hey guys, just thought I would post a few pics of my first yota project, it has been fun. the main idea was to make a cheap, capable 4wd truck for light duty parts hauling and general romping in the dezert, started with virtually no knowledge of toys, still figuring out what to do with the steering. It started as a 1981 2wd, ripped all the ifs stuff off and built some front spring hangars, keeping the non-powered IFS box in place, is this a bad idea? Will a ifs p/s box bolt right up and what do you have to do to mount the pump? Any recomendations on a budget hysteer? Thanks guys, hopefully see you on the trails.

not sure how to add thumbs on photobucket so here is pic links so i don't add oversize images(I do read rules most of the time).

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a2...r/IMG_0198.jpg
http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a2...r/IMG_0204.jpg
http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a2...r/IMG_0221.jpg
http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a2...IMG_0220-1.jpg
back on all fours:
http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a2...r/IMG_0262.jpg
a bumper for it:
http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a2...r/IMG_0265.jpg

 

Look's pretty cool. I really like that bumper. I'm assuming you're gonna swap in a 4wd transfer case? I'm interested to see this done. I had an 82 4wd back in high school. Great truck. I kick myself everyday for selling it...

Good luck with the build!

 

actually I am going to swap the whole tranny/xfer case out, not really into swapping tailshafts if in fact that is possible, I just happen to have a donor tranny/xfer case. Thanks much, it has been really refreshing dealing with the simplicity of leaf springs after messing with four links for a while, should be up and running here real soon, after i decide how I am going to turn the thing, details...details.

 

some 2-piece shackles I'm going to try out, they were kind of a pain to make, shrinkage was hard to gauge but finally got them dialed in. I read somewhere that 2-piece shackles are good to allow some twisting, is this a myth? I can't really see why, but would like to know if any of you guys have any opinions/experiences either way.
http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a2...r/IMG_0286.jpg

 

Coo project man...I am doing the same thing, same year and everything.

As to the IFS steering box, no it will not just bolt in. You have to get brackets and weld them on. Just keep the non-power box, it is cheaper and easier and if you are not going to be doing hard wheeling it on't make a difference.

for a cheap steering setup just get two tie rods and ghetto fab a setup, you will probably also need another passenger side steering arm, weld it up like a crossover steering and go for it.

hope this helps,

Jon

 

god i love looking at solid home-made bumpers. they inspire me.

 

Well done man! I love homemade toys.

 

Thanks much guys, finally got it close to done after a few set backs with another project i have been fervently working on, I was looking into highsteer stuff and figured I could get the arms and tie rod/draglink with ends for around $300? looking into some recommended vendors for this stuff, looking at Marlin, trail gear, any others I should look at and any preferences or issues with either? Any forum sponsoring vendors got something that will work? I could make the tir rod/draglink and just buy the arms but it seems pretty efficient cost/time wise to just get the kit with readily available spare TRE's

gotta take measurements off the bumper before i put it on


i liked the bumper so much I was going to duplicate it for my "other" project:


Thanks guys, has been lots of fun so far, can't wait to go test some limits

 

Your gonna want the power box, if you ever lock up the front, or go bigger than 33s, it just makes life easier. my 80 had an 85 setup on it and it worked well.

 

I figured as much, looks like a trip to the junkyard is in order, any special way to mount the pump/pulley on the non-ps block? Haven't really been able to see a complete ps equipped rig to compare the pulley system, mounting the box itself is straightforward.
Thanks much

 

She's coming together a lot better than I had anticipated. Think you'll keep with the theme of "super cheap?"

 

IT should bolt on get the box, hoses, resivoir, and the bracket. it SHOULD work....But im not a toy tech.

 

not too sure, super cheap has different meaning for different folks but with the steering it should break the $600 mark total with the hawked parts included, don't really forsee any more major expenses, although that could go either way, the carb is acting up[ a bit. It has been on the back burner for a little while, got another very frustrating project on my plate right now

 

Keep up the good work man, me likes it.

Sorry bout being a little nosy, but i was looking a the pic of you other project. How does that front end receive power. Are you running some sort of hydraulic or hydrostatic system.

 

$600 is cheap to me. Hell $2000 for a rig like that would be cheap.

 

no problem, actually it is a 2wd/4wd desert race car for the Jeepspeed class, 1735 is the number, should be ready by August, that is the 2wd beam but we have a heavily trussed 4wd front end also for the siltier courses.

I am looking into machining my own arms, but again, the kit seems cheap enough to save me quite a bit of time, any preferences on a good steering system??
Thanks guys

 

I see, that makes sense now.

AS for the steering, I'm going to convert to crossover very soon and have been doing much the same hunt as you. Sofar for me it looks like i'm going with the kit from sky manufacturing. Their arms are 4130 chromolly as opposed to just steel. I also have several other Sky products and are verry happy with them.