Nicks 85 extra cab build

[donutman126]

Alright as luck would have it the day before my truck would be torn down this happened .



So I just made my project much larger. I got it home spent all day with a bfh and a come-along pulling out the radiator core support. The radiator was wrapped around the front of my engine and the water pump is siezed, basically a lot of damage. This is what it looked like after a worked on straightening it out.







I still havent decided what im going to do about it, I might just find a parts truck and cut the front off and weld it on mine because how it is now nothing will ever fit right. Anyways..... On to the build I am in the process of installing Marlin's 4 inch trail flex kit. I am one day in so far and I got the front axle removed and the front spring hanger and crossmember brace welded on.




Here's some 35 inch mtr's on crawler rims I picked up for 400 bucks.

Here is my ifs wider rear axle housing, I have a rebuild kit and dif armor for it.


I was looking through my trail flex stuff and I couldnt figure out what these plates are for, maybe you guys could help?

Well thats all for now. This is my daily driver so not having a truck right now sucks. I am working 2 jobs at the moment so progress will be slow, I only have 1 full day a week to work on it. Let me know what you think.

[DanS]

I'll give you a real big  for stay power, after making intimate with the back end of a full size and still building on your Toyota is great to see.
How much frame damage resulted from the accident? Sheet metal can be replaced and/or hammered out, Good luck and keep us informed.
DanS

[donutman126]

No frame damage at all resulted I slipped right underneath him. If you look closely at the fords rear bumper it rotated perfectly underneath the truck. My frame never got touched.

[DanS]

Very lucky indeed, like I said sheet metal can be replaced, but straight frames and healthy drivetrains are harder to maintain!
DanS

[86bobbedtoy]

Are you going to change the core support?

[donutman126]

Ya I think thats what its going to come down to.

[donutman126]

Could anyone give me a hint as to what these plates are for?

[Taco]

The outside two are for the front spring hanger.  The inside two cover up the motor mounts where you cut the ifs off.  I didn't use any of those for my swap on an 87 4runner.  I actually fabbed up some 1/4" plates to beef up the motor mounts properly.

Taco

[Taco]

Here are some pictures of what I did...

[donutman126]

My kit isnt a solid axle swap tho?

[jimbo74]

just because you didnt hit the frame doesnt mean the frame isnt damaged.... i would get it checked out...

the body while bolted to the frame is enough to allow leverage on the frame that can tweak it...





and i have had a lot of firsthand experience with what appears to be superficial damage but having a lot of underlying damage

[Duffil]

[donutman126]

Your probably right that I should get it checked out.

[DanS]

I would take 'JIMBO74's advice seriously, spend a few bucks and have the frame checked. There was a post several weeks ago with a fellow who just completed a 'SAS' install only to find the front end frame horns with about 3" of height difference, good luck. DanS

[donutman126]

Well here is an update: I picked up an 88 4runner for 300 bucks to get the front clip off and put on my truck. Surgery starts tomorrow, should be fun  .

[Duffil]

damn, nice grab!

[86bobbedtoy]

damn, nice grab!

Id say.

[baconator]

if the truck frame is fubar are you going to build the runner?

[jimbo74]

there is almost no such thing as a frame being fubar.... you can bend it back to spec except for really mangled or rusted

[baconator]

i stand corrected

[donutman126]

I had the frame checked and nothing is bent on it. project is still a go!

[DanS]

Great, now get to work and post lots of pics
Good luck, DanS

[donutman126]

Update: Got both front clips off the parts truck and my truck, boy does drilling out spot welds suck . I was going to put the clip on today but I decided that there is so much more room to work on my suspension now that its out of the way. So I have this whole week off of work to try and make my truck drivable again so hopefully it happens. Tomorrow will be steering box, bump stops and shock hoops. Hopefully getting close to finishing the front suspension. Tuesday will be finishing front suspension and putting the front clip on. Ill keep you guys posted

pictures:

parts truck with no front clip


my truck with no clip






good front clip after about an hour of cleaning

[Shoyrtt]

Looks good 8)

[donutman126]

Alright guys this morning im mocking up my steering box. I clamped the box up there than set the front clip on and it is all the way forwards till it hits the core support. It just doesnt look far enough forward?











Im gonna go back outside and play with it for a little but whats your guys opinion on it? To me it just looks like its gonna make contact?

[jimbo74]

most people cut out a hole for the box to sit in to clear the support up there.... check out what people have done, many people do it

[DTB]

cut it out... like this...your drag link is too far back. it needs to go forward more. u will need to extend your steering shaft most likely as well

[donutman126]

Finally all finished for today . I worked on the box placement for a lot longer and got it much further forward. I hammered my core support and kept taking it on and off till it would clear the box. Im happy how it turned out. Heres pictures

[donutman126]

O and one thing that made me kinda mad was the top plate that marlin included in the kit was way to skinny to weld in between the plates on the frame brace. It is like a 1/4 inch to skinny. Not sure what im going to do about that probably just leave it out seems plenty strong.

[DTB]

it still looks like it is not far forward enough..that front bolt on the steering box should be right up against the support. I had to cut 2 or 3 inches off the front of the brace plate..your tie rod and drag link should be damn near parallel