Cartzo's 87 4Runner Homemade Long-Travel Build

[KidVermicious]

Blocks go between your axle and the leaf springs. They work, but they aren't ideal. Add-a-leafs will pick up your rear, too, but they aren't meant for that and will make the ride harsh. Some guys stuff a coil spring between the axle and the frame (the zuk mod), that actually makes for a very nice ride but your articulation will suffer when you get off road. Rearching will fix them temporarily, but they'll sag again down the road.

New springs are the way to go. I wouldn't buy OEM replacements if you're ever planning on lifting the truck. OME and Ironman make replacement springs good for a mild lift that are stock length and bolt right up. Other companies make lift springs 3" and up, but they're longer and mean fabrication to move your eye and shackle mounts on the frame.

Search the Chevy 63" spring swap too. That's also fabrication, but it's hugely popular and with some fiddling you can make it any height you like.

Or hang on until I get my new springs and you can have the bastard pack that's under my 4Runner now, good for about an inch of lift.

 

[Cartzo]

Blocks go between your axle and the leaf springs. They work, but they aren't ideal. Add-a-leafs will pick up your rear, too, but they aren't meant for that and will make the ride harsh. Some guys stuff a coil spring between the axle and the frame (the zuk mod), that actually makes for a very nice ride but your articulation will suffer when you get off road. Rearching will fix them temporarily, but they'll sag again down the road.

New springs are the way to go. I wouldn't buy OEM replacements if you're ever planning on lifting the truck. OME and Ironman make replacement springs good for a mild lift that are stock length and bolt right up. Other companies make lift springs 3" and up, but they're longer and mean fabrication to move your eye and shackle mounts on the frame.

Search the Chevy 63" spring swap too. That's also fabrication, but it's hugely popular and with some fiddling you can make it any height you like.

Or hang on until I get my new springs and you can have the bastard pack that's under my 4Runner now, good for about an inch of lift.

I will probably do the Chevy 63 swap then because it looks like the best option. But damn every time I decide I want to do something I look it up and it looks like way more work than I thought it would be. It's hard to do time consuming jobs cause it's so cold outside! It seems like it will be a project though and I really am not sure what to do. I will find a guide to follow or something.

 

[Cartzo]

So my friend and I are going to look at that 85 on saturday hopefully. We are thinking we might go in on it 50/50 and use it as a parts truck. I will keep you posted.

 

[Cartzo]

I forgot to mention I switched out my white shell for a black one. I think it looks a lot better. I didn't realize it at the time but it ended up having tint on it which is pretty nice. I picked up the black one for $20 and sold my white one to a friend for $15 cause he needed a window out of it after we rolled his 85. The material on the top had a lot more holes and tears in it than my white shell so I ended up ripping off the material on both and gluing the not so torn one onto my black shell. I did it pretty quick but it looks ok. I think I'm going to end up tearing all of the tint off of the shell then having all of my windows done professionally.

 

[Cartzo]

Round Eyes came today!! They look amazing compared to my other ones. I hope the plastic holds up though... Here is one before and a couple afters

 

[Cartzo]

I change my mind I think I will just go with OME springs and shocks for now. I think I may need a new cv axle too to fix my knocking and vibration problem. Then later I would like to upgrade my gears and put 33's on.

 

[Cartzo]

I got a can of Nite-Shades and tinted my tail lights and blinkers. It is hard to get an even coat with that stuff, but it turned out fine. Tested today by driving right next to a cop. He didn't even look twice :reddance:

 

[Cartzo]

Had to tear into my friend's engine this week to replace his head gasket. We got it all torn apart but he broke one of the head bolts off in the block so we tried everything but can't get it out. Might end up taking out the entire engine... It's nice working on all this stuff though because I'm learning a lot. I'm going to have to do the same thing to replace my timing chain in the future.

 

[PiTTdAwG72]

I had a bolt snap off in my 66' Chevy. It was in a 250ci str8 6. I busted a exhaust manifold bolt in the head. It broke of below flush. I ended up snaping an easy out in the bolt. I towed the truck to my local machine shop. They were able to drill out the busted easy out, then filled the rest of the bolt hole with a welder. Then they welded a small piece of steel on the end of the weld. With a little heat they turned it right out with a pair of vise grips.

 

[Cartzo]

I had a bolt snap off in my 66' Chevy. It was in a 250ci str8 6. I busted a exhaust manifold bolt in the head. It broke of below flush. I ended up snaping an easy out in the bolt. I towed the truck to my local machine shop. They were able to drill out the busted easy out, then filled the rest of the bolt hole with a welder. Then they welded a small piece of steel on the end of the weld. With a little heat they turned it right out with a pair of vise grips.

Bolts can be such a pain.

 

[Cartzo]

Well... here it is.
Total Chaos Second Generation Coil-Over Caddy Kit (Off-Road Magazine) | Trails Less Traveled

I'm going to build me a Trophy Runner

I have completely 100% decided to keep IFS. Has anyone heard of coilovers for the rear? I have decided I hate leaf springs. I am having a hard time finding anything on coilover conversions (at least for the rear). Is there such a thing?

 

[Cartzo]

From what I could tell my drive train looks fine for now. It seemed a little wet by the seal on the transfer case, but nothing serious. I'm thinking now the knocking sound may have been my hubs. I haven't heard the knocking noise in a while and my 4WD is completely gone. I believe it is time for manual hubs anyways. Any suggestions? Is it worth it for new expensive ones or should I just go with $100 used ones on ebay?

 

[KidVermicious]

Stick with the Aisins, and the used ones will probably be fine. I'd pull the ones you have and make sure they're bad first.

You can convert the rear to a link suspension. Depending on which setup you use you might need to relocate the gas tank, and shocks with any sort of serious travel will need to come up through the bed.

 

[92-SR5]

The night shades stuff is illegal here, I know from experience. I did it to my 88 when I had it. It really depends on the cop too (and how dark you tinted them).

 

[Cartzo]

Stick with the Aisins, and the used ones will probably be fine. I'd pull the ones you have and make sure they're bad first.

You can convert the rear to a link suspension. Depending on which setup you use you might need to relocate the gas tank, and shocks with any sort of serious travel will need to come up through the bed.

I went in to Orielly Auto Parts where my friends work and what they have a a conversion kit plus the hubs which would come out to about $150 with employee discount. It is the most expensive one, but they seem to be nice. I have read up a little on converting from auto to manual and some people say you have to get a conversion kit with the hubs and others say the manual hubs just fit right in..

What exactly is link suspension?

 

[Cartzo]

The night shades stuff is illegal here, I know from experience. I did it to my 88 when I had it. It really depends on the cop too (and how dark you tinted them).

Yeah cops around here aren't too bad about it. My friends have been pulled over a lot. I have been pulled over once with them and the cop said it was because my mudflaps didn't cover my whole tire..

 

[Cartzo]

To Do List:

Check timing
Fix tire leak
Fix antifreeze leak
Replace hubs
Replace timing chain and gaskets

 

[Cartzo]

Looking at this for new springs and shocks.

http://trdparts4u.toyotaofdallas.co...llas.com/scripts/prodView.asp?idproduct=-8688

I'm not sure I want to spend that much because all I really need are shocks and springs, but I figure if I'm replacing all of that then I might as well go big and get the kit that comes with everything I need.

Opinions?

 

[KidVermicious]

Link doesn't work...

 

[Cartzo]

Link doesn't work...

thats weird

4Runner 1986-89 OME SUSPENSION KIT OME-4RUN-1GC-IFS

try that I guess