Like all of you guys I too have pondered the SAS question. I can't justify paying a shop to do the work, but on the other hand can't do all the work myself. I really want the experience of doing the swap and especially getting to know what is going on underneath my truck. Any Washington guys willing to help out??? I can obviously pay some but I also want to help out as much as possible. This won't be going on until probably next summer but I don't want to start accumulating parts and then not have any "experienced" guys to help me out.

This would be going on a 93 4runner. Also I know the All Pro kit is a pretty complete kit (minus the axle) but is it better or cheaper to get the parts else where?

Reason for doing the SAS is I don't like putting a ton of money into my IFS (I have already replaced 2 CV axles and 1 idler arm within the last year), I'd rather save that on a solid axle and F & R lockers

 

Did you see WATRD's swap thread? If you still want help when you get to working on it, I don't think you'll have any trouble finding it around here. He had quite a crew working with him on it.

 

Yeah, that's kind of what I thought. I'll be taking a welding class at school this coming year so I'll have a little knowledge of what I'm doing. But it's always nice (and much quicker) to have a little help. We'll see how much money I can save by next summer. I'd like to do both the front and rear (swap to leafs) at the same time.

What are everyone's thoughts on the rear? I've been looking at the Chevy 56" and 63" swaps and am not too clear on the major differences (Pro's/Con's) other than the 63" are obviously longer.

 

You can do a lot before you actually chop the IFS stuff off.
1, weld on the front spring hanger,
2. make holes for the shackles
3. prep the axle with all new seals and bearings and install the Hysteer arms.
4. regear/add locker on the front
5. regear/add locker in the rear to match the front.
I"m sure there's other things you can do before the actuall chop.

when I did mine, I basically did it that way.
when you budget, don't forget the tires, diff oil, brake fluid,drive shafts,rear t-case output flange for double carden rear drive shaft, any tools you don't have but should ( hub socket came to mind )..........stuff like that.

 

I recommend waiting on this until you can bolt up the springs and put weight on them, especially if not using "standard" springs such as those provided in a complete kit.

 

I used FRORF kit and AllPro 4" springs.....same position on the shackle holes.
they mimick the 85's. came with gusset pieces for the hanger too.
http://www.frontrangeoffroadfab.com/sas.htm
I think it's beefier than the AP ones. Marlin arms is also better than AP.
Recently, Marlin came out with there own SAS kit. You should check them out.

http://www.marlincrawler.com/suspension.html

 

Not a bad price. A little cheaper than AllPro. Anybody know much about their springs? How they compare to others (ride, flex, etc.)?

 

Call Chris Geiger at Marlin. He can tell you. I got the springs from his buggie that he had.

There's some differnces between Marlin kit and AP kit.
Marlin got better steering arms. The wheel spacer use metric thread just like the factory.
Both kits do not have the gusset piece that FRORF has...However, the FRORF kit doesn't have the jig for the shackle holes.

I did mine by picking pieces from different places. Marlin didn't have the kit yet at the time I did it. I did buy the shock hoops, spacers, arms, d-shaft from him.

 

Which you don't even need, there's a much easier method for drilling the holes. If you're stuck on using those stupid jigs let me know, I have a nice new unused set gathering dust.

To cut the shackle holes, first start with a long 1/4" twist bit and drill through the frame rails where you want the large hole to be centered while keeping the drill level and perpendicular to the body seam. Then chuck a length of 1/4" solid rod in your hole saw arbor to use as a guide and go to town with it. They'll be perfectly centered and level when you're done.

 

anybody mounted the shackles with a hanger like the 3rd gens are using??

somthing that welds to the bottom of the frame..... my frame is bent and my springs are twisting so i want to remount the shacke side of the front springs and dont want to drill out the hole and reweld the insert.

 

For the first two days... then interest kind of wore off and it was largely me and ChrisCo with periodic visits by friends.

 

Wow, a blast from the past...

Custom, yes some people have done that. Mixed results and opinions, lots of threads about it over on the PBB.

 

i was thinking of using a RE joint welding it to the bottom of the frame and bolting the shackle to that....... thats what i am gonna do for my rear spring conversion.

 

If your going to stick with toyota running gear, toyota axles, and still going 4 wheelin, you might want to think about running Ford 9's or at least Dana 44's. The reason why, the toyota stuff will not handle the weight of the vehicle, tires, throttle, etc. Just ask Upndair. We were always replacing something before we would go out!!! I was gathering parts for my 4Runner for the SAS and told him that I was going Dana 60s. He ended up getting a set and well has not looked back since. They really hold up to the weight and basically he now has indestructible running gear. Not sure when and where you are going to do this. You can find 44's and 60's all day long, JUNK YARD(or as I like to call them, TREASURE YARD). If you are going to do it, do it right the first time! You will be happier and the bank account will not be hit as hard. When it is done right the first time, you will not have to worry about breaking. Upndair has not broke any running gear components since the swap to 60's. Just giving my .02 cents.

 

i dont like the rear coils suspension....... panhard problems and gas tank issues

i am already sased but have a bent frame and my springs are twisting just sitting in the yard....

i am pretty easy on my parts and dont feel the need to go with D60's btw thats what the fj40 is for...... or Unimog portals

i cant get dual cases or lower t-case gears with an auto, and i dont think the V6 can destroy the stock drivetrain

 

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LOL!! Love the new avatar Rob!

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hahahahahha You caught that quickly! I just changed it an hour ago

I had that image laying around from back when the tool was linked here and when I ran across it today, it looked like a perfect avatar

(http://www.planearium2.de/flash/spstudio.html)

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