Topic: I Am a Toy Newbie

[h0nke]

Hi all, I have always owned Chevy but now I am getting my first Toy (84 or 85 truck reg. cab). I have some questions tho...

Will I need steering correction with a 3" suspension lift, 2" shackles and 2" body? Will I clear 36x12.5x15 TSL radials? 15x10 wheels?

Are the 5spd trannys in the 84-85 trucks solid enough for odd-road use? Or should I get the R151 Turbo  or something else?

I am in California but I want to either trick out the stock Toyoya motor or do a Chevy V8 swap.
Is it worth the time and money to trick out a Toyota motor? I know it will never smog after that so what do
you guys think.

Thanks -- Eric

[BLACKDOG]

Hi all, I have always owned Chevy but now I am getting my first Toy (84 or 85 truck reg. cab). I have some questions tho...

Will I need steering correction with a 3" suspension lift, 2" shackles and 2" body? Will I clear 36x12.5x15 TSL radials? 15x10 wheels?

Are the 5spd trannys in the 84-85 trucks solid enough for odd-road use? Or should I get the R151 Turbo  or something else?

I am in California but I want to either trick out the stock Toyoya motor or do a Chevy V8 swap.
Is it worth the time and money to trick out a Toyota motor? I know it will never smog after that so what do
you guys think.

Thanks -- Eric

dont think so with the steering, dunno for sure.  YOu might have to cut the wheel wells to fit the tires, but I think they'll fit
the 5speeds for the most part are durable enough
as for the engine, run with it a while, then make up your mind.  I went from a dodge 360 to the 3.0 v6 and thought it'd kill me, but it isnt too bad   If you do wind up swapping it out, you may want to go with a 45.3 chevy or another engine around that size.  you'll have some strength problems with the 350

[germ]

You'll probably need a dropped drag link for the sterering, but I don't think you'll need much more. I've got 4" spring lift, with 1.5" shackles, and other than the drag link, havn't needed to do anything else. Of course a cross over steering set-up would be best (It's on my list of To-Do's).

I would rub a bit with the suspension flexed and the wheels turned hard right running 33's, but the shackles fixed that. with the BL, you will probably do fine.

Not sure about the motor swap. I'd leave it be for a while and see how you like it. If your running stock 4.10's in the diff's, your going to feel underpowered running 36's. You could swap in some 5.29's (put in some lockers while your there...), and it'll run great. Much cheaper than doing a motor swap. Alot depends on if this is just a toy or if it's your DD.

Erik 

[BigMike]

Welcome to the forum

If you are a V8 guy, then you better opt for a EFI SR5 model truck or you'll be hating the carb performance.

BTW, do you have any pics of your Chevy(s) ?

[Hyena]

You can run the stock steering with a 4 inch lift.  But you will be getting mad brake steer.  I ran that setup for awhile and it wasn't bad.  I then lifted it 2 more inches and added a drop drag link.  Steered better, but still had brake steer.  Highsteer eliminated all the brake steer.

[79coyotefrg]

what you talking about Mikey,   my buddy has a 2000 dodge ram 2500 with the 360 and auto trans and i could run circles around him with the old hybrid,      this new hybrid  

[79coyotefrg]

yo honke,   3 " suspension, shackles,  and fender trimming,  oh man how much HP you want from that little 22