Builds Rocinante | The 1986 Extra Cab 4x4 (1 Viewer)

[2ndGenToyotaFan]

Nice shackle! Is that about a foot long? Hehehe

 

[GRM]

Nice shackle! Is that about a foot long? Hehehe

11". You need them with deavers. Those springs have 18" of vertical travel. So put some weight on the truck, and they will sit at 45°.

 

[GRM]

Snapped a couple more pics tonight. It looks tall because its at full droop, but according to my measurements, I'm at about 3.5-4.5" taller than stock.

Whats left before Im driving it again:

Rebuild transfer cases
Make driveshafts
Make rocksliders
mount shocks
mount aux fuel tank
Mount Purporting valve
bleed brakes
Mount last 35" on the beadlock

Its almost there

 

[CruisinMT]

you're going to need bigger mud flaps.

 

[GRM]

Rolled the truck out of the shop thursday night.

Friday I was on the highway, and put almost 1,000 miles on it by Monday.

Overall im pretty happy, but I have a few problems:

Pitman arm is too short, and the box needs to be moved. It won't turn lock to lock, pitman arm hits the spring, and the drag link end hits the tie rod.

Rear springs are too soft (stopped by deaver, and Jeff is going to rebuild them for me, needs 2-3 more leafs per side to make a 14 leaf pack).

4wd shifter lever snapped off.

Only getting 13.5 mpg at 75, and 17 mpg at 55. I got 16-18 at 75 with 4.10's and 31's.

Need softer bumpstops (thinking timbrens in the rear, and S-10 blaster bumps in the front).

 

[2ndGenToyotaFan]

Funny how 35's make those decals look badass!

 

[GRM]

I figure I should update this post some.

I've had a blast with this truck. Blown up the transfer case twice, rear axle once. Rebuilt the deaver springs at all 4 corners, added a front bumper with a bill burke winch, dynomat on the interior, and about 20k miles.

Still need to add the bumpstops, and the 2nd fuel tank.

I downright love this truck.

 

[GRM]

Future projects also include replacing the rear axle with something more durable, adding the 2nd fuel tank behind the rear axle (for a total of 31 gallons), a rear drawer unit, and some creative way to mount the spare tire.... oh and get working on my '71 fj40 again.

I'd like to find an affordable way to put an FZJ80 rear axle in the old girl. My best options thus far will be to a) make a custom fuel tank to accept the 4" offset driveshaft, or b) get a diamond rear housing and custom shafts to center the axle.

 

[Combat Chuck]

Sick truck!!!!

What are the make/model of the rims?
I like the backspacing and simplicity.

 

[GRM]

Sick truck!!!!

What are the make/model of the rims?
I like the backspacing and simplicity.

The wheels are these:

Cragar 3655860 - Cragar Black V-5 Wheels - Overview - SummitRacing.com

With weld on beadlocks from ruffstuff

 

[Combat Chuck]

Thanks, and priced to move, too.

While you're at it, I have two thoughts to mull with you, if you don't mind.

1. What're your thoughts on the Toy4Crawlin shifter setup?
I'm hoping to double up in the next year or two, and don't want to lose my current seats in order to accomodate an extra shifter. I've heard that the triple shifter setup doens't like forward-shift transmissions, and can interfere, and I was wondering if you had any insight on the matter.

2. I'd like to know more about your offroad training, I hope to get some schooling on the right way to do things instead of blundering and or thrashing my way through things.

 

[arndog123]

Sweet mini.

 

[GRM]

Thanks, and priced to move, too.

While you're at it, I have two thoughts to mull with you, if you don't mind.

1. What're your thoughts on the Toy4Crawlin shifter setup?
I'm hoping to double up in the next year or two, and don't want to lose my current seats in order to accomodate an extra shifter. I've heard that the triple shifter setup doens't like forward-shift transmissions, and can interfere, and I was wondering if you had any insight on the matter.

2. I'd like to know more about your offroad training, I hope to get some schooling on the right way to do things instead of blundering and or thrashing my way through things.

1) the Toy4Crawlin shifter broke on me. Great design, but needed some DFM. As far as I know it's off the market. I replaced it with a Dr. Smash Shifter. Again, great design, but it leaked. Its still holding up. Again, this one too was taken off the market.

If I had to do it today, I'd probably run the davez shifter Triple shifter

as to your forward shift question: I don't have a clue since I have a top-shift transfer case.

2) I could (literally) go on for days about offroad training. 2 days in a class will easily save you thousands in repairs on your rig. It will also mean your rig will be running to take on more trails. I highly recommend finding a I4WDTA certified trainer to learn form. Each one of us has a unique way of approaching training, so its good to talk to a few, in order to get an idea of who is going to teach you what your looking for. Shoot me a PM, and I'll be more than happy to forward you the names of a few great trainers in your area.

 

[GRM]

Started working on the old girl again this morning. Managed to squeeze in a few minutes to install a set of much-needed bump stops. Pulled off the old hard polyurethane bricks, and tossed on a set of modern micro-cellular compression bumps. Whats crazy, is that even thought the microcellular is taller, it compresses further than the old ones.

Hopefully I'll get the time to toss in a replacement transfer case today, and rebuild the steering box in the next few weeks.

 

[msahr]

Nice rig! My vote is to replace the decals with new.

1984-86

Cool. Great find. Add to Bookmarks...

 

[MaK92 4RnR]

Great truck. love the low SAS! did you have any issues with using High steer? I know some have problems when they do a "low" SAS

 

[GRM]

Great truck. love the low SAS! did you have any issues with using High steer? I know some have problems when they do a "low" SAS

Its tight, but it fits. If I did it over again, I would have installed a 1.5" drop hanger instead of a 1" for more clearance.

On full compression, the tie rod and drag link hit the frame. Then also at full compression the steering box sector shaft and pitman arm tie rod end hit the spring.

Plus, I set the box too close to the frame, and the threads from the tie rod end hits the frame.

As you can tell, I have about -1/16" clearance in every direction. But it works.

I'll try to get pictures of the clearance later this week.

 

[GRM]

I haven't updated this in awhile.

Doing a last minute wrench fest getting ready for the Rubicon this weekend. Work included replacing the front spring bushings with prothane bushings, rebuild the steering box, and align the front end.

Its just about all back together, and ready for the trip. Its only my 3rd wheeling trip of the year, so I'm looking forward to it.

 

[GRM]

Here are a few other pictures I've snapped in the last 10 months.

 

[GRM]

few more.