Topic: My Yota Build '81 dovetailed

[smokeater87]

So i have slowly been collecting parts over the last few months but i finally got everything together enough to start a build thread.so here it is.I started out with this 81 yota all stock except for a 2'' body lift,and about 3'' of shackle lift,it also had 35'' all terrains



Then came some black paint and some 37'' irocks on black steelies that i traded for the 35's.



I also did a hack dovetail on the bed,wasnt to concerned about how it came out as soon as it gets beat up from the rocks it will get a flatbed




Starting on the rear swapping in the 63'' springs






Got the rears all done and the dual shackles in




all finished in the rear


Here is a pic of the front all finished up sorry i didnt get many pics of the install of the IFS box or the hy-steer ill get some more pics up of the front end,i used 4'' downey rear springs in the front to move my axle forward.



And Here is some pics of the truck on the RTI ramp at my buddys house,i didnt get up very far i still need to make a front driveshaft so the pic is all i could get in 2wd before the rear tires started spinning





Here is my buddy Billys truck






And my buddy Nicks runner




Ill get some more pics soon of the hy-steer,next on the to-do list is get the shocks installed and put in a welded rear third, and make some sliders.

[smokeater87 [OP]]

Come on guys give me some input.Let me know what ya think 

[ROKTOY829]

Man those 63 inch springs give artic don't they.

[smokeater87 [OP]]

Yeah they do.I like them,i get to see what they really do when i can use my 4 wheel drive and get farther on the ramp.My rear shackles wernt even open yet so i think i still have quite a bit to go on the flex.

[ROKTOY829]

How much lift did you get from the 63 inch springs? Also what truck did they come off of and what did it take to install them on your truck.

[smokeater87 [OP]]

You can get the springs from any 83-93 chevy or GMC i believe ill have to double check on the years.There are 2 styles the 2wd ones which have 3 main leafs and an overload or the 4wd ones which have 4 main leafs and an overload.I got mine off a 2wd blazer.All you need to mount them is either buy a spring hanger for the frame because you need to move it forward about a foot,or make your own.I Got mine from sky's offroad.I beleive the 63's gave me about 3-4 inches of lift.i also did the dual shackles.

[Mavericks]

Truck looks good!    I like the dove tail too, get some closer pics if you get bored

[smokeater87 [OP]]

Thanks Ill try and get some pics tommorow,its kind of a hack job but it works for now,its just going to get beat up on the rocks so when it gets really bad i will probably flatbed it or put an all-pro tube bed on it.

[89sastoyo]

couldnt tell really but how do you like the downey springs, I heard there really stiff

[smokeater87 [OP]]

So far they are good.The settled alot.My front shackle angle was straight up and down when i installed them and now the shackle is at a good angle.The only thing i have flexed it on is the ramp.But i will let you know in a week or so when i go wheeling.

[89sastoyo]

nice those springs will flex a lot more in the rear im sure expecially since you have the double shackle

[smokeater87 [OP]]

Yeah when i hit the ramp my shackles didnt even open up all the way,i cant wait to get my front driveline in and see how much further up the ramp i can get and see how well those dual shackles work.Ill be putting in the driveline and the shocks tommorow so ill get some pics up for you guys

[89sastoyo]

sweet deal did you make a sqaure driveline or buy one?

[boggerunner]

the chevy rears are from 88-98 for the 63"s

[smokeater87 [OP]]

I got a square one from a buddy but i need to cut the flanges off the stock one and weld them to the square one cuz the holes dont match up for the differential flange and the t-case output flange

[Doof]

[smokeater87 [OP]]

Well i havent gotten much done i got some half doors from a buddy of mine and got those mounted

i also got my front shock hoops mounted i just need to finish grinding off the old shock mount from the fram so i can put the gussets for the hoops on.

So now i ran into a bigger problem.my carb started going out on me,sputtering and backfiring so i am unable to drive it.I decided to swap it over to efi.A buddy of mine says he has all the stuff to convert it over,anything else i should know about that i need to do the swap?
the to-do list is getting longer
-22re swap
-rear shocks
-flatbed
-brake upgrade
-front driveline
I think that is all that i need to be able to go wheeling but who knows what else is going to happen.