build idea

[theferg]

I've got this crazy idea and I think I just might get rid of current rig and go for it.

It's basically this:

-cheap 2wd 3rd gen 4runner
-drop in a 1UZ and whatever auto tranny and tcase to get me passenger front output
-80 series front and rear elock axles w/ 80 series suspension
-large gas tank relocated to spare tire location (frees up room for longer control arms and gets rid of low hanging stock tank)
-fitted up with 35s and the usual safari/expedition style equipment
-a decent paint job

I've seen most of this done before but not all on the same rig. Anybody have any thought or suggestions? I've also not ever done an engine swap and likely wouldn't have much time to learn the electrical and what not so anybody have a suggestion for a good honest custom shop?--mainly for the engine swap but maybe more of it. I've been thinking Proffits but they seem so busy all the time...and they're so far away it'd be near impossible to stop and check. out progress now and then.

Anyway, I'm not set on this yet, but I think I'm pretty close.

-Ferg-

 

[Hilux]

Pretty sure you'll have to fab up the front 3 link. I had an idea once to add channel brackets to the front of the frame to widen the track, then just weld the 80 stuff onto that.

The steering arms and geometry are gonna kill you IMO.

It's admirable, but you'll have a VERY firm ride IMO with I'm assuming stock 80 springs. Not to mention you'll look ghetto fab with your axles sticking way out... I happen to hate the 1Ton axles look but to each his own.


Why don't you just get ARB's for the rig you have now and conservatively lift it?

Or is it the uniqueness of having the rig you specify what you're after?

 

[theferg]

So tell me whats so bad about EFI V8?--especially when compared to the EFI V6 3.4l 5VZ-FE... Perhaps you are thinking I am meaning a true expedition rig, which I am not. I would build a completely different rig if I wanted one for a true expedition. FWIW, this is actually a very popular swap in Aussie Land. Fuel mileage reports I am finding from folks down there that have done it are indicating higher km/l (mp/g) than that of the V6 in the same 4Runner. The V6 puts out 190hp and 220 ft-lbs. The V8 differs through the years but the 89-95 does 256-261 hp and 260-267 ft-lbs while the later V8 with vvt-i will do 290 hp and 300 ft-lbs. Now I'm not one of these big fat american slugs that think bigger is better and I gotta have more power, but with all the weight I'm putting on and in my rig, when its loaded and full of people, its gonna easily be over 5000 lbs and maybe closer to 6000... My long term plans would be to be able to pull a small pop-up tent trailer for the fam and an expedition trailer when its the guys. As my rig sits right now with 33s and the weight of all the protection and a small amount of emergency gear I keep on board, it is a slug gettin up steep hlils-granted I've only got the 4.30 gears in the diffs and should step up to 4.88s, but then add in all the other gear and a trailer and its still gonna be slow goin. I've thought about adding an SC, but that will eat my gas up like crazy. from what I'm seeing, this V8 is quite efficient and seems to do quite well in a mildly built truck. Anyway, I feel like seeing "V8" just automatically turns some people off, no matter what the facts and data actually are. And I'm not saying I'm an expert on either of these engines...this is just what I've been finding through my research on line and finding other peoples experiences with it.

Now, as to the "ghetto-fab" issue of "1Tons" sticking out to the side of the rig, I agree with how silly that looks, but I kinda think you have no idea how wide any of the axles are that I am referring to with this build... The 4runner/Taco rear axle is just over 60" WMS-WMS and the 80 series is right around 63". I'm already running 80 series OEM alloys on my 4runner and the tires (33x12s) are completely tucked inside the LTD-style flares on it so I could easily (and happily) add 1.5" more width per side (could even run skinnier tires to get back under farther if necessary).

And yes I am fully aware the front will need to be fabbed (IFS vs SA--how could anyone think it would not need fab work?), and I am extremely confident it will work, though I haven't actually done any measurements yet. FWIW, I have came across quite a few Minis/Hiluxes that have actually used the LC front axle and steering, some with the LC radius arms, and some with custom 3links. I also have a good friend (and well-known IH8Mudder...) who is currently doing just about this same thing for the front of his 89-95 (can't remember the year) Minitruck using the 80 series radius arms.

I feel if you really look at it all together, it could make quite a sweet truck. But, thats fine if you still don't agree...I've lived my entire life outside the standard norm and I intend to keep it that way.

I definitely appreciate your input though and would love to hear more thoughts on this.

-Ferg-

for the life of me I don't understand why anyone would want to wheel a EFI V8...

V8 and Expedition should never be used in the same post...

Pretty sure you'll have to fab up the front 3 link. I had an idea once to add channel brackets to the front of the frame to widen the track, then just weld the 80 stuff onto that.

The steering arms and geometry are gonna kill you IMO.

