I gotta come visit you guys, save me those IFS parts cause I cant do the sas for a while, let me know what you guys have as far as diffs when your all done!! where did you get the axles and stuff for the swap?? I would like to start collecting the needed Items.

 

Coug:

We got IFS eliminator kits from Trail Gear. After looking at them, we are rebuilding a lot of the components. It might still be the cheapest way to go. Check with Wabbit and wait until he has a sale, then go pick up your order from TG. That will save you some $.

I might have my IFS axles sold (possibly trading them to B4Runner for a set of doors to make halves out of), but I'll have the open 4.10 front chunk, arms, etc up for grabs. Looks like I'll be regearing my 4.10 rear to 4.88 and keeping the Aussie in it, though.

Dbcfr has a freshly regeared 4.88 IFS front with Aussie available. I don't know what he wants out of it exactly. He also has Downey t-bars, a nice Downey skidplate, Downey front shock mounts and ProComp IFS shocks for sale. Let us know what you want set aside.

Rowland05: It was direct fit. I just chose to upgrade the fan while I was at it. I haven't had any problems with it.

 

I tried to PM Dbcfr but havent heard anything yet. I am interested in the front diff, skid plate, torsion bars, and maybe shocks too, just need to know what he is looking to get out of them. Does it seem pretty simple to do once you have the axle reinforced?? maybe I should just wait and go the sas route. just need to find a complete axle on the cheap!!!! you have any leads???

 

Yeah, Dbcfr and I have been spending a lot of time in the shop, and not much online for the last couple of weeks. I'll hit him up tomorrow and have him get with you.

I wouldn't say that SASing is "easy", but it also isn't rocket science. We probably overbuilt Dbcfr's setup (as normal). In fact, from the front frame cross member down to the top wall of his front spring hanger cross member is now about 7/8" x 2" of solid steel (.090 frame thickness+ 1/4" plate + 1/4" plate +top of a 3x4x1/4" tube)! I pity the poor raccoon that strays into his path.

Mine should be more simple. SHOULD. We shall see.

We got Dbcfr's truck off the rack today and put mine up. First order of business is getting my Chevy springs on in the rear. We pulled the axle and cut off the stock shackle hangers, finished fabbing up my new front spring hangers out of 3.5x3.5x1/4" tubing, and got them welded in. We also removed the LSPV, replumbed the brake line connectors by the right front wheel, and got everything set up with an extended braided line from the body to the axle. We will be installing a double-diaphragm 1" bore master cylinder from a V6 4Runner before we flush and bleed the brakes.

I am hanging the rear shackles from Trail Gear "Creeper Joints". We took the joints apart to weld them in, but had a lot of trouble reassembling them. We made a compressing tool to help, but it wasn't enough. When assembling these, we found that it is imperative that the outer retaining washers have the "Trail Gear Creeper Joint" inscription on the OUTSIDE. They are slightly dished, and will not assemble the other way. Once we figured that out, it was easy. The tool was still needed. I can take pics of that if anyone is interested.

I have to go to work in the morning, and Dbcfr has to be out of town midweek, so I'm probably done playing for a few days.

 

CRAP.


Got the front spring hangers and the rear Johnnie joints welded in. Dbcfr made shackles while I was at work. THEN we found out that the 63" springs that I bought off of Craigslist weren't 63" springs.

CRAP.

The status right now is that we have the truck up on the lift, and don't have any way to put it back on the ground until I find springs. The stock mounts all had to be cut off to get the new ones on. We are between a rock and a hard place.

If anyone in the Fresno area has a line on some springs, hit me up. Looks like I'll be calling junkyards and tow yards tomorrow.

Did I mention, "CRAP"?

 

wow that sucks. maybe its time to call around the local junkyards!

 

This guy has 2 pairs in Fresno:
http://fresno.craigslist.org/pts/2106438591.html

Unless he was the guy who sold you the wrong size.....

 

id PM RMA on here... hes kinda connected in the parts game and im fairly certain hes local to you...

