oldgold3vze

So, Old Gold is gone, I just couldn't deal with the IFS and 3.0. I scored an 84 short box for $500 in decent running condition, but it was in serious need of some mods before I could even think of wheeling it. I also have an 89 scrap truck that I have been able to pick parts off of to help with the 84 build. I screwed up and haven't taken many pictures, but we all know what a bare bones cream 84 work truck looks like, right? Here's what I've done thus far... Keep in mind, this is a budget build, and I have a few other daily driver options.

-Bobbed 12" out of the bed, and trimmed fenders/bed
-Wrap around rear bumper built right off the frame
-Power steering conversion (not hi-steer, yet)
-Pretty simple flat front bumper built out of scrap (for now)
-Relocated the turn signals into the grill
-Removed vinyl floor pads and rolled in herculiner (very impressed with this stuff)
-1992 4runner sport buckets, tan to match
-40 x 17 on 10" rims
-rear chevy 63" springs w/ downey shackles and wider ifs shackle hangers (from the crush aka the 89)

oldgold3vze

oldgold3vze

More pics. I'm slowly figuring this out.

oldgold3vze

The IFS shackle hanger relocated 1/2" forward for a better shackle angle and the 1992 4runner bucket seats. Gotta love all the adjustments!

algranger

nice! looks like fun

oldgold3vze

Got the driver's side slider on last night. Hoping to do the rears up front from my 89 this friday. Ordered some 5" trail-gear shackles to help with the down travel.

Volcom

What part of CO? Nice truck! Gotta love the sub-$1000 trucks being back to life (mine was a $400 84Runner when I started )

eighty5yota

i got mine for free.. does that count?

oldgold3vze

I'm in Ft. Collins. Yeah, I love the budget builds that can go twice the places all those fab-tech, skyjacker, procomp, etc. equipped vehicles can. I'm not knocking the off the shelf lifts, I just much prefer to get creative and build my truck with my own style.

Last night I got my right side slider on, and tonight I'll pull the rear leaves from my 89 parts truck and start the rears up front swap. I'm rubbing firewall as it is, and I have almost no suspension travel with those front springs/ shackles.

oldgold3vze

Yes, free is sometimes the best because when you take that first tree to the fender, or whatever, you can just laugh and say "oh well, it was free!"

oldgold3vze

Ok, a small update. Both sliders are on, and they look great!. Also, after much leaf spring hunting and mixing, I was able to come up with a good pack for my rear leaf springs up front swap. The pack includes the 1st 2 leaves from a 1st gen 4runner, then the 3rd leaf from my 89 pickup, then the last leaf from the 4runner pack, 4 leaves total. I may end up adding 1 more leaf for just a tad bit more arch, and to try and get a little better shackle angle. My 5" trail-gear shackles just barely hit the body mount right now. Pictures tomorrow.

taconasty

nice build and thats one bad ass color if i must say. can i see more pics of your bobbed bed. i'm a little biased on the color too.

oldgold3vze

Another front leaf pack update. I was not too stoked on the amount of reverse arch my springs were getting with only 4 leaves, so I cut the main leaf from my 89 pickup to 9" from the center pin to the front and 14" from the center pin to the rear. Not only did this help with preventing reverse arch, but I got 1" more lift, which will balance out perfectly when I do my 63" chevy swap, and the ride is much stiffer, before it felt quite a bit too soft.

oldgold3vze

More pics. Rears up front done, but I still need to install my spring clamps to keep the leaves from coming apart, and I didn't expect so much compression, so I'll either build massive bump stops, or make longer shock hoops cause right now I can bottom my shocks out, not good. Square front driveshaft turned out nice. I had to do a lot of grinding to get the inner square to fit in the outer square, but the fit turned out near perfect. Check out the redneck rti ramp!

oldgold3vze

Some wheeling pics from this weekend. The cream dream isn't quite ready for a trail ride, yet, but my friend, Jerry's, 81 worked just fine.









The hand made chevy spring hangers ready to be welded on...



Spring clips installed. They're a little better than hose clamps, I guess...

kingbrian

thats some pretty scary looking steering. is that a cut and welded stock drag link? plans for high steer?

oldgold3vze

Yeah, that's my "super custom" super temporary "drop drag link". High steer on order next paycheck. I've already got the steering box, pump, idler, etc. Thanks for looking out. I only have to drive 4 blocks from my house to my friend's shop where we do all the work on the truck.

Volcom

Crossover steering is soooo nice compared to the push-pull stock setup. Make sure you keep a close eye on keeping the knuckle stud nuts tight (like before every off-road trip).

oldgold3vze

Another quick update, sorry this build isn't as impressive as some of the others, but it's all I've got. I was able to finish up my 63" chevy spring swap this weekend, but was in such a rush to get to this music show that I didn't paint my raw welds, and then it rained all weekend, so now I get to do lot of sanding and painting. Oh well, that what rushing gets you.

Hangers 11" forward of stock

Couple shots of the shackle angle, turned out just as I wanted it.



Compared to a stock 4runner on 30x9.50s. I'm still on those used 32x11.50s. I'm very happy with the amount of bed remaining after the bob, my departure angle, shackle angle, everything is coming together as imagined. Now I just need my crossover steering. C'mon paycheck!

oldgold3vze

A quick question for those who have swapped IFS rear axles into solid axle trucks. What did you do about the wider spring perches? I just noticed, while hunting for the correct u-bolts, that my 89 rear u-bolts were quite a bit wider than those off my 84, and then when looking at the perches I noticed the same difference. Grind down the perches, weld on new ones? What to do?