Builds Meet “Marge” our new Piggy (2 Viewers)

[PabloCruise]

When I first bought my pig I was being lazy and didn't want to do the research myself so I took the advice on this web forum and bought a popular lift kit at the time. I was told that several people have had great success installing that kit so that's exactly what I did, install a lift kit "no shims" and it was the worst driving vehicle I've ever sat behind.
After months of dicking around someone mentioned the "baby step" of adding a couple of degree shim and that made it a little bit better but still not good. I eventually went and had the front end alignment checked and found that even with the shim I had somewhere around 1° of total caster. I did briefly try 4° shims but like you mentioned pinion angle was terrible and they really were still not enough so I eventually built a new front end with the balls turned like you mentioned.

I'm not here trying to popo on anyone's parade and everybody should explore their own options and do what works best for them, I'm just trying to save someone the time and energy that I spent doing it wrong if they're willing to listen.
I guess what I'm trying to do is let people know everything you read on the internet isn't always true and you should always confirm what you read when it comes to something like front suspension geometry!

Good stuff here...

After I lifted my 40 it drove awful. I mean it felt better than old, worn out springs that had supported a snow plow, but after that wore off I realized that it felt very "darty".

I know people told me about the cut-n-turn after I lifted my 40. Honestly the concept felt overwhelming to me. It felt like it was beyond my skill set, and too much to do alone.

Now I realize it is not beyond me, and none of us are in this by ourselves.

Dammit @J Mack , now there is a whole other project I need to do. Curses!!!

 

[RUSH55]

Digging around on the Target Carrier thread for some other info, but came across this. Cut and turn with new spring perches, which is really the only way to go. If you go ahead and rotate your pinion angle upwards to help with the driveshaft angle created by the lift, the knuckles have to be rotated more than just a few degrees.

Target carrier

It turns out the Taco that the rear came off had been hit... I sent the link to him and he is wishing he had a lathe.

forum.ih8mud.com

 

[J Mack]

for some other info,

That is a “how I did” not a” How To” Cut-N-Turn. Like I say in there I was shooting for 4° what I didn’t say +0.5° -0.0° and I believe I ended up just a tic under 5°. Cut-N-Turn is a best guess without an alignment rack or a reliable “known” starting point, I was building a new front end to replace the one that was under the pig at the time and tried to mimic the angles the best I could. That is definitely not the way I would recommend.

I ended up a year later shortening the front shackles adding more caster, it now has a bit over 6° but drives great both on and off road.

 

[RUSH55]

(Moved)

 

[PabloCruise]

That is a “how I did” not a” How To” Cut-N-Turn. Like I say in there I was shooting for 4° what I didn’t say +0.5° -0.0° and I believe I ended up just a tic under 5°. Cut-N-Turn is a best guess without an alignment rack or a reliable “known” starting point, I was building a new front end to replace the one that was under the pig at the time and tried to mimic the angles the best I could. That is definitely not the way I would recommend.

I ended up a year later shortening the front shackles adding more caster, it now has a bit over 6° but drives great both on and off road.

If shackles are still up front, shortening them will give you more caster, but it will also point the flange down again, correct?

 

[J Mack]

If shackles are still up front, shortening them will give you more caster, but it will also point the flange down again, correct?

Yes ....
I my case some other stuff changed beforehand so it's not the entire story..

 

[jestlurnin]

The weather is turning and I’m starting to think about Marge more. She may need a butt lift ASAP. I have a tailgate from a 76’, at least that’s what the guy told me when I bought it. I just love the stamped Toyota on it. I can’t really tell from eye balling both. Will the 76’ fit my 78’? I can’t tell if the body lines will match up.

 

[bobm]

Only difference I see is the indent . To be sure a test fit will tell

 

[WarDamnEagle]

I think that tailgate might fit and work but will likely look pretty odd on that body. Here's a zoom in of the driver's side corner with that tailgate style on my '77.

 

[RUSH55]

The weather is turning and I’m starting to think about Marge more. She may need a butt lift ASAP. I have a tailgate from a 76’, at least that’s what the guy told me when I bought it. I just love the stamped Toyota on it. I can’t really tell from eye balling both. Will the 76’ fit my 78’? I can’t tell if the body lines will match up.View attachment 3891724View attachment 3891725

Why do you want to change tailgates? What’s the matter with the one that’s on there?

 

[jestlurnin]

I agree Bob. Just the indent is what I’m seeing. The Toyota stamped tailgate still has glass and guts in it so it’s freakin heavy.

That picture helps a lot @WarDamnEagle. It very well might look too odd.

@RUSH55 nothing wrong with current tailgate. I just love the stamped Toyota tailgate.

I’m working on disassembling the potential donor but dang are those wing tabs that hold the glass in rusted in place.

 

[WarDamnEagle]

Buy a pickup tailgate, cut out the "TOYOTA" and weld it into your tailgate. Easy to say I suppose, maybe more difficult to get done. You could even buy a brand new take-off from a 79 series pickup. They seem to be floating around here and there from the guys that are up armoring them.

Edit: You would also have to move at least one and maybe both of your emblems.

 

[bobm]

Paint it on. DONE!

 

[bobm]

78 s here . Leave it .

 

[bobm]

 

[jestlurnin]

I like your idea of painting it on Bob. Much easier than an entire swap.

 

[bobm]

If ya know a pinstriper they could outline it . Or you can

 

[RUSH55]

If ya know a pinstriper they could outline it . Or you can

That’s actually sounding pretty sweet!

 

[jestlurnin]

I really like the pinstriped idea. I’ll see if I can find someone. Pretty sure I have a buddy that knows one.

 

[WarDamnEagle]

I have a new spare one of these for my pickup. Not sure if this one is genuine Toyota but it looks the part:

Toyota Land Cruiser OEM Genuine Tail Gate Mark 75459-60031-A1 | eBay

TOYOTA GENUINE. LEXUS GENUINE.

www.ebay.com

Happy to measure mine if you need dimensions.

The other thing you could do is get someone to lay (as in tape tight) tracing paper over their tailgate TOYOTA and to make a rubbing using a charcoal stick. Then you could carefully cut it out to make a template. Guessing that isn't as easy as I just tried to make it sound. Actually it probably is easy; I'm just not sure how accurate it would be.