selling the jeep and crossing over....

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83 chif

83 chif

10 Year 15 Year
Joined
Sep 11, 2007
Threads
138
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352
Location
New Jersey
well, my diesel jeep project isn't working out too well. i'm in college, and i'd rather be spending my time driving a four wheel drive vehicle instead of working on one. anyway, i'm looking for a 4runner, one where the rear cap comes off. i just have some newb questions to have answered, i don't have too much time to look around online for these answers because i've got finals to study for, so sorry if they've been asked before, which i'm sure they have....anyway...

how strong are the stock axles??? can i run 35's if i drive with finese and go easy on the skinny pedal? is that how you spell finese?

what should i look for besides rust when buying one???

what gearing came in the axles stock?? do the 5 speed standards have a pretty deep first gear??

are there some decent lift kits available for the IFS, i'd go SAS but not for a while after i buy it and get settled in...


thank you for anything you can throw at me!

- doug
 
If you want to go SAS eventually then there's not much reasonable for an IFS lift short of long travel. I'd just squirrel away the cheese for the SAS.
 
Get an IFS model which would be 86 and later. They have fuel injection, a wider rear end, and a W-56 transmission. As far as the axles do, they aren't jeep axles. These rear axle can handle up to 40 inch tires. When an SAS is done and longfields are installed, the same can be said for the front. STAY AWAY FROM AN AUTOMATIC!
 
Stock, the diffs are about as strong as a d44. The rear shafts are stronger, the front birfields are about as strong as a dana 30 260x u joint. the 4cyl is known as the 'bulletproof' motor. The v6 has lots of head gasket issues. 1st gear on the manual gear box is 3.95:1 (with a 2.28:1 low range in the transfer box), except in the turbo 4cyl trucks, which had a 4.30:1 first gear ratio. Stock axle ratio is 4.10 with the 5 speed, and 4.30 with the automatic.

Nice thing with these trucks is that they are very cheap to modify, and keep reliable. I also agree to purchase an 86-89 model. They have a nicer interior, a stronger/wider rear axle housing, bigger brakes, and are normally in much better shape than their solid axle brothers.

I also don't understand the auto comment. Yes they do eat alot of power, and some have oiling systems that are integral with the transfer case, so they have a tendency to run low on oil, and slip (overfilling seems to cure this), but you can still mount a dual transfer case system behind them, and they are fairly reliable.

As far as lift kits go, If it were my truck, I would run some 31x10.5 or 32x11.5 tires stock hight (hammer back the inner fender seam up front), and start collecting parts for a solid axle.
 
the plan

well 4 cylinder 5 speed is a definate, and i considered looking for a solid axle truck, but i am sick of carbs, so i know i'm looking for an 87 or newer 4cyl 5spd.

i like the sound of the tough axles, my jeep probably couldn't handle 35's with its dana 20, and definately not 40's.

so i'll probably find one with minimal rust (it's hard here in the north east), i'll find a nice quality winch bumper and a low-budget-but-not-hobbled-together lift for the IFS, then put my winch and 33's on and enjoy...

two more questions:

are the rear axles on these bad boys spring over or spring under?

does the front end share coils with the 80 series by any chance?

thanks again...
 
EFI was standard in 4runners in 85, not 87.

Rear Axle is Spring over.

Front axle on Solid Axle is Leaf sprung, IFS is torsion bar. So no, 80 series coils wont fit (except on 90+ trucks with coil rear suspension.)
 
Actually, EFI came out in '85. But I'd still get an IFS rig and do an SAS.

Rear axles are SOA from the factory.

IFS front is torsion bars, not coils. They share NOTHING with the 80-series.

As for lifting the IFS, every penny you spend on this is a WASTE. Crank up your t-bars, throw some longer shackles in the back, and save up $$ and parts for the SAS.
 
t bars

oh man, i had no idea the front end had torsion bars, i figured they were coils...i can see how an IFS lift could be a waste then...

i'm going to do some research and see how involved the SAS is, but i'm guessing it isn't just a one afternoon ordeal...
 
awesome

good looking truck....if i can clear 33x10.5 tires with cranked torsion bars than i'll be satisfied until i get the funds and time to do an SAS....

what kind of mileage do you get with the 33's and the stock gearing...
 
Between 17 and 23... :D The 23 was when I was following a deisel troopie in the mountains..... going slow if you know what I mean... Average is probably around 19 (Yes I correct for the mileage discrepancy) I've been down into 17 lately, but I need a tune up.

I wouldn't want to wheel with 33's and stock diff gears and stock t-case gears... The Marlin t-case gears make all the difference.
 
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