46&2's 85 4Runner build up

fortysixandtwo · 10-15-07, 10:20 PM

Hey folks. I am a newb to the ih8mud forums but I have been into Yotas for years now. I hope to own several landcruisers by some point in my life...but for now I am more than happy with my little 85 4runner.

I will give you a little background on me and where my love of the Toyota machine began (for those who care)....

In high school I was into wheeling, at the time I drove a 1990 suburban but that thing was a tuna boat. Sweet party wagon but wheeling it left a lot to be desired. Several of my friends owned stock or slightly more than stock Yotas and after wheeling a few of them I knew I had to have one. It didnt help that a bunch of my friends also worked for Luke at 4x4 Labs and thus from early on I was hooked on Toyota crawlers. Hanging out at the Labs I learned a lot about what worked and what didnt and I figured out just what I wanted in my own toyota. I loved the FJ40s, the 55s, the 60s, 62s and hell even those fancy pants 80s but I had always had a thing for the convertable first gen 4runners. After seeing dozens of sick rigs move through 4x4 Labs I decided that is what I wanted. I set my heart on an 85, fuel injected 4runner. It took me almost 2 years but I finally found one that fit my criteria...

Basicaly I wanted a stock, or near stock 85. Had to have fuel injection and had to be clean. The rest was more or less up to fate. I hated red, but somehow that is what I ended up with. The rest is history. So enough crap here is my 4runner and my condensed build up.

fortysixandtwo · 10-15-07, 10:28 PM

When I bought my 4runner, it already had some nifty equipment:

-Front and Rear custom bumpers
-2 inch NWOR leaf springs
-heavy duty tie rod
-rear limited slip
-marlin crawler 4.7 tcase gears
-32x11.50 AT on white steel
-Warn winch
-All Pro tcase crossmember

So I wheeled it for about year like that. It did awesome on the local trails and in the snow. After a year went by though I had found all my limitations. The year gave me plenty of time to save up some $$$ though and so I dialed in my battle plan and got to collecting parts.

fortysixandtwo · 10-15-07, 10:33 PM

My basic "goal" with this truck was to turn it into a capable daily driver. I live in an area that gets 3-4 feet of snow each winter so I wanted something that would spit in the face of mother nature, no matter what she threw at me, yet still drive me to class and work every day, regardless of the weather.

Here is my battle plan...subject to change (* means I have installed it or it was already there):

The Stuff:

Suspension:
[ * ]2" 4x4 Labs drop box, moved 1.5" foreward
[ * ]Front Jeep Wagoneers, 6" shackle
[ * ]12" Bilstein 5125s
[ * ]Rear 63" Chebbies, stock chevy shackle, 6" dual shackle
[ * ]14" Bilstein 5125s
[ * ]Ford F250 shock towers (the only damn Ford part you'll find on this yota :flipoff

[ * ]Full front frame plates

Steering:
[ * ]93' IFS steering box
[ * ]Marlin Crawler high steer
[ * ]Marlin Crawler IFS plate kit

Axles:
[ * ]89' V6 rear axle w/ 5.29 R&P
[ * ]85' front w/ 5.29 R&P
[ * ]Vented Landcruiser rotors
[ * ]V6 calipers/pads
[ * ]V6 brake master cylinder
[ * ]IFS hubs (need to swap rotors before I can use these)
[ * ]Braided stainless steel brake lines F&R
[ * ]Rear Aussie Locker
[ ]Front ARB
[ ]Air Compressor
[ ]Longfields
[ ]Axle armor/truss

Armor:
[ * ]Custom front bumper w/ Warn winch
[ * ]Marlin Crawler rear bumper
[ * ]Marlin Crawler rock sliders

