I Need Help With My Rock Crawler Project...

[azredliner]

I have decided to do a rock crawler project with this 1985 pickup. Where do I start? Should I remove the entire cab, or just the doors, glass and plastic? I don't have a huge budget to work with, so this will need to stay pretty basic. Maybe later I can get the fancy stuff. I'm not into the "extreme" stuff, but I do get into some interesting situations where the possibility for body damage is very possible. I've had some really close calls.
I know I don't want to go any larger than a 33" tire, so the 3" body lift is going to be removed.


http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/1/web/2341000-2341999/2341486_4_full.jpg

[fourwd1]

I have decided to do a rock crawler project with this 1985 pickup. Where do I start? Should I remove the entire cab, or just the doors, glass and plastic?

Why do you need to remove anything. A rock crawler can have a body, etc. It doesn't have to be a buggy. Plenty of full body hard core crawlers out there.


I don't have a huge budget to work with, so this will need to stay pretty basic. Maybe later I can get the fancy stuff. I'm not into the "extreme" stuff, but I do get into some interesting situations where the possibility for body damage is very possible. I've had some really close calls.
I know I don't want to go any larger than a 33" tire, so the 3" body lift is going to be removed.


Start with a good flexible suspension, cross-over steering, a locker or two, and some armour, and maybe a winch.

[azredliner]

Why do you need to remove anything. A rock crawler can have a body, etc. It doesn't have to be a buggy. Plenty of full body hard core crawlers out there.

I figured if I remove all the unnecessary stuff, if I was to roll it, there would be no harm. Besides, I could use the good fenders on my other trucks.



Start with a good flexible suspension, cross-over steering, a locker or two, and some armour, and maybe a winch.

What is a good flexable suspension? I've heard of people using Chevy S-10 and Toyota 4X2 springs. Does that work?
The front axle has been moved forwards about 2" already.

[Rob_O]

Ok, simple and cheap...

First, do your maintenance. Tune it up, change the fluids. Fix the leaks so we can't follow your trail down the trail. Brakes are handy to have, mine semi-failed on a steep downhill one day - that was not fun by any definition of the word! Chain the engine or bolt the mounts. Our hobby is the definition of Murphy's Law so fix anything that looks like it might decide to let go on the trail because it probably will

Next, basic safety stuff. Lose the glass, keep the rest of the body until you have a cage. Make sure you have seat belts that will keep you inside the thing if your trip down the hill doesn't go as planned. Secure the battery and anything else big and heavy that might come loose in a bad situation.

Looks like there's already some suspension stuff under there. Run it for now, find what don't work and go from there.

Welding the rear diff and throwing some crawler gears in the x-fer case will give you the most "crawlability" for your buck. Marlin has his gears on sale now.

Do what you can to protect or move anything that might get damaged if you drag it across a big rock

That's my best ideas for a quick and dirty trail rig, hope it helps. I'm sure others can add more cheap tricks

[fenderbmxer86]

Personally... i would leave the glass until you roll.

Body armour- rock sliders rear bumper or bob the bed.

For leaf springs i would run what you have right now. They probaly are sh1t so your going to want to change them but for now atleast you can go out and have some fun.

Rear leafs- s10s are too soft and bend. I would just do a chevy springs with a double shackle and no block. It will give you enough lift to clear the 33s and give you a good amount of flex.

Front leafs- Since your axle is already 2" forward. Go find 2 sets of rear toyota leaf springs. 4x4 or 2wd springs. It does not matter. And build your front spring back to your liking. It gives you great flex for pretty much free.
I just built mine and ill have a full write up with pictures in my build.

Lockers- If you dont mind your tires wearing out a bit fast then just weld up your rear end.

front- get a lockright or aussie. unless you have hydro assist or full hydro and carry spare birfs do not weld it.

Id just run no doors, and save your full doors for a cool night.

edit: Sell the things that your not going to use. Like your body lift, or old leaf springs. That will help fund some of the other stuff.

With 33s you can get enough momentum to get up pretty much any rock that your suspension will allow so i wouldnt worry to much about tcase and gears. I ran stock case and 4.10s with 36s for a whole year. Smoked my clutch a bit but hey fawk it.

Hope that helped.

[fergusor]

one of the first things I would done is a cage.

[toyota_guy_69]

You want to make it a fun rock crawler? make it one you can drive to the site, by the looks of it that toy has enough lift to run a 36 easy, the bed isnt in the best shape, in my opinion trash the bed and build a easy flat bed, get your tires, lock it up, take the doors off, or put half doors on it and go have a good time man.

[azredliner]

You guys are talking too fast! :grin:

All that sounds good. I keep hearing about these "double shackles". I think I saw a pair on a Toy. One part rests on the frame and the other is semi verticle, right? Who has them and where can I get some?

[fenderbmxer86]

Ill post some pics of the "double shackle" tomarrow morning when i get to work.

