Topic: Scott Wilson's 1988 4Runner Build, Version 2.0

[swilson]

It was good to catch up Mark!  I need to make a trip out towards you so we can do some wheeling together!

Or...  Steven Sasaki and I were talking and agreed we would lead a 4Runner-run on next years Rubithon.  It hasn't been officially announced, but I guess I'm letting the cat out of the bag.  Hopefully you can join us!

As far as trimming your frame... It's really only the fat area at the bottom of the IFS frame that needs trimming. Your lower links will hit. 


You could leave the rest of the stock frame, though you might end up doing a little trimming if your panhard bar interferes with your frame when passenger tire is stuffed.  I don't feel like your box is too low. 

[ScaldedDog]

Rubithon sounds great! I've joked often over the years that my rig has done the Rubicon, but I haven't... Of course, Moab and Colorado, work, too. It'd be great to get together, either way.

I wasn't terribly clear about my steering box issue. It's already moved forward, but I might have to move it forward a little more just to keep the axle where it is, and I'd like to move the axle an inch forward, if I can. If I'm going to do that, it occurred to me that I should raise the box up a little, as I have the room. Doing something like you did with the front of the frame would let me do that. I'll probably trim the fat part of the frame, too, though I think my worst clearance issue is going to be the exhaust on the passenger's side. I already have the header cut back to the beginning of the collector, and it is routed as high as it'll go and still keep the headers, but I think my top link is going to be a problem. That's why I was looking into bent top links, but that has its own set of issues.

I don't want to make your great thread about my build, so I'll ask you some questions about yours:

1) You mentioned some issues with locating the axle brackets on your Diamond. How did you end up getting them right? My plan is to set the axle under the truck at ride height and with the castor correct, then mount the brackets so that the link mounting holes are directly behind the axle. Make sense? I confirmed with Brian this week (Thanks Brian!!) that 34.5" is the correct spacing between the center link mounts, even on an axle that is much wider than stock (65 3/4 WMS, in my case).

2) Do you have pics of your top link? (Both ends and how it looks at full stuff.)

3) How did you do your shock mounts? The instructions are a bit vague on that. Zidaro, in is POR thread, showed a couple of great looking shock mounts that he'd fabbed up.

4) Did you cut your shock towers? Zidaro made a comment about "cutting them to the right length for 16" shocks", but I'm not sure why he had to do that. I'm only using 14" ones, so I'm really going to have to trim the towers if the are too long for 16s.

Thanks!!

Mark

[swilson [OP]]

Here's a boatload of photos. Hope it helps!

My biggest battle getting the links to fit the diamond housing I think was related to not knowing where the 34.5" measurement was taken from. it looks like I finally figured it out correctly because, measuring what I have now it looks to be about 34.5 to the center of the lower links.  The other part is the shape of the Diamond housing is different, so you just have to grind away a little at a time until it fits nice

My lower strut mounts are 3/16" tabs. The strut is mounted double shear.

The strut towers I got from Brian. I think they called them Cobra towers or something like that. They work well. I had to shorten them and shape them to fit on the frame where I wanted them.

The left strut tower was limited in height by the master cylinder. I clearanced it a little bit, but I wish I had just chopped out the corner of that tower and mounted it at the exact same height of the right side tower... Which I had done first and wasn't about to redo

[swilson [OP]]

Setting your links at ride height seems like a good idea. You'll want to have it at full stuff to set your towers though

[swilson [OP]]

Here's my project this month. LQ4 for my square body Suburban.  I got rid of the Tacoma, wasn't heavy enough for the stuff I like to do

[helipilot77]

I like the burban build. I've been daydreaming about building a 66' burban with an LBZ. I used to drive a 66' pickup in highschool.

[ScaldedDog]

Here's a boatload of photos. Hope it helps!

Oh, man, it sure does!! Thanks!!

Mark

[swilson [OP]]

I finished up the LQ4 swap this weekend. It was totally worth the effort!  Now the Suburban has modern driveability in a classic square body package.

[OOPS]

Scott, did you know that Steve sold his runner, Kevin Carey bought!!

[swilson [OP]]

I heard!  Kevin, Steve, and myself will be leading a 4Runner run at Rubithon.  4Runners aren't mandatory.  Steve will be in his Jeep, but we all know Toyota was his first love, lol.  If you're up for a new run, come join us Dave!

We'll be departing Loon at 7am Thursday (June 24) and will be going straight through to Rubicon Springs the first day.

[Gnarly4X]

I finished up the LQ4 swap this weekend. It was totally worth the effort!  Now the Suburban has modern driveability in a classic square body package.

Hey Scott...

Wow... nice job!  My hat is off to you and I give you a big 2 thumbs up!

I've only done 1 swap myself (455 Olds into my 1967 Chevy longbed), but my good friend does them for a living and he's been doing them for over 20 years. 

