Nice thread!! Props on the 3.4 swap and all the work youve done to it, it looks great and i like the way your getting rid of the chrome cause chrome dont getya home!!ha ha. By the way thought id put in my 2 cents on the welding. I have basically the same welding setup you do and ive never had a good looking weld with the flux core wire. Ive also welded with the gas and had a far more nice looking weld, dont get me wrong a good weld dont have to look good as long as its strong but maybe get a tank of sheilding gas a regulator and by the way the non sheilded wire is less$$. I personally like to TIG for a nice looking stack of dimes on there side.

 

Thanks guys, I know I just need practice, but never really had anyone tell me how to do it before. Just kinda grabbed the machine and went at it before. Gas is turned up higher than that, I'll correct it. Started looking around Miller's website and read up on the basics, too. I'm doing a lot of things wrong.
As far as supplies being cheaper, I'm sort of at the mercy of work. This is their welder, wire, gas, and even the scrap metal I'm using! So not a worry about cost to me.

Thanks again for the advice, and also thanks for the compliments.

 

Hmmm, msybe just call the kid and give him a link or 2 to make him comfy on swappin them?

 

Yeah, maybe. He's being pretty weird about it. I sent him the pics I sent you, and he said he didn't know how to pay me, but he never expressed agreement to the price. This has all been via text, too, so I guess I'm assuming it's a guy. Who knows?

 

Tell him how to start a paypal, or tell him he can contact me and many others to vouch for ur skillsssss! Lol. I have 15k+ posts, I don't think I wud risk looking like a scumbag over a pair of hubs, lol.

 

Decided since the front crossmember is compromised, and pretty thin metal anyway, I'd replace it. Hadn't really planned on doing anything this extensive with the rig, but it seems to have worked out pretty good for this guy
https://www.yotatech.com/forums/f152...ow-sas-217479/

So my square tube will no longer be my sliders, I'll jump that hurdle when I get to it, but it looks like with these together the front of the frame will be stronger than stock


Lucky for me, we have a big chop saw at work. I'm more comfortable cutting and grinding metal anyway, I'll leave the important welding to my buddy. So here's the cuts to match the tube to the high clearance Sky hanger





And then I cut off that ridiculous chunk of metal booger welded to the top of the hanger. Who the Hell had that great idea, anyhow. Idiot.

 

I'm jealous. I can't wait to play with my welder.

Looks like fun.

 

Wow, nice and beefy!

 

I like the idea of reinforcing the hanger like that. Because most of your weld will be riding on that piece of flat stock. I cant wait to SAS my 88 runner. It is just finding the time with the new born and all. Keep after it, cant wait to see it sitting on all 4's with a solid front.

 

Yeah, the original plan was to use that hanger because I'm not planning to lift it as much as the normal kits, but with the crossmember compromised, it just makes sense to replace it with the hanger. It should end up stronger than stock.
Even if I don't do that, I went ahead and used the rest of that piece of square tube to make a new crossmember and practiced my welding putting caps on the ends. I'd like to say my welds are getting better, but I'm probably just getting better at hiding my crappy welds by grinding them down after. I at least have gotten the weld to not be full of pinholes, and was able to make 2 passes on the cap pieces since the square tube is 1/4" wall.
Should be all the beef I'll ever need, since I haven't wheeled to the limits of the IFS. My level of wheeling will probably change mostly because the Runner is no longer my daily driver, but it could also depend on when I can budget in a locker for the front. I still have my v6 third from the rear, so I might get a setup kit and locker to learn how to set up gears. Always keep learning!

 

Nice Jonny.

I want to set up my own gears next time I have to.

 

Hey man, have you got any updates? You didn't hurt yourself with the welder, did you?

 

Ah, you had to point out that I haven't gotten anything done, didn't you?!

Just kidding...not really, I haven't gotten anything done. Went ahead and got a TG flat pitman arm and some cheap Doetch Tech 12" shocks, so that about rounds out everything I may need, but I'm still working on someone else's schedule. Thinking I may just have to call up Fabrication Unlimited Squared(FU2) down in Ridgecrest and see if they can fit me in sometime this month, cause I absolutely have to have it done before I go up to Sac/Oregon.

Thanks for checking on me Stew!

 

Well, talked to the fab shop in Ridgecrest. They said it's generally 8 hrs labor and worst case is about $800 for them to do it all with my parts. So I'm going to get more serious about learning proper welding.

This is my best so far completing the crossmember/hanger:

And my worst:

I figure if I mess this up, after I've already tried welding that filler to the top of it and all, I'm out the cost of another hanger and I have to cut another chunk of the square tube. Small potatoes compared to $800! All you welders that have been looking at my build, let me have it on the welds. Decent? Absolute crap? Shouldn't even be trusted for new age art?

Edit: Just decided to drive the ol Blue Betty(trademark ChefYota) to get some gas, haven't driven it for awhile, and this was under the wiper


Nice to know when people appreciate your work, ya know? I s'pose I should at least text him to tell him it's not for sale...or see if he'll give me enough for me to get an FJ80...hmmm.

 

A note like that is a hell of a compliment.

You thinking of doing your own SAS welding then? I'll be paying attention to your learning curve.

 

I'm still deciding. Some of the welds were not so great still, and I don't know what else I'd be able to practice on except just pieces of scrap. Also, I'm still limited to having the 110v 135 amp Miller. At this point I have to make my trip to Sacramento and Oregon on the ifs, with no 4wd unless I bring the parts with me. None of it has sold yet cause there's nobody out here in the middle of nowhere that needs it. Anyway, that eliminates the time crunch I was under to get it done, so now I guess I can just drive my Forester(which I have lowering springs on the way!) and take care of the Runner when I start getting overtime again.

I have no idea what prices would be to rent a plasma cutter and a real 220v welder. I have found a lot of people who swear an sas can be done with 110, too. Anyway, now I have time to think about best option, be it whenever my buddy is able, the fab shop, or I just learn something new for once.

 

Keep your eyes peeled for a used 220? Might score one cheap eventually.

I want to my own SAS. I just don't want to kill anyone. I might be good enough by then though. Its getting warmer here so I'll be setting up the garage and learning soon I hope.

 

I think with how small the communities are around here, I'd be better off just getting a cheap Harbor Freight welder. A 170 amp 220 from them is $200 plus $7 shipping. I won't be welding too much, so I'd bet a cheap one would work for me.

 

Man, wish I could take time to take more welding classes! But, no such luck for now. Yeah, socal 85 toyota has a 220 Hobart? Thing made butter of the slider welds! Lol

 

ANOTHER 3.4 swap!?!!?! lol Pretty soon im gunna be the rare one with the 22R!!! lol

Looking good man! As with me im sure you're dying to get that axle in!