Lift: custom vs kit (1 Viewer)

[ElectricDyck]

I just got a call from Japan and my 80 will be on the boat in 6 days, I now have a renewed excitement after 2 months of waiting. My plans for it are arbs, gears and 37s, oh and the bearing job.

My question, I've been looking at kits and the price and wondering for the price $3120 USA - $3579 Can can a shop not build a 3 link front/4 link rear with superior results? I know DOM, joints, steel, shocks and a d-shaft can't be over $1500. That leaves $2 gz at $70/hr, thats 28.5 hrs. I think I could probably do it in 60 hrs if I had the time, so a professional should be able to do it in 30 hrs, right? Am I way off here? Has anyone done this?

 

[-Spike-]

Find a shop you can trust, and ask them. The real problem with custom work- be it your own or a shop's- is the quality of the finished product. The engineering has to be good, as well as the workmanship. Anything's possible, although your chances for success will be greatly enhanced if you know exactly what you want before talking to the shop- that way not only have you done some of the work yourself, but when the fabricator wants to change something you'll be familiar with the geometry and what you want done and can discuss it with him to come up with the best solution.

-Spike

 

[ElectricDyck]

Yep your're right. The whole point of the 80 is to wheel/camp/hunt/fish and not be stuck in the garage wrenching, I already have an unfinished project. I would rather have somebody else do everything except drive it. I was just curious if I was in the right ball park dollar wise? or if I should spend a day and bolt in a lift.

 

[619TOY]

I can't comment on the prices charged where you live, but labor rates where I live with someone I would trust to build something for me are substantially higher. I have freinds who build race cars and everytime I've approached them with something I like, they always tell me " I couldn't build it for that ($)" This is why I decided to go with a "bolt in" kit.

In my opinion, the only way to get more for your buck in the fabrication arena is to have the ability to fabricate it youself.

If you think you could complete a setup like you're taliking about in 60 hours, you should do it. Why would you pay somebody for what you believe to be 30 hrs. work if you could do it yourself in 60? I installed my "bolt in" lift in about 20 hours and I'm pretty mechanically inclined.

 

[Doc]

Personally, I would ONLY have that kind of work done at a shop that specializes in cruisers. ie, slee, etc...

 

[Imagery]

Personally, I would ONLY have that kind of work done at a shop that speserlizes in cruisers. ie, slee, etc...

I agree with Doc... You could get someone to design something but if they are not completely familiar with the 80 and how it works on the trail rather than how it does on paper, then you could wind up spending more time correcting problems than enjoying your Cruiser. If you can do the work yourself, you could use a DIY kit and save $ that way. However, if you do use a DIY kit, and end up having to pay someone to install it and do the necessary welding, then you could end up spending more. I try to not look at it as SPENDING $ but rather it is an INVESTMENT which if done right the first time, will last many years. If you use DIY parts but not a kit, then you could end up SPENDING/wasting money like I have done by getting parts that are not designed to work together with the rest of the components.

 

[Walking Eagle]

Personally, I would ONLY have that kind of work done at a shop that specializes in cruisers. ie, slee, etc...

I would only have it done by a shop that specializes in that kind of work, ie someplace that's done more than one 3-link

 

[scottryana]

ED,

I think that front and rear linked suspensions will cost substantially more. I have over $2600 dollars in parts for my front 3 link.

14" Fox 2.5 coilovers w/springs $1500
4130 Heat treated tube $400
Johny joints $325
Tabs and Links $200
Air Bump Stops $300
etc.

I also have $1500+ in labor even though I did all of the engineering. I think that it is impossible to custom make anything with the same quality as a mass produced product at the same cost.

Ryan.

 

[IronYuppy]

You have two good shops withing arm's length of Abby. I would talk to Al at North Shore Offroad, or Travis at TRDV; both have experience with complicated 3-link set-ups, and both can do everything in one shop. Al solved a really tricky lift problem on my '92 (coil-sprung) 4Runner.

http://www.nsor.com

I can't find TRDV's site, but you can find Travis on Pirate4x4 (user name: TRDV)

 

[Adam B]

I was going to suggest talking to Travis but someone beat me to the punch...

www.trdv.ca

There's nothing magical about Cruisers or the 80 series and Travis knows Toyotas so if you're serious about a fully custom setup then he's probably someone you should talk to.

That said, I think you're going to spend a fortune when this is all said and done. There are guys running 37's on 80 series without 6" lifts and without crazy custom setups. If you're looking to do this simply because of the high price of "lift kits" (as it sounds like) then be smart and do it my way...buy springs and whatever shocks you want and design / fabricate all the rest yourself. Complete suspension for under $1000 and then you will know your vehicle and be able to fix it when something goes wrong. If you aren't able to fabricate your own parts then you are kind of stuck paying for a bunch of relatively simple brackets and spacers but I'd still encourage you to spend a weekend and do the work yourself.

 

[Walking Eagle]

ED,

I think that front and rear linked suspensions will cost substantially more. I have over $2600 dollars in parts for my front 3 link.

14" Fox 2.5 coilovers w/springs $1500

Ya', but you didn't just do a 3 link if you went to coil overs. $1500 is alot more than a set of springs and shocks.