I just got ahold of an '84 2WD Xcab (one of those rare ones with the 22re woot!). Prerunners have always caught my imagination, and this is my first go at building one... unfortunately I don't have thousands of dollars sitting around for it, lol. So here's my "economical" build:

Downey Long Travel in the front (I live near Seattle, so with all the moisture up here I'm staying away from uniball kits)
http://downeyoff-road.com/Suspension...s/1979-95.html

Off Road Solutions Rear Long Travel Kit
http://www.offroadsolutions.com/susp...tml#longtravel

Chevy 63" springs in the rear

Doetsch Tech MV12 Shocks (four 8" in the front, two 12" in the rear)

(and in the near future, Downey's Ivan Fiberglass)

My question is, if I go with a stock-length shackle, and go with sprung-under in the rear, will I be able to keep the back end... at least level (hopefully a little lower!) with the front? The front will have those beefy torsion bars, too, so that will help. . .
Whatd'ya think?

 

I've never been a fan of prerunners, until I saw a sick 85 like you're describing. Sounds to me like it would work out fine. Those 63s, even sprung under, should give you a little lift. I'd get new shackles, though, because if you're really going to drive this thing like a prerunner should be driven then the stock shackles are going to bend. Have at her, and let's see some pics!

 

Save yourself $185 and just fab that shock mount for the rear. Its really simple stuff to even copy that exact design. Maybe 30-40 bucks for EVERYTHING pictured!