Builds Evolution of a Land Cruiser: My 80's build thread (13 Viewers)

[UnderDawg]

That's what they're for right? And yeah, I'm pretty sure the springs are a big reason of why I'm unhappy. I was told by a PO that another PO told him it had the FOR lift. It has the Bilsteins and FOR brackets so I'm going with that. They must be really old and tired by now as it feels really mushy on the trails.

The front will be addressed with 4WU's kit, the rear will need new springs and shocks. Kinda thinking of the 5" OME Comp coils. Still not sure though.

Nice, I think you got a good plan of attack. Get your front end squared away and then deal with the rear. Your gonna have some serious $$$ wrapped up in the rig but at least you use it. I'm heading to George Washington National for some much needed wheeling time and do some early fall camping.

 

[AMMO]

Just saying wouldn't shocks be more to blame for the "bounce" as they dampen the suspension movement.

Worn out springs result in sag, and if anything less rebound... Right?

-A

 

[DetroitStyle]

Please don't chop your truck up.

If you want a crawler, buy a cheap one with damage and go crazy from there.

 

[1973Guppie]

IMO, the sway you are experiencing is part of that truck and the lift you have. A higher truck with more sheetmetal above center of gravity is going to sway back and forth more no matter what. You can probably help things by removing those doors and pulling that roof rack with the few things you have there, that should help the sway a bit. You may also think about removing the rear hatch for hardcore wheeling trips. Keeping all the weight low is going to help alot with letting the suspension do it's thing while the body stays level. When I wheeled my old fj40 I kept all the heavy stuff centered directly behind the front seats so as to center the weight in between the axles. This made a huge difference in how the truck flexed over obstacles.

Another consideration to consider is the stop and go of how you are wheeling. Having to bouce back and forth through obstacles will cause sway vs. a consistent low gear path through them. If you can get lower gearing in there it will help you keep consistent movement through the obstacles instead of bouncing back and forth.

 

[scottryana]

It is your truck, it isn't your only truck, you obviously live in a place and have friends that get out and use your trucks in a way most don't. I say if you want to keep the 80 and cut it up, go for it. Or tone the 80 down a little and keep it as a camping rig and setup a cheap hardcore wheeler. Really lots of cool options and you live in a place they all make sense.

Wasn't complaining, just stating the things I've observed about an 80 in the rocks. Which is factual and well known, not just my opinion. Marlin gears are on my wishlist though!

 

[jcardona1]

Just saying wouldn't shocks be more to blame for the "bounce" as they dampen the suspension movement.

Worn out springs result in sag, and if anything less rebound... Right?

-A

Yeah shocks are definitely toast! One of the front shocks puked it's oil right before our Signal Peak trip. Aside from the bounce though, springs are too soft for my liking. Feels too mushy & floaty when it's loaded down which results in A LOT of body lean in the off camber stuff. I'd like something a bit firmer.

Please don't chop your truck up.

If you want a crawler, buy a cheap one with damage and go crazy from there.

I'll try to hold out as long as I can Building another project is not an option. One toy is all I can handle.

IMO, the sway you are experiencing is part of that truck and the lift you have. A higher truck with more sheetmetal above center of gravity is going to sway back and forth more no matter what. You can probably help things by removing those doors and pulling that roof rack with the few things you have there, that should help the sway a bit. You may also think about removing the rear hatch for hardcore wheeling trips. Keeping all the weight low is going to help alot with letting the suspension do it's thing while the body stays level. When I wheeled my old fj40 I kept all the heavy stuff centered directly behind the front seats so as to center the weight in between the axles. This made a huge difference in how the truck flexed over obstacles.

Another consideration to consider is the stop and go of how you are wheeling. Having to bouce back and forth through obstacles will cause sway vs. a consistent low gear path through them. If you can get lower gearing in there it will help you keep consistent movement through the obstacles instead of bouncing back and forth.

Yeah I'll start with tube doors and maybe a tube hatch. Roof rack would be hard to get rid of though if I want to bring passengers along. Hard to fit all the gear inside the cab for a few days plus passengers. For these types of trips I try to keep the heavier stuff inside.

Stop n go wheeling...GOD YES. I can't wait to get the Marlin gears in there. Wish somebody nearby had them so I could see the difference. I've always disliked this about the 80; the gearing is too high so you need to give it lots of gas to go over an obstacle. By the time you climb you've already got a ton of momentum going that's throwing you into the next rock.

