85 pickup 42's and links

[jkimmel]

Not much for buildups, but I decided to slow down and take some extra time on this one. I parted out my old 4runner, took the good parts out and put them into an 85 pickup. I didn't like the flimsy hangers, and I'm pretty sure they aren't going to hold up to a one ton axle. So I cut off the factory hanger and installed an ALL-PRO hanger.

Here is what I had:



Then I parted it out, kept the good parts, and set to work





I found this little number for 1100 bucks, runs great, carb'd(have all the injection parts in my garage)

[jkimmel]

Then I got rid of the axles, and installed the front 60, with a set of 6" all pro springs(I had a set of 4" marlins, and sold them). I planned on using rears up front, but that was such a cluster of garbage I couldn't bear the thought. So since I sold the 4" marlins I had I used the al pros from a friends project




then what?

then I cleaned all the crap off the rear, and mocked it up



Set up the rear links, with some help

[jkimmel]

Put the wheels back on, so I can bring it home






another

[jkimmel]

Once it was home, now I have to figure out how to mount the airshocks. I am using 16" sway-a-way airshocks in the rear for this one. I will eventually be bobbing and re-installing the bed once the suspension work is done.

So first I cut off what frame I won't be using




I then cut it back about 12 inches, at a 45 degree angle and welded it on the inside of the frame







I put in a 2x4 square tube .250 wall rear crossmember and began capping it off:

[jkimmel]

Now I started mocking up the shock mounts, hoops, etc.

First try had the hoops at 90*, and the shocks were tipped in 10* and back 4*



another




After flexing it a bit, the shocks being 3/4" away from the frame wasn't going to cut it, they hit it pretty solidly

[jkimmel]

So I thought about cutting more of the frame, then I though, 'why not tilt out the mounts some?'

so I zipped them off and hit the hoops with a grinder. They are now at a 65* angle, vs 90*. Now the shock is about 3 1/2" from the frame, plenty of clearance.

So I welded it all on, and added a support in the middle. I think I am going to add a little plate in the center for strength later.



the other benefit is the shocks are now tipped 2* back, and 5* in, they should be a little more effective the more vertical they are.




Thats about all the progress thus far, I am almost done with the suspension, I am planning on finishing the steering this weekend. I have some hoses to connect and put the ram back on the axle, and then run new brake lines from the MC to the claipers.   

[prang11]

Awsome, keep up the work man. 

[cheap sunglasses]

Very nice. how do you like the grooves on your tires?

[jkimmel]

I have never used them un-grooved, by that I mean the day they were new I came home and grooved them and then mounted them.

I did that because previously in Moab a friend of mine bought a groover, and of three guys using 42" swampers, two grooved them and one did not. Then we ran upper helldorado and pritchett, and there was a big difference between grooved and no-grooved traction

So yes, I love them. They grip very well and most of all they still hold decent traction when conditions are wet and muddy(rare in Colorado).

[Phazertwo]

Lookin good!  Glad to see it comming togather.  Let me know if you need any help with the EFI swap. 

The tank you sold me is great, and hopfully it will make its way into the bed in another month or so...

PZ

[jkimmel]

I'll keep that in mind, thank you. I'm not much for wiring and stuff, but I am told I can eliminate a lot of the wires and vacuum lines on the efi stuff. I want it fairly minimal yet reliable. I'm not going to concern myself with emissions, either I will find a place in the hills to register it or just run a green sticker. So I supposedly can eliminate most all of the vacuum hoses?


What do you guys think, ditch the bed and build a tube bed or put the stock bed back on, bobbed? I planned on putting the bed back on but man it would be pretty easy and clean to just do a tube bed, I am not sure? 

[rocktoy83]

That is one sweet toy,good job 

[KWP]

Sweet build. If I were you I would go with a tube bed, alot less sheet metal to smash up.

[jkimmel]

Thanks, I'm leaning to a tube bed. Anyone have ideas on how to attach bedsides to it? I really wanted an encloseable cab with this one, and I wanted it to at least "look" like a truck.

All finished with the rear suspension




Turned it around and took off the hood, now I can get the EFI done a little easier and finish the brakes and steering:)

This should be ride height, give or take and inch or so once the springs settle

[Wermz84]

Damn nice looking work!! 

