So, is the F55 spring pack what you will be using on the 4runner? Are those 62"?

 

Nope, we will be using the bolt-in pack that comes with the complete with the Donahoe kit, the Deaver F42. It is stock Tacoma length and runs $450. I believe it is longer than the 1st gen 4Runner (can't remember off the top of my head). We will most likely use the same Total Chaos perches we are using on our long-travel Tacoma they run about $100. Total Chaos Perches

 

Oh, ok. I thought that you originally said that it would fit the stock mounting points. i was trying to find a way around moving the perches.

 

here's my original quote...

lot's of info floating around, it's easy to get a little confused! When you install the TC perches, you can flush mount them which will decrease the ride height and improve ground clearance a bit. We mounted the perches reversed on our Tacoma so they would clear on full compression with our custom rear suspension design.

 

When I want to see a long travel 4Runner I look in my garage.







NOTE: These pics were not taken in my garage.

 

I was gonna say, nice garage!

 

fourwd1- Nice runner. Cool shots too. I guess for your terrain that would be a "long travel" setup. But for my terrain we have a different long travel setup.

Oh yeah, I like your sliders.

 

I was surfing the internet at work and found a first gen 4runner with glass bedsides on it. Enjoy

 

I wonder why he went to all the trouble when he is stock width anyway?

 

Cool. I think that is what the long bed sides will look like. Not bad if it had some paint. I might end up with that afterall. Those are basically the lines I would want even if I had to custom make it.

It looks pretty lame with stock width.

Pinnacle- how the hell did you find that? I've been looking for first gen's with glass forever. If you get bored look for a first gen with my JD kit combined with a bracket kit, painted like spiderman. Jim at Protrux tells me that somebody has a 4runner out there like this. I'm dieing to see it. But the lift combination is a real bad idea. -Seth

 

The actual concept of a combination drop-bracket and LT style kit is actually not a bad idea. You can fit really big tires (if that's your objective) and actually gain performance off-road. CST (California Super Trucks) offers a few complete kits like that for full-size trucks. The problem with doing it yourself by combining two existing kits is that most drop-bracket kits don't perfectly replicate stock geometry and the LT kits need the #'s to be really close to perfect to work right. It's not my cup of tea, but I still think it's better than a big (2"+) body-lift.

The Spiderman paint-job sounds like a whole other story!

 

I found it on race-dezert.com

 

Sean, The long travel arms increase torque applied to the frame, when you distance them from the frame with a bracket kit, you are asking for some bending.

As it is the bracket kits with stock arms have a tendency to bend the frame when driven hard. At the very least they will move around causing bad alignment. Now add the extra torque from longer arms and you are asking for trouble. Not to mention the multiplication of alignment issues.

In my opinion, the bracket kit is a body lift in function. No wheel travel is gained. The only advantage of a bracket kit over a body lift is that your lift is under the frame.

The only advantage is what you already pointed out, you can fit larger tires. I can't imagine how that would handle. 4" plus 2-3" of arm lift. wow, wouldn't want to jump that.

The spiderman paint job would bve wierd, I'm more interested in seeing the lift than the paintjob.

-Seth

 

you're preachin' to the choir...

I agree that a drop bracket (alone or combined with LT) kit should not be jumped, however I think that a CST type combination kit is as good or better than most "lift kits". I'd be willing to bet most guys who install those types of kits aren't looking to jump in the first place...

To sum it up, I think drop-bracket lifts work for for their intended purpose,
but not for my intended purpose.

 

Right on Sean, we're on the same page. I'll have to check on the California Super Trucks kit. Sounds kinda cool.

Oh yeah here's an update on the rear of my truck. I was going to pursue fiberwerks about making rear glass, but the owner of Protrux informed me that thier glass is not reinforced like hanneman or glassworks. He said that he's been talking to hal hanneman about my truck and that the long bed sides will work and that they will be durable enough for even Sean's "intended purpose"

Thanks for those photos pinnacle, that will definitely give us some ideas. I'm pretty sure that 4runner cannot have the gate put on with the way they installed the glass. And I'm not sure about the top fitting either.

I'll have to check on race-dezert for more pics.

 

Fiberwerx stuff is "race" glass, it is as thin as possible since race trucks need to be light and they replace panels (nerfing) all the time. Also the fit isn't as nice since it's more or less "disposable".

I am excited to see how your bedside install comes along!

 

Here is a direct link to his truck.

The hannemann fenders are thick. They are thicker than glassworks and much thicker than the race glass (fiberwerx and trailer products). And you should be able to use the tailgate, but not too sure about the top.

 

We are about halfway through installing the Total Chaos Second Generation Caddy Kit on the '89 4Runner. This kit pulls 12" of vertical wheel travel and replaces the torsion bars with single or even dual coil-overs! Being an older truck we are taking a lot of time to clean up the undercarriage and address any parts that need servicing while we're already in there. We are replacing the wheel bearings, brake rotors/pads and a few other small parts. Since we are installing most of the optional equipment, there really isn't anything else left behind. Aside from the long-travel kit we are installing the following Total Chaos accessories,

• Heim Steering Link Kit
• Idler Arm Kit
• Lower Uni-Ball Conversion
• IFS Frame Truss

The lower uni-ball kit is in the final stage of production and we will be re-using the factory LBJ's for a week or so until those become available.

The Glassworks Unlimited fenders arrived recently, they look killer! They have the same basic factory look just wider and a little bit taller. They should be mounted this time tomorrow along with the rest of the kit.

We also figured out the rim/tire situation, it will be 33x10.5 BFG Muds mounted on Alcoa Forged "Classic 8's" in 15's w/ 4.5" BS.

Once the suspension is done, we are going to tow the truck over to a local muffler shop and get a custom cross-over and exhaust made for the 3.4L and then everything will be done...

at least for phase one anyway, there's still the rear suspension and cage to address. We already drew up CAD blueprints though so at least we know what it's going to be like. It will pull about 14" of vertical travel and stay under the bed with vertically mounted shocks
(like this: I I, not this: / \).

I wish I could post some pics but I can't until the first article publishes which unfortunately isn't until February! After that though, expect to see full details.

 

Sweet deal man. I am also gonna run coil-overs but with the ESB kit. Gonna look foward your fix up.

 

I believe this is the kit they are using.