Hey Stump1883,

I think Gene had a cool idea when he mentioned that you should turn your rig into a Prerunner/Desert Style Racing truck (don't get me started on Prerunners, when tuned up, I think they are just as cool as 4x4's). Most Prerunners are 2WD, so that would be a cool theme for your rig.

Prerunners are all the rage here in San Diego, being the home of Ivan The Iron Man Stewert (who has a shop out here). And also all of the awesome deserts here and in Baja, to say the least, they are really popular.

Why don't you put off the brush gaurd for a while and work on getting your suspension tuned up first.

Check out the stats:

Stump's Current Plan
Manik Brush Gaurd $450
Bilsteins Shocks (4)$250
Protrux Spacers(2) $ 97
Downey Coils (2) $160

Total $957

Beowulf's Desert Runner Plan
Sway-A-Way RaceRunners 2.5" CoilOver Shocks (2) $690 (Front)
Bilsteins Shocks (2) $130 (Rear)
Downey 2.5" Rear Coils (2) $160 (Rear)

Total $980

This suspension set up will stomp on almost anything out there! You will get your 2.5" of lift all around and will probably (depending on tire type) be able to clear 33's with no problems.

Your Buddies that you go wheeling with will be salivating when they check out you suspension components

Here's a picture of the Sway-A-Way RaceRunners (as you can see, they are on top of the food chain when it comes to coilover-shock assemblies!!!):



Then staying with the PreRunner theme, when you get some more $$$ saved up, get a Desert Style Racing Bumper like the one in this pic (they will run about $400-$500):



This would be the way to go for a tough looking 2WD rig, and it doesn't stop there ... further on down the line (after you finish college and start to make the big bucks ) because it is 2WD you can get into the really exotic long travel kits that are designed for 2WD PreRunners and still keep the RaceRunner CoilOvers because they were designed for these kits all along. Or if you decide later on to get a 4WD 3rd gen, you can always transfer your suspension components to your new rig.

You will be taking on sand dunes and dry trails like nobody's business!!!

 

Thanks again man. I love the whole idea you set up. But I just can't get away w/ dishing out $690 for just the front set up. It seems as though the Downey Spacers would give me as much lift as the PreRunner coilovers w/ half the cost. Am I wrong in thinking that? But seriously thanks for the suggestions. Also I don't see on the Downey or Protrux sites how to order these things from them, how do I go about doing that?

 

Gene- if you are getting a new bumper, are you going to sell the manik??

Stump1883- IMHO, springs would be the best. Since you had a post about tires and wanted 32inch, go with the lift first. Where in NC are you from?

 

I am going to have to join uug , I do have the add (i think?) so i will have to take a serious look at re shocking the rear and cranking up the front.

Thanks for the info guys.

 

Yes they will both give you the same amount of lift, however the performance on the RaceRunner CoilOvers would be so much better and cannot be matched by just a spacer setup.

You will have to go to their website, get their phone numbers and then call them to place an order.

 

Beowulf, I'll have to look in my Downey catalog later.
They do sell T bars I think. Not sure if they are the SAW's, or their own brand.

I know Rancho makes some too, but I think those are 26mm.
Way to big, even for the amount of weight I have now.
Corey

 

Thanks again Beowulf. I really can't thank you enough for answering all my questions and putting up w/ some of the stupid things I may have said. I would REALLY REALLY love to put on the PreRunner set up. But I'm also looking at moving off campus in the Srping and I need to get the look for the cheaper price. The tires a shocks all installed are going to be almost $700-$800 all at once:cry: . Then to put the spacers and coil overs on w/ that. That would be a hard blow to the bank account, cut me almost in half. Plus when it comes to the spacers, I have a family mechanic that my fam. and I have always used and he charges almost no labor(we're talking like 20 bucks for labor no matter how long he has to be on it), if he even charges us anymore. My last job I had him do, I was looking at the makeshift receipt, and all I got charged for was the parts. Good Ol' Boys of NC, can't beat um. So labor really isn't a big point for me. He can't do my tires just b/c he doesn't have the balance eqtp. But thanks for EVERYTHING Beowulf and the rest of ya. I'll get some pics. up here as soon as I can, after the lift and tires all get on.

P.S. As for the tires looking small after the lift. We'll see how long I can push these here and stow away some money so maybe I can throw it all on at once. We shall see indeed, I love the idea of 32's or 33's sitting under me w/ a 2.5" lift.

 

No problem there Stump, I love talking about suspension setups and different ideas of what is possible! I also understand about the $$$ situation, I was on a college budget once as well.

Sounds like a cool deal with your mechanic and I can't wait to hear about the outcome ... keep us posted!

If you have any other ???'s just ask.

p.s. just on a side note, my next project vehicle will be a PreRunner, I will be looking for an older Taco to gut and build back up ... maybe next year. Then I will have my 4Runner for 4WD trails, camping and daily driving ... then a PreRunner for haulin ass on those desert dunes down here in Baja.