4runner.... rescue? (2 Viewers)

[davidp14]

Nice!! Slap some wheels on it and let's go!

 

[BlueCruiser84]

Nice!! Slap some wheels on it and let's go!

HAH! wheels are the least of it's concerns right now. I'm going to try to get the front housing bolted under today. Then it's just reassembly and ride around with the Carolina squat.

 

[BlueCruiser84]

Finally making some progress putting things back together.

Steering box and axle are bolted in place.

The blue tape is about where the axle centerline is when springs are at ride height. Seems really far forward, but I think having a tire in there will change the perspective.

Now to shoehorn the Elocker in there. It’s going to be a tight fit.

 

[dumass]

blue tape is about where the axle centerline is when springs are at ride height. Seems really far forward, but I think having a tire in there will change the perspective.

with the shackles at the REAR (correct location for shackles)......


she'll be right mate

 

[BlueCruiser84]

Got the high pinion elocker in. It’s a tight squeeze! Had to countersink a bolt, but everything else juuuust cleared. We’ll see what else needs to be clearances to get the motor on.

Preliminary measurements indicate that I MIGHT be able to use a factory Dcab tundra driveshaft for the front as long as I have a single case. Measurements are VERY close.

 

[BlueCruiser84]

Well @davidp14 I slapped some wheels on it. I’m waiting on spacers to widen the front out a bit. Front axle rebuild went great. I still need to attach brake lines, shock towers, wire the Elocker, and do bumpstops.

Height turned out great. Back end is sitting on stands about where I want it and it’s at about 24.75” to the frame under the doors.

 

[davidp14]

That is forkin badass.

So, when are we wheeling

 

[BlueCruiser84]

Got these fancy wheel spacers. Normally I would have used eBay spacers a la Whistlin’ Diesel but i just couldn’t do it.

Ordered some 12” travel Bilsteins for the front and started prepping the Ford shock towers. I have hoops that I cut off a parts rig, but I like how compact the ford towers are. I’ll put a giant gusset on the backside and they will be welded to the Ruffstuff frame plates. I think they’ll be fine.

 

[BlueCruiser84]

Got the front shocks on. I used f250 towers with a gusset welded on the backside. For shocks I went with the ever faithful Bilstein 5125 in the 12” flavor.

 

[gnob]

Pretty sure bils go cans up.
Plus ive had hysteer arms contact shock cans mounted down.

 

[BlueCruiser84]

Pretty sure bils go cans up.
Plus ive had hysteer arms contact shock cans mounted down.

I was wondering that as I was bolting them in and I meant to ask. The writing on the can is oriented to suggest I have them upside down. In my head, the shaft just belongs at the top - that’s what I get for trusting my brain.

Thanks for pointing that out.

 

[BlueCruiser84]

We’re sitting on all fours. Still lots of work to be done. Came out to a 3.75” lift over stock. I’m pretty pleased. Things may need to be tweaked after it settles. We’ll see. It looks like it’s squatted but it’s really not.

Both locker actuators are not working. One worked, but I overrotated it with a 9v battery and now it won’t rotate back. I won’t have time to fool with it before I (try) to go wheeling.

Still a lot of little things to do and the list seems to keep growing and growing.

 

[BlueCruiser84]

She lives! I put about 45 miles on it so far breaking in the gears. Drives really well. I outdid my expectations.

There’s the obligatory flex shot. It had more to go but I ran out of dirt pile.

Still a bunch of loose ends to tie up, but it’s safe and drivable. Going wheeling tomorrow. Wish me luck!

 

[aztoyman]

Right on! Looks good. After all your hard work, it's time to enjoy it.

 

[BlueCruiser84]

It was a fun project. If I take one single picture while I’m wheeling, I’ll post it. This is not a thread with extensive content. I’d say I’m too old, but I don’t think that’s true.

Still to do:
-Rear bumpstops
-Get both elockers working
-Rear bumper with recovery point

Way in the future:
-Cage (sometime)
-Actual front driveshaft instead of the square one.
-maybe duals? But the 4.7:1 is pretty slow.

 

[BlueCruiser84]

I thought I’d go wheeling and my front springs would settle. Instead the rears did, and now she squats pretty hard. Otherwise everything worked perfectly.

Single picture from the trail and the highway to prove I did both. I got denied on that obstacle. I’ve gotta get the lockers working.

It definitely drove better with IFS, but it is still very respectable now and the off-road ability was drastically increased.