Blackdiamond (Gup-C build-up)

[blackdiamond]

Looks like this will be like all projects and not go exactly as advertised.  It looks like I have an exhaust hanger right in the way of the forward mount.  I may be able to just remove that side of the hanger and then go from there.

[blackdiamond]

I talked to Bud today on the phone this afternoon and had a very informative conversation. There are additional holes drilled in the brackets that go on the crossmember. The additional holes allow a bolt to go through the crossmember if there isn't enough clearance to go over it. Also, contrary to the install pictures on the website, the shackle hangs down. I will have to customize the floor pan to get full clearance but the job went from rediculous to something manageable.

It sounds like the event that prompted Bud designing the traction bar originally is an extreme case of what I am trying to solve.

[blackdiamond]

I took the rubber piece out of the exhaust hanger that is in the way and it appears that things are solid enough to at least hold up until I can get the traction bar installed and to an exhaust stop to have another hanger installed.  One small step...

[blackdiamond]

I managed to get two of the five studs changed today.  I woke up to being sick on Christmas and today was my first day of feeling mostly back to normal. My parents are here and are currently both in bed sick. Several different illnesses have gone though every side of the family going back a couple of weeks.

Any chance that if pulled the nuts on the remaining three studs and put them back on with red locktite that it would be enough to back out the studs?  I need vice grips with longer handles to be able to clamp them tighter.

[SqWADoosh]

I managed to get two of the five studs changed today.  I woke up to being sick on Christmas and today was my first day of feeling mostly back to normal. My parents are here and are currently both in bed sick. Several different illnesses have gone though every side of the family going back a couple of weeks.

Any chance that if pulled the nuts on the remaining three studs and put them back on with red locktite that it would be enough to back out the studs?  I need vice grips with longer handles to be able to clamp them tighter.

Sorry I didn't get back to you until so late. I had my own stuff going on all day. Hope you got it figured out.

[blackdiamond]

I managed to get the final three studs changed out pretty quickly this afternoon.  I go the double nut technique to work and avoided having to use the vice grips.  I should be able to mount the bracket tonight.

Can anyone confirm that the torque on the differential nuts is 19 ft-lbs.  I found this value in my 1970-88 Pick-ups/Land Cruiser/4Runner Chilton's.  My 1979-1995 Hayne's says 15 to 21 ft-lbs.

I used to have a FSM for my 85, but I'm not sure if I still have the electronic file...

[redneckcustoms13]

I give em the good Ole German torque. Gootentight

[blackdiamond]

85 truck fsm

Probably the same as my 89 for most everything.

[blackdiamond]

The traction bar install has been an adventure so far.  I installed the differential bracket and needed a couple of exhaust hangers removed so due to a lack of tooling, time, and my general lack of wrenching enjoyment it is at my 4x4 shop to get the front bracket installed. The bar itself appears to be too long so I have been in contact with Bud and it sounds like he will swap it out with another one once I can measure against the installed mounts. We are not sure what is different with my 4Runner making the bar quite a bit too long.  It also looks like my cat is located in the way of the shackle and will also have to be moved.  Good thing I have time to get things ironed out.

[blackdiamond]

The front mount is now installed. It uses both of the holes drilled through the frame. I have not had a chance to really get a good look at things but I know the cat needs to be moved. I have some new vibration so hopefully it is exhaust related. I may have to force more clearance between the bracket and the floorboard...

[blackdiamond]

Here are some pictures of the installed brackets, relocated and new exhaust, and traction bar that is too long.

[blackdiamond]

More...

The new exhaust fits pretty tight under the truck even though the pictures make it look like it's hanging down pretty low.

[blackdiamond]

I talked to Bud again today.  They will start building my replacement "custom" traction bar tomorrow and will then swap it out with the standard one that I have.  Bud's not sure why it won't fit on my 4Runner, but it's not even close.  The traction bar needs to be shortened between 3 and 4 inches.

Anybody know if the cross member on an 89 4Runner is unique compared to other 1st Generation 4Runners?

[blackdiamond]

tell me what to measure, and I'll let you know

I am not sure what other fixed point to measure. I will ask Bud if he has an idea. What year is yours again?

