84 reg cab CO: HALT! Now an 85 Runner

[wakkjobb]

Okay, that's what I thought... since the ram acts as a stabilizer/damper type thingy. That's one more thing to hack off the front then; the mount. Got me some plate for the frame, going to start cutting the rust tonight!


>>Dan

[Jakesteads]

go go gadget sawzall

[wakkjobb]

Well I lied; I welded my exhaust flanges instead of chopping the rust. I have to get some respirators before I tackle the rust; coughing up black boogers for a few days is not fun, trust me on this.

Plus the shop's a disaster area and I should clean it up before I get lost in the mess like "Hoarders" or something.
>>Dan

[wakkjobb]

Hacked out the frame rust...(5 cut off discs later) oh Lord it's ugly. Chopped off some miscellaneous brackets up front too; who needs a stabilizer with hydro anyways? Not this cowboy... Tomorrow will be spring mounts/brake bleeding/template making shennanigans.

>>Dan

[wakkjobb]

Y'know that stabilizer I tossed? Yeah, it looks exactly like the blown shock that came with the "spare parts" for the truck. Who uses a shock for a steering stabilizer?  This truck is full of surprises.
Finished cutting the rust out but remembered Volcom saying to fish-mouth the welds so I cleaned off more area to do that tomorrow. Or instead of cutting out a wedge on each end, could I make the patch panel have the wedge? I'd draw up what I'm yapping about but I'm not great with paint/photoshop. Ah hell I'll give it a try tomorrow.
Did you know that the lower radiator hose from an 83 Celica (22R engine) fits our trucks? Yep, and it costs as much or less that the stock hose that goes to the radiator. Go figure... thanks, Toyota!
I trimmed the shock mounts so they weren't hitting the shock bodies and found out the shocks have a whopping 10" of travel. Question: How long of a shock will I need when I get the Chevy springs installed? I didn't see it in the FAQ; it just said "get longer shocks".  Also the shocks are mounted in a really screwy way, they angle a bit to the rear from the axle. I'm going to end up chopping the current (and a few previous) mounts off; what's the ideal way to angle shocks?

Uh huh...
>>Dan

[wakkjobb]

Peekturs:














And there you have it.
>>Dan

[Volcom]

Finished cutting the rust out but remembered Volcom saying to fish-mouth the welds so I cleaned off more area to do that tomorrow. Or instead of cutting out a wedge on each end, could I make the patch panel have the wedge?

The fish mouth recommendations were for a plate being welded to a frame (steering box, scabs for sliders, etc....).  For that damage you cut out (which looked good for cutting it out with a cutoff wheel!), just make a plate to fit the hole and weld it in.  Then take some diamond shaped plate and weld them over the vertical parts on the patch you just welded in the frame.

[Jakesteads]

take it easy with that grinder damn!

dan i have 2 14" travel shocks ill sell u for 40 bones i dont think 10" is enough

[wakkjobb]

Gimmie!! 

[Jakesteads]

i gotcha next time we see each other

[wakkjobb]

It's a date, sweetheart... 

How long does Marlin take to ship stuff? I was hoping to have the IFS brace by this weekend but...
It's so nice out today I'm going to try for the springs again since yesterday was snowing and crappy. Plus today I'll bring the correct tools to get the damn things!
One idea I forgot about last night: a CV on the rear axle... I have an extra front shaft; would it be a wise move to chop it up for a rear CV? If so, would the CV go on the t-case or axle sids or does it matter?

[wakkjobb]

FINALLY picked the 63s at the yard; it wasn't snowing or but-ass cold and I was in and out under 30 minutes. Thanks, P'Blaster and cordless impact!! Now I have to get bolts and metal for front hangers. 1/2" might be a little thick, eh?

>>Dan

[dezrik]

1/4" is sufficient.

[wakkjobb]

I was going to find some 3/16 or 1/4 today but had a few too may last night... still not feeling 100% right. Thought it would be a bad idea to drive since I was probably still legally drunk this afternoon. By legally I mean 0.06 BAC which is enough for a DWAI but still less than a full-on DUI at 0.08. Ask me how I know... 
Anywho, my fancy new Marlin IFS brace kit was delivered this afternoon! I have been grinding away the torque rod bracket; sucks. I wasn't aware you need to drill 3/4" holes through the frame... hmmm. That'll be interesting since the biggest drill bit I have is 1/2". I can probably step-bit it from both sides or use the ever-popular Dremel bit to open them up. We shall see. I'm guessing the holes get drilled where the box was bolted, or should I move the box forward as much as I can? The drag links are already parallel so should I worry about moving the box at all?

>>Dan

[wakkjobb]

Got the hydro box on, lines on, cooler on and steering hooked all up; just waiting for the air to bleed out of the lines...

>>Dan

[wakkjobb]

Cleaned up shop, screwed up the battery tray (forgot the washer rexervoir needs to share that spot), called about getting a CV installed ($80), found steel for the frame ($15) and found out the radiator was epoxied/JB welded a LOT. New radiator: $80 to my door instead of $110 local parts store.

Now to get money for this crap...  

>>Dan

[Quick Draw]

Now to get money for this crap... 

I hear that...  Paying the credit card bill is going to suck this month...  I need to sell about $100 more of parts (I'm parting my car out).  Although I refuse to pay interest, so I'm talking about paying it off.  Then my $190 speeding ticket is not helping one bit.