Here's a video of that Tacoma climbing Soup Bowl. Love the super low gearing on this thing. Just point it and it goes

It is your truck, it isn't your only truck, you obviously live in a place and have friends that get out and use your trucks in a way most don't. I say if you want to keep the 80 and cut it up, go for it. Or tone the 80 down a little and keep it as a camping rig and setup a cheap hardcore wheeler. Really lots of cool options and you live in a place they all make sense.

If I had the funds and space I'd definitely have both. A nice clean 80 and a serious rock rig. But since I can't, that's when I get in dilemma. Northern CA has trails and scenery to suit all your tastes and I kinda want a rig that can do a bit of everything

 

[UnderDawg]

More vids man more vids!!!!!

 

[warezdog]

LOL love how the guy shooting you going up said you must weigh like 6500, he's probably off my almost another ton! Have you put that over the scales since the 37's?

 

[Matty]

you do know there are bypasses on the con, right? IMO, you are using the wrong vehicle to do what you want to do. Others will disagree but oh well. I had an fj40 that was sprung over, orion and crawled 100:1, it was great for the con and other hardcore trails. Problem was it was not so great for long distance family travel, camping, etc.

If you really want to go that route I would build yourself up an fj40 or a minitruck. Great aftermarket support and you will be able to go anywhere with it. Just depends on what you want to do with your truck.

I've got to agree. Its so much fun running a light, locked, geared rig. My toy went straight down the road with 37s, didnt care at all about body damage, the bed carried plenty of gear for trips. I actually lowered it when I wasnt pleased with the suspension rather than having to make it higher, and thank goodness cause it wouldnt been over many more times.

I also think it would be a shame to exo that huge truck and make it even bigger! Not to mention I really enjoy the body lines of these 80s, especially your truck Jose! It would be cool to see it cut like a 1st gen 4runer, Ive always wanted to do that to a 2nd gen 4runner but then it seems like it wouldve been worth it to start with something else.

That being said, it is totally awesome to see you out there wheelin the s*** out of that pig and im looking forward to see what you do!

 

[jkilcullen]

That's what they're for right? And yeah, I'm pretty sure the springs are a big reason of why I'm unhappy. I was told by a PO that another PO told him it had the FOR lift. It has the Bilsteins and FOR brackets so I'm going with that. They must be really old and tired by now as it feels really mushy on the trails.

The front will be addressed with 4WU's kit, the rear will need new springs and shocks. Kinda thinking of the 5" OME Comp coils. Still not sure though.

I wouldn't go higher with the lift but to each his own. J springs would probably stiffen it up over the FOR springs. But I think a quality set of shocks are the answer to all that bouncing around ( I know this because I need to do the same )

 

[jcardona1]

More vids man more vids!!!!!

Soon! I have a bunch of clips and Gopro dash footage. Will be taking a crack at making a nice 3-4 minute montage. Let's see how it goes.

LOL love how the guy shooting you going up said you must weigh like 6500, he's probably off my almost another ton! Have you put that over the scales since the 37's?

Yeah they were talking to a few bystanders who got a kick out of seeing an 80 out there. Most of what they're used to is chopped and caged rigs. No never have put it on the scales but I sure am I curious to know!

I've got to agree. Its so much fun running a light, locked, geared rig. My toy went straight down the road with 37s, didnt care at all about body damage, the bed carried plenty of gear for trips. I actually lowered it when I wasnt pleased with the suspension rather than having to make it higher, and thank goodness cause it wouldnt been over many more times.

I also think it would be a shame to exo that huge truck and make it even bigger! Not to mention I really enjoy the body lines of these 80s, especially your truck Jose! It would be cool to see it cut like a 1st gen 4runer, Ive always wanted to do that to a 2nd gen 4runner but then it seems like it wouldve been worth it to start with something else.

That being said, it is totally awesome to see you out there wheelin the **** out of that pig and im looking forward to see what you do!

So many ideas running through my head. I just need to regain myself and remember that this isn't a rock buggy before I do something drastic

I wouldn't go higher with the lift but to each his own. J springs would probably stiffen it up over the FOR springs. But I think a quality set of shocks are the answer to all that bouncing around ( I know this because I need to do the same )

Yep - really wish we had good progressive coils that would allow a ton of down travel. Couple that with longer shocks and the rear would be pretty decent notwithstanding the crappy geometry in the back.

