DIRTCO's 1986 4Runner Build-Up Thread

[DIRTCO]

After WAY too much time in the shop this last weekend, the solid axle is under the Turbo 4Runner. I still have a lot of details to work out but it's drivable and on all tires. I pulled it in the shop Friday night after work and spent a couple hours in the shop to get head start. This is how it looked when I showed up early Saturday morning. And a little bit later I fought with the front driveshaft for a while and finally had to pull the crossmember to get to the bolts

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[DIRTCO]

After some cutting and hours of grinding it looked like this





One of the PO had some sort of a tow bar (or something like that) welded to the front crossmember and had cut it off. I had to clean this up to mount the new front spring hanger.

[DIRTCO]

Almost ready!



Then it was time to work on the shackle tubes. I wanted to get the best shackle angle possible, so I mounted them as far forward as possible. I did have to trim the body mount a bit for clearance at full droop.

[DIRTCO]

Axle going in!





At full droop, the axle has been moved forward an extra 1 1/4"

[DIRTCO]

At this time it was around 3:00pm Sunday afternoon and I still had to drive it home that night. Needless to say I didn't take any more pictures but I did drive it home at 1:00am . I still have a lot of details to work out, but this is how it looks right now, I will try to take some better pictures tommorrow.

[Volcom]

Sick!!! Looks like a real 4Runner now on 35's

How's the front shackle angle? I need to trim my body mounts just like that.

[934rnr]

nice job I want mine to look that way too...

[space-junk]

you do very beautiful work... kudos my friend...
mind if i bring my runner up there so you can york magic on it?

[1989toy4wd]

Sorry it took me so long to respond, its the 12in bilstein 5125s and thats with no body lift. 5 in marlin springs and 2 in shackles.

[grant526]

I definitely gotta hand it to you. You do GREAT Work!!! I started following your last Runner build shortly before you decided to go this route instead. And was very impressed with your attention do detail and how clean your work is.

Wish I had the time and shop available to me like you have. I"m stuck doing all my work at ground level. Unless I take to to the college to use the lift for diffs and gears.

Keep up the Great posts and Pics! : )

[DIRTCO]

Originally Posted by Volcom

Sick!!! Looks like a real 4Runner now on 35's

How's the front shackle angle? I need to trim my body mounts just like that.

Thanks! It's taking some time to get used to how it sets, after how low the last 4Runner sat. Every time I jump into it I think "Holy crap this thing is tall!", then I think "No it's not, the last 4Runner was a freaking low rider! "

I had to trim the body mounts the same way on the last truck, so I figured I'd do it right away and make it look nice. I'm glad I did, with it setting on the lift the shackle goes past where the mount used to be. I'll post up some pictures of the shackle angle in a little bit.

[DIRTCO]

Originally Posted by 934rnr

nice job I want mine to look that way too...

Thanks!

Originally Posted by space-junk

you do very beautiful work... kudos my friend...
mind if i bring my runner up there so you can york magic on it?

Thanks, I think it's going to be a while before I do another SAS. I still have a lot of details to wrap up too. At least I'm done with most the grinding, that takes a lot of time.

Originally Posted by grant526

I definitely gotta hand it to you. You do GREAT Work!!! I started following your last Runner build shortly before you decided to go this route instead. And was very impressed with your attention do detail and how clean your work is.

Wish I had the time and shop available to me like you have. I"m stuck doing all my work at ground level. Unless I take to to the college to use the lift for diffs and gears.

Keep up the Great posts and Pics! : )

Thanks! I'm glad people are enjoying the build and are getting idea's for thier own projects.

Having access to a shop with a lift is a huge benefit, it's a real time (and back) saver. The only down side is that come Sunday night it HAS to be done and out of the way, it takes some planning to make sure you are going to have everything you need.

[DIRTCO]

Originally Posted by 1989toy4wd

Sorry it took me so long to respond, its the 12in bilstein 5125s and thats with no body lift. 5 in marlin springs and 2 in shackles.

Not a problem, I'm pretty sure that I'm going to go with the 12" shock hoops that do not require cutting the inner fender. Thanks for the info!

[DIRTCO]

And finally some decent pictures

[DIRTCO]

How far forward I moved the front axle



The tires were rubbing the front bumper going around turns, so I had to trim the edges a bit. I plan on building a new front bumper before spring.



Front shackle angle. I'm hoping the springs will settle a bit and relax the angle some more.



Rear shackle angle. I still need to clean up the frame where the old shackle mounts were. I moved the rear shackle mount back 2 1/2", the angle is good but the rear is setting lower than the front so I might have to step up to a 6" shackle to level it out a bit (these are 5").

[DIRTCO]

I really need to move the steering box forward (I knew that I would), that will be this weekends project. At that time I will also get the hydro ast. hooked back up.

[Hayes]

beautiful.

