In the last issue (of FSJ magazine, January, 2001) we left Biff, Sally Sue and Billy Bob heading for breakfast with
Billy Bob designated to pick up the tab.   Billy Bob's 1966 Wagoneer sat quietly in the garage patiently waiting
for the merry band to return from nourishment and some badly needed rest.

The team worked through the Wagoneer replacing each wire with new ones, carefully tracing each one from the
switch to the source and the switch to the load.  After each wire was carefully cut to length and run through
the rig they gathered them up with tie wraps and then ran tape around their new wiring harness.  They replaced
old switches that showed signs of excessive heat, and made sure that each line had a fuse close to the power
source.  They added relays for all the lights on the front and used a commercial H4 Replacement loom for the
headlights.  

After a week of working together the three of them looked under the hood at how clean the wiring was.

Billy Bob was the first to speak, "Wow.  I can see the engine, the vacuum lines, and hey, isn't
that a fuel line down there?"

Biff and Sally Sue looked at each other and grinned.  Sally Sue said, "It's time to take this thing
on the road.  The wiring is safe now."

Billy Bob hopped into the Wagoneer, it creaked and groaned and listed to port.  He put the key into
the ignition, he paused and looked over at Biff.  Biff had a large grin on his wide face and Billy 
Bob could see the garden hose held partially behind his back.  Billy Bob rolled up the window
and grinned back.

He turned the key.  

The Wagoneer rumbled to life. 

No smoke. 

They all grinned. 

Biff put the garden hose down.  Billy Bob rolled the window down and motioned for them to
get in.  The merry band of FSJrs backed cautiously out of the garage.

Billy Bob aimed the lifted Wagoneer for the field across the street from the house.  He reached over
and tossed the Dana 20 into low range and got on the go pedal.  The Wagoneer went
down into the drainage ditch with the right front tire first, the large beast bowed
down and groaned and then beached itself on the other side of the ditch.

Billy Bob gripped the wheel, staring straight ahead.  He could feel his sister's gaze boring
a hole through his head.  

He knew that she knew that he had screwed up again.

"Billy Bob, tell me you didn't use blocks on the front axle to lift this thing."

Biff knew better to say anything at all, but he did anyway, "Well, thankfully this
happened across the street and at slow speeds.  Had this happened out on the highway..." 
He didn't finish the sentence.

Sally Sue went across the street and fired up her '77 Cherokee.  She backed
up to the Wagoneer and rolled the electric rear window down.  Billy Bob knew what to do.  He
reached in the back and grabbed that old familiar tow strap.  He attached the ends to
the tow hooks on the back of both FSJs.

Sally Sue stuck her head out the window and told Billy Bob to keep the wheel straight and to
stay off the brakes.  She gently pulled the '66 Wagoneer out of the ditch and back into the
driveway.   Once clear of the road they wrapped a chain around the front axle
and leaf spring in order to limp the wounded beast back into the garage.

Biff looked at Billy Bob and explained, "Look, the stresses placed on the springs and axle
when turning are significant.  Lifting the springs off the axle like you did created a longer
lever and even more stress.   The spring over axle conversion you did was as far as you
should have gone.  You could have gained the rest of your lift by remounting the shackles
under the frame and by having your springs rearched or buying new ones.  Using the block
and your old springs could have been disasterous."

Sally Sue looked at the rear springs and gasped.  "What were you thinking Billy Bob?  How
many blocks do you have stacked up back here?!"

Billy Bob sheepishly replied, "Well, I had those 1" blocks left over from that lowered pickup
we turned into a trailer, and all they had at the parts store were those 2" blocks.  I had
to raise this thing up at least the 8" I had in the front.  I was able to get the 4" blocks
to use up front."  

Sally Sue looked at her brother in amazement.  Biff looked at Sally Sue and hoped she wouldn't
notice his custom extended shackles too.  Sally Sue looked to the back of the Wagoneer and
gasped. "What in the world are you thinking?  Those carriage bolts are softer than your head!"

Billy Bob knew two things for certain.  One, he was going to have to spend some money, and
two, he was going to have to redo his lift.

Biff looked underneath.  "Billy Bob, why do you have two one inch blocks and
three two inch blocks on this side and two four inch blocks on that side?"  But before
Billy Bob could open his mouth, Biff exclaimed, "Hey, two of these things are aluminum ones!"

Biff and Sally looked at the situation, then at each other.   Sally Sue had already done
the math in her head and turned to Billy Bob and said, "Ok, here's what I'll do.  I'll 
sell you  my old 4" lift kit springs for half of what my new springs cost me. 
Those 4" springs made my '77 Cherokee ride like an ox cart so I had
custom springs made.  Only cost me $650 and that included new U-bolts."

Biff and Sally watched the pained expressions on Billy Bob's face.  It was obvious
he was trying to do the math.  Biff relieved his friend's pain, "Billy Bob, don't
hurt yourself, it's $325."   The pain left only momentarily as he realized that he
had to come up with the money. 

Sally Sue explained, "We'll remove all the blocks from the front axle.  Your spring
over conversion was done properly.  You have the correct drop pitman arm and your
tie-rods were done properly.  The 4" springs with the Spring over will give you
almost 8" of lift.   We'll use the steel 4" blocks, one per side, in the rear, and
we'll replace those two pieces of strap metal with carriage bolts you believe are
shackle extensions with the stock ones I saw in your garage.  That will give you
a solid 8" of lift in the rear to match the front."

Billy Bob was still trying to figure out where he was going to come up with the
money, but it slowly dawned on him that he was less than a weekend away from riding
in solid FSJ style.

What will our FSJ forum encounter next?  Will Bily Bob's '66 Wagoneer ever experience
the joys of the FSJ lifestyle again?  Will Biff ever get around to asking Sally Sue
out (without Billy Bob being there?).  




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