All you do is connect a new shackle to the existing stock shackle and it gives you the length that you need for the longer spring while utilizinig the stock shackle placement.

[Rob_O]

I'm sorry if we confused you with all that info. Allow me to summarize...

Go tune up your rig! Get your tires on, weld up the rear diff and wheel the damm thing already! Just don't get too silly playing around on the big rocks before you get a cage. Part of enjoying this sport is living to do it again

Oh yeah. Get some straps, make sure you have a collection of places to hook them to your rig. I carry like 3 or 4 of the wal-mart cheapies with me all the time, they are handy for doing random good deeds like pulling cars out of ditches on rainy nights.

There's plenty of info on the pirate board about double shackles in the chevy spring faq. The opinions vary so read a lot and make your own decision.

[azredliner]

I'm sorry if we confused you with all that info. Allow me to summarize...

Go tune up your rig! Get your tires on, weld up the rear diff and wheel the damm thing already! Just don't get too silly playing around on the big rocks before you get a cage. Part of enjoying this sport is living to do it again

Oh yeah. Get some straps, make sure you have a collection of places to hook them to your rig. I carry like 3 or 4 of the wal-mart cheapies with me all the time, they are handy for doing random good deeds like pulling cars out of ditches on rainy nights.

There's plenty of info on the pirate board about double shackles in the chevy spring faq. The opinions vary so read a lot and make your own decision.

I was kidding about "talking too fast". I have gone through my '84 from the ground, up and I re-built the engine and tranny in my '86. I use those two for easy to difficult trails. Now I want to build a truck for difficult to extreme trails.

Break-down:
1984 Toyota DLX XTRA Cab: 4" Pro Comp lift, 32X11.50 BF Goodrich, Rancho 9000 shocks, 22R bored .040, header, Weber 410's
Uses: Moderate - Difficult trails.
http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/12/web/2052000-2052999/2052928_53_full.jpg

1986 Toyota SR5 XTRA Cab: All stock suspension, 22RE converted to Weber, 488's
Uses: Easy - Moderate trails.
http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/6/web/2322000-2322999/2322759_12_full.jpg

[fourwd1]

... Now I want to build a truck for difficult to extreme trails.


If you want to do difficult to extreme, you may want to go with a 35-36" tire.
Chevys in the rear and rears up front is a good and inexpensive setup for rocks, single shackle unless you're crawling only RTI ramps. Add a crawler gear or dual cases (a must for serious crawling), and something to lock the diffs (weld/spool/locker).
A low profile cross member/skidplate will get you more clearance in the belly, and one such as the BudBuilt can give you a couple of inches of drive train lift for close to a flat belly. Add cross-over steering, and the basic crawler is done. Winch, more armour, etc, can be added later.

[azredliner]

All you guys are giving me great ideas. Thanks alot. Do you think I should lose the body lift, or what?

[bbagwell]

I would lose the body lift. You want to keep your center of gravity low for rock crawling.

[fenderbmxer86]

Heres a double shackle pic for you.
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d183/fenderbmxer86/PDR_0010.jpg

You usally use a 4" shackle but i used a 6 and compensated by moving my hanger 9.5" instead of 11" forward.

But you get the idea.

[azredliner]

I know it's been a while, but I just got my welder and JD Square tube bender. I had to install a sub-panel to run the welder and I am waiting for materials to build the stand for the bender.

Here's my welder.
http://i10.servimg.com/u/f10/11/07/91/13/linde_10.jpg

[85yotto]

dude if you want to go cheap then weld the rear at lest the rear and do a simple tube roll cage since you have the stuff. with 33's a welded rear, no bed to over hang and a shakie leg you can get yourself it to a lot of really nasty spot's. Oh and make some armor for the axles and Tcase so you don't have to worry what that noise was. Im sure you know if you weld the front you will have to make 16 point turn arounds, should you ever have to turn around. just watch your cage you don't want to get tipsy. speaking of tipsy spend the $120 bucks for spacers. Happy trails dude.

[azredliner]

I decided to do a sort of F-toy. When I get my bender set up, I think I will just start and see where it takes me. I have seen a few buggies and I have an idea of what I want to build. I have a friend that built his own and now he is big into rock racing. Checkout krawlfreak (http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=469362) over at pirate4x4.com

Here's a little action with my DD. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KFpwpl_zpx4

[NAR7KX]

I say you should take out the glass and doors... definatly get an exo skeleton or make one urself..


just a suggestion but i think i might do this to mine... im thinking about taking off my bed and getting a piece of railroad steel or iron... whatever it is and put it onto the rear of the truck (for a little bit of weight) ... then without the bed you'll have alot of flex

and yes definatly get rid of that body lift

[azredliner]

I already removed everything. I got a clean slate...
I will be removing all the mounting brackets and crappy shock hoops.

http://i11.servimg.com/u/f11/11/07/91/13/f-toy_10.jpg