[ScottyC]

I would get that chrome trim around the wheel wells out of there ASAP. That is what makes the wheel wells rust so damn bad. The mag-chloride sits up in there and everytime it gets wet, it just eats at the sheet metal under it. Its also what allows stuff to get into the black wheel well guards and eat that area too.

I ditch the inner fender guards and that chrome stuff as soon as I buy a new rig.

BTW, that shackle will settle up front with a bumper and winch, but I would definitley go with a 6" shackle in the back. Or, cut that bracket off and move it back another inch. I usually go 3" back of stock in the rear, and 7" forward in front instead of the 6" listed in the instructions. It allows the 35" tire to stuff up into the wheel well without rubbing the back edge(or front edge either), and keeps you from having to trim that area out. Overall, I think the springs will settle at least an inch, but those TG front 3" springs actually sit higher than the 4's do and take FOREVER to settle in if at all. They have on all of the rigs I have built. Even the 6" shackle won't even it out, but it will get it closer.

I wish all of the vendors would update their instructions to make the changes to them. They were all written by Chris Geiger when he was at All-Pro like 8 years ago, and the spring lengths have changed since then from each vendor.

[grant526]

WOW!! I can see why the larger wheels rubbed on the front bumper. You REALLY Moved the axle forward when you installed it!! I need to move mine forward too. But I'm not sure I'm going as far as you have.

Your Rig looks Great!! And SUPER Clean!! Nice work!

[swerks]

Nice Job !!!!!

[DIRTCO]

Originally Posted by Hayes

beautiful.

Thanks!

[DIRTCO]

Originally Posted by ScottyC

I would get that chrome trim around the wheel wells out of there ASAP. That is what makes the wheel wells rust so damn bad. The mag-chloride sits up in there and everytime it gets wet, it just eats at the sheet metal under it. Its also what allows stuff to get into the black wheel well guards and eat that area too.

I ditch the inner fender guards and that chrome stuff as soon as I buy a new rig.

BTW, that shackle will settle up front with a bumper and winch, but I would definitley go with a 6" shackle in the back. Or, cut that bracket off and move it back another inch. I usually go 3" back of stock in the rear, and 7" forward in front instead of the 6" listed in the instructions. It allows the 35" tire to stuff up into the wheel well without rubbing the back edge(or front edge either), and keeps you from having to trim that area out. Overall, I think the springs will settle at least an inch, but those TG front 3" springs actually sit higher than the 4's do and take FOREVER to settle in if at all. They have on all of the rigs I have built. Even the 6" shackle won't even it out, but it will get it closer.

I wish all of the vendors would update their instructions to make the changes to them. They were all written by Chris Geiger when he was at All-Pro like 8 years ago, and the spring lengths have changed since then from each vendor.

There's already some rust behind the chrome trim, I would take them off but I know that one day I'm going to have to do some body work to that area. I might as well hide it until I start that project. As for removing the front inner fender gaurds, I HIGHLY recomend that you don't remove them(if you have the clearance). I used to feel the same way you did and would get rid of them as soon as I could. They use a bunch of mag-chloride where I live and I found out (along with a couple of friends) that the mag-chloride loves to eat the insulation off of wiring. The old green 4Runner was my daily driver for quite a few years after two or three winter along came a slushy spring day. I was driving round and noticed that quite a few of my electrical items were acting up, I didn't think much of it and parked the truck. When I got out I noticed that there was smoke coming from the passenger front fender, the entire wiring harness was smoking and melting right in front of me. I was able to disconnect the battery before the entire truck caught fire, but it was close. When i tore apart the harness to fix it I found that the mag-chloride had eaten the insulation off the wires and a couple of 12 volt wires had crossed a couple of grounds. The same thing happened to a good friend of mine (except it took out his EFI wires and was stranded )

I'm hoping once I get a winch and bumper on the front it will come down a bit, we'll just have to see. I do plan on stepping up to the 6" shackle in the back and I've been planning on moving the rear axle forward 1" when I rotate the rear axle perches (with the triple drilled perches). I've heard that you move the front spring hanger an inch more forward, but I prefer a bit more shackle angle.

Thanks for the input!

[DIRTCO]

Originally Posted by grant526

WOW!! I can see why the larger wheels rubbed on the front bumper. You REALLY Moved the axle forward when you installed it!! I need to move mine forward too. But I'm not sure I'm going as far as you have.

Your Rig looks Great!! And SUPER Clean!! Nice work!

Thanks! The front axle is about where it was on the old green 4Runner (with rear springs up front). I really liked the aproach angle and I don't want to tub the firewall, I should have enough room with the 35's.

[DIRTCO]

Originally Posted by swerks

Nice Job !!!!!

Thank you!

[grant526]

I was AMAZED at how much my front springs "Settled" with a winch and bumper on the front of my truck. So much so that I had to get leveling shackles to bring it back up. But I also have a SUPER Heavy Winch and Bumper on my truck. Or atleast they are for a Toyota. But Man do I like THEM!!!! lol

What kind of Winch are you planning on? You never had a winch on Your old Runner did you? Probably didn't need it! : )