I am looking to build a rock crawler that can go over some tough stuff but does not have to be totaly insane. I was thinking of starting with an 85. What mods do you recomend, money is an issue, but i do want stuff that will work well. Ss basically i am asking what should i do from start to finish in building my truck. thanks -aaron

 

I would start by doing research and figuring it out yourself. Not to be mean or anything but this question is totally stupid and completely open ended.

 

i pretty much know nothing about toyota trucks as of now and was just wondering what other people may have done or what they heard was good for a place to start my research. I wasnt just going to copy what people said, but was curios as to what they would do.

 

Your question is probably more suited for the pirate board.....
http://www.pirate4x4.com/


I'd recommend using the search engine to find your answers, your questions are too vague to get a favorable response. Unless you have a vehicle and are actually starting a project, you should just surf the various boards and read what others have done.

 

First things I'd do are a rear locker and crawl gears in the t-case; either dual cases or 4.0/4.7 gears. I'd do this even before lift and tires. You'd be surprised how much of a difference these two mods can make.

 

some kind of crossover steering is necessary if you're gonna wheel a pre-86

 

Build a buggy...

 

I don't agree with this. What better place to ask about what would make a good Toy crawler, than Yotatech?

I'll give you my $02.

If you can find an 85 Toyata, then you're off to the races! That was the last year of the solid axle and first year of the EFI motor.

Money is another question. You can pick up an 85 from $1000 - $2000, but they are harder and harder to find. A friend just picked up an 84 with 4" of spring lift, 35" mud tires, roll bars and a rear locker. He has some body damage and the bumper are toast, but they're going anyway, for $1500.

I agree with another post that a dual tranny upgrade can make a huge difference if you're going to be doing some crawling. You can put a 4" supension lift on with long travel springs for about $600 bucks. Less if you try to work with springs from a wrecking yard from other vehicles, more if you go with something like the Orbit Eye springs, which I personally like very much. With the lift and a little fender trimming, you can get some decent size tires on. They're are lots and lots of good choices here. Shop around, talk to people you wheel with etc. If you have crawler gears, you can get away without changing your diff gearing, but driving on the road, you'll notice the high gears.

The reason I say this is that you'll want to get some lockers next (if not earlier). Selectable lockers are the best, but quite costly. You can get a cheap locker like the lock-rite and do very well with it. It's easy enough to install in your own backyard unlike most other lockers that should be professionally installed. You don't want to waste labor money doing gears, then lockers and then gears again etc. Doing new gears with say ARB lockers is a big chunk of change.

So, you're at a crawler T-case, stock gears with inexpensive lockers, a moderate lift and good tires, you can wheel all over the place. Some good body armor in terms of bumpers and sliders are highly recommended and of course a winch.

You can go a lot farther than this, but you'd have a good rig for a lot of trails and rocks.

Suspension lift and shocks (I forgot those earlier) $500
Tires/wheel $1000
Lock rite lockers $500
Second T-case, crawler gears $1000
Driveline mods for the lift and second t-case $300
Sliders (bumpers optional) $300

That's $3600 plus the truck. Add $50 for a CB too :o)

This can get you a very capable, albeit middle of the road trail rig/crawler.

To step up higher, you'd be looking at regearing, better lockers, bumpers, winches, stronger axles, brake conversions, steering upgrades etc. If you're going larger than 35" tires, I strongly recommend better axles. The Toyata (IMHO) doesn't stand up to the stress of larger tires.

Flame suit on...

 

thanks alot for the info/ advice.. that was exactly what i was looking for. -aaron

 

You need to contact Tom of Trailcarnage. He has a Toy pickup already setup to go, even has dual cases for a cheap price. Here is his latest thread:

http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showt...hreadid=199839

 

That is a pretty sweet deal on that rig. That would be worth shipping it or going to get it!

I've spend so much money on my rig it's not even funny. My current upgrade is an additional $6000 for the dana 60 conversion with new tires and wheels.

If I had know then, what I know now, I would've picked up a rig like this site unseen.

Just those axles alone are worth that much!

 

sounds good except for the d44s front and rear...i can see in the front(tighter turning and no birfields) but i can't see much of an improvement in the rear

 

The D44 rear isn't a much stronger than the Toy, you're correct. But the cost of getting the switch done, shortening, axles, etc, etc, could cost you $3200 bucks alone.

 

check this thread out over on the wildyoat board. it's interesting... http://www.wildyoats.com/vbulletin/s...?threadid=4166

 

If anyone is interested, I have a wrecked '90 4Runner 4x4 V6 for sale. The body is trashed, but the drivetrain was not affected. Perfect for a crawler after a solid axle swap! I have pics and will make anyone a hell of a deal on it.

 

you can save tons of dough by building it yourself learn to weld and turn wrenchs

free stuff:
rear spring up front with leafs added
welded diffs
body damage
friend labor

cheap stuff:
crossover using a second steering arm another tie rod and a used box
cheavy rear springs
rock sliders 10' stick of 2 inch square 12.00 bucks

expensive stuff:
dual case adapter
driveline work
gears and setup
lockers
beer for all your buddys labor

i'm about to do the same my dad is giving me his 84 for free so if i come up with any more ideas i'll post them good luck