Well, I have always been an old school 4Runner fan but in all honesty know little about them and how to build them up, always built jeeps, but am swithching the whole gammet of rigs to Toyotas 8) .
Here is what my goal is for the build up. Take an 85 Runner and make it into a great daily driver & decent weekend wheeler on mellower trails. I am not worried about running "extreme trails" with this rig, that is what the FJ40 looking comp rig is for
. I want something that I can take the family out for a mellow trail ride in, then drive to and from work to keep the miles off the diesel hauler (only about a mile to work which is killing my truck).
I would like to get the runner on 35" Mud terrains (BFG or Goodyear, something streetable). So here are my questions:
1. How much suspension lift do I need, 4", 5", body lift combo, what? (I will be doing a doubler so if clearance is needed for the doubler I am not opposed to doing a partical body lift if that helps)
2. Shocks, I see most the kits come with the Billy 5100s, is it worth going to the 5150 or even the 7100? Much of a difference in ride quality?
3. What gears should I switch to in the pumpkins, 4.88, 5.29? (remember this is a daily driver primarily and will be doing a doubler so don't necessarily need the lower gears in the pigs for offroad, want to gear properly for the street)
4. Are the thirds interchangeable between 85 & 86 forward (meaning if I re-gear my 85 third now and put a late model rear axle in later can I just swap the thirds?
5. While on the topic of thirds, is there a disadvantage to the rear as a HP or the front as a HP?
6. Anything that I have missed (bumpers and sliders I am going to build myself)?
Thanks in advance for any and all help and direction you have to a newbie toyota guy!
