Well here we go. I've been putting off starting a thread for a little while now, mainly because I never take photos and I dont usually share them either but I figured it was time to change that and start a thread.

The truck is a 1988 xtra cab 22re, drove it bone stock for two years getting the kinks worked out in the motor and body. I drove it hard trying to kill the ifs, we even welded the front diff but never broke anything but things where getting real tired and instead of putting money into the ifs I decided it was time to sas

Plan is to keep it as low as possible but better riding more flexible than a factory solid axle truck

  Suspension & Steering
Rears up front (stock 83 pack minus the overload and one leaf added in place
63" chevys in the rears with no over load
tg front hanger
3.5" shackle up front
5" shackle rear
anti wrap for the rear
10" bilsteins
High steer

   Axles & Breaks
Yukon 5.29's
ARB locker in the front
Grizzly rear
tg longfield's
Marlin inner axles seals and knuckle rebuild
Marlin knuckle gussets
IFS hubs
sky's rotor spacer
v6 callipers in the front
solid axle callipers and rotors rear
manual proportioning valve and line lock
80 series master
new lines front to back
stainless soft lines

   Motor, Trans and Tcase
Stock for now

Armor
All pro tube bumper
budbuilt crossmember

On with the photos

Day I picked the truck up


Welded and 31s


All projects need to start somewhere


Buddies shop, Diff party

Hanger sunk up into the frame, testing leafs and shackles out




Tg hanger sunk 2" up into the frame


2" forward over factor solid axle hanger

Small update. I received the rest of the parts I needed to get my axles together and back under the truck, I also moved the front hanger 1" further into the frame to get the the shackle angle closer the where I want as well as putting the wheel more centered in the wheel well. The truck is going on a trailer and getting moved to my work in the next few days, once there it will be a welding frenzy getting everything burnt in, wrapping up the lose ends and hopefully hitting the trails by the end of the month


Pushed back 1"

Did you use frame tube guides for the shackle tubes?

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Did you use frame tube guides for the shackle tubes?

Yep I bought the whole spring hanger kit from tg. hanger, shackle tubes and jigs as well as bolts and bushings

Looks amazing!  I bet it feels great to have the solid axle in. What size tires are under it? 

Thanks, there just some 35 rollers, I have a set of 35 cooper stt pro's on the way tho

That wrap bar looks good.


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That wrap bar looks good.

Nice work!  Thanks for starting your thread.

Nice job on the traction bar...looks like a Ruffstuff piece.

Cheers,

R

Thanks guys. the anti wrap was built with parts from TMR customs here in canada

I'm wanting to install Chevys out back, but with a 3" body lift already installed I'm looking for ways to keep it low (I'd pull the body lift in a heartbeat, but it's necessary for the engine swap).  Did you consider frenching the front hanger of the Chevys into the frame?  How much lift do you think the Chevys gave you?

I did consider frenching the front spring hangers but after doing the front without a plasma i really wasnt feeling the rear, I pretty happy with how its sitting just I had to pull the overload leaf to get closer to where i wanted it. Id say 2-3" lift depending on what shackle. also what motor you running? ive seen a 5 liter in a yota with no body lift but that thing tight looked way cleaner than most chevy swaps ive seen

On the 5.0L swap. Looks good, Fits better, way more power than you could want.
I have been a fan of this swap for a very long time. 

  Defiantly a good option if you want more power, but for me the 22re suits how I use the truck perfectly so why change it

Well done, sir.  In particular, I like your chainsaw scabbard.  I had a scabbard built into the stake-side of my last flatdeck truck (1979 F-350 4x4) so that it wouldn't have to ride in the back with the firewood.

Meanwhile, you're putting together a very nice rig...I'm envious.  I don't possess welding/fabbing skills.  I should bring my truck over to Fernie so you can help me finish mine! 

I was considering having a logger's box built (like a Rebco)...something heavy and practical...maybe make it a bit longer than the stock short box.  I've owned a few BJ60s and driven lots of 4Runners, so I know what a difference having more weight over the rear axle can be for smoothing out the ride.  I also like the idea of a steel flatdeck with removable/hinged sides...like a Unimog box!

Under my hood, you ask?  No 5.0 for me.  I like Toyota bits, so 1JZ-GTE instead of the 22-RE.  Yes, the body lift could be removed, but there would have to be some fancy mods for the radiator and possibly cutting the hood.  I'm still considering removing it, but if I can run a low profile suspension I can leave it alone.  I don't need lift...I just need a smoother ride.  I'd love to link the truck, but I don't have the resources.  I figure longer, softer leaf springs is the way to go...and just mount them as high into the frame as is reasonable to reduce lift.

Keep the pics and updates coming!

Cheers,

R

Thanks man, the chainsaw mount was copied off a some photos I found on a atv fourm, its still not quite done I need to change how it clamps to have a quicker release but right now its super ridged

My original plan was to build a rebco style box because the flat deck is a pain but I figured id keep the deck and with some touch ups ill be able to tolerate it a little while longer. Yes that is my fuel filler, its a pain. its always covered in mud or frozen in ice as well because of the angle I have it on you have to fill it pretty slow 

1jz's are bad ass! I have a buddy that would love to see some photos, hes done with 22re's and looking to swap in a 5.0 or inline 6 toyota either way the goal is more power

Nice job mate! It's turned out great. What are the tires? Pitbulls?

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You got it, Stt pro in a 35x12.5x15 love them so far not super loud on the paved but still seem to hook up awesome off road 

and Im still kinda on the fence about the backing plates, the idea is great just the fitment was not there. the inner bore that fits over the spindle was to small to i had to grind it out as well as brake line holder had no slot for quick servicing so I cut one and even after that the tab for the brake line is still to thick to use the factory brake line clips so i ended up zip tying it instead. i like them now that there on but I was not liking them while i was installing them

Was up at mount Seymour near Vancouver BC over the weekend, good bit of snow up there haha!

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Got the beadlocks welded on this evening and began to mount them, 2 down 2 to go

Nice pick up! Interesting bed too! Do the American ones not have tie downs around the top? This is my Aussie tub:



The bead locks look sick too. On my wish list.