 

[jcardona1]

RUBICON PART 2

Pics! Continued from my post above, here's the rest of the pictures. The group consisted of myself, the 3rd gen 4Runner that's always in my pics, a bobbed Tacoma, 1st gen 4Runner and an insane Jeep XJ. The Jeep was built during a 6 week period and this was its shakedown run.

The plan was to camp the night then go all the way out. But as mentioned, the 3rd gen 4Runner was going through hell. He snapped not one, but two axles and had no more spares. But this was a good thing actually. My buddy's been considering going SAS. This sealed the deal. He's probably online ordering parts as we speak. He'll be running an FJ80 front axle and will switch it up to 37s. That thing is gonna be sweet.

We made it Buck Island Lake and went out the next morning. One of the days we'll run the whole thing. From what I experienced in this stretch of the Rubicon, the toughest part was the section where you drop down from Spider Lake into Buck Island. That entire hill slide has some crazy off camber stuff and lots of boulders. Granite Bowl was awesome. Just the sheer size of that chunk of rock is mind boggling.

Enough talk, on to the pics. After making it past the Heep traffic jam at the Gate Keeper came the Granite Bowl. Really wish I snapped more pics here

The 3 better built rigs then tried the Soup Bowl

So much flex you'd think it BROKE

Tried and tried but couldn't make it up. Ended up calling it quits

He then got shown up by the 1st gen 4Runner, driven BY A GIRL

Then came the bobbed Tacoma. Walked up the Bowl like if it were a speed bump, all while forgetting to engage the front lockers

Running through Little Sluice, or what's left of it

 

[jcardona1]

RUBICON PART 3

Courtesy of the steep ledges in the Granite Bowl

 

[bluecruiser]

Great pics. Can't wait to get out there to do that trail someday. That Jeep has some ridiculous flex.

 

[jcardona1]

RUBICON PART 4

Didn't take any pictures during the descent into Buck Island as it was a tough stretch. Near the bottom of the hill the 4Runner snapped the first axle of the trip and had to be tugged to camp.

This is starting to become a familiar sight. At this point I think is when he made up his mind to go solid axle.

He also lost the nut on his upper control arm and it was flopping around. We improvised by making a new bushing/washer with a castle nut from a spare axle shaft and a rubber insert.

Meanwhile the boys were out being boys

As if thing were going bad for the 4Runner, the next day popped the bead after landing hard on the tire. Can't tell from the pic but this was on the really steep hill climb coming out Buck. While winching to another truck as an anchor, the remote line got caught in the fairlead and shorted out the wiring in the box. GREAT.

But the popped bead did give us the chance to make a cool video for Youtube



Immediately after fixing the bead the 4runner broke ANOTHER axle just a few yards up the trail. Luckily we found just enough flat ground to fix it again.

Finally back on the trail and it was getting late. We bypassed Little Sluice to avoid any more mishaps this late in the day.

Being careful to only use the front locker unless absolutely necessary!

Sometime during Sunday a huge wildfire started in the Sierras. Unfortunate, but we got incredible views and skies on the way out

Stopped for a late lunch and started to check the damage.

Passenger side slider was jacked. Bent the tubing upwards

Driver's side was a bit worse. Bent and flexed all the way up into the body. Look at my freaking rocker. DOH!

And finally made it back onto pavement! Exited Loon Lake just as the sun was setting. The wildfire mixed with the clouds and sunset made for one of the most amazing sunsets I'd seen in a long time. It cast a dramatic glow over the entire lake and mountains. What a way to end the trip

 

[njohansen]

Awesome pics Jose! I'm lovin' where you've got the 80 at the moment it would be a shame to see it chopped up although it would help as mentioned. I reckon brush rails would do you for a while instead of an all out exo cage.

 

[UnderDawg]

Damn I wish I lived in Cali again....

 

[maxamillion2345]

I think you'd be pretty happy and really surprised at what you could do with a proper 3 link front, and maybe even the rear.

I mean look at the XJ, yeah it's almost a foot shorter and definitely lighter but running tons he's wider than you and he's rocking!

Push the 80, it's a good platform, I don't think you need to destroy it to make it very capable either.

 

[BOOSTED80]

Always love those pics..what a great place

 

[warezdog]

I want to know how much that thing weighed as you had it loaded.