soa questions for a 61

[kevin in okinawa]

thanks for reading. like the title states, doing a soa on a 61. i have read a bunch of threads by searching, trying to clarify the trails here are mostly rutted, w/high, tight walls.

my buddy will be doing most of the work. he has a lot of experience working on 80s and surfs (4runners)...not so many 60s. my buddy is a great mechanic, i just want to gather as much 60 insight as possible to pass on to him.

i have figured that I need:
shackles, shorter
hysteer kit (specter)
longer(?) shocks
ford shock towers ?
perches
u-bolt+hardware


springs: mine are aftermarket (blue?) about 3" lift, with long shackles. for soa, are stock springs best? or just stock length? if you are soa, what springs are you using? would like to use existing springs if feasible. i understand the concept of too high a center of gravity.

traction bar: needed?

hysteer: the kit from specter looks to be $800. any alternatives?

i don't want to get into the C&T. at least not now. what else am i not addressing? i am not certain of all the differences between the 60 and 61/2, but i know there are some.

your input and ideas are welcome!

Kevin

 

[weak-link]

Best advice is to look for alternatives to Specter

HySteer Marlin Crawler: Selling HySteer™ Kits since 1997!

Ubolts and other brackets Toyota FJ40 FJ45 FJ55 FJ60

Shock towers, If you do a search I bet you could find the part number in 5min


for any pther questions you have, read this https://forum.ih8mud.com/60-series-wagons/199577-project-build-up-directory.html

 

[donny paradise]

Why Ford shock towers??

 

[LCOwner]

Why Ford shock towers??

Because they are simple and cheap. I think you can still pick up a pair for about $30

 

[Cruiserdrew]

Stock springs and shackles are just about perfect for this. You definitely don't want long shackles.

I think 4x4Labs has the best high steer. Marlin is good and a bit cheaper.

Ruffstuff has great perches, spring plates and U-bolts.

Cheapest solution to the front shock issue is the Ford Towers. Hoops are nicer, but easily 5X more cash.

An anti-wrap bar is good insurance.


There are MANY other issues to consider. Look at my recent SOA thread and the Discussion on Randy's SOA thread.

Mine:https://forum.ih8mud.com/60-series-wagons/251613-its-huge-new-soa.html

Randy's:https://forum.ih8mud.com/60-series-...re-i-start-my-build-over-christmas-break.html

Good luck!

 

[kevin in okinawa]

just been checking out some of the intel i've gotten so far. all i can say is thank you for everyone that has posted, because not only do i know more about my truck, but i my have saved myself a couple bucks in the near future.

 

[Waggoner5]

You need to look further into the high steer stuff. Your truck is RHD I assume, and most people the manufacture high steer arms here in the US are not designed for RHD. All the machining will be backwards. Make sure and tell them that your truck is RHD before ordering. I went through all of this on my HJ61.

 

[iron_giant]

You need to look further into the high steer stuff. Your truck is RHD I assume, and most people the manufacture high steer arms here in the US are not designed for RHD. All the machining will be backwards. Make sure and tell them that your truck is RHD before ordering. I went through all of this on my HJ61.

I am assuming RHD drive also. Sky manufacturning made a RHD drive batch of high steer arms a while back- I don't know if it something they regularly run. Sky's Off-road Design - Home

Luke at http://4x4labs.com/ is always willing to make the RHD steering arms and as Drew mentioned earlier, it is a really nice kit.

 

[kevin in okinawa]

I am assuming RHD drive also. Sky manufacturning made a RHD drive batch of high steer arms a while back- I don't know if it something they regularly run. Sky's Off-road Design - Home

Luke at 4x4Labs.com is always willing to make the RHD steering arms and as Drew mentioned earlier, it is a really nice kit.

thanks guys, that is good information. in my enthusiasm i believe that i am overlooking things.

 

[Tapage]

IMOP the C&T in a SO 60 series it's a must .. even if it's only a trail rig ..

tire size .. ?

trac bar it's amust too IMOP ..

 

[4x4labs]

I have a set of RHD arms right now that I made incorrectly for a mud bog guy whose rig was LHD. They are custom and pretty trick. They came out RHD (I was comparing them to a bunch of RHD arms for japan when I built them so they turned out RHD by mistake) They will be perfect for your 61 if you want them.

-luke@4x4labs

 

[kevin in okinawa]

I have a set of RHD arms right now that I made incorrectly for a mud bog guy whose rig was LHD. They are custom and pretty trick. They came out RHD (I was comparing them to a bunch of RHD arms for japan when I built them so they turned out RHD by mistake) They will be perfect for your 61 if you want them.

-luke@4x4labs

that's funny 'cause i emailed you like an hour ago before looking here. sweet dude...i want the hysteer kit then.

Merry Christmas!

 

[4x4labs]

I send stuff to Okinawa all the time, usually to Sparkman for his hoard of cruiser gems.
You know him?

-luke

 

[kevin in okinawa]

I send stuff to Okinawa all the time, usually to Sparkman for his hoard of cruiser gems.
You know him?

-luke

oh yeah, i know sparky...he's a crazy son of a bitch! his truck is pretty cool...you should see the rear bumper on this thing.