Thomas' thread: Built not Bought

[DeclansDaddy]

:lookout:

it could be done but removing the pan is ideal to remove broken plastic guides, etc...

Pull the pan. Even if your current guides are intact, the last set might not have been and that guy might not have pulled the pan either.

Well good thing I listened to you guys. My guides were fine but obviously someone's weren't at some point. This was all in the pan. No metal though so that's good news. Whoever changed this thing last time left quite a few bolts finger tight and 2 bolts in the timing cover were actually MIA. No wonder there was oil all over the front of this thing. So until I go to the store and grab those I'm on hold.

 

[KidVermicious]

Nice. If nothing else that'll do wonders for your oil pressure.

Whoever changed this thing last time left quite a few bolts finger tight and 2 bolts in the timing cover were actually MIA.

"Hey look, my timing chain guides are broken"
"There, I fixed the guides, now I better drop the pan and clean out the pieces"
"Hmm, now that I've got some of these bolts off, it's become apparent that I need to drop the diff to remove the oil pan"
"Fukit, let's go fishin'. Fire it up, ma!"

 

[DeclansDaddy]

I'm sure that happens all too often. But I found a guy with a 4" lift that's still on a truck that he's going to part out and scrap. Told him I'd give him $200 for all the lift parts and he's good with that. Might go scoop that up today and while I got the diff dropped go ahead and put that on. Hopefully it's all coming together for me. While a SAS is what I'd like in the future, this will be a cheap hold me over.

 

[ajohnson]

Lol don't y'all love previous owners

 

[Hyde802]

Good call on pulling the pan!

 

[DeclansDaddy]

Well I went and grabbed up that lift kit tonight. The guy had it pulled off when I got there and had everything laid out so I kinda seen where it all goes but do you guys know of any threads on here with some detailed pics of an ifs lift kit. We couldn't find a brand on it but it appears to have the same parts of a rough country type lift. Has 2" add-a-leafs and 2" blocks for the rear. All the brackets and stuff for the front. He gave me all the steering linkages and sway bar with the drop brackets still on it. Only thing I have to get is u-bolts for the rear. He said he had to cut those off. Shouldn't be a big big deal. Don't think $200 was too bad.

 

[RiFF RaFF]

Well I went and grabbed up that lift kit tonight. The guy had it pulled off when I got there and had everything laid out so I kinda seen where it all goes but do you guys know of any threads on here with some detailed pics of an ifs lift kit. We couldn't find a brand on it but it appears to have the same parts of a rough country type lift. Has 2" add-a-leafs and 2" blocks for the rear. All the brackets and stuff for the front. He gave me all the steering linkages and sway bar with the drop brackets still on it. Only thing I have to get is u-bolts for the rear. He said he had to cut those off. Shouldn't be a big big deal. Don't think $200 was too bad.

Here's the .pdf from the Suspension Lift Kits, Body Lifts, Leveling Kit, 4x4, Jeep, Chevy, Dodge, Ford, Off-road Truck | Rough Country Suspension Systems website for installation.

http://www.roughcountry.com/install/733S.pdf

If this is for a different year that 1986 you should be able to find the right year.

:lookout:

 

[DeclansDaddy]

Well damn. I really need to become more tech savvy. That answers every question I could possibly have. Thanks.

 

[DeclansDaddy]

Timing chain DONE!! Valves adjusted and I must say it's the quietest toyota I've ever owned. Going to start the lift tomorrow, slap the new fenders on and I believe she'll be roadworthy. Lift pics to come!!

 

[DeclansDaddy]

Also with the 4" bracket drop lift in the front and 2" add-a-leafs and 2" blocks out back what are you guys opinions on some decent yet economical shocks? That's all I need to buy to finish the lift. And the lift came with drop sway bar brackets for the front but my truck does not have a sway bar. Is that normal or did someone for some reason ditch the sway bar before I got my hands on it. Should I be looking for one??

 

[wallytoo]

somebody ditched it.

