Builds 86 Xtra Cab Build (4Wheelunderground 3 link front, 4 link rear and 3.4 swap) (4 Viewers)

[toyotaboy80]

Thanks, I put my .002" in, lol.

Gotcha... didnt look like it was on the hoops. I guess ya gotta do what ya gotta do. Any chance of putting a bend in the tail gate?

The terrain around here doesnt really make me question my approach angles too much...

 

[Broski]

It's looking good man, I'm with you I like the look of the bed over the flat bed thing !
I would consider tilting the tire up over the shock hoops with a angled tool box under underneath, yes it a pain to move the tire to get to the tools but real estate is scarce in that bed!
As far as the back of the bed I would consider just cutting off the roll-pan in the rear and follow that line around to the back of the rear tires and fill that space in with your rear bumper

 

[aztoyman]

Thanks Broski, exactly what I plan on doing. That lower sheet metal will get mangled anyway.

I did sit the tire up on the hoops at an angle. I just didn't get a pic. It's not pretty but it's not THAT bad either. Thought about the "possibility" of the tire coming forward through the back window in a bad event. So I better secure it to a good mount if I do put it there.

I could cut the rear tube on the U bend and move it forward. Thanks for all the ideas yous guys. I got some thinking to do.

 

[aztoyman]

I just went back and looked at my pics flexed. I could actually cut off my shock hoops and make a set that mounts outside the frame rails and angles back over at the top.

I don't know if I want my tire to fit inside the tailgate that bad though. Toyota boy's suggestions got me thinking so this is his fault.

 

[aztoyman]

Dang it! Between Toyotaboy and Broski getting me "THINKING", I'm going to cut off my shock hoops and make new ones outside the frame rails and a little taller. With room to push the tire forward, I THINK I can maybe fix the rear of the bed enough to get a tailgate attached. If I can't get this bent up one working, I THINK I'll just use the one from my 88.

It's a good thing that gnob is on a road trip or he'd have me THINKING even more.

I also THOUGHT that since all the rust belt guys fix stuff that looks like it was hauled up from the Titanic that I could probably keep plugging away at repairs and mods on this mangled but rust free bed.

I did get the passenger side wheel well cut and the flange bent over today.

 

[aztoyman]

This side had a bit of an issue to address since the fuel door is right at my bend. I basically run a tape line along the edge of the original bend, cut at the inside of the tape and bend the outside over.

Behind the fuel door is kind of a sump. I didn't get a pic before I cut it but it hung down into the wheel well. Without that support, there is no way I would be able to bend that edge over so I made a filler plate and welded it in.

Once that was done I was able to go ahead and bend the flange over. I still need to go around the edge a little more with a hammer and dolly to sharpen the edge a bit more.

I know I don't need the filler door anymore but I don't want to try to fill it and blend it in. Maybe I'll put an air connection or something there?? Jack in the box, hand grenade?

 

[gnob]

Dang it! Between Toyotaboy and Broski getting me "THINKING", I'm going to cut off my shock hoops and make new ones outside the frame rails and a little taller. With room to push the tire forward, I THINK I can maybe fix the rear of the bed enough to get a tailgate attached. If I can't get this bent up one working, I THINK I'll just use the one from my 88.

It's a good thing that gnob is on a road trip or he'd have me THINKING even more.

I also THOUGHT that since all the rust belt guys fix stuff that looks like it was hauled up from the Titanic that I could probably keep plugging away at repairs and mods on this mangled but rust free bed.

I did get the passenger side wheel well cut and the flange bent over today.

come awn man

I gotta give you props. sheet metal work is the debil.

 

[Broski]

The bed is fine, looks to be in pretty good shape besides the roll pan.
My reg started out dent less now both rear corners are raisins I just keeping telling my self it's a rock crawler not a show car and shoot some more color match paint on it

 

[gnob]

The bed is fine, looks to be in pretty good shape besides the roll pan.
My reg started out dent less now both rear corners are raisins I just keeping telling my self it's a rock crawler not a show car and shot some more color match paint on it

had a similar convo with wife recently. told her that mine's a 50 footer. had to explain

 

[Broski]

had a similar convo with wife recently. told her that mine's a 50 footer. had to explain

I always say it's good from far but far for good !

 

[aztoyman]

You guys are right. This is definitely NOT a restoration and I don't like bodywork at all. Thanks for all the ideas and support.

 

[ntsqd]

I'd notch the tailgate for the spare.

 

[aztoyman]

I pulled the bed, drilled out a bunch of spot welds and got the mangled sheet metal removed. I managed to straighten that rear bed brace with a big C- clamp and some scrap steel. I'll get back to working on the bed later.

 

[aztoyman]

I made a new set of shock hoops welded them on over the old ones. I had left half a hoop on with the upper shock mounts so I could keep my shock position.

Made a cardboard template so I could make new plates for upper mounts.

 

[aztoyman]

I put a tube cross member back in the same place it originally had one. I put it in line with the forward shock mount tubes.

I also thought that I better reinforce those long upper shock mounting plates so I used a 1 3/4" hole saw to insert some of the same DOM tubing to strengthen the mounts.

I used the plugs from the holes as end caps for the tubes the hoops are sitting on.

 

[aztoyman]

I cycled the suspension and so far everything clears. Pretty tight at full stuff but nothing hits.

The tire will go under the cross bar but I set the hoops so the tire stops just before touching the shocks. There's actually room for a slightly larger tire and still close the tailgate.

 

[mustcamp]

Today was a day of frustration. I found out that the big 4Runner brakes are definitely an easy bolt on upgrade for the FJ Cruiser. I ended up putting her stock brakes back on because one of the calipers has a leak because of a casting flaw.

Anyway, I got to test fit the FJ brakes on my build. DOESN'T FIT with my wheels any better than the big boys. Caliper grinding is required.

So I either have to keep my T100 brakes and the wheel spacers to widen the stance of the 85 axle. Or grind calipers.

I guess I could try the Taco brakes to get the slip on rotor and get rid of the wheel spacers. But the calipers have smaller pistons than my T100's. It would suck to buy smaller brakes and not clear my wheels.

Changing wheels aren't an option. My tires are kissing my lower links at full steer and I'm not going to limit steering.

I had a set of 3/16" spacers made years ago for my FJ40 with FJ60 axles to fit the wheels and stock fj60 calipers I ran at that time. All so I did not have to grind the caliper. They do this commercaly all the time between dualy rims to keep the tires from touching at the ground when fully loaded. When I built my FJ80 axle with stock calipers for my current 85 4Runner using the TG beadlock (they are thick right at the mount surface. the newer ones are machined further out) the wheels touched the caliper. Luckly I had saved the spacers and run them now with Dorman 610-463 studs. the spacer fits nicley on the extra shoulder.

 

[ntsqd]

These days it would be really easy to get someone like sendcutsend.com to cut out such a shim spacer IF you can model it or know someone who can.

 

[aztoyman]

That's my problem. I don't.

 

[ntsqd]

Fusion 360 is supposedly free. You know, something that you can learn in your spare time.

The modeling is easy for me, so now you do know someone.