2nd build-up........project Substance Abuse....

[AddictedOffroad]

I started on my front winch bumper today. I was going to use a pre-made winch mount, but a friend dropped off a sweet 1/4" plate that was the perfect size for what I was going to do. So, I went ahead and started fabbing. Keep in mind this is still a work in progress.

 

[04 sc V8]

Nice job on your runner. It looks like an extremely capabile offroad rig as well as a reliable daily driver. I really wanted to mod my 87 like yours but I no longer have a garage to work in. I just sold her on saturday and miss her allready. I hope to find another first gen runner cheap and fix it up.

 

[AddictedOffroad]

Nice job on your runner. It looks like an extremely capabile offroad rig as well as a reliable daily driver. I really wanted to mod my 87 like yours but I no longer have a garage to work in. I just sold her on saturday and miss her allready. I hope to find another first gen runner cheap and fix it up.

Yours looks a lot like my buddy's 87'. We just finished his SAS a few weeks ago. Its teh cleanest 1st gen 4runner I have ever seen.

 

[04 sc V8]

Nice looking truck! Who makes that front bumper?

 

[AddictedOffroad]

Nice looking truck! Who makes that front bumper?

Front Range Off Road.

www.frontrangeoffroadfab.com

 

[04 sc V8]

Thanks! Did you use their SAS kit and crossover steering on your truck? So you lived in California and worked for all pro offroad before moving to CO?

 

[AddictedOffroad]

Thanks! Did you use their SAS kit and crossover steering on your truck? So you lived in California and worked for all pro offroad before moving to CO?

Yes, I worked for All-Pro before moving to CO last March.

No, i didn't use the FROR kit. I used mine on both rigs..

I am a Trail-Gear dealer
http://www.addictedoffroad.com/Solidaxleswap.html

 

[04 sc V8]

Wow! Thanks for the link. I like the way your kit comes complete.
Do you make stuff for Tacoma's? I was thinking about replacing my 87 runner with a Taco.

 

[AddictedOffroad]

Wow! Thanks for the link. I like the way your kit comes complete.
Do you make stuff for Tacoma's? I was thinking about replacing my 87 runner with a Taco.

You can make the IFS kit work with a Tacoma, but it does require modifying a few pieces.

 

[AddictedOffroad]

Day 2. Done

 

[zombie]

Looking really good now. :bigok:

 

[gotmud?13]

It actually drives great on the street. I have ridden in a buddy's lifted IFS and in my opinion(and his) mine rides MUCH better. He has a 4" skyjacker kit and it rides like crap. We'll be doing an SAS for him shortly.

84-85 4runners with solid axles handle and ride extremely well. My neighbor has an 85' Xtra cab and I preferred it to my IFS.

The IFS just wears out over time, creates slight wobbles and is a mUCH weaker setup.

isnt IFS always better than SAS for street handling? i wouldnt base my opinion on the way a buddies truck drives compared to yours, as his lifted IFS truck may not be in its best shape, or in better shape than yours. like the wheel alignment may be off, or may have shittier steering components or whatnot. just a thought. on another note, the project looks amazing. this is exactly what i want to do to mine, but i dont have the cash, as im building my probe gt drift/drag racer, and my runner is my dd. maybe after the probe is finished, i can save up and take money won from races and buy a project runner... great work

 

[AddictedOffroad]

isnt IFS always better than SAS for street handling? i wouldnt base my opinion on the way a buddies truck drives compared to yours, as his lifted IFS truck may not be in its best shape, or in better shape than yours. like the wheel alignment may be off, or may have shittier steering components or whatnot. just a thought. on another note, the project looks amazing. this is exactly what i want to do to mine, but i dont have the cash, as im building my probe gt drift/drag racer, and my runner is my dd. maybe after the probe is finished, i can save up and take money won from races and buy a project runner... great work

IFS isn't necessarily better at all. Toyota went to IFS in 86 because of the general public's want for a more "car-like" feel. I have owned an 85' 4runner, 85' pickup, two 88 4runners, and an 87' pickup. The 85's were all stock solid axle axle rigs and rode and handled identical to the IFS rigs.

Obviously when you lift any of them, the handling will be different. Buts its not worse or better. Just different.

Plenty of rigs are still built with a solid front axle under them and drive and ride great. Jeep Wranglers, 3/4 ton Dodge pickups, Ford pickups, Land Rovers, Land Cruisers, etc.

IFS is definitely weaker than a solid front axle too. They can get knocked out of alignment extremely easy. Parts and brackets are thinner and there is just more moving parts that wear out with the IFS. A solid front axle just doesn't have the same issues. Especially a leaf sprung one. There is no camber issues, and even the caster is set permanently. The only alignment adjustment needed is to set the toe-in which can easily be done with a tape-measure in your garage. Then once set, should never move again.

 

[04 sc V8]

I totally agree! I also have owned an 84 pick-up, 2- 85 4runners a 86 and 87 4runner and I definitely prefer the straight axle. If it was up to me there would be one in the front of all my favorite 4x4's With less than half the moving parts and twice the strength, I would sacrifice a little ride quality. I don't think trucks should ride like cars anyway! Just my .02

 

[shootmymime]

man that turck looks great! how about we get a pic of it all muddy? and a chick inside?

how much did u spend on the setup? not labor?

 

[AddictedOffroad]

man that turck looks great! how about we get a pic of it all muddy? and a chick inside?

how much did u spend on the setup? not labor?

I hate mud, I'm not 18, and if Joe blow off the street did it himself, then roughly $6000 including the price of the rig. That includes tires, lift, bumpers, skid plate, dual cases, axle, gears, etc. Everything to get where it is today.