kawazx636

iTrader: (3)

I went with 2" Old Man Emu springs on my build. From what I know, they are the only springs on the market that are even close to a comfortable factory ride without relocating hangers. I haven't driven mine yet, my friend has the exact same setup as I do and it rides great! Smooth on the road and very capable off road. I spent under $800 for my entire suspension - that's springs, 5100 Bilsteins and TG shackles.

julsruls

Coming along nice!

83TXYOTA

Thanks for the comments, I think I'm going to order some 5.29 gears Monday and then at the end of the month order the hi-steer kit , not sure where to order it from yet. Need to shop around on that first. Then I'm gna hope to find a steering box for cheap.

Taco98

Check pick n pulls for the box. You can find themfrom time to time for a reasonable price. Found a nice one the other day bit couldn't find the socket to fit. Even tho I bought that size a week before. Don't know we're it ran off too?

83TXYOTA

Yea im going to go walk around the pick n pull today and see if I can find something. Hopefully they have what I need there. They hardly ever have any toyota there

rustED

iTrader: (2)

If you can't find a IFS steering box at the pick-n-pull or off of Craigslist, the cheapest place I've found that sells them is Sky Off road http://www.sky-manufacturing.com/cgi...TOY-HSKPSB-001 They sell them for $149 compared to Trail Gear that sells for $376. (*EDIT* I saw a couple of steering boxes on Ebay for between $80-$100 range) Or you can get the entire kit through Sky, it includes all the hi steer components, steering box, frame reinforcement plates, and a steering stabilizer for $579 http://www.sky-manufacturing.com/cgi...Y-HSK-IFSB-001
If you ever order anything from Trail Gear, check with Addicted Offroad, Low Range Off road, or Wab Fab, they are all Trail Gear dealers and usually have cheaper prices than going directly through trail gear. Good luck!

PS: I'll look for those shifter knobs on Monday!

83TXYOTA

Thanks for the info on the hi-steer, I'm going to look into that. And thanks for looking for the knobs. It sucks driving without shift knobs

rustED

iTrader: (2)

Hey man, how goes it? I found those gear shift knobs, they're not quite as good of shape as I remember, one knob is black the other gray, and both are missing the shift pattern emblem that goes in the middle, but they're plenty functional for a rock crawler, I PM'd you some pics. Or maybe the ones that 85sr5excab has might be in better condition, anyway let me know, they're yours if you still want them.

83TXYOTA

Yea man thanks. I just got back from driving out of town. I saw the pics and meant to message u back, but I'll take them. Like u said there plenty good for a crawler. Let me know how u want to do the shipping. I'll gladly take them off ur hands.

83TXYOTA

I did some more work to the truck today, I hammered the crap out of the fire wall and trimmed the fenders. Also removed the sway bar and flexed it as best I could before the left rear tire came off the ground. Let me know what ya'll think...

83Toyota88

iTrader: (1)

What's the idea behind removing the sway bar?

83TXYOTA

Well, it's not going to be a daily driven rig and it limits the suspension in the front from being able to flex at all. I'm trying to keep the stock springs up front for a while and I'm going to run 63s outback to keep as low as possible with extremely good flex. Just trying to expirement and see how good of a suspension I can make work with this truck and the stock springs. I think if i can get really good flex outback, that it will make up for the little amount upfront. Also the shocks is what stopped the truck from going further upfront in the pictures.

83TXYOTA

So today I decided that I'm going to leave the stock front springs with maybe a bigger shackle upfront and on the rear I'm going to use 63s or some longer rear springs from another toyota but move the stock rear shackle bracket a little more forward for a better angle and more droop. Of course I'll bump stop the front better and still use some shock hoops/Ford towers upfront and some shock hoops for the rear. My goal is to have one of the only stock spring Toyota doing stuff that linked and custom built rigs are doing. Let's see what I can come up with. Thoughts and ideas are welcome...

julsruls

You talking stock as in all toyota leaves meaning you can mix and match or stock as in not changing it at all.

Longer shackles. Maybe some of those shackles that pivots. I dont know if thats smart on front.

83TXYOTA

Well on the front I'm thinking of making the exact same shackle design that they designed from the factory but just making it 2" inches longer and on the rear using the stock springs from a toyota truck or 4runner and just moving the rear shackle hanger about 1.5" forward to have a better angle. As far as your first question, i mean no mixing or adding springs just stock and seeing what i can do. Of course in the future I'm going to link and do hi steer but for now just want to see what it would be capable of as low as it is. I still need to measure the frame height i know it's not very high at all tho. I think after i get new shocks and hoops/towers, you will see what i mean as far as good droop and flex for stock springs. It's just something i have always wanted to try. I like to prove the jeep and blazer guys in town wrong with keeping it stock height and doing the same things they can do on our trails here.

rustED

iTrader: (2)

Looks good! If you are still having clearance issues with the rear fenderwell/firewall, you can try redrilling your front spring perches an inch behind the factory hole, that should move the front axel forward and give you a some more clearance. I wish I would have done that when i swapped the 2" lift springs under my 83' last summer, but i didnt even think about it till after, lol.

Oh, I pm'd you on the shifter knobs, the shipping is like $6.50...talk to ya later-Ed.

craftsmanracer

iTrader: (1)

The truck looks awesome, can't wait to see what you do for a cage.

Any idea what kind of wheels those are? I've been looking for those exact ones for a while.

83TXYOTA

I guess I could try and re drill that spring perch, 1 inch should help out alot since the tire barely touches the fire wall at full turn and compression. I used the big hammer method and hit the firewal
And as far as those wheels I'm not sure what kind they are but I'm not a big fan of them. I would like a 15x8 instead but need to save for the ones I want. As far as the cage it's gonna be a nice one. It's been an idea I've had for a while now and since my kids are going to be in the back it's going to be a nice strong one. Hopefully getting the floor done this week so I can bolt my fuel cell down. I'm going to test it out this weekend with a couple buddies and there rigs. We had a good time yesterday out on the trails we have here. If you type in "rock crawling Twin buttes" u can see some footage and trails we have here

83TXYOTA

Went and tested the flex with the stock springs and I guess it wasn't to bad, could be a lot better but tires were in the firewall and shocks were limiting also. Here are some pics, also picked up a set of TJ coils for the future rear 4 link setup and set up a date for my roll cage to get built by my buddy Matt at West Texas Offroad.
I'm going to re drill the spring perch back 1 inch and tub the firewall some so I can go alot higher without tearing up my tires. I'll post pics tomorrow after doing that. I know it's not much I was just trying to get an idea of were I needed to cut and tub.

83TXYOTA

Quick question, today I went and climbed some hills and tested out the 4wd and the tubing of the fenders to see how much more I needed to cut and when in 4wd I heard a clunking sound when turning. I'm thinking and hoping it's just my drive shaft u joints but if u guys have had this problem or know of this please help. I'm going wheeling this weekend and would like to fix the problem before I go.