Topic: What would marlin do

[dubs chops]

OK guys and gals, After taking my 83 LB on its first serious journey I have decided it needs a few upgrades.

First is the manual steering sucks! I know I will need to do a crossover kit on this in the near future. Question is, Can I run a IFS power steering box and just fill and cap it until I am ready to add a pump? or are all the IFS box's already power steering?

second is lift. there are so many options out there. I know I can go to allpro or here  and spend a butt ton of money but I know there may be better or equal options for less money. One thing I want is smooth. The truck almost beat me to death on rough dirt roads with the suspension that is on it. it literally would bounce me out of the seat sometimes no mild washboards at 10mph.

SO if you guys speak, i'll listen. i'll build what MarlinCrawler deems is the best options for my rig.

my rigs use will be mostly overland type stuff and driving around fire roads in forests. id like good highway manners also. I plan on running 33" tires for now but may step up to 35" in the future if I do an engine swap down the road.

[bigarms23]

Throw out the 22r in favor of a 3rz get duals a 3 to 4inch lift 35s 529s dual detroits a roll cage a winch rcv shafts for the front axle and a warn winch and go have some serious fun

[redneckcustoms13]

Some ifs boxes are manual. But dont waste your time. Go get yourself some rear springs from a 85-88 4runner. Install them backwards in the front. It will ride like a dream, flex like crazy, and move the axle forward about 2.5-3" it also lifts the front a few inches. When doing that swap it is necessary to put in the crossover steering. Just get a ps pump and do it all in a day.

[dubs chops [OP]]

If I get a power steering box now can run it without a pump? Just fill with fluid and cap? If I do the toyota 4runner springs and it moves the axle forward will I have tire clearance? I don't want to cut any metal since the truck is pretty mint. Also would I need to lengthen the front driveshaft?

[Snowtoy]

If I get a power steering box now can run it without a pump? Just fill with fluid and cap?

As I recall, all IFS boxes are set set-up for power steering from the factory, a buddy had manual on his '86, all we did to convert back in '95 was add a pump/lines and pulley.

If I do the toyota 4runner springs and it moves the axle forward will I have tire clearance? I don't want to cut any metal since the truck is pretty mint. Also would I need to lengthen the front driveshaft?

For your planned uses, I would just run 33's with a regular set of lift springs, maybe 35's if there is enough room, regear it to 4.88's(5.29's if you go with 35's) with a rear ARB, front if budget allows, add a 2nd transfer case, and a winch.  This will give you all the gearing and traction you need to go anywhere you want and leave you with open diffs for the road.

The only way to smooth out the fire/logging roads is to run about 10-15psi in the tires depending on if they are MT's or AT's, at that psi, the tires will absorb the washboards and most of the small bumps.

[Flood]

Old Man Emu makes great springs for first gens too and don't require much modification. And like snowtoy said, lower psi helps. Most of the reason why washboards occur is due to people blasting through dirt roads with full tire pressure. Also, determining the correct speed to cross them at will help. Some washboards you can haul over while others require a slower pace. Finding the right balance helps. Good luck with your build!

[emsvitil]

I have power steering on my 86.

I seem to recall that there was a version that didn't have power steering in 86.     

The non-power steering version had a different gear ratio (a lot more turns lock to lock).


This would mean a different gear box for manual steering.     I doubt you can just add the power steering, as what's the point ?   You'd still have all those turns lock to lock.

 Currently out of town, so can't check FSM at the moment.

[79coyotefrg]

I have power steering on my 86.

I seem to recall that there was a version that didn't have power steering in 86.     

The non-power steering version had a different gear ratio (a lot more turns lock to lock).


This would mean a different gear box for manual steering.     I doubt you can just add the power steering, as what's the point ?   You'd still have all those turns lock to lock.

 Currently out of town, so can't check FSM at the moment.

I am 99% sure you are correct about the stop to stop gearing being different because my 79 came with factory power steering but a friend had one with manual steering and his had a much easier turn of the steering wheel than mine when I loosened the pwr steering belt it became twice as hard to turn.

If your truck is as mint as you say then I would run 31 or 33's find some factory 4.56's or 4.88's (my 79 came with 4.37's)  I kept my front in the stock location until my wreck because swapping to ifs and histeer was more money than I had. 
   What I did was I went to a junk yard and got some 2wd chevy S10 rear springs and made my own spring packs for the front (toyota top two leaves, then bottom three S10 leaves) and added another long spring i think was the top S10 leaf to the rear directly under the second leaf of the stock rear pack.