Hawaiian Hillbilly on the Cheap 04' SR5 build

[miller507]

Keeping in mind that this is my first TOYOTA and I had no previous experience installing a lift on anything other than older chevrolet trucks with straight axles it went rather smoothly. However, after installing the rear Procomp fj lift coils and bilstein 5100 shocks in the rear and the OME/Bilstein 5100s on the TOP SETTING up front I took it out for a test run and MAN WHAT A DISSAPOINTMENT! It was stiff and jumping and bouncing everywhere! The bilsteins were topped out and had no functionality and the springs were waaaay to compressed and therefore stiff on this setting lol I was very surprised that it even went on with the no spring compressor method. In any case it was horrible! So I busted the front suspension back out and set the adjustment on the Bilstiens to the 2ND SETTING and it was much smoother and better on the back when driving. I had found the sweet spot! The ride height was right where I needed it to be. So with that done I got my 04' T4R SR5 aligned at the shop and brought it home for some measurements. Heres what I found!

So here's what I've come up with. OME885 coils up to 3" of lift and Bilstein 5100 on 2nd notch 1.75" total "should be" 4.75" of lift on paper. But I was at 6.5" of lift over stock! :shrug: My stock struts and coils were NOT completely worn out and they were fully functional at the time of the lift. Anyhow....this is what I'm at. It was a cop car before I got it and they changed the coils a couple years before I got it and the struts were done regularly. ANYWAYS....I LOVE THE LIFT! Again any and all comments appreciated. Perhaps we can help others doing their own lift to understand more completely.

First of all, let me say that's a nice looking rig you got there, I have a similar setup like yours.

Except I have the OME884s with 5100's (1st setting) and the toytec top plate spacer (1/4"), rides a bit stiff to my liking (used to it already) and I was wondering if I take off the toytec spacer and set the 5100's on the second notch it would basically keep the same height?

How she sits right now

 

[wakt600RR]

Ok so....now I kept the search going for a decent set of rims and tires for my T4R build. The last set didn't work out and are now in storage awaiting the right project vehicle! lol perhaps a nice Chevrolet pickup :redbrick: in the 70's to 80's models? hmmmmmmmm...we shall see! So...The Hawaiian Hillbilly came across a nice used set of 16" steel cragar rims with a set of 285/75/16 Procomp Xtreme tires on it for $550 on craigslist. With a similar offset to the stock rims on myT4R. So I drove to the other side of the island 3-4 hour roundtrip depending on traffic and right foot heaviness and I purchased them from another Toyota guy who had them on his Tacoma for a couple months. He (kool guy) no longer needed them as he went with much "shinier" chrome rims for his Tacoma as most people "WIERDLY" do here in Hawaii. Don't as me why...its a mystery to me as well!! I never understood the bigger shinier rims and smaller profile tires on a 4WD vehicle. But this Hillbilly judges no one on their choices for their vehicles. To each his own I say! Sorry I misplaced the craigslist ad picture.

HAWAIIAN HILLBILLY LIFT TOTALS THUSFAR: $930
ADD THESE RIMS AND TIRES: TOTAL IS NOW AT : $1480

Looking forward to seeing the latest pics of your T4R after you put on the new wheel/rim combo.

Mahalo for sharing! Man I miss home!!