 

[Pisa 8687]

Also with the 4" bracket drop lift in the front and 2" add-a-leafs and 2" blocks out back what are you guys opinions on some decent yet economical shocks? That's all I need to buy to finish the lift. And the lift came with drop sway bar brackets for the front but my truck does not have a sway bar. Is that normal or did someone for some reason ditch the sway bar before I got my hands on it. Should I be looking for one??

Someone must have removed it. However I run a 4" drop bracket lift with ball joint spacers and 26mm torsion bars for a 6" total lift and daily drive mine 80 miles a day and do not run a sway bar at all. Lost it 4+ years ago.

 

[DeclansDaddy]

Well between work, weather and kids I finally started on the lift tonight. I knew I only had a couple hours so I figured I'd knock out the rear real quick. Well after an hour of trying all I could to get the shackles and front hanger bolts to free from the bushing core I finally gave up on that and decided to just pull the add-a-leafs from the donor packs and put them in my pack. Well to my surprise my truck already has an add-a-leaf. I'm assuming to make up for sag?? Anyways the add-a-leafs from the donor truck do have quite a bit more arch to them, though I guess that may not matter if they are a softer spring, I decided to put the new ones on and see how it goes. I got the packs all together and had to call it a night. Going to put the blocks in in the morning and button up the rear and see what I got. And I also scored a like new set of Rancho 9000 5 way adjustable shocks for a whopping $75 so I'm stoked about that.

 

[DeclansDaddy]

Before and after the rear lift. Got about 4" so I guess the bracket drop will be about right. Hopefully I'll have time to knock that out tomorrow. Gonna need some bigger rubber!!!

 

[DeclansDaddy]

Yep, think 35's are in order,which means more gear, which means more motor, might as well get the SAS done and it can just go on and on.

 

[Hyde802]

Well is your doing all that, might as well run some 37s...

opcorn:

 

[DeclansDaddy]

I wish. On a pretty tight budget as it is. Thinks it's gonna have to just roll on the 32's until they are shot then we'll weigh our options. Started the front tonight and just a few bolts into it and I'm already ready to say screw this and start the SAS. Every bolt in the lower control arm bushings are seized. Any tips on getting them out. I'm definitely stuck for now.

 

[KidVermicious]

Yep, think 35's are in order,which means more gear, which means more motor, might as well get the SAS done and it can just go on and on.

For whatever it's worth, I say pick exactly how much build you want, and go there and stop. If you don't have a definite plan in mind, the build will run away from you and you'll reinvent the wheel several times and end up with a crawler on 42s and tons with a 350 under the hood, and you'll have spent ten times as much as if you'd just decided to build a crawler on 42s and tons with a 350 in the first place.

Know what you want from the truck, and then build as little as you can in order to make the truck do what you want, that's my advice. Right now I'm undecided exactly what I want from my truck, and it's a good thing I'm broke or I'd be throwing money at it left and right trying to make up my mind.

 

[DeclansDaddy]

For whatever it's worth, I say pick exactly how much build you want, and go there and stop. If you don't have a definite plan in mind, the build will run away from you and you'll reinvent the wheel several times and end up with a crawler on 42s and tons with a 350 under the hood, and you'll have spent ten times as much as if you'd just decided to build a crawler on 42s and tons with a 350 in the first place.

Know what you want from the truck, and then build as little as you can in order to make the truck do what you want, that's my advice. Right now I'm undecided exactly what I want from my truck, and it's a good thing I'm broke or I'd be throwing money at it left and right trying to make up my mind.

Some very useful advice. Thanks Kevin. I guess I've never really sat and thought what my stopping point would be but I guess thats really the first thing you should do when starting a build. Like so many of us this truck will have to be driven and modded over time as building what I want is just too far out of budget for one lump sum. I'm going to sit tonight and build this truck, in order of what I'd like to do on paper and I'll put the plan up here and see what your guys opinions are.

 

[DeclansDaddy]

SAS so close yet so far $away$. Good news are all bolts are out, only had to cut 2 out.