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I just got a 1981 4X4 truck and would like to lift it.
It is currently all original and I would like to give it 3"-4" more suspension height.
I would like like more suspension travel and good shocks to retain road worthiness and be able to do some mild crawling.
I am a first timer with lifts and Toyota trucks so please bear with me and lend a hand.
Thanks
Last edited by ToyTrucker; Mar 9, 2015 at 04:17 PM.
Most go with one of the big names marlin, allpro, trailgear. These springs will give you more lift but are longer and require new spring hangars to be welded to frame. The give good ride and good articulation for offroad. Most I've seen that go this route also swap to a high steer set-up thus getting rid of stock push-pull steering and the link that attaches frame to axle. But the new hangar adds height to spring height.
There alcan, deaver, and ome make lift springs that are stock length and have read good things about. Stay clear of skyjacker and rough (forgot rest of name).
Research thoroughly. If you find a trailgear vendor they might cut you a deal.
Most go with one of the big names marlin, allpro, trailgear. These springs will give you more lift but are longer and require new spring hangars to be welded to frame. The give good ride and good articulation for offroad. Most I've seen that go this route also swap to a high steer set-up thus getting rid of stock push-pull steering and the link that attaches frame to axle. But the new hangar adds height to spring height.
There alcan, deaver, and ome make lift springs that are stock length and have read good things about. Stay clear of skyjacker and rough (forgot rest of name).
Research thoroughly. If you find a trailgear vendor they might cut you a deal.
Thanks Mudpig,
I happened to come across their site and saw the 3/4 link conversions, a little more then I currently want to spend since my truck payments (on Ford) are killing me for a few more years. Maybe just some leaf springs for a 3-4" lift with some oem replacement shocks will do it, still a nice drop in the bucket but highly considering it now.
Last edited by ToyTrucker; Mar 9, 2015 at 01:16 AM.
Just FYI, SAS stands for solid axle swap. For people who had IFS trucks they converted to a solid front axle. You have a solid axle from the factory. So SA if you're going to shorten it
Just FYI, SAS stands for solid axle swap. For people who had IFS trucks they converted to a solid front axle. You have a solid axle from the factory. So SA if you're going to shorten it
What size tires are you going to put on?
I wanted it to mean "Solid Axle Suspension" I tried to edit it but stayed in the main title, people must think I'm crazy now.lol.
I am not sure what the stock size is since I have not checked but might just go wider and taller 1"-2" at most both ways. I do not plan on swapping out ratios or anything, would like to keep it close to stock for gearing.
Last edited by ToyTrucker; Mar 9, 2015 at 04:18 PM.
Yeah people throw the abbreviation around so much more than actually spelling it out, so it's hard to know.
The stock size is something similar to 225 75 r15.
235 75 r15 (or 30x9.50) is about as big as you can go before you start noticing loss of power. 31x10.50 is as big as I would go without re-gearing.
It's going to look pretty tall on small tires if you lift it and don't go bigger than 31, but that's all up to your personal preference, in the end. 31s fill in the stock wheel wells, with no lift, pretty well.
Yeah people throw the abbreviation around so much more than actually spelling it out, so it's hard to know.
The stock size is something similar to 225 75 r15.
235 75 r15 (or 30x9.50) is about as big as you can go before you start noticing loss of power. 31x10.50 is as big as I would go without re-gearing.
It's going to look pretty tall on small tires if you lift it and don't go bigger than 31, but that's all up to your personal preference, in the end. 31s fill in the stock wheel wells, with no lift, pretty well.
Thanks for the advice, 31" it is! maybe on 16" wheels.
Possibly is there a stock Toyota truck or 4 runner wheel I can stick right onto it?
Also I did find a link to swap the front for wider track on stock axles so I may have to look into that.
I am taking the distributor apart this week and seeing if I can breathe life into her no spark issue, if not a new coil/ignitor may be in order.
The one thing you need to watch out for is the backspacing on the front wheels. It's not all fresh in my mind anymore since I was searching wheels...oh back in 08 or 09 for my 83. Don't remember anymore.
But with a lot of rims that fit IFS trucks, they won't fit unless you use wheel spacers, which isn't really recommended.
I think that for these specific 79-83 questions, you'll get more responses if you post in the pre-84 section of the forum.
Mar 5, 2015 | 02:48 PM