I know how much time, money, and skill it takes. 

Gnarls.

[swilson [OP]]

This is the first time it's been on the lift. It's wild to see the axles at full extension.  Almost wish I could drive it around at this height for a day and watch jaws drop lol.

The bad news is I've been really lazy. Found lots of loose stuff, the worst of which is going to cost me a driver side steering arm and tie rod end!  The tie rod tapered fitting loosened and hogged out the taper.

Learn from me, don't be lazy! Ha ha

[blackdiamond]

Can’t you raise the ride height on the ORIs?  Probably not worth the effort, but...

[swilson [OP]]

Yeah I was joking with a friend about doing just that, but it's would ride like garbage!

As it is, I need to play with the ori pressures and soften them up

[helipilot77]

This is the first time it's been on the lift. It's wild to see the axles at full extension.  Almost wish I could drive it around at this height for a day and watch jaws drop lol.

The bad news is I've been really lazy. Found lots of loose stuff, the worst of which is going to cost me a driver side steering arm and tie rod end!  The tie rod tapered fitting loosened and hogged out the taper.

Learn from me, don't be lazy! Ha ha

That exact same thing already happened to me too.

[OVRAROK]

This rig needs a bib dispenser to catch all the drool..

[swilson [OP]]

Lol. Thanks

[swilson [OP]]

Went out to Hollister Saturday for a little wheeling.  The day wasn't without drama. First my trailer tire looked like it's about to let go, so it got left behind and I drove the 4Runner to the trail.  (Goodyear's gonna prorate the tire for me)

Once we got to Hollister my buddy's JK loosened a fitting on the hydro assist ram we installed over the winter.  Luckily I had enough fluid in my kit so it was a quick fix.

Then my Flex-a-lite radiator fan took a dump.  I'm using a variable speed fan controller.  I'm wondering if I just had a bad motor or if maybe the fan didn't like being run at variable speeds.  I've ordered a replacement motor and we'll see how it holds up

[emsvitil]

Is the trailer tire radial or bias ply?

[swilson [OP]]

Radial.  Not that old either, 5 years I think.  Both driver's side tires.

[emsvitil]

Was that side sitting in the sun?

Had a feeling it was radial.............

Decades ago I would hear of people with radial trailer tires that would fall apart and swearing they'd never get radial trailer tires again.

Think they would have fixed it by now............

[swilson [OP]]

It's usually parked in a carport, so I don't think the sun was a factor. IDK

[Gnarly4X]

Radial.  Not that old either, 5 years I think.  Both driver's side tires.

What is the rated load range and ply rating on the tires?

Gnarls.

[Gnarly4X]

Knowing what I know now, after 20+ years of 4-wheeling, I'd buy a quality TPMS for my trailer (if I hauled) and one for my 4-wheeling Toyota.

https://www.amazon.com/Lippert-Components-2020106863-Temperature-Monitoring/dp/B08CFJVZJH/ref=sr_1_11?dchild=1&keywords=tire+pressure+monitor+systems&qid=1621255097&refinements=p_72%3A1248861011&rnid=1248859011&s=automotive&sr=1-11

https://www.amazon.com/Tymate-Tire-Pressure-Monitoring-System/dp/B085C2HMQP/ref=sr_1_4?dchild=1&keywords=tire+pressure+monitor+systems&qid=1621254952&sr=8-4

We tend to spend gobs of money on bling and other goodies but seemingly ignore some basic safety considerations.

A father of one of our 4-wheeling families was killed when his SUV rolled over on the freeway due to a blown tire.

I've seen multiple hauling trailer tires issue on a number of 4-wheeling trips.

My 2013 Corolla has a warning light, low tire pressure icon, on the instrument panel.  My wife doesn't really pay much attention to that, like I do.  There needs to be an audible alarm that alerts the driver to a low tire pressure issue.

https://www.safetyresearch.net/nhtsa-gets-real-on-tire-fatalities/

Gnarls.

[swilson [OP]]

What is the rated load range and ply rating on the tires?

Gnarls.

Forgot to check.  I dropped them off at Goodyear this morning

[toyyota]

Rubithon?

[swilson [OP]]

Rubithon?

Affirm. 7am Thursday 4Runner run.

You gonna be there Bob?

[toyyota]

Yes, Heading in Friday A.M. See you soon!

[swilson [OP]]

Thanks OVRAROK for turning me onto these DFG sliders.  I got mine just in time for Rubithon

See you guys on the trail!

[swilson [OP]]

The 4Runner Run at Rubithon was great!  Everyone showed up with well prepared rigs.  I met lots of great people and got reunited with some old friends too.

We got caught in a thunderstorm as we were leaving Buck Island and had to winch some of the group over a couple of difficult spots.  Other than that it was smooth sailing and good times were had!

Tons of photos in the Google album
https://photos.app.goo.gl/5yxLCbtxtYr5G9sW7