Cruzado's IDGAF build thread

[4rcybr]

In my experience the body lift is required to effectively run 35s on our 120 platform trucks. it also requires a rather large BMC and beating the firewall/pinch weld like it owes you money. as well as cutting the fenders.

as to the metaltech springs, i run their lower rate springs. i usually carry some spare parts, tools and maybe a cooler wheeling so maybe ~200lbs of extra stuff in the rear. however if i hookup a heavy trailer or something itll sag a decent amount. however i wouldnt give them up for anything. they area the best springs ive run in the back of my 4th gen hands down. i would think the heavy rate springs they have should work for you. if any thing you can use the firestone airbags that free float inside the spring to compensate when loaded down. which is what i will likely do to help when i tow.

I've got the BMC and some significant beating done already (currently running 285/70r17), just wondering if I should do the BL preemptively. I know at least one person who says it's not necessary-and why do it if I don't have to.

Your setup is much lighter than mine. I've got ~600 pounds in bumpers/armor-so probably about half of that towards the rear, plus a roof rack, roof top tent, jerry cans, 45 liter water container, fridge, etc. Drawer system and dual battery setup still on my list.

The airbag thought is interesting. I don't have any experience with them so I don't know how it would work, but I definitely would love the articulation that you have if I can manage it.

 

[CruzadoBlanco]

I've got the BMC and some significant beating done already (currently running 285/70r17), just wondering if I should do the BL preemptively. I know at least one person who says it's not necessary-and why do it if I don't have to.

Your setup is much lighter than mine. I've got ~600 pounds in bumpers/armor-so probably about half of that towards the rear, plus a roof rack, roof top tent, jerry cans, 45 liter water container, fridge, etc. Drawer system and dual battery setup still on my list.

The airbag thought is interesting. I don't have any experience with them so I don't know how it would work, but I definitely would love the articulation that you have if I can manage it.

thats a ton of weight. i do have full skids so thats like 250 or more in weight thats always on. there are a few guy, mainly fjs, who run bumpers, skids, overland crap and ect with the heavy weight springs and maybe a small spacer without issues.

 

[CruzadoBlanco]

I only get winched following solid axle guys. IFS can only do so much. Especially since I don't even have a trac so I find myself in solid rear wheel drive a lot

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lockers solve everything. the 4th gen with atrac and a locker added in the rear can get a ton of places. the articulation helps a lot too. but i would do the body lift preemptively. if you already had to do that for 285s its gonna be a ***** for the 35s. i didnt rub at all with my 285s and no bodylift. and if its who i think it is telling you you dont, then dont listen to him, hes kinda pompus and a know it all, and ill leave it at that.

 

[4rcybr]

thats a ton of weight. i do have full skids so thats like 250 or more in weight thats always on. there are a few guy, mainly fjs, who run bumpers, skids, overland crap and ect with the heavy weight springs and maybe a small spacer without issues.

Yeah, my overland crap is heavy. It's a bit of a pain really dealing with same vehicle sometimes for overlanding and sometimes for wheeling. It's really awesome though, having one vehicle that does both.

lockers solve everything. the 4th gen with atrac and a locker added in the rear can get a ton of places. the articulation helps a lot too. but i would do the body lift preemptively. if you already had to do that for 285s its gonna be a ***** for the 35s. i didnt rub at all with my 285s and no bodylift. and if its who i think it is telling you you dont, then dont listen to him, hes kinda pompus and a know it all, and ill leave it at that.

If you were doing the BL again, would you go with the 1" or 1.5". I'm surprised you didn't rub with your 33s-I still rub slightly on a hard turn. I've already got the rear locker (and 4.56 gears), so getting 35s sorted out and a bit more travel is all I really have left to do. Well, and new shocks.

I'd be curious if you'd care to PM me who you're thinking of, but I understand if you don't want to.

 

[CruzadoBlanco]

Yeah, my overland crap is heavy. It's a bit of a pain really dealing with same vehicle sometimes for overlanding and sometimes for wheeling. It's really awesome though, having one vehicle that does both.



If you were doing the BL again, would you go with the 1" or 1.5". I'm surprised you didn't rub with your 33s-I still rub slightly on a hard turn. I've already got the rear locker (and 4.56 gears), so getting 35s sorted out and a bit more travel is all I really have left to do. Well, and new shocks.

I'd be curious if you'd care to PM me who you're thinking of, but I understand if you don't want to.

if i were to do it over again i would probably go with a 1.25" body lift. my 1" is good for the vast majority and it did help tremendously. but that extra .25" which equals out to .5" of tire diameter difference would of made my life easier in the firewall clearing stage. i will probably have to go in and either get a really big sledge or partially tub the lower edge of my fire wall above the body mount to fully clear my 35x12.50s or limit my up travel with longer bumpstops.

and what locker do you have in the rear? is it an arb? or did you retrofit?

 

[4rcybr]

if i were to do it over again i would probably go with a 1.25" body lift. my 1" is good for the vast majority and it did help tremendously. but that extra .25" which equals out to .5" of tire diameter difference would of made my life easier in the firewall clearing stage. i will probably have to go in and either get a really big sledge or partially tub the lower edge of my fire wall above the body mount to fully clear my 35x12.50s or limit my up travel with longer bumpstops.

and what locker do you have in the rear? is it an arb? or did you retrofit?

