Bugzman

Hey guys, I have recently bought my first Toyota and i'm ready to make it a into something better.

its a pretty ,much stock 85' pickup SR5. its got 31 BFG and 2 inch exhaust. everything else is original.

what i need help for is what i should do with it first. it is my daily driver so I cant go to crazy but i do plan on going to the deserts and mountains for some fun every once in a while. I have about 2k to spend and I'm wondering what you guys think i should to first to make this truck better. thanks for the help.



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keep in mind that these are the guys in my Off road club. so I need to keep up with them.



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thanks for the help.

xxxtreme22r

lockers front and rear maybe some trail armor like a bud built belly pan and crossmember.

You'd be surprised what that thing on 31's can do.

PismoJoe

x2...I would throw a hi-steer kit on there as well if that hasn't already been done

Maybe an add-a-leaf or block in the back until you redo those saggy rear springs for some extra clearance

Bugzman

dont I need to have lifted springs the do a Hi steer?

PismoJoe

You need at least 4" of suspension lift and an IFS steering box

Sounds/looks like you have a stock front leaf setup, so maybe go wheel and break everything and then throw on the hi-steer. Then you can justify spending around $500 to do it

Bugzman

thanks for the advice. I think i'm going to start with some trail armor. do you guys have any suggestions on what to get. I know i need rock sliders first and then bumpers. then maybe some lights.

blake.nemitz

trail gears classic front with classic rear around 1700 and youll get a sick and extremely capable ride with decent road manners

SpecialScottie

Chevys and rears up front! One of the cheapest and best lifts around IMO

Bugzman

where can you find these chevy springs, is there a place that sells them or do i have to do some junk yard shopping?

SpecialScottie

Everything you need to know is in here
http://pirate4x4.com/forum/showthrea...=chevy+springs

Bugzman

what do you guys think about this?
http://www.allprooffroad.com/pickups...kupextremelift

my buddy got their long travel kit of his Fj. and they had great service.

DirtyOregonKid

I just want to say that you bought a dern sexy truck.

gary_the_4runner

welcome to the 85 club!
EFI or carb?

go marlincrawler susp., wab fab sliders. BOOM!

blake.nemitz

all pro lift is good, trail gear is cheaper, if you go tg buy marlin crawler joints and bearings when the tg stuff wears out,

Bugzman

thank you, took me about 6 weeks to find one in this condition.

its the EFI, the one from the factory. it was originally owned by the mechanic at a Toyota dealer, so he took really good care of it. so i'm the second owner.

tried4x2signN

to start, hands down I'd go with traction.

Once you have that, the next steps will become clearer and clearer...

B/c if you don't, you'll wind up with a $2,000 lift with $1,000 in wheels and tires, that gets stuck EVERY WHERE and has NO power.

That's when you'll go, "D'OH!" when you realize gears and lockers are another $2,000.

And that if you only had $500 in traction, that same truck would walk all over yours.

Even full case lockers are EASY to install, if you're going to keep the ratio you have now.

You are not touching the pinion so all you have to do is set the back lash.

Bugzman

so last week i did some investigating. I took the truck, as is, out with some friends out on a pretty basic trial close to our houses. just a fire road up to some radio towers. there were some spots there i got to push the truck a little and I noticed some things.

1. I stayed in 2wd for most of the way up the trail and noticed the the back likes to just drift, I'm guessing this due to the lack of weight in the rear.

2. once i saw some deep ruts, I throw it in 4 and went at it. the truck did great , flexing out all over the place. but lots and lots of wheel spin, with a little momentum I made it up the hill, but if i stopped I never would have never made it.

so what i guess i need is lockers, its a daily driver, so i cant spool the thing. but i was looking at just getting trowing an aussie or lock right in the front. and eventually an arb in the rear. what do you guys think of the aussie or lock right in the front. I have heard things about the not being good because of steering. but if its in the front then It will only be used during 4wheel.



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picture from the top, it was 3 oclock in the morning so i dont have any pictures from the trial, this was taken from a 45 sec exposure.

gary_the_4runner

IMO, LR/aussie rear, selectable in front. i have an aussie in the rear of my DD and it drives fine. you dont squeel around corners like a spool, but you do hear some ratcheting turning at slow speeds, i.e. parking lots; other than that, silent. locks right up on the trail never had any issues. i was amazed at how much more i could do with the locked 4.88s vs. the open 4.10s.

the reason i say selectable up front (which obviously might not pertain to you, californian) is because in icy or snowy conditions you will have less control at the wheel, especially with a locker that you cant control, and locks as soon as you loose any traction. just what ive heard...

Bugzman

in my life time i have only driven in snow once, and that was southern California snow which melts with in 30 sec of hitting the ground. i live about a 1/4 from the ocean and it rarely gets below 50 degrees.

so is ice conditions the only reason to not getting a lunch box locker up front?

Bugzman

I found a guy selling a front Aussie. I would go and get today but i got my wisdom teeth pulled putting a damper on building up my rig. there is nothing like being on Vicodin and dreaming about lockers and bumpers