hell of a project! youve inspired me to get my 79 inshape

 

any updates...?

 

I'll be the 3rd (or so) to confirm that the IFS rear axle shell is wider than the 79-85 rear axle, and I too am running into this snag. U-bolt flip on order.

 

Nothing major. I’m finding out the hard way that being in college really drains your truck funds quick.

Over the past year she really didn’t get much attention, but I did manage to put a rear end back under her with brakes! Got it moved over to the other side of the yard to be worked on when time, money, and parts allow. I was super ecstatic when I got gas in her, hooked up a battery and she snorted to life for the first time in a year, rekindled the desire to work on it again.

To be honest, the truck doesn’t need a whole heck of a lot to get back on the road, just that some of the stuff it needs, I’d rather wait to buy things in a kit to save some cash. Things like a knuckle rebuild… I’d want to do the complete front end at one time (hi-steer, gears, locker, longfields, armor). I’ve also been on the hunt for a decent 22RE to swap in, but lately trying for a 3RZ…which is even more difficult to track down.

It gets kind of discouraging at times, but I’m still plugging at away at it, hopefully when I graduate in February I get a decent enough job to start rebuilding the “truck fund”.

Anyway here is some recent pics of when I moved it.




34s on taco 16s are a tight fit with the frame rail

had to flex her achy joints haha, backyard wheelin!

with the bed on

as she sits right now

 

The biggest update ever!

Well my 4Runners water pump took a dump today, and i snapped a bolt in the housing, very discouraging. I looked over at my 79 and said, "it's been long enough babe" haha. I got the 4runner back together and running then started tearing in to my pickup. I don't want to be stuck Yotaless if my 4Runner takes a poop again.

Decided to pull the front rear to put my new Marlin seals in, cut off the torque arm bracket and sway bar mount, and clean it up a bit. I know I'll be kicking myself later for not doing what I want to the axle now (Ball Gussets, Diff armor, high-steer, locker/gears, etc.) but I'm just looking to get her back on the road again for now.

Let me tell you guys with a garage something now, APPRECIATE IT!, working in the dirt, and in the cold sucks...hardcore.

Hopefully I'll be able to keep this thread going for a bit now as I start to try and get it all back together now.


And the one lonely pic of the day

 

This week was great!

Went to the scrap yard to unload a crap load of steel i've been sitting on for a few months..(3800 lbs ) and saw a really clean 87 4Runner..complete! sitting in the scrap yard. I inquired and one thing lead to another and I drove home with the 22RE, W56 and t-case in the back of my dads truck..along with a new top for my 4Runner. Later on in the week, I went to the junkyard, and snagged a harness out of a different 87 4Runner.

Got some brand new FJ60 rotors and a bunch of Trail Gear parts are on the way and should be here Wensday. (Brake lines, caliper hard lines, U-bolt flip for the rear, shock mounts, wheel bearing seals) Also have a set of Marlin HD axle seals waiting to be installed once the rest of my front end parts show up.

I'll be hitting another junkyard soon, I need a set of V6 IFS calipers and i'll be looking into an EFI tank and fuel pump...probably out of a second gen 4Runner and i'll make it fit

Just cant believe after 3 years of sitting, she's getting alot of work done finally!

 

Awesome that you are getting back on this thing with a vengence!!
You are not gonna believe the difference in how well your truck is gonna stop with the upgraded brakes...no more thinking 'is this gonna raise my insurance'

You are gonna run or are running a '86+ rear axle? those bigger drums probably help too...

Keep us posted..

 

Sounds like you are making some progress. I am a sissy...no way I could wrench outside in the cold.

 

Hoping this recent slew of parts is going to keep my butt in gear to actually make some major progress on her...nowhere near where I want her to be, but on the road and able to drive/wheel it nonetheless
I'll be using an 87 IFS rear, along with the FJ60 rotors and V6 IFS calipers, I'll be using a 1" Master Cylinder as well.


O how it sucks wrenching outside. Mom wont let me build a garage either...even If I paid to put it up plus now that I have an Associates Degree in Carpentry & Construction, I could get it done right...somethings I will never understand.

 

somethings I have been reading about the 1" MC (I have one to install too) is that the brakes will feel worse after the swap because the ratio is different unless you convert to a dual diaphram master cylinder (86-87 turbo truck or 88 V-6 4runner, T100's or something like that)

with the stock first gen booster and 1" MC the pedal may feel like it is stiffer and go closer to the floor. here is the MC thread I was reading:
http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=763888
booster links:
http://home.4x4wire.com/erik/4runner/brakes/
http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showt...ferrerid=89727

 

So braking would be better with the factory master/booster than just swapping in a 1" MC?

I'll have to hunt down a turbo truck/88 V6 now and snag a booster

 

man nice build thread!

 

got my TG stuff yesterday

started tearing into the '82 front...again, and again I was reminded how much I hate cone washers..Anywho, not going FULL on rebuild here (yet), just freshening up and replacing some seals, packing the bearings, FJ60 rotors, and V6 IFS calipers

What my day consisted of..
(my ACTUALL 63" Chevys...still waiting to go on the 4Runner in the background)


Marlin seals are the shizzzzz


now i just gotta find an auto parts store with 12 front wheel studs in stock so I can get goin on this thing again

 

get on er' bro' ...

 

dang, you got that thing that far apart might as well go all the way now and rebuild that sucker

 

I tossed around the idea...but figured I'd wait for hi-steer and gears/locker.


Buttoned up the front today
picsssssss

old garbage, solid rotors, small calipers, snapped stud, ewww


FJ60 rotor much?


One side done..V6 IFS caliper, FJ60 rotor, Marlin inner axle seal, TG wheel bearing seal, all bearing repacked and guts cleaned, and new wheel studs


New caliper hard lines!, and my "clearanced" backing plates to fit the caliper


Some brackets cut off (tourque arm bracket and 1 sway bar bracket..best i could do with a grinder in my basement)



Gettin some motor tune up parts tomorrow since it'll be raining, i'll have to wait to throw the front back under for a day or too


woohoo shizznit is gettin done

 

cool, you are gonna love those new front brakes.
Now just gotta rattle can that tie rod some new neon color to celebrate

 

It'll be a while before I get to enjoy those new brakes lol...I do remember the factory brakes sucked when I was daily driving the truck, panic stops where not possible (maybe partially due to wheel cylinders leaking, and the front axle seals leaking onto the rotors...but who's to judge haha).

And i'll celebrate when I hear the 22RE fire up

I can't wait till all I need to do is to paint the truck, that'll be a good day, filled with MRO high gloss black, and High Temp Grabber Green

 

About $100 later I now have some tune-up stuff for the motor including, plugs, wires, cap, rotor, and fuel filter. Also picked up new pads for my "new" calipers.

Can't really do anything today, as its raining and crappy out and the driveline is sitting outside (under a tarp of course).

I guess i'll go throw my pads in...I need me a (insert fowl language here) garage.

 

Got my front end in, it was nice having her back on all 4s and stable

Then i attacked the rear, yanked that out so i can swap in my IFS rear

Pulled the stock springs, broken leaf in the one pack made it lean hardcore, so I'm using the stock springs off my 4Runner, they have AAL's in them already. It was a nice surprise when i pulled the 79's springs off with hand tools and no beating with a BFH like usual, seams the PO popped in some poly bushing out back, and OMG was it easy!

Got those bushings in the 4Runner springs now, along with the left over bushings from swapping in my 63s to the 4Runner so i now have a nice set of springs with poly bushings ready to go in to the 79!

twas good day lol