Yeah the rear heater still works thats the only reason I left it in there. We like wheeling in the snow and I figured it'd keep the heat rollin if I decided to keep the soft top on.

EDIT: Does anyone know what a used hard top is worth?

 

Does anyone have some tech links to rear shock set-ups in either this /\ or this || set-up on a truck or 4runner that is not a tubed rear-end? I've done searches on this site and Pirate4x4 adn haven't come up with anything to informative...

Help would be greatly appreciated. I'm looking at doing a buggy leaf rear suspension set-up & I'm not sure how i want to set the rear shocks yet. I'm going to base the buggy leaf set-up off of 4RNRICK's:
http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showt...447914&page=10
http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showt...light=traction

There are tons of links out there on this set-up if you'd like to read more about it check out the ones below. I researched both this and the dual-shackle set-up and feel this would work best for me.

Other links...
http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showt...ght=Buggy+leaf
http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showt...ght=Buggy+leaf
http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=407564

 

Heres a few links on how to properly create and setup a traction bar. Hopefully friday im going to order the parts I need to start setting this up ...

http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showt...=351224&page=3
http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showt...t=Traction+Bar
http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showt...t=Traction+Bar
http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showt...t=Traction+Bar
http://www.4x4wire.com/jeep/tech/susp/axlewrap/

Oh yeah what started this was on sunday I finally put the other battery in it and was out playing around on a stone mound when I noticed that even with the disconnects still in in the front the rear was still coming off the ground when flexing. Alot of this can be fixed by just changing the shock setup but I figure I have just about everything I need so I might as well just do it all at once.

EDIT: THREAD I POSTED ON PIRATE http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=460751

 

To do list before next Friday:

1: Tonight - Swap brake boosters & install E-brake cable
2: Tomorrow - Order a few things
(3) 3/4" heims from http://www.mcmaster.com/
Tubing for traction bar
U-bolt flip kit
Upper Shock mounts
**Pick up cut-off disks for angle grinder & black primer
3: Finish up interior & brace PS door so that I can work on the Fiberglass tops on cold nights (Snowed yesterday morning to give you and idea of this b/s)
4: Pull the bed, axle and springs off the donor truck. As well as take the last two leaves off the the spring packs for the buggy leafs.
5: Depending on weather & amount accomplished I may start the rear fendor trimming.
6: Next Friday - Install U-bolt flip kits, Install buggy leaves using factory U-bolts & current shackles. Relocate shocks and Fab up the traction bar. For the shocks I want to mount them some where between here /\ and here ||.

Sorry about the list but I think I have ADD or something, I keep bouncing from one thing to the next & wanted to write that down as a guideline for myself.

 

Don't snow SUCK!!!







You selling your hardtop?

 

Yeah snow sucks, not its down pouring... Imagine that

Yeah I think Im gonna try to sell it, I really have no need for it. As nice as it'd be to keep it I highly doubt that I will put it on during the winter, but we will see.

 

I am ordering a STC top for mine today. I wish I had kept the one off of my 89 now. I have no A/C and I know how hot a black truck gets in SC starting in May...I take my rig to the frame shop today...

I kept my old soft top on all winter once here, it wasn't too bad, but it never snows here either. That & no trails close by...

 

Yeah we've got a few 'play spots' around nothing major though. I have a DD so I'm not really worried about the winter, I dunno if I wanna see it either. It was just a thought. How long until you get the Runner back from the frame shop? Im just going to assume thats gonna be pricey and not even ask...

Last night I got the bed fully unbolted from the donor & if it stops raining the rear is coming out tonight. My original plan was to set the buggy leaf up this weekend but who knows if the weather is gonna permit it.

 

I got a reasonable estimate over the phone based on my description, I just hope the other side that is hidden by the gas tank is ok. I told him if we could work out a fair price & I was happy with the work he would get some future business in some fab work & it would be mutually beneficial. I hope it works out. I still have to get the suspension set up after this, then I'm good to actually wheel. I hate having to pay for the frame work, but I can't do it myself yet so I'm kinda stuck. Plus I know it will be done right.

 

Yeah that blows though, im thinking about keeping the frame off teh '87 donor and cleaning it up and someday use that as a base to build something from scratch... What kind of suspension set-up are you looking into doing?

Just ordered:
(3)Heims ~ 33$ for traction bar
F&R U-Bolt flip kits ~ 49$ a pair
GI Hammock ~ 44$
12V Tornado I Air compressor ~ 50$
Coleman Hatchet / Folding pick & shovel / 15" Bow saw ~ 30$
Fuse Block w/ Clear Cover ~ 10$


I can't wait to go camping god damnit!!

 

MMMMMMMMMMmmmmmmmmmmmmm..............camping...... ...drooling.....

 

Rain / hail Saturday & T-shirt weather sunday, anyone else having this sorta problem??

 

um i did too our PA weather this year is just ˟˟˟˟ed up

 

Thats what I have to say about all the weather

 

Parts that have arrived...

750w RMS 1500W Peak Inverter on the way, still waiting on the fuse block.

A little bit of Molson XXX and a contrary body mount = creative leverage (Tab on the carrier bolt was so rusted it just broke off and the bolt kept spinning freely) It ended up not working so the saw-zall came out and the body mount was removed.


Bed finally removed...






Completely stripped (For the most part)

 

Tools...


Stock U-Bolt cut in half. I was consider using these to run through the center pin hole and up through the frame just behind where the U-Bolts holding up the buggy leafs. This would require drilling out the hole & im still not certain I want to do it that way...


Heres the springs being cut, I forgot to take pics of the it after i cut the center pin out. Also the I just used the original spring clamp and just hammered it down tight over both springs. I couldn't get the bolt out of the front spring hanger and the torch is out of oxygen (The reason for all the hammers ) at the moment so I just cut them off where I wanted them.


Here there are all cleaned up and primed...






And of coarse painted...

 

This week I'm picking up a windshield and possibly some stock toy rears for the front end. The passenger side has a little bit of a wave in it from the roll... Three fridays from now im gonna order hy-steer, truss for the front axle, & the new knuckle ball set from Marlin Crawler . Whenever the income tax decides to show up I planning on doing a rear disc brake conversion & ????.

Later Bros.

 

Rear Flip kits are in & im making two plates for the buggy leaf U-Bolts tonight. Will post pictures tomorrow...

**Stupid question of the week but im drawing a blank at the moment, will hysteer work with stock rears up front? I know you need about 3" of lift to run hysteer, but I can't remember if theres a prob. with running rears...

 

Any new updates Newb?

 

You drop off the map or something? Where you at with the build?