DIRTCO's 1985 4Runner Build-Up Thread

[AlladdinSane]

Originally Posted by DIRTCO I was a little bummed about cutting up the old truck, but as soon as I read this I had to smile/laugh and look at the whole situation a little bit different. Thanks You're welcome Man. Thank-you for being so detailed and specific with the whole thread.

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[rustpyro]

It's a bad idea To SAS such an original specimen! I think you might regreat cutting off all the original mounts for the front suspension. once you cut them off....there's NO going back! Think before you cut. LT suspension is expensive but if you SAS it, it may someday see the same demise as your 85.

[DIRTCO]

Originally Posted by rustpyro

It's a bad idea To SAS such an original specimen! I think you might regreat cutting off all the original mounts for the front suspension. once you cut them off....there's NO going back! Think before you cut. LT suspension is expensive but if you SAS it, it may someday see the same demise as your 85.

You bring up valid points and I respect your point of view. That being said, I have spent many hours thinking about this very subject and I truly believe I'm making the best choice, for me.

First, it's not a museum piece. It is in great shape, but it still has it's flaws. The body does have dents and dings, there is some rust and the interior is a little worn. Overall it is very nice, but not perfect. If it was a factory original, low mileage, MINT Turbo 4Runner I would not change a thing on it.

Whether you go LT (long travel IFS) or SAS, there's cutting and going back to stock isn't easy, if at all possible. Installing a LT kit might not require as much cutting, but there's still no going back. In either case you are removing crucial suspension brackets / components and would be better off doing a full frame swap if you wanted to return it to stock. In addition to that, a LT kit is just looking for trouble in a nice vehicle. High speed + off road = trouble, the possibility of completely destroying your vehicle (in my opinion), is a lot higher in a LT rig. Even if you take it easy on the vehicle you still have to deal with broken CV's, idler arms and alignment issues. Long travel suspension has its place, but that's not in the Rocky Mountains with a daily driver.

I'm working on keeping this an all around rig, I don't want a rockcrawler and I don't want a desert racing truck (although I would love to have one of each ). I'm pretty much building a super capable expedition style vehicle that can do it all. Ever since I built the last truck I've missed the ability to pack up, drive a couple hundred miles and explore the area. There's so many places out there that I have not been and it will be great to check them out (in comfort). It will also be nice to have a super capable vehicle that will get me out of almost any situation i might get into. There's a reason why Australia never switched over to IFS, and why most of the "Outback" style races are won with solid front axles. Reliability!

As for the Turbo 4Runner meeting the same fate as the 85' 4Runner, I have to disagree. When I first started building the 85' I knew its fate, I'm kind of surprised that it lasted as long as it did. For how hard I wheeled the thing, put on a show for everyone watching (with tow rigs and trailers), and then driving the thing home 99% of the time, it did pretty damn well. The Turbo 4Runner is different, I could really care less about "putting on a show" or running the hardest trails around, I just want to have fun. I don't mind taking the easy line or altogether stopping and turning around, this will be one of the cleanest rigs on the trail and I don't mind keeping it that way.

As much as you love the truck and want to keep it stock; I want to explore and experience as much as I can. It's comfortable and fun to drive I'm very excited about taking it to next level in performance and capability. I have no plans of selling it, so I might as well enjoy it however I can and build it the way that makes me happy. After all, the highway can be a pretty dangerous place and you never know when someone might take you out, I'd rather take my chances on the trail.

[85toy]

[DIRTCO]

As much as it sucks, it had to be done. RIP

[DIRTCO]

With every end there has to be some kind of a beginning, that is here with the Turbo 4Runner. It's still sad to see it end this way

86' Turbo 4Runner build
http://www.yotatech.com/f116/86-turb...-build-155840/

[Hayes]

dang dude, that hurts me.

[881stGenRunner]

are you going to try and save the frame?

[DIRTCO]

Originally Posted by 881stGenRunner

are you going to try and save the frame?

The frame and body are completly gone. I thought about saving the frame for a possible F-toy build one day but I didn't have a place to keep it.

[bigarms23]

is the rear bumper gone 2

[Volcom]

RIP green Carnage monster

I've got an extra W56 5 speed tranny in the garage if you need one for the Turbo

[DIRTCO]

Originally Posted by bigarms23

is the rear bumper gone 2

The rear bumper was the rear crossmember, so it went with the frame. My GF's dad is building a 4Runner too, so he took a lot of the pieces. I think he might try to re-use the rocksliders, front bumper and part of the rear crossmember.

[DIRTCO]

Originally Posted by Hayes

dang dude, that hurts me.

Your telling me, everything thing I cut I had a flash back of making. It was like "I remember that part taking me a whole weekend to build, but only 2 minutes to cut off and throw away"

[DIRTCO]

Originally Posted by Volcom

RIP green Carnage monster

I've got an extra W56 5 speed tranny in the garage if you need one for the Turbo

Yep, Rest In Pieces. I should have had it ground up into little pieces and sprinkled them all over Carnage, but for some reason I don't think that would have been the trucks last wish. I think it hated that trail more than anyone!