 

Thanks to both of you. I've actually talked to that Craigslist guy before. I'll give him another call, and PM RMA.

MC

 

Philbert's link for the win!

I will pick a set up tomorrow. A setback, but not a disaster. The {NICE HONEST FELLOW} that I got my first set from is now in Stockton and told me to pack sand. I wasn't that surprised. Caveat Emptor and all that. Oh well. I have a spare set of unknown springs that I can take apart and play with. I'll live.

Thanks again for the link, Philbert!

MC

 

sorry for your loss but congrats on the new project.

 

Actually, I didn't lose anything (and I've had it for almost a year, now).

 

Glad it worked out!

 

Picked up the springs today. The fellow I got them from had a sick '97 4Runner on 40's riding on Dana 60 axles. Seems like he is pretty active over on the Marlin Crawler board. We talked for a bit about trucks, and he showed me his hydro assist steering. I will more than likely be looking further into this over the next few months.

Quick dinner, then I'm hanging my axle back off my truck.

 

It is 3:30 in the morning. I wake up for work in 2 1/2 hours, so of course I'm posting here.

Rear axle is hanging off the truck. Looks like I'll be able to fit 12" Bilsteins under there. All I have to do is weld up my shock hanger brackets, reattach the parking brake, and bleed the brakes and the Chevy spring swap will be done.

I will swap out my master cylinder for the new (used 2nd gen 4runner) one while I am at it. Hopefully, I will be operational this weekend.

Peace, goodnight.

MC

 

you guys know of any front axles available?? I am thinking I am just going to start collecting the parts for the SAS

 

You might check with Ivan (the fellow who posted the craigslist add that Philbert located for me). He seems to be in the mix for Toy parts in Fresno, and has a truck that he will soon be parting out if it doesn't sell.

There is a fellow up here in Oakhurst who usually has one or two around. His name is Louie. I can try to find his number if you would like, but it might be worth the drive to talk to him in person.

 

The firerunner is back on the ground. We ended up needing to cant the shocks in a bit to allow for up travel. I also had to cut and reroute the exhaust. I used a piece of scrap 3" stainless tubing and piled a mess of booger welds on the back of the cheap crappy muffler that is still hanging under the truck, just to escort the exhaust out the wheel well instead of into the shock tube.

I also replaced my stock master cylinder and brake booster with a 2nd gen 1" bore MC and a dual diaphragm booster. Getting to the booster retaining nuts turned me into a disgruntled contortionist.

I took it for a quick test drive. I need to bleed the brakes better. Right now, the first 3/4 of the pedal movement has little to no effect. The last 1/4 is pretty cool, though. Driving without a proportioning valve is going to be interesting. If I really stab the brakes hard, I can lock the rear end up. I'm hoping that bleeding the brakes will improve the front response more than the rear by just a little bit. I spent more time bleeding the rears than I did the front. We shall see. I won't be able to look at it again until Monday.

The springs settled a bit after driving around, but there is still a little bit of a lift. I am happy with my shackle angle. I'll try to flex it out a bit once I get the brakes tuned in.

 

Hey man. Just went through several pages to see what's up. I know Jack about SAS and all that but HOLY CRAP you truck is looking awesome!! beautiful pic a few pages back of you "A-Driver" as well as the pic of your truck in front of the big stone thingy. I was relieved when I saw you still left the partially melted TOYOTA cover on the back....that's a keeper I bet symbolizing where this truck came from.

keep it up, I'll be sure to check in more often.

if I got this straight...you're gonna SAS? but you are helping someone right now....it's like I came in 3/4's of the way onto the movie and quickly trying to catch-up.

keep the pics coming too.

 

Yeah, I need to figure out a way to incorporate the melted "Toyota" molding into a possible pickup tailgate conversion. I might just mount it on the bumper swingout (when I build it) wherever I mount my license plate.

The "rock thing" is part of a pretty cool little trail near here that goes to the USFS Shuteye Mountain Lookout. If you are ever out in the land of fruit and nuts, I'd love to take you up there. A stock rig can make it.