How does the hydro work?  And how much did you end up spending on that setup?  I want to do one at some point but it hasn't been a priority because I have so many other things to do just to make the truck reliable.

[COToy91]

I hear that...  Paying the credit card bill is going to suck this month...  I need to sell about $100 more of parts (I'm parting my car out).  Although I refuse to pay interest, so I'm talking about paying it off.  Then my $190 speeding ticket is not helping one bit.

How does the hydro work?  And how much did you end up spending on that setup?  I want to do one at some point but it hasn't been a priority because I have so many other things to do just to make the truck reliable.

I spent $120 on mine with all the parts from surplus center

[wakkjobb]

Started to clean off the frame last night, dropped the axle, took off the springs (now for sale), chopped off the spring and shackle mounts and thanked the gods at 3M for making cut-off discs that actually cut stuff off... instead of turning to dust after 5 minutes (crappy Home Depot discs...)
I set one Chevy spring on the axle just to see where it lands; I want to gain a few inches (ha ha) of wheelbase when this is done. From what I'e seen it looks like I should be able to stick the shackle mounts way at the end of the frame and that'll give me about 3" more wheelbase. I also noticed the shock mount (at the frame) was welded in crooked; it tilts forward about 30 degrees... but the bolt holes are drilled straight through.

Great...
>>Dan

[Jakesteads]

lololol ...is your rear driveshaft long enough to moVE IT back? im going wheeling an easy trail on sat i guess u cant come

next week i wanna come down and weld on these sliders and bump stops.... i can bring that stuff too... you gonna be around Tuesday or Thursday enough to where i can weld this stuff on

[wakkjobb]

It will be; it's at the driveshaft shop waiting for a measurement so they can install that CV on it too. I'm busy hacking the old bed mounts/exhaust hangers/other crap off the frame. I want to have some of the frame patched by tonight; it's taking way longer than I thought it would... but everything seems to do that. I'm selling the Pro Comp rears since I have 63s now; is $100 too much? What are you using for bump stops? I am going to need some for my super long and flexy awesome springs too.

I have school Tuesday and Thursday afternoons but I'm ahead of the curve so I can miss a day or two. Thursday would be best since I have my DUI class Tuesday mornings, 8-10. Only a few more weeks of that!  ha ha...

>>Dan

[wakkjobb]

Pics:
63s sitting on axle, just to see what's up:


What's left of the frame:


Yeah, it was ugly:


Driver's side packed with dirt, no wonder it's rusting away:


3/16" by 6" by 6 feet for $17; I call it "The New Frame":


Pro Comp springs for sale:


>>Dan

[axled89]

so much frame rust.   you should just cut it all off,  and tube the hole back half.   with a four link.   

[Volcom]

I spy a picture of my 4Runner hahahhahahahahahahaha

[Quick Draw]

Yeah I think I may have been inclined to either tube out the rear truggy style, or get some square tubing to replicate the old frame if I had to cut out that much.  But more power to ya.  You're definitely saving a lot of money, and I'm sure it will work just fine.

[wakkjobb]

Yes Aaron, there's an "inspirational" picture of your rig on my cabinet from when I was going to get a Runner. It's still good inspiration; just modified for regular cab action.

Right now I'm wanting to research the 4-link path since both frame rails are rusted; the right more than the left. I'll probably just weld in the 3/16" and call it GOOD.

It all sucks.
>>Dan

[Jakesteads]

dan cut the frame off and get you a credit card and go wild here you go!!!

[COToy91]

Yes Aaron, there's an "inspirational" picture of your rig on my cabinet... from when I was going to get a Runner. It's still good inspiration; just modified for regular cab action.

Right now I'm wanting to research the 4-link path since both frame rails are rusted; the right more than the left.
I'll probably just weld in the 3/16" and call it GOOD.

It all sucks.
>>Dan

That red extended cab is Tim Breakall's he lives up here in elbert county.

Maybe look for a replacement frame, I see then for $100 online sometimes. Cheaper than a 4 link if money is tight

[wakkjobb]

I'm all over that credit card/tubing idea like a fat kid on cake.
I've decided to weld in new metal instead of 4-linking it; I don't have the time or $$ for links. (ha ha) There's a plasma cutter on craigslist I am DYING to buy; still waiting to hear back from the guy. It's the Miller 375 and should be heavy enough to chop through my junk; just hope I can get it before someone else.
That picture of Tim's truck is from an Off Road Adventures (aka 4 Wheel Parts' catalog) from a few years ago. That's a really slick rig; I wish I kept the entire magazine to get ideas from. Like the burrito box on the exhaust manifold, awesome.

>>Dan

[wakkjobb]

Stuck in the new radiator, plumbed it to the oil cooler plate and ignored the rust again. Good thing tomorrow's Saturday, eh? For some reason the PO had lowered the radiator about 2 inches; I stuck the new one in the stock location and it fits fine; no problems with the hood or anything. Things that make you go...  WTF 

Old POS radiator:


Shiny NEW $80 radiator:


Hell yeah it's got a turbo! (I'm totally not doing that)


Power steering cooler/leftover from another project:


Super sweet 3/8" tube for oil cooler:


Everything hooked up:


I promise I'll weld some frame tomorrow...

>>Dan