Moving the front axle forward...

[GoFastCrackPipe]

Also, what about the rear shock mounts? I am currently running the CAGE shock mounts. Will I need to move these as well or can I just add longer travel shocks?

 

[Madgyver]

I got a bare 77 frame that I'm stripping down to extend the wheel base.
For the rear axle I'm looking at about 4" and the the front is still in question, thinking of 4" also. The tub will be worked around it. Already cut off the rear spring hangers and will be flipping the shackle for a budget lift. The fronts will get extended offset radius arms without having to move the stock mounts (I may lower them a little for caster), Not yet decided on how much to move the front because the issue with the steering box. If I do go more than 2" the front driverside mount for the tub will need to be notched for the steering box and also brace the rail across to the passenger side adding in another crossmember which will double as a radiator mount.

I got a few pics before I stopped to finish my long overdue yellow 77.

 

[welndmn]

I went about 5 inches up front, 6 inches in the back.
the added wheelbase is a blessing.
The only steering I could use with my front end was full hydro, each box I tried never worked the way I liked it.

 

[Projp]

I moved the back axle rearward about 7". That is about as far as you can go by just moving the exhisting springs till you run out of frame. I have 3.5 lift and have never hit the axle on the crossmember. The wheelwells need to be patched in, and I filled in the fenders so it looked nice. I had a 24 gal. tank so I trimmed it a bit so it would fit up between the crossmembers, the botton is flush with the botton of the frame, and the top goes into the bed about 5".

 

[Gummi Bear]

Does anyone have any pics or a write up of how you extended the wheel tubs? I think it would be pretty straight forward... cut, add a section, and weld.

Simple and cheap solution: get some CJ7 tubs and weld them in place of the stock EB tubs. (this is what I'm doing)

Or you can use Dusty's custom design -
Here

 

[crawln68]

Does anyone have any pics or a write up of how you extended the wheel tubs? I think it would be pretty straight forward... cut, add a section, and weld.

I moved my rear end and 24 gal tank back 4 inches and subsequently had to stretch the rear inner fenders. Here's how I did it.

First, I cut the rear half of the inner fender out. Second, I cut out a section of the floor board back to the tail gate. Third, I cut out a section of the inner tub side. Fourth weld in the rear section of the inner fender about 8 inches back. Fifth, weld in the new center section of the inner fender. I don't have a pic of the finished fender yet. This should give yu some idea though.

 

[bigpappa]

The wheelwells need to be patched in, and I filled in the fenders so it looked nice.

What did you use to get the fill in metal into shape on the back cutout? just bending and twinsting until it was right?

 

[Projp]

What did you use to get the fill in metal into shape on the back cutout? just bending and twinsting until it was right?

I own a Heating & A/C shop so it was a little bit easier than most. I cut a piece of 18 ga black, and rolled it to match the well curve by making small bends every 1/8" in a sheetmetal brake. Most rolls will not turn the radius you need. Any sheetmetal / HVAC shop should be able to do this. I did not match the exhisting horizontal indent.