Current jeeper, possible future 4runner owner

[budke]

Before you get all excited, no I'm not transitioning from jeeps to yota's. I will be keeping my jeep and will always be a jeep nut. lol In a month or two I may be able to get my hands on a 97 4runner in pretty decent condition. Don't know anything about it other than its a 97 with 200k on it. It will become my DD and allow me to turn my jeep into just a weekend ride and allow me to wheel it harder since I won't have to worry about driving it to work. lol
Here is my jeep. Its an 04 wrangler, 4.0L I6, 5spd, 4" lift, 35" BFG KM2's mounted on 15x10 M/T classic lock wheels, aussie locker(automatic) in the front, limited slip in the rear. Just about finished fixing it from wrecking and rolling it. I also swapped in a ford 8.8 rear axle with an Artec truss. Did all the welding myself. I'll let y'all see a few pics. Also, no I don't have any pics of the 4runner.

Here it is while I still had thh 33's on it

Here's it after I wrecked it and rolled it onto its side



And how it sits now

I know about the rings as well...I ran out of spray paint when I was painting them yellow. lol

 

[Quatre Coureur]

Welcome to T4R.ORG! I still have my Jeep(06 LJ). No long arms?

 

[budke]

Welcome to T4R.ORG! I still have my Jeep(06 LJ). No long arms?

Not yet. Not sure if I want long arms or not. Long arms like to drag and get hung up on everything.

 

[Quatre Coureur]

I hadn't heard that they drag. Haven't seen it... They help with the DW and make the articulation even more radical.

 

[budke]

I hadn't heard that they drag. Haven't seen it... They help with the DW and make the articulation even more radical.

I've seen 'em always get hung up on stuff. Mostly the frame brackets. Haven't heard that they help with DW, but I don't get DW, or even a wobble so I'm not worried about it. DW is rarely caused by the control arms anyways.


EDIT: noticed you removed the last question. lol. As you have probably noticed that I no longer run the d35.

 

[Quatre Coureur]

Yes I was wondering how that D35 was holding up to 35s, then I remembered the 8.8 swap. Guess that answers that question! lol Don't have DW but sometimes a shimmy around 50mph. I'm only running 33/10.50s on the stock rims with 2.5" lift. The LJ came stock with a D44 so no worries there.(I hope!)

 

[budke]

Shimmy is probably from worn TRE's, loose trac bar, or unbalanced tires. Check control arm bolts too to check if they're loose.
Shouldn't have any problems with the d44 on 33's really. Though I have seen them break shafts. But I'd be more worried about the d30 than the d44. That's what I'm worried about now. Gotta save up to swap the front to a d44. lol

 

[hurt4x]

welcome! former jeep owner myself here,
I'm to poor to own both so I had to sell it and I went with a 4runner DD and weekend wheeler.
I have no doubt you will be happy with the 4runner!

here's the ol' Cherokee. I miss it.

Oh and on most newer long arm kits for wranglers the mounts sit up in the frame out of the way, they are definitely a plus and slide over the rocks pretty smoothly
The only downside is $$$ because then you need new shocks, longer brake lines and possibly new bump stops for all this new found flex lol

 

[budke]

I haven't really looked much into kits. Kits are boring. lol.
When I do upgrade from short arms I'm going to be doing a triangulated 4link in the rear and a 3 link in the front. Gonna flex like a champ.

But I won't be getting rid of it if I get this 4runner. The 4runner will be my DD and to take camping and keep the TJ for my trail rig and for those days of amazing weather to drive around top down and doorless.