It's admirable, but you'll have a VERY firm ride IMO with I'm assuming stock 80 springs. Not to mention you'll look ghetto fab with your axles sticking way out... I happen to hate the 1Ton axles look but to each his own.


Why don't you just get ARB's for the rig you have now and conservatively lift it?

Or is it the uniqueness of having the rig you specify what you're after?

 

[FlatlandTRD]

-cheap 2wd 3rd gen 4runner
-drop in a 1UZ and whatever auto tranny and tcase to get me passenger front output
-80 series front and rear elock axles w/ 80 series suspension
-large gas tank relocated to spare tire location (frees up room for longer control arms and gets rid of low hanging stock tank)
-fitted up with 35s and the usual safari/expedition style equipment
-a decent paint job
-Ferg-

If you've got the money & time, almost anything is possible. Not a thing wrong with the V8, the problem is you used it and the E-word in the same thread. That's going to attrack attention from the "experts" because V8s used to be sooo heavy and thirsty. And no current 80 or 60 owner that uses theirs with the E-word would ever dare wish for more power, better mpg than current and that evil EFI. That's the worst thing that ever happened to Land Rover (granted they used tdi in Camel Trophy, but good luck finding petrol over there)

Personally, I think there's so much that can be done with your current vehicle, keeping IFS, and going to 35s with a SC and a crawler. I know you've heard of Vermejo, BruceTS, and a few on here. They go places the trailer queens break, and they still have mostly pretty sheet metal.

Again, if you have the money, the time, and the skills or creativity, please pursue this as it would be one hell of an adventure. Good Luck

 

[bustanutley]

I see nothing crazy about the idea, pretty common place thinking as far as i'm concerned.

1uz is a beautiful powerplant but simply not a good choice for a truck. They make all their power on the high end. Go drive a LS400 and you will see how miserably sluggish they are off the line, get it on the highway and suddenly it comes alive. 2uz is a better choice. SC 5vz is a good choice as well.

 

[cavemancaleb]

i love the idea, however i see nothing wrong with the 3.4 liter or the stock rear elocker axle, i would argue the 8.4 is stronger then the rear out of an 80. Just get an adapter to run a mini truck case for pass side drop with the front high pinion cruiser axle.

 

[theferg]

i love the idea, however i see nothing wrong with the 3.4 liter or the stock rear elocker axle, i would argue the 8.4 is stronger then the rear out of an 80. Just get an adapter to run a mini truck case for pass side drop with the front high pinion cruiser axle.

I've just been thinking of a wee bit more power for the truck so i'm able to pull hills well and pull hills well when i'm pullin a small camp trailer and tons of gear. Thus the thought of the small V8 over the 3.4 V6.

As to the arguement of the e-locker 8.4....that is actually two different diffs you're talking about. There's the 8.4, which came only as an *open* diff in tacomas, t100s and tundras (and others?), and then there's the 8.0 which came in e-locked versions in Tacomas/4Runners (others?) and an unlocked version in *all* 4runners that didn't come with e-lock rear. All tacoma/4runners that have e-locker are 8.0. Without any technical test data, I'd say you can't decide which is technically stronger, but given the ring gear and pinion sizes among the three diffs in question, and the fact that they are similar in design, one could assume the 8.0 is not as strong as the 8.4, and the 8.4 is not as strong as the 9.5. So I'm going to argue the opposite of what you were arguing--whether its the 8.0 elock or the 8.4 open.

And furthermore, in order to accommodate the 9.5" e-lock rear diff, you MUST run the full-float axle assembly, which is undoubtedly stronger and more heavy-duty than any tacoma/4runner rear axle assembly.

There are some other reasons i'm planning the LC80 rear as well...so, to sum up "Why the LC80 e-lock rear over the 4Runner/Tacoma e-lock rear?":

-9.5" ring gear
-full float axle assembly
-factory disk brakes *with* integrated park brake
-longer and heavier-duty control arms (yes, i'll need to relocate the gas tank to all the use of the longer arms--see first post )
-~3" wider than the tacoma/4runner axle (which will nicely match the LC80 front btw )

Now I know some of this stuff can be worked out and attained in other ways, but the LC80 rear includes all of this in one shot. No messing around with trying to find a solution for each individual area in that list--you just get the LC80 rear and throw it under.

Don't get me wrong though, I know the 4runner/taco axle is a great axle and I would never think about trading it out for anything *but* the LC80 axle. Any other questions on the axles?

-Ferg-

 

[bustanutley]

In terms of rockcrawling, the factory 9.5 e-locker is a bad design, the long splines is the Achilles heal of that rear end. Further, dealing with a broken shaft is a motherbitch. I wouldn’t touch that locker with a 10’ pole.

However, I think in the application you are talking of using it, it should be swell.