Well, after seeing my first 4runner when I was eight, it has been my dream to have one. 15 years later I'm a proud owner of a 85 4runner that is in need of a little TLC, but I have plans. I've unfortunantly been a ford owner. (I know, rip on me, but please don't hate ) My knowledge of toyotas is slim but growing fast. I have experience in engine repair and what not, but I know jack crap about suspension and everything I'm going to need to do to achieve my goal.

The situation: The leaf springs on my truck are shot. The truck as sagging as far as possible and I feel every bug I run over. I would like to get a lift (2" to 3") and 32" tires (this is what I have heard as being a good combination for the truck and the 22RE 4 banger. I've also have had Downey parts come highly recommended. My goal is to make this truck capable of of basic to moderate 4x4ing (I go to Mexico allot: beaches, some sand, mostly dirt hills roads that are long abandoned) yet is still reasonable for everyday use. I plan on getting another yota truck for day to day but for now my bank says otherwise.

I would appreciate any advise, tech links, instruction, experience, and pointers I can get. I'm doing most of the work myself and need to get my bearings set straight before I start tearing into this project.

I'm looking at the Pro desert package from Downey as far as suspension. I don't know what kinda of regearing work this will require, if any but words are welcome.

I also plan to replace the headers, install a air intake, and what ever else I can to get more power and maybe keep the mileage reasonable with having 32" tires (yeah I know, I'm being funny)

I'm glad to be part of the Toyota family and plan on being here till the day I rot.

Thanx

 

marlin
all-pro

 

i agree marlin crawler and allpro offroad as well as trail gear are the best for old toyotas.

 

If you want some reading material check out:
www.Pirate4x4.com/forum then go under the toy section. At the top of the section there is a FAQ's with anything and everything you'll every need to know.

It depends on what your trying to accomplish in your moderate 4x4ing... If you going for more 'speed' than 'rock crawling' Downey is a great company to go with. Add some Bilstien shocks in with the Downey suspension and you have and extraordinary smooth ride, last time I went up north to the coal regions I was chasing some quads around & the downey suspension just absorbed all the bumps like a sponge. If your going for more rock crawling like mentioned above check out:
www.Alcanspring.com
www.Marlincrawler.com
www.Trail-Gear.com
www.Allprooffroad.com

With 3-4"s of lift your most likely going to need to run some shims up front or you'll have a slight vibration in 4x4 at higher speeds. When you do your suspension I'd look into getting the U-bolt flip kit, & Hi-Steer package (if money permits) to get them both outa the way while your down there. Stay away from blocks (just plain gay) and real long shackles, too long of shackes have a bad habbit of buckling.

As far as tech goes I'd have to say www.Pirate4x4.com has more reading & tech material than any book or site out there. As mentioned above without knowing exactly what your looking at I can't really give you anymore advice. Also I'd download this & or get yourself a hard bound copy of it:

'85 4Runner FSM
http://www.functionalfab.com/resour...a%204runner.pdf

As far as engine work goes this site comes highly reccomended by alot of people, but from what I understand they can be a little pricey $$$:

http://www.lcengineering.com/

If your looking into regearing it I'd look into picking up some 4:88's out of a junkyard. They are pretty easy to come by and run about 200$ a differential the only downfall is that the way they were designed they can only run 4:88's and nothing else (just keep the 4:10 differentials you have now that way you can regear higher later if you want). Alot of people are going disagree with me here and probably reccomend getting 4:56's, but the way I look at it once you go one tire size bigger your only happy for awhile. The 4:88's will give you some extra power with 32's and pretty much return you to the stock rpm's with 33's.

 

That gives me some direction, thanx for the input. I have a few questions still though, and pardon me if I sound like a num nut, like I said, I'm new to suspension. I am looking for more speed 4x4ing then crawling.


I understand the shackles allow for play in my rear suspension, but what are the pros of changing out the stocks? ALso, with getting a list, am I going to have to mess with my drive train at all?


Would this apply to my scope of having a "faster" 4runner and not so much ment for extreme crawling?

 

well the lower gears would give you better acceleration to turn the bigger tires easier but not more top speed but if you went to say 3.73 gears and stock tires you would have more top speed

 

Its cool ask away... Everybody has to start somewhere.


Its not a bad thing to change out the stocks just don't go overkill... I believe the general rule of thumb is for every 2"s gained in length on the shackle is 1" in height for lift. Also you want to make sure that your shackles stay at roughly a 45 degree angle. You shouldn't have to worry about you driveline with only 3-4"s of lift, double check it when you install the lift to be certain but there 'shouldnt' be a problem.


Faster than crawling yes but the 22re isn't exactly the speediest of motors... If your looking to get alot more speed I'd consider doing an engine swap of either the GM 4.3 Vortec, 7 Mgte (supra engine), or the 3.4 ???? Toy engine outa the newer tacoma's and T-100's. The engine metioned above are very common swaps with alot of information on them not to mention there are a few company's out there that have the hardware to make the swap go smooth.

Gearing + Tires = Roughly Stock Rpm's
4:56 ~ 32" tires
4:88 ~ 33 - 35" tires
5:59 ~ 36 - 38" tires

Anybody who reads this double check what im saying im on dial-up at the moment so im 99.99% sure of these facts.

 

everything sounds good to me newb. except that your on dial-up

 

shut-up... I live in one of the larger county's in PA and we don't even have a single Red Light ... We are "out of range" for dsl or cable

 

no stop lights....I would gladly give up my DSL for that. Some day I'll move to a small mountain town and be happy again.

So yeah, thanx Newb, This helps alot. I've gt a whole list of things I plan on doing and this helps give me some direction. I plan of taking pictures of the whole process from the install of the spray in liner.....(any product recommendations) to the suspension lift. So stocked. Every morning I walk out and see my truck something happens in my pants.....don't what it is, but I think it's good.

 

these are all good guestion, The pirate has all the info needed. Go to toyota hard core and ask these same question. They are a very helpful group of people.