Engine/Tranny/Tcases:
[ * ]DOA Built 22RE
-Downey header
-Flowmaster muffler
[ * ]W56 5 Speed tranny
[ * ]Marlin Crawler Dual case crossmember
[ * ]Front 21 spline top shift tcase
[ * ]Marlin Crawler Dual case adapter
[ * ]Rear 21 spline top shift w/ Marlin Crawler 4.7 gears
[ * ]Home made front square driveline, custom made rear

Rubber:
[ * ]35x12.50 Goodyear MTRs
[ * ]15x10 black Rockcrawler rims
[ ]Beadlocks

Misc Junk:
[ * ]Optima red top
[ ]Second red top
[ ]Cupholders
[ ]Onboard Air
[ ]Portable welder
[ ]Rear spare tire carrier

fortysixandtwo · 10-15-07, 10:50 PM

After a while I found a sweet deal on some 32x11.50 mud terrains on black rock crawlers. So I swapped those in and they gave my little 4runner a whole new life in the meantime. The jump from ATs to MTs made a HUGE difference. I almost thought about keeping it how it is. Almost.

Jonathan_Ferguson · 10-16-07, 02:59 AM

Your front Mudflaps are still inplace.

You obviously aren't Wheeling hard enough.

fortysixandtwo · 10-16-07, 08:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jonathan_Ferguson

Your front Mudflaps are still inplace.

You obviously aren't Wheeling hard enough.

Haha I obviously wasnt.

Thankfully time eliminates all mudflaps. Now I can't keep the damn CHP at bay, those bastards

fortysixandtwo · 10-17-07, 06:36 PM

So here it goes. Sold my 32" meats and rims and slapped on some 30" racing slicks. Loaded up the 4runner with all my junk and head off to my friend Wade's house. Wade owns the welder and would be helping me with the build up.

A big thanks to Wade, Kyle, Evan, Wyatt, Adam, Luke, and Ben for all their help during the month or two it took to get this project "done."

Getting ready to roll out.

MMmm...parts

fortysixandtwo · 10-17-07, 06:38 PM

I will let the images speak for themselves. Here we go, getting started.

ajfriz · 10-17-07, 09:54 PM

It looks good! I can't wait to see more pictures. I wish I would have taken more when I did my buildup.

fortysixandtwo · 10-17-07, 10:29 PM

More...

Sitting a little bit higher now up front at least...

fortysixandtwo · 10-17-07, 10:34 PM

Had to hack the exhaust a bit shorter to clear the dual shackle setup i wanted to run with the 63s.

There goes the old bumper, it wouldnt work with the dual shackles either. Looks like I have an excuse to buy a Marlin Crawler DOM rear bumper!

This is backyard mechanics at its best

fortysixandtwo · 10-17-07, 10:39 PM

Getting the 63s mocked up, placed and welded.

The dual shackle at full droop.

Finished, used an IFS bumpstop to keep the shackle from extending too far and mashing against the frame.

fortysixandtwo · 10-17-07, 10:44 PM

Got the shock mounts in place and the 5125s mounted.

Here is the Marlin Crawler high steer.

Still havnt painted my tie rods,

I'm a lazy bastard.

Homebrewed square driveline for up front. I didnt want to waste money on a custom driveline until I go dual cases. For now I am going to wheel it with a the single 4.70 tcase. Theres a peek at the MC sliders too. For $107 bucks shipped to my door the MC sliders (when on sale) can't be beat!

2ndGenToyotaFan · 10-17-07, 10:51 PM

Backyard mechanics my eye...... you have gravel!!!! Ya yuppie!!

Looks great man!!!

What size tires are you going to run on this monster?

fortysixandtwo · 10-17-07, 10:52 PM

Here are some flex shots from the first day after I put the new front driveline on.

Not bad. I was running some cheapo baldies at the time now I have some real meats

fortysixandtwo · 10-17-07, 10:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2ndGenToyotaFan

Backyard mechanics my eye...... you have gravel!!!! Ya yuppie!!

Looks great man!!!

What size tires are you going to run on this monster?

35x12.50s.

