My misc restoration ramblings/questions thread (2 Viewers)

[Mudder]

That was badly worded sorry. If the tire size went down 2 inches do you think it would look funny with the lift?

 

[KLF]

Ah, I see what you mean now. When I first put my OME's on my '84, I drove it around with 31's on it, and yeah it looked kinda odd, sorta like a roller skate, if you know what I mean. I eventually went up to 33's and it looked much better. But then ya gotta regear...

 

[Mudder]

I get what ya mean. And that's good to know. I'll probably go up to 33's and re-gear to 4.88's. Thank you KLF!

 

[Toast]

Nick: did you get my PM?

Thanks man!!! Got it!

 

[The Jade Bean]

When I first put my OME's on my '84, I drove it around with 31's on it, and yeah it looked kinda odd, sorta like a roller skate

Great! Now I feel self conscience about my 2.5" lift and 31's... Thanks...LOL!

-Daniel Kent

 

[Toast]

Love me my little roller skate!!

 

[Mudder]

That's a sexy truck! What colour code is that?

 

[Toast]

Thanks man!
I feel like it looks more bronze than it really is cause of the sunset, but it's what I call the "typical tan" on Toyotas. I'm honestly not sure what the color code is but it's a very common color. Is the code in the vin?

 

[Mudder]

If you look at the sticker under the hood on the fire wall in the middle behind the engine it will have the transmission and axle code. There is a part that says c/tr and a 4 digit number that follows. That number is the colour code.

 

[Toast]

Cool I'll check it out. Thanks for the info

 

[Toast]

Hey KLF, did you ever cover what kind of suspension and drivetrain your running on this truck? I just read through it and didn't see anything discussing suspension.

 

[KLF]

My focus on the main restoration project was on everything from the frame up. Next summer it will get everything from the frame down torn apart and refreshed.

Springs are OME's, but they are pretty old and tired, these came off my '84 that I bought in '99, have well over 100K on them. The fronts are in pretty bad shape, very flat, I have almost no uptravel left on the passenger side. Ride is terrible, actually. Haven't decided yet, but I'll probably order up another set of OME's to replace them. I have NO desire to do any welding on the frame, so no longer springs in the rear for now. Shackles, pins, bushings, etc are all pretty shot.

Shocks are Bilstein 5100's, which I bought when I did the SAS in 2003. They ride nice, but the cans seem to be prone to corrosion. I cleaned them up with a knotted wire wheel on a grinder, and sprayed them with Rustoleum Hammered gray paint, seems to be holding up.

Tie rod and draglink are Budbuilts. I'll probably put new TRE's on them all. Steering box is in stock location that has been gusseted and plated.

 

[Toast]

So when your front springs were new it rode pretty nice with that setup? What kind of shackle lengths do you run front and rear? Also, how's the rear shackle angle with that setup?

 

[KLF]

Yes the new springs rode nice, which is why I figure I'll just go with the same thing. I really don't want the truck any taller.

Shackles are the stock OMEs that come in the kit. I'm not happy with the rear angle right now, I can't figure out why they won't settle in. I know that the shackle pins are pretty crusty and stiff in the bushings, which might also have something to do with the rough ride.

Truck looks much better than it rides, that's for sure. I know the front brake rotors are warped/uneven, which is also making it unfun to drive. It pisses me off that the rotors are shot after about 10K miles, but I guess that's what I get for buying cheap no-name rotors from AutoZone.

 

[jgranthevagrant]

Yes the new springs rode nice, which is why I figure I'll just go with the same thing. I really don't want the truck any taller.

Shackles are the stock OMEs that come in the kit. I'm not happy with the rear angle right now, I can't figure out why they won't settle in. I know that the shackle pins are pretty crusty and stiff in the bushings, which might also have something to do with the rough ride.

Truck looks much better than it rides, that's for sure. I know the front brake rotors are warped/uneven, which is also making it unfun to drive. It pisses me off that the rotors are shot after about 10K miles, but I guess that's what I get for buying cheap no-name rotors from AutoZone.

Hi KLF, what grease do you use in the bushings?

 

[KLF]

Whatever is in my gun. But my favorite is Green Grease, that stuff is really waterproof. Great for u-joints too.

 

[Dedtruk]

KLF's at Fall Gathering 2009 on the right, mine in the center facing the camera ...

And delivering the bad news that my rear driveshaft was no more ...

Outstanding thread, KLF. I'm mining it for ideas (note my sig), thanks!

 

[Dedtruk]

Shocks are Bilstein 5100's, which I bought when I did the SAS in 2003. They ride nice, but the cans seem to be prone to corrosion. I cleaned them up with a knotted wire wheel on a grinder, and sprayed them with Rustoleum Hammered gray paint, seems to be holding up.

Tie rod and draglink are Budbuilts. I'll probably put new TRE's on them all. Steering box is in stock location that has been gusseted and plated.

Is there a thread/details on your SAS? I have a couple spring options and other questions ...

I didn't see a solution to your paint problem in this thread. Buddies of mine run dirt track Celicas, wild little 22Rs spinning 7200 RPM that sandblast the flanks of the cars. Their solution for keeping paint on them is to use a couple dollops of DuPont 999 hardener in the Rustoleum. They just powerwash the cars after the race and the paint still shines. I haven't tried it yet, but I've seen the cars pre- and post-race. Hard to argue with results!

 

[KLF]

Update. End of an era. Time for a change. Truck is officially for sale.

For Sale - 1987 Toyota Xtra cab, resto-mod, NH

 

[Cannon88]

Sad day...