UPDATE.
Been on a few local 4x4 runs with the old girl and her handling is amazing considering she's sitting on stock 26 year suspension.
With that in mind, I did take some measurements from the center of the hub to the bottom edge of the wheel wells, per notations in other MUD threads. here are the results:
Front DS: 20.5"
Rear DS: 20.5"
Front PS: 21.5"
Rear PS: 20.5"
So, there's a bit of sagging, but...26 years.
I'm still on the fence about going with the following:
OEM Springs and shocks
OME 2" lift kit (Medium or heavy)
Dobinsons 2.5" lift kit
Still planning on ordering the rear swing out from
@GGM - happy to see there are some additions and corner armors being added into the options. I'd planned on ordering at the first of the year but I wanted to get a few other things done first.
I added the VeePeak ODBII reader and tethered it to my old iPhone. I was using
THIS OBDII Reader (Android only) and it was tethered to my 10" Samsung Tab-A but it just took up too much real estate; I wanted something closer to eye level...so, I dropped the $30 for VeePeak and $10 for OBD Fusion since Torque Pro doesn't talk to Apple and...I'm really happy. Also picked up a 4K "Action" Cam...I know a lot of people came at me in another FB forum, saying, "Shoulda just bought a GoPro" but honestly, I don't know how much I want to stop and fiddle with a camera set up every 1/4 mile. So, after the $40 coupon they gave me and an additional 20% off, the camera came in at $39 and it's good so far. I'll post video soon.
On 4/19 she goes into the doctor to hook up the stereo.
The PO had installed an entire set of speakers that are stock size and also installed a 250watt Kenwood head unit Which was destroyed by water intrusion), PLUS he installed a 450 watt Kenwood amp, which has been verified as working perfectly. When the electrical gremlins were routed out I had a chance to look at the front door speakers and yep, professionally installed to match the factory. So, PO went to some trouble...so, with the current head unit that a buddy had purchased a while back and never used sitting in the spot (
KENWOOD DDX418) the shop is going to hook it all up and see how it sounds. I'm of the opinion that if the PO went to all the trouble of finding correct sized speakers AND installed an amp of that size...it SHOULD be OK. And if not, I have new speakers ready to go from Amazon.
The shop will also put in the Center Diff Lock OEM button (and do the mod) I ordered as well as add a front/rear facing camera and USB port.
I'd install them myself but I don't have a garage.
Front Knuckle Rebuild
Still pending but I'm debating picking up a new set of birfs also. Mine aren't clicking but...I don't really want to have to do the knuckles again once I'm in there and then everything is buttoned up. But, we'll see how they look when I pull them out. Who knows, maybe the PO did them. I know the PO replaced the fuel filter, valve cover gasket, and u-joints prior to my taking ownership, at least, this is the presumption form my shop as they've noted these items "look too new" to be original, and, "Hey, at least they used OEM parts!". And since *I* didn't replace them, the assumption that the PO did stands (at around 199k miles when purchased...currently at 222,xxx miles)
Summer Project
I've been thinking about pulling the carpet and replacing it. With so many years of water intrusion the carpet is a sad shade of its former self. With that in mind, I've been watching a thread by
@dnp - looks like they offer a really good carpet set for the 80 that a lot of people like. If I do this, I'll do the sound deadening mats/insulation, and since the seats will be out, I'll probably replace the fronts with either a set from a Jetta or an Audi A4s that I can pull from any of the local yards near me. Although, I do wonder if the seats form a same year Camry or LS400 might fit directly...?
And hey, if you're following this thread, thanks for reading and adding any comments. And as always, the MUD community is amazing.
Thanks,