Down the road I think I might just make the leap to 37s, but this rig is my daily driver for now and so far the 35s have been more than adequate for my needs.

fortysixandtwo · 10-19-07, 02:36 AM

Got some decent snow last winter, not as much as we should have gotten but enough to have some fun.....

Ended up finding a smoking deal on some 35x12.50 cooper mud terrains on 15x8 rockcrawlers. Found em about 2 weeks before the heavy snow started falling...

fortysixandtwo · 10-19-07, 02:51 AM

Here are some wheeling shots from spring of 2007. After the snow melted I was eager to see what my rig could do. I was pretty impressed aside from the front YJ lift springs. They were just too stiff for my liking. So I decided to swap with some 44044s. I also wanted to move my axle foreward.

fortysixandtwo · 10-19-07, 02:56 AM

Got my 2" dropbox from Luke @ 4x4 Labs. This thing is gnarly!

Getting ready to hack the stock spring hangers off.

Tacked and ready to weld.

Welded with the 44044s bolted up.

I am happy with my new front shackle angle.

fortysixandtwo · 10-19-07, 02:59 AM

Finally ordered my Marlin Crawler rear DOM bumper.

fortysixandtwo · 10-19-07, 03:05 AM

And that is that. Here are some driveway, poser shots. I havnt had much time to go wheeling lately. Over the summer I went on a few good camping trips but I am waiting to go to the Rubicon and Fordyce until I have a rear locker. For now she gets me around and even without lockers the little red runner does awesome in the snow. Can't wait for this winter to roll around....

fortysixandtwo · 07-05-08, 09:41 PM

Lost this thread for a while but I happened upon it accidently while searching earlier lol.

So here are some updates if anyone cares

Dual cases went in about 6 or 7 months ago

fortysixandtwo · 07-05-08, 09:45 PM

Also cut about 2" out of my fenders front and rear, no clearance issues now!! Should be able to run 37-38s no problem.

BEFORE:

AFTER:

ToyotaNick · 07-05-08, 10:56 PM

sweet rig dude! although you have a slightly saggy ass but its still fricken sweet! i wish i had places like that to go wheeling

ToyotaNick · 07-05-08, 11:06 PM

o and TOOL is the shit! haha

fortysixandtwo · 07-06-08, 12:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ToyotaNick

sweet rig dude! although you have a slightly saggy ass but its still fricken sweet! i wish i had places like that to go wheeling

Thanks man. Yeah I tweaked the rear a little and it sits pretty even now.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ToyotaNick

o and TOOL is the ****! haha

Hell yeah

ms018kmf · 07-08-08, 09:32 PM

I missed this thread, badass wheels you have there. Room to sleep in there too if the winter season throws you a wrench.

fortysixandtwo · 07-09-08, 12:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ms018kmf

I missed this thread, badass wheels you have there. Room to sleep in there too if the winter season throws you a wrench.

Thanks

Yeah we (being my girlfriend and my dog) have slept very comfortably in the back many times.

bkg · 07-09-08, 06:47 AM

I like everything but the drop front hanger - from what i can see, it wasn't really necessary.

fortysixandtwo · 07-09-08, 02:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bkg

I like everything but the drop front hanger - from what i can see, it wasn't really necessary.

Naw, it was completely necessary. With the stock spring hanger, yjs, and 35s, my tires rubbed the back of the front fenders really bad when stuffing. that could have been solved with some sawzall work, but at the same time my approach angle was pretty crappy from my front bumper. I really like my front bumper and have no desire to switch to a tube bumper (hate that look) or spend the big $$$ on an ARB or similar. The drop box was the best way to improve on both of these problems. I also wanted to run jeep wagoneer springs which were a bit longer than stock toyota so moving it 2" forward was exactly what I needed. Lastly, the drop hanger actually improved my pinion angle, making it better than it was before the drop box.

The truck works so much better now on the trail. My front tires are 2" forward of stock and that makes a big difference when approaching steep ledges.