[KYOTA]

that looks tight!! I like how you kept the frame to mount the airs to, when you always see people whackin the frame of only to rebuild it in almost the same place with tube, its there use it! good thinking on tilting the hoops, huge improvement. Also I see you said your buds are running 42's, did I miss what you said yours are? 42's also? looking good man keep us posted

[jkimmel]

Thanks they are 39.5's. I think the next tire is going to be a 42 Irok, they seem to be a little lighter and bigger than TSL's, and most people seem to like how they hook up.


Its been a learning process too, some things that seem so obvious once they're done like the shock hoops, I spent two days trying to figure out how I could re-work and cut more out of the frame and then it dawned on me to change the angle of the hoops

[KYOTA]

Thanks they are 39.5's. I think the next tire is going to be a 42 Irok, they seem to be a little lighter and bigger than TSL's, and most people seem to like how they hook up.


Its been a learning process too, some things that seem so obvious once they're done like the shock hoops, I spent two days trying to figure out how I could re-work and cut more out of the frame and then it dawned on me to change the angle of the hoops

sometimes things are just too obvious to possibly work, dont feel bad I do the same thing!! 

[jkimmel]

Little more tonight, pulled out a lot of junk




Going to have to run by the dealer tomorrow and get some gaskets, anyone think of any more I might need than the intake gasket?

took all this junk out




this stuff will start going in tomorrow, I've got a lot of wiring diagrams to go through




I bet this will be better once its all in. Any tips? I found a good bit of info on Pirate, we'll see when I start figuring out stuff...

[gotrocks]

very nice work so far.  I don't know if you said it already but is that front axle shortened on the long side?  Because I couldn't really tell from you pictures but I didn't see it offset because of the stock spring hanger setup.

[jkimmel]

I cut it 2.5" on the longside, then it lines right up. Its plenty stable as is but if I were to do it over I think I'd just build a new hanger. I was afraid of chenging what worked so well in my other one but I did it on this one cause the factory hanger is weak.

[gotrocks]

I was afraid of chenging what worked so well in my other one but I did it on this one cause the factory hanger is weak.

Yeah no kidding those stock hangers are really weak.

[jkimmel]

well I have been stalled out lately, between summer trips and this EFI conversion, I can't seem to get started on it. I think part of the problem has been I really am not looking forward to it, and I haven't actually completed anything in a while.

so here it sits.




so whats different?

well, since I dropped it on the floor and the front axle spit out the front(why o why did I somehow think a hi-lift on the front without chocking the rear wheels was a good idea:confused: )

so today I finished the steering, I added a cooler in the front, I finished the front brakelines, and got about halfway through the rear brakelines. I also added new u-bolts, re-using the old ones just wasn't the great idea that I thought, and added 6* shims from BTF.


finish brake lines tomorrow, mount the tank, then fuel lines, then EFI:shaking: :shaking:  I'm not looking forward to that...

[jkimmel]

Got some more done today, got the fuel system put back on, minus all the emissions stuff. Funny, since EFI won't work with this head, I had to re-install the carb.

Going to get it running tomorrow, bleed the brakes, steering, and a few more misc things. Made a few blocker plates for emissions stuff too.

[jkimmel]

one more

[dune_it86]

nice build r your air shocks 2" or 2.5" cuz i m planning on linking my formula toy chassie with 16" air shocks but i am confused about weather i need 2" or 2.5"

[Shamb]

probably need 2.0's in the rear and 2.5's or bigger up front.

[dune_it86]

jk r yours 2'' or 2.5''? 

[jkimmel]

They are Sway a way and to be honest I am not sure, I got them from a friend who bought brand new them and decided to just do coilovers instead. I would definately get 2.5's for the front though, I'm really not concerned even if they are 2.0 since the back is so light.

Thus far I have heard good and not so good about Fox airs, but I haven't really heard anything but good about the SAW airs, we''ll see. I am hoping to get it on the trail to test this Sunday but I am not holding my breath, definately next weekend though(unless my bender shows up this week!).

[jkimmel]

got it running good finally :shake:only took way too long. We'll see how well this carb works next weekend in Montrose. This weekend however I am going to run some toob. Going to start on the cage tomorrow. I started on the winch mount tonight. I attached a 6x6x3/8" plate to the frame, and bolted the winch to it. I will gusset tomorrow and an going to hook it to a tube bumper, here is what I have so far. I am using a new Warn XP9000, replacing the old XD9000 I had. I had to trim just a little on the bottom of the grill but only about 1/2" or so. Approach angle isn't too bad.