[blackdiamond]

tell me what to measure, and I'll let you know

I took a measurement from the face of the differential housing at about the middle of the axle tube to the lower back edge of the cross member and got about 42-1/2 inches.

[Rockcrawlintoy]

Did your 4 runner by chance originally come with the g series trans and he chain drive case?

[blackdiamond]

Did your 4 runner by chance originally come with the g series trans and he chain drive case?

I have no idea.  Any way to tell from the VIN?

[blackdiamond]

I forgot to mention I have an 87 4runner also

85= 41-3/4
87= 41-1/2

1/4" difference do to different springs I'm guessing

measured as shown in pic

You measured from the axle tube?  I went from the mounting face on the differential, but they should be pretty much the same.

[blackdiamond]

yeah I think it's the same as the face, I would say from our measurements that ours are the same. Your axle may be a little further back due to your springs but it shows for sure that the traction bar would be much too long for all three 4runners(85,87,89). I would have to conclude there was a mistake somewhere in the manufacture of Buds traction bar or they measured a 4runner unlike the typical model, maybe a V6 one or something, however, I don't think it would be different

It measures exactly what he intended it to be.  He said the kit has been installed on 30+ 4Runners and the extra holes in the front bracket were put there specifically for 4Runners. The original design was done on his 1st gen 4Runner. Really strange.

My lift might explain my extra length?

[redneckcustoms13]

I have no idea.  Any way to tell from the VIN?

Data tag under the hood. In the center of the firewall. Last numbers on bottom line will tell you trans code. This one for instance is r151



If anything I would think lifting the frame further away from the axle would make the hypotenuse of the triangle longer resulting in this kit being too short. What rear springs are you running?

[blackdiamond]

Data tag under the hood. In the center of the firewall. Last numbers on bottom line will tell you trans code. This one for instance is r151



If anything I would think lifting the frame further away from the axle would make the hypotenuse of the triangle longer resulting in this kit being too short. What rear springs are you running?

I am running custom Alcan springs.  It think my lift should be in the 4-5 inch range.  This issue is curious, but Bud is being very helpful and I should have a new custom bar on the way soon.

[redneckcustoms13]

Did the axle remain in the same location(center of wheel well)?

[blackdiamond]

Did the axle remain in the same location(center of wheel well)?

I'm sure it isn't exactly in the stock location, but it didn't move much as that wasn't part of the request.  I am running the "standard" Alcan spring design that is something like 6 inches over stock.

[blackdiamond]

was your axle rotated up for a double cardan shaft? if so, maybe that's making a difference since it's a bracket mount and doesn't have enough adjustment to compensate for the rotation .

My axle was rotated and is right at the absolute limit of the adjustment.  The new bar will actually have the lower bar shorter than the upper by 3/4 inch to allow more threads to engage on the top bar while maintaining the same angle.  The bar is too long so rotating the differential would help with the angle adjustment but would shorten the length along the top bar.  I need it to be longer.

[blackdiamond]

Did your 4 runner by chance originally come with the g series trans and he chain drive case?

W56 is listed on the sticker in the door jamb.

Data tag under the hood. In the center of the firewall. Last numbers on bottom line will tell you trans code. This one for instance is r151



If anything I would think lifting the frame further away from the axle would make the hypotenuse of the triangle longer resulting in this kit being too short. What rear springs are you running?

My data tag is gone.  There is just the two rivets remaining...

[redneckcustoms13]

You still had the door tag so atleast you know what it came with. I'm interested in why you had this issue.

[blackdiamond]

You still had the door tag so atleast you know what it came with. I'm interested in why you had this issue.

One interesting thing is that Bud has said that he has always installed traction bars with the shackle hanging down, but the only two installs shown on his website (both are late model trucks) show the shackle up. It almost looks like if I had the floorboard clearance to install it with the shackle up it might work.  Angling the bar up would allow the upper diff mount to be threaded in and the arc from low to high just might do it.

[blackdiamond]

The replacement/custom length traction bar from Budbuilt should be delivered tomorrow and I ordered a set of 35x12.50.15 Cooper Discoverer SST Pro tires today.  Things will be changing quite a bit over the next week.

[blackdiamond]

Here is the traction bar installed.

[SqWADoosh]

Here is the traction bar installed.

Looks good. Interested to see the gains you see with it.