give some coil choice selection guidelines in the buy that will be based on weights. Hopefully this will simplify things! I hope!!

Best

Mark

[404pug]

Thanks Mark. That solves that. My choice will be whatever works best with your shocks. Sounds like the Dobinsons 327 then for the back and whatever you recommend for the heavy front. Can't wait.

[oneday]

Awesome.

[Whitey]

Thank you Mark, can hardly wait.

A newbie question. FJ's rear OEM swaybar limit is somewhere between 610-615mm. Other than extending swaybar links (Easily DIY-able?), can shock's open length be reduced from 618mm to 610mm?

Hey again,

No the shock open length can't be reduced.

It's pretty straight forward to either space your oem swaybar links down a little, or to simply buy longer links and install them. I'll offer longer links on the group buy!

Best

Mark

[oneday]

Hey Will,

Have added you to the big list!

Best

Mark

Thank you Mark, can hardly wait.

A newbie question. FJ's rear OEM swaybar limit is somewhere between 610-615mm. Other than extending swaybar links (Easily DIY-able?), can shock's open length be reduced from 618mm to 610mm?

[Whitey]

Hi Mark,

Could you please put me in the group buy list? For FJ Cruiser, front and rear (softer version) kit, 50mm lift, heavy front end and light rear (0-150kg).

Thanks
Will

Hey Will,

Have added you to the big list!

Best

Mark

[Whitey]

Hey Neil,

The issue regarding T and P coils is many have complained about not getting enough lift, eg. only around 30mm or so, and coil binding in the soft sections. The soft section in the rear coils is also not well matched to the valving I'm running. Many misinterpret the way these coils work. As the soft section is coil bound in heavy vehicles, it is not active. ie, it works more like a stacker coil, you are not riding on the soft section anymore at ride height, just a big coil bound lump.

This is not a surprise, as the T and P coils were initially targeted at light weight vehicles. On that basis, I'd say if you're running an empty rear all the time and run soft valving, they'd be a comfortable combination.

For the Ironman valving in the coming group buy, it is targeted for heavy packed up off road 4wd'ing vehicles, and on that basis I highly recommend running linear coils in the 260-280lb/in range.

The issue for the rear coils is the coil bucket separation at the Ironman open length, which is around 620mm. I would suggest a 410mm minimum free height, otherwise you will have coil twist/drop out at full droop or full articulation.

The KTRR-102 at 390mm and 260lb/in is on the short side and won't lift as much as you'll need to keep a decent rear ride height, which I would suggest to keep at around 830mm.

We can order 410mm versions of the KTRR-102, but they will be custom made prices. We can already buy off the shelf C59-327 Dobinsons at 410mm and 270lb/in at standard off the shelf prices.

For the front there are plenty of options, 669lb/in Ironman coils, 660lb/in Kings, 675lb/in H&R, and for heavier front ends, 150 spec Dobinsons coils are 725lb/in. If you run higher than the 725lb/in coil, you'll be moving away from the best valving-coil rate match. If you feel you need 800lb/in coils, you can run them with the front valving, plenty have with D563/800lb/in King setups and they still drive ok.

Hope this helps!

Best

Mark

[404pug]

Mark. I had a chat today with Kings Springs. FWIIW they still make OME springs and their 260lb linear rear spring is the same as OME medium. Re the progressive rate rear spring they said it is a bit softer initially than the 260 lb linear one. It is initially 190 lb [same as standard spring?] but quickly ramps up to a max rate of 320 lb at max load. I don't know how this will interact with your rear shocks or if it is a negative and or too hard to calculate with the shocks. Neil