Well my new project needs attention everywhere. I want to SAS this 86 Runner but I want to cure the saggy butt and get some rubber on their quick. I've called or visited 15 Salvage Yards.....the Solid Axel year front ends do ot exist in the scrap yards on Island. I have sourced many in the US but shipping is nearly 500 Bucks. Some day I will find the solid axel till now would it be worth it for my to put an IFS lift kit on it and level the asss end? I think I want to run at least 33's. My 93 runner went every place that lame Cherrokkees could get, and my FJ Cruise W/ IFS with 4 " OME Lift and 33's does well enough.....Ultimate goal is SAS just want to know if you all would drive around with stock heght and rear end sag until you got all funds for SAS or you would invest in a modest IFS lift to get trail time ASAP.

 

I've wheeled quite a bit practically stock height. I have 1.5" longer shackles and AALs in the rear and a slight t-bar crank up front. Skids are mandatory if you wheel the rocks stock height though. It's definitely doable:

 

Yep. I wheeled with ball joint spacers up front, lift shackles in the rear, and 32"s for several years. Also had a spool in the rear and dual cases. During the time I was set up like that I wheeled mostly with SFA rigs on 35"s and kept up just fine.

 

You'd be impressed what you can do in stocker or near stocker form. Easiest way to find out is get out there and try it out. The shortcomings will be fairly evident after a little bit, but I think you'll be impressed.

 

Nice avatar ^^^^^^

 

wheel what you got and improve it when you can.

 

That's the way it was for me.. Went out first stock other than the 31s... Next trip I had skids and a locker . It helped that some chick rearended me and I got an insurance check that went straight to mods though

 

Lockers will do more for ya than a SAS. You can fit 33 x 10.50 without much, if any, lift.

Here's my 2nd gen (33x10.50 no lift ARB's front/rear):
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bGt2ZwFZKPU[/youtube]

For more pix, check out www.4wheelingoh.shutterfly.com/action

 

I'm running 33x12.5's on 15x8s; I beat her up a wee bit...

See - mostly stock ifs (cranked torsions, and rear add-a-leaf)


So far, only into her for an idler arm (already pooched when I bought it) and a tie rod end... They stand up to good hard wheeling pretty good even in mostly stock form.

 

That first pic... best positioning for underbody pressure washing

 

nice vid TC

you need new meats tho! hehe

 

yup, I was thinking greasing u joints but... that monster rut + no locker + ifs = wrinkled rear 1/4...

 

Great vid TC

 

nice vid tc. wish more people posted those... you really can take a stocker alot of places, only sometimes its just a little more work.

 

Ok regardless if I keep IFS or SAs I want lift...what are IFS ers running for lift. Body Lifts do not count in my book. I am so up in the air the investment seems the same SAS or upgrade IFS....The IFS in My FJ Cruiser does a good job, and I did have a 94Runner with stock IFs that kept up with Heeps on the trail....

 

Good Grief!

This thread is depressing.

This is one of the worst cases of "spent too much time on the net, not enough time in my truck" threads I've ever seen.

I say SAS. I'll wave as I crawl by in my old IFS truck, stop, and offer to pull you out.

 

TC I am so impressed by the stuff you can do with your 4Runner. I think I'm starting to agree with you that "ARBs are the only lockers to have" now that I've removed my rear lock-rite. It was just too big of a pain on the road!!!

 

that they are.

 

My oppinion on best IFS lift, donahoe racing coils, 3" lift adjustable. Unless you want to spend a ton of money and go with fiberglass fenders and a total chaos long travel IFS, then i would say that, though it costs just as much as a SAS.

though frankly if its an old 86 and you dont care too much about the body/rocker pannels i bet you can take it almost as many places as you could with a SAS. it just wont look so pretty afterwards

 

If that would work in a torsion bar truck, everyone would do it.

IMHO, the torsion bars are the problem with getting any flex out of these trucks. The newer coilover models seem to flex SO much better. This winter, I'll be switching to coilovers (check out deathrunner's avatar!) But until then, I'll continue bounce bounce bouncing my way down the trail!