Steve's 85 Xtra Cab Re-Redone Front Suspension... Sorta

[iNfErNaL]

do you have the 22r or the 22re?
i personally liek the 22r i have, everyone says go 22re or bigger, but i don't see the need

  Just so you know

[jrock]

Lookin' good.

[Jud]

looks fun

[SteveB]

go MC front and rear buddy.
dont mess with cheap TG crap.
Mc or APOR is your best bet!

I know MC is the best. Last time i checked the MC springs were the only ones made with US steel. Everyone else except Deaver i think uses the cheap asian crap. I got the trail gears because im a poor college boy. When im rich, ill go back and do it right. Until then, the TGs will have to do.

[SteveB]

Hmm... so i just checked and the MC fronts are $269 for the pair and the TGs are $249.  I guess everyone make mistakes

[gotrocks]

It looks like you have a 4Runner top on your truck in one of the first pictures.  Want to explain how you did that?

[SteveB]

Camper Shell 

Old Pic

[THK Matt]

it does look like a 4Runner Top, doesn't it?

[gotrocks]

Yeah that looks hella like a 4runner top.  Do you have any idea what brand it is?

[SteveB]

Its sitting on the side of my house now. I checked it and it says two words. Vista and Trail-Blazer. Im not familiar with camper brand names, but i would assume that one of those is the brand 

[gotrocks]

thanks I'll look into it.

[SteveB]

well hell if you didnt live in washington, i would sell it to you. it just sits under a tarp anymore

[gotrocks]

LOL thanks I'd probably buy it because i love the 4Runner look.  I have a spare 4Runner top sitting next to my shop right now but I know it wouldn't fit on my truck without a lot of fab work.  Either way its cool to see that someone built a top that looks so similar to the 4Runner top.

[SteveB]

Yeah whenever i had the top on, people would always mistake it for a 4runner.

[THK Matt]

Throw it on a short box regular cab and it will look like one!
BOY that would be perfect for someone with a 2nd Reg Cab/Short Box wanting a 4Runner and doesnt mind hack the back of cab open... BAM instant 4Runner.

[SteveB]

So i did some price checking on my to do list and i racked up a 9something thousand dollar list. I can barely pay my cell phone bill

I finally got everything together (except shocks) to put the new springs on. All I have to do now is find the time and get  to pay my welder. So expect to see some pics on that soon.

Hey FordFreakChik and LILBUDDY. Should this thread be in build ups? When i posted this, i just saw a bunch of cool trucks and thought id post my little turd too

[THK Matt]

Hmm... so i just checked and the MC fronts are $269 for the pair and the TGs are $249.  I guess everyone make mistakes

See if they will take them back.
or sell 'em and go MC.

So i did some price checking on my to do list and i racked up a 9something thousand dollar list. I can barely pay my cell phone bill

I finally got everything together (except shocks) to put the new springs on. All I have to do now is find the time and get  to pay my welder. So expect to see some pics on that soon.

Hey FordFreakChik and LILBUDDY. Should this thread be in build ups? When i posted this, i just saw a bunch of cool trucks and thought id post my little turd too

haha boy i'd rack up a HUGE bill for mine lol.

um mine is in a Rig Gallery, you're fine. LOTS of people's build-up's started as a rig gallery and never moved

[SteveB]

See if they will take them back.
or sell 'em and go MC.

Why? Screw it im gonna put the springs on and wheel it. If i wreck them then ill by MCs, if not, its cool. They're the same dimensions. MC's would bolt right in.

[THK Matt]

there ya go all the guys up here are running TG's except on guy who has a fully Marlin built 84 Reg Cab/ SB.

[SteveB]

You know what though. Those guys are douches. I ask the salesperson on the phone what all i would need to go with the springs to make it work. He left out that i needed longer brake lines and new u bolts. So i got everything ready to put it together, jacked the truck up and realized it wasnt going to work.

I called back recently asking what size shock i needed and told him i was getting my shocks cheap somewhere else (i used to work for Downey Off Road). Once he heard i wasnt going to buy HIS shocks, his attitude turned sour.

BTW All Pro guys are douches too... They think their  dont stink

[SteveB]

Well I started putting on the springs today. It's not finished yet but it will probly be done by Monday as it's Veteran's Day





My 4" TGs next to my old Downey 3"


Original hangar all ground down




A few questions for you folks who have done this.

Am I going to need a new pitman arm?
Should I remove the front axle to make the spring installation easier?
How did you deal with the center pin on the side with the weld on spring pad?
What did you do with your torque rod?

Thanks for any help 

[THK Matt]

ditch the torque rod, pull the axle out and youll need a new pitman arm if you use FJ-80 TRE's

[SteveB]

Well i think im gonna lengthen the torque rod, i pulled the axle out

youll need a new pitman arm if you use FJ-80 TRE's

FJ-80 TRE's? 

[THK Matt]

Well i think im gonna lengthen the torque rod, i pulled the axle out
FJ-80 TRE's? 

MC-13531 & MC-13532
http://www.marlincrawler.com/htm/steering.htm

[SteveB]

so i realized today that they didnt give me the spring pad for the drivers side.    does anyone know the amount of height it is supposed to make up for? i think im just going to make my own. BTW TG sucks! oh, and my old shackle bushings are shot. im gonna need to replace those too. why is it doing anything with my truck is never as simple as it starts out to be.... 

[jonathan82toy]

It is a 3/8's thick, I would not run it until your springs settle. Most around here do not run them.

[SteveB]

how long to settle you think?

[jonathan82toy]

How much do you wheel?

[SteveB]

none until i get it registered, but if i do like i did before, prolly once or twice a month

[SteveB]

MC-13531 & MC-13532
http://www.marlincrawler.com/htm/steering.htm

Cool beans, but why would i need a tie rod end? i figured i would need a longer pitman arm.