Hmm. I hadn't even thought of the 1.25, but of course that's an intermediate option that avoids going the full 1.5. (Looking at 4crawler DD+HD+SE+RAD+CLR+CDOC either way). Why the 1.25 over a 1.5?

I'm running a TJM locker in the rear. Works nicely.

 

[CruzadoBlanco]

Hmm. I hadn't even thought of the 1.25, but of course that's an intermediate option that avoids going the full 1.5. (Looking at 4crawler DD+HD+SE+RAD+CLR+CDOC either way). Why the 1.25 over a 1.5?

I'm running a TJM locker in the rear. Works nicely.

less stuff to move/lengthen/adjust. plus a lot of bumpers and stuff have about 1" or so of adjustment built in to them. plus the gap from 1" - 1.25" is minimal so your sliders dont look out of place and all that good stuff.

 

[dkyleb]

Any pics of what you cut in the rear to tuck 35s like that?

 

[CruzadoBlanco]

Any pics of what you cut in the rear to tuck 35s like that?

should be, ill look and see if i can find some or take a couple tomorrow morning before class.

But it mainly boils down to my MetalTech long travel in the rear that has a 3" bumpstop extension and the adjustable lower links. when i installed the kit i rotated the pinion angle by extending the lower links, thus pushing the axle back some, that helped to make sure they cleared the doors. as for the bumper i cut it back about 2-3 inches and then hammered that huge pinch weld on the body back there. i still need to go back and clean all my cuts up and make the hammering look better. but if you go and look on the driver side in that rear fender you see a plastic cover over the fuel filler lines, i used that as a reference and cut the bumper back to about 1" or so in front of that, ill double check every thing and get back to you with more specific stuff.

 

[CruzadoBlanco]

well its been awhile and not much has changed. just been wheeling it and stuff. finally did bushings in the UCAs and went and ran the Red Clay Rally in Tennessee. I partied a little too hard, now the regear has been moved up to like tomorrow kinda time table.

old bushings out. and new in. feels like a new truck almost.

loaded up for the red clay rally on wednesday.

the overall track of the rally. about 640 miles all said and done.

Then i partied too hard on the time attack course at the camp area and blew my rear end up. a video of it is on instagram under the #redclayrally hashtag or something.

Anyone need an adult driven, never abused 3.73 ring and pinion?

 

[Inv4drZm]

When you break something, it always makes you feel worse if you do it when people are watching, right?

At least you had a trailer ready!

 

[blackoutt]

Saw the carnage on instagram then figured out it was you! Looks like a fun run and at least you were prepared for the drive home. No pics of the tow rig too?

 

[CruzadoBlanco]

Saw the carnage on instagram then figured out it was you! Looks like a fun run and at least you were prepared for the drive home. No pics of the tow rig too?

maybe, it's just an 05 3500 duramax dually and a brand new load trail 36ft lowboy gooseneck. but yeah it was me, didnt take long for those who recorded it to post it and since most of them all have tons of followers it spread pretty fast. just ordered my 4.56s today, now i just gotta figure out how to pay for them.

 

[CruzadoBlanco]

dropped the front clamshell out along with the beat to crap CVs that were in there. broke a wheel stud off on the driver side so i gotta fix that. but i should have 4.56s in by the end of this week.

 

[CXS]

Time for a SAS!

 

[CruzadoBlanco]

Time for a SAS!

but i just finished SASing my 89. im fresh out of money after this regear for anything big for at least a year. gotta pay off crap i owe money on and what not. the 4the gen is getting these gears, rear coil air bags, the viair on board air system that's sitting in the front room of my house, a rear tire carrier kinda like Inv4drZm's and that's it for a long while besides a new set of 35s.

now the 89 on the other hand is about to get some used 37s, they hydro finished up, and the motor installed and twin sticks finished. so i can finally start it and go get it registered and inspected and then all the fun armor and body work before i paint it, and lockers, cant forget those. Then comes the part where i start collecting parts for the 3rz swap it's gonna get once i get tired of 100 HP and 37s

but i'm really hoping to be able to get a decent 18-20 ft carhauler and WD hitch to tow my 4runner with my 4runner

 

[CXS]

Okay, I'll wait to see you SAS this one next season!

 

[CruzadoBlanco]

Okay, I'll wait to see you SAS this one next season!

don't tempt me. will linking the 89 on some 12/14" coilovers suffice? even though i just finished the leaf spring SAS a nice Y-link radius arm setup in the front is calling my name, and will be at least 10x cheaper than on the 4th gen.

i do want to see if i can get like reid racing or ruffstuff to help me try to mate a 120 chassis front wheel bearing to a live axle knuckle and have it work properly, retaining the front abs.

 

[CruzadoBlanco]

warrantied my CVs since they were out of the truck. all nice and shiny and new ready to be beat to hell again. now i'm just waiting for my clamshell and 3rd to be done.

 

[unevolved]

Nice build thread, one of these days I need to stop by a TTR meeting and meet some more locals.