81 pickup summer build up PICS

[Climb or Slide]

Hey guys.

I did this buildup over the summer, and just now am getting around to organize the pics. I bought it this january for $2000. I paid a little much, but i'm happy with the purchase. The other things I did to the truck include 5.29 gearing and mechanical lockers F+R. I did all the work myself, with the exception of the gear alignment. The welding was all done with a garage sale 220 arc welder and a 110 mig. Post comments! I know I will get some negativity about my front mount and about my front trac bar chassi mount. This rig has already been on some trails, and had been airborn. I will re-engineer things if they break. So far no problems.

NOTE (edit) Some of my imagestation links aren't rorking. Here is a link to the album http://www.imagestation.com/album/?id=4285957497

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid145/p9bfee807bfb2edf3b936dd3dd97a3c89/f6608c64.jpg
Here is Vladamir AKA "smokey" how I got him. 2-3" of add-a-leaf lift, 32" ATs, bone stock eslsewhere.
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid145/p7ab81842040faec0ebfcbdba6f558a82/f6608c75.jpg
The truck did have a decent rear bumper already on it
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid145/p995e5a90eb542d09ab61e362c808f45c/f6608c71.jpg
Here is the starting rear suspension. Leafs around 48", 2 add-a-leafs, and really short shocks, with stock brake lines.
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid134/pe03e9b9b9fbe7fa093fdda1dec6af1e5/f77c7d36.jpg
Rear setup is a 63 inch chevy half ton 3 leaf pack (less overloads, 2wd). Mounted With Johnny Joints and 11 inch shakles. Also has triangular prism front mounts to slide over rocks.
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid145/p3a52084b2d0d702b38baa6146abbdda3/f6608237.jpg
Stock steering still on axle, shock mounts gone and stock springs gone. The stock springs were 46" I think. There was two add-a-leafs in mine.
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid145/pe2723c39e8ce937c0100ff915d519c6e/f6608c6b.jpg
Here are my front mouts, and my custom packs. I combined two packs, a 93 toyota 2wd rear, and an 85 toyota 4wd rear. The main leaf is the 93 53" main, the 2nd and 3rd are the 85 mains with wraps and eyes cut off, and then the 2nd 93 leaf, and then the 3rd and 4th 85 leafs.
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid145/p00148eada6a4bb1f488511cc3209635c/f6608c5e.jpg
Me cutting the shock mounts off.
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid145/pe4c8e5ce6ff3e3dfc6c06bb6d33a171c/f660db53.jpg
Here the bumper mount is cut for P/S box clearance. Later I cut some seam welds and the inner fender as well.
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid134/pd49f438a694bef3dfce75b6c2e7f805f/f77a027f.jpg
Here is the front end before I settle with shorter shakles.

[Climb or Slide]

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid145/pbd26092b0a82a3334f387f4fecd86998/f660db4f.jpg
Gusseted front drop hanger. You can also see my marlin hysteer, and u-bolt flip kit.

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid145/p3be554b68f91f4fd2ecaabc1c4cbdb30/f660db37.jpg
Axle moved forward ~3.75". Any farther, and the hysteer arms would hit! the steering box casing is against the body mount.

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid134/pddbb0995aa7e5211ffff40cdd9555fb8/f7783270.jpg
1/4" frame gussets

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid136/pdf2941cc12de6b8f2cadc1e18e6ca2cd/f7589741.jpg
Hi steer arms painted, and both driveshafts lengthened. Front converted to spicer u-joint, and 7" splines.

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid136/p4ad2b15d133137d5aa00774cd37eac9b/f74fcfb0.jpg
Chassis mount for front trac bar.

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid145/p67b512ba14109fcf0174adc842280102/f660db49.jpg
Front track bar mount. made of 3/16" steel.

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid145/pf82c0842323de466d7880ca656f97cdf/f660db4b.jpg
Another shot of front mount.

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid145/p81326e0e803f4a7b700c6fd1534a93de/f660db3c.jpg
Chassis mount for rear trac bar. This mounts to the bed crossmember.

[Climb or Slide]

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid145/p7ca2cedaabdc15c2dbc07fd6cedd794b/f660db34.jpgShleby tube with 5/32" wall, bored to accept 3/4" heims for my trac bars. That is my tube door also.

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid145/p19374a9840b9555a52546b5b16a035bb/f6608c6d.jpgHere is the rear trac bar during fabrication.

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid145/p1e019c805f9a3665b115bbb3e9a40260/f660db3f.jpgFront trac bar completed. Both bars use shackles on the chassis mounts. D-shaft not in yet.

[Climb or Slide]

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid145/p91807b64b479429b20c972637330ad9f/f660db45.jpg
Rear trac bar installed.

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid145/p62fb5ccd876c34c58f6e879511548fd7/f660db51.jpg
Here isanother shot of the rear trac bar, and my over-axle shock mounts I made. Note exhaust pipe going over the frame to avoid being crushed by rocks.

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid137/p3a3528cde9a96be61f300010affb0223/f7358d60.jpgHoles in bed?


http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid137/p85e1178d63666d54f095de9199981e14/f7358d63.jpg
For a badass, long-travel shock mount!


http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid145/p1f7c81efccd1b61326c3c33dd381a4a3/f660db39.jpg
Nice view of the 14" travel bilstein 5125s through the bed.

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid145/p2cce0fc3dad4c80b82d89e98c92f3780/f666a3db.jpg
Shot of front set-up. You can see the ford shock towers, trac bar, gusseted drop hanger, and the bilstein 5125 14" travel shocks.

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid145/p40341e9abbfdeed58939e8db945de813/f6608c61.jpg
Big lift with 32" tires. This was before I put shorter shackles up front (around 8" of lift). Also cut the fenders, pulled the bumper off, and extended the brake lines.

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid145/p8ba18e7d3c0c48a3ee42e7b23c435c86/f660df10.jpg
Tube doors done, ready for paint.

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid145/p9a9f0e7c36d689451c0ac614c35471da/f660df07.jpg


project complete? never. But it is ready for some wheelin! I got those 15x10 wheels and the bald 35x15.5 TSLs for $200. I was pressed for tire diameter for a long freeway trip. Thanks Brian!

[BigDaddy]

Very nice work......It looks like it took some time and money? Have you had it out much yet?:boing

[sparky]

nice work up.

but you need to do something with your front crossmember. your going to kill yourself. its just going to rip right off the frame. there is no bracing on the back side.:fart:

[Climb or Slide]

I'm gonna cut the front end off next summer and go for the conventional drop hanger. It was an error in the conception phase of the process. I didn't correcly identify some strength requirements.

Thanks for the comments guys. I have about $4500 into this truck, including the $2000 I paid for it. I took it out last month...

The tires SUCK! but the flex is awesome! and I got it airborn and nothing broke.... It will last until next summer.

Joey

[Jeff T.]

Tasty, man...I'll say it again, never was a better looking truck than the 79-83 models. And I'll fantasize again about a 4-runner with that body style.

J

[bbagwell]

79-83 is my favorite body style too. My next favorite is the 89-95.

[Climb or Slide]

I agree, the 79-83s look awesome. Just wait untill I make a bumper.

I think it would be interesting to see a 4runner with round headlights. It is hella easy to do. Just switch the bezels, and a bracket or something.

someone should do it. Or just photoshop it!

Joey

[Kyron]

Originally posted by Climb or Slide
I'm gonna cut the front end off next summer and go for the conventional drop hanger. It was an error in the conception phase of the process. I didn't correcly identify some strength requirements. Joey

Did it crack or anything?

[Climb or Slide]

No, nothing cracked or bent or anything. I just want to eliminate the possibility of that happening.