Switched builds... traded for a '85 4runner

[4x4yota]

yeah I ran a spool front and rear and never bothered me but some people it does

[81yotalove]

paint job looks awesome for a rattle can job. great work, truck is really coming along. Is that video of your daughters driving stock geared duals or stock with 4.7 rear? i like the fror croosmember debating that one or sky's.

[CSR73]

paint job looks awesome for a rattle can job. great work, truck is really coming along. Is that video of your daughters driving stock geared duals or stock with 4.7 rear? i like the fror croosmember debating that one or sky's.

Thanks! 

That's stock geared duals in the video, double low 1st gear with the hubs unlocked. 

I like the FROR Xmember... no problems with it.  I think I'll go with something else on my next build though.  A flat bottom requires a lot of chopping of the cab floor or a body lift.  I cut a lot of sheetmetal and still have a couple inches of t-case hanging below the frame rails.  I'm thinking about cutting the center section out of the FROR and welding it to my own homemade crossmember.

[SFD4x4]

This is how I used my FROR crossmember.







There was a lot of tunnel cutting involved but I got it 100% flat bellied.  I have a rotated adapter and I used a 1" body lift, but I also put that in took make my motor swap go a lot easier.  I ended up gusseting the bottom side of FROR where it meets the tabs that I welded on to it.

[SFD4x4]

Also, nice work on your truck.  Looks like you are off to a good start! I like your new tunnel, it's nice and clean.

[CSR73]

Thanks for the pics SFD4x4!  That's a lot like what I plan to do when I chop up my FROR X-member.

I got all greasy tearing down my spare front axle.  The plan was to set up my spool in the extra 3rd and have it ready to swap into the rear of my truck (minimize downtime).  Pulled the 3rd out, wiped the ring gear off.... stamped 10x39!!!  Argh!  Friggin' 3.90 gear!  The PO swore it had 4.10's in it even though it was an '81 axle.  Wrong!  Anybody need a big dirty paperweight?

[CSR73]

Got started on a pair of 70" sliders today.  Need to add a few pieces of toob for cross braces.... and try to build another just like for the other side.

[CSR73]

Sliders done, just need to slap on some paint before the rains hit TN again and rust my metal.

[81yotalove]

good work on the sliders. looks like you did them flat? did you not want to angle them up?

[CSR73]

good work on the sliders. looks like you did them flat? did you not want to angle them up?

Thanks!  Angled up before the final burn to the frame... guessing 8-10 degrees... around 1/2-5/8" clearance with the door.  

[CSR73]

Testing the welds.  The slider didn't break off with the weight of the truck....  maybe they'll survive on the trail.

[CSR73]

Replacing the Double Toob Smittybuilt with a Homebuilt bumper.  Managed to get the main bar whipped out during my breaks today.

[NITE KRAWLERS]

dude yo 1st gen is lookin dope man!!!! That new front bumper is gonna be way sicker than that big ol huge smitty built one yo.. HA HA keep up the good work man. Sure the front bump will turn out nice too..

[NITE KRAWLERS]

You should move your build to the projects build up part of the forum man. More people would see it fo sho dude!! Just a thought is all!!

[CSR73]

Thanks! 

Yeah, I thought about moving my junk over to the build-up section.  I may start my thread over there and delete this one.  At least it'd look like I was making good progress if I showed my progress in one or two posts!

[79coyotefrg]

  just keep doing what your doing it looks GREAT

Tennessee??  another neighbor

[CSR73]

  just keep doing what your doing it looks GREAT

Tennessee??  another neighbor

Yep.  We live near Kentucky Lake, on the NW side of TN.  Where are you? 

[CSR73]

With the new bumper, I'm trying to work off of the body mounts and existing bumper bolts.  The passenger side corner of my frame is a bit tweaked, so I had to bend up a couple of unequal length tubes on the bottom to keep the top tube level.    

[CSR73]

Blinkers on the bumper?  In the grill?  Or mounted in the marker lights?

[81yotalove]

nice work on the bumper. what bender/ tube or pipe you using? and i say mod the side lights for the blinkers it will give a cleaner look. just my 2 cents though.

[CSR73]

nice work on the bumper. what bender/ tube or pipe you using? and i say mod the side lights for the blinkers it will give a cleaner look. just my 2 cents though.

Thanks.  Maybe I left enough room to stuff a winch behind it someday.  I'm using cheap pipe bender.  The sliders are 1.5" HREW tube, the front bumper is 1.25" SCH-40 pipe (1.75" OD).   

[81yotalove]

the bends looks good. i might have to get me one of those cheap benders cause there's no way i will bend enough to purchase a pro tools or jd squared. i think im going to start with a winch plate though. trucks looks way better now. i dont like smittybuilt bumpers, just my opinion though.

[CSR73]

the bends looks good. i might have to get me one of those cheap benders cause there's no way i will bend enough to purchase a pro tools or jd squared. i think im going to start with a winch plate though. trucks looks way better now. i dont like smittybuilt bumpers, just my opinion though.

Thanks.  Pipe bends a lot better than tube in a pipe bender.  The tube tries to flatten and kink.  For bumpers, poop pipe should be fine.  Starting with a winch plate is a great idea.  I wish I'd done that.  But I had a welder, $48 worth of pipe, and a 8 hour "work" day..... couldn't resist throwing something together!  The Smittybuilt came with one of my parts trucks.  It's a great piece and seems like a solid foundation for a winch.  It was just a lil' too old skool for me.  If I'd had the turbine wheels (like on my '78 Bronco) I would have kept the Smitty bumper!

[CSR73]

Side view showing the pipe bender bends.  For bumpers and sliders, it works.

[NITE KRAWLERS]

Bumper looks good man. But the pipe bender looks like it kinda flat n's the tube a bit on the corners!! Maybe not though ,it could just be the light or something that makes it look like that. Anyway i would try to keep your blinkers in the front somewhere cause if ya wheel at all they will get messed on the sides man! I would weld a couple little tabs on yo bumper and mount them there! 

[SFD4x4]

It looks like you can throw a winch in there, it will be prob be tight though.  I say put the blinkers in the side markers.  Your truck has some nice clean lines, might as well keep it that way.  Your sliders and bumpers look good.

[NITE KRAWLERS]

oh ya big time man you could slap a winch into that area. It looks almost perfect size to just sit down in der!!

[CSR73]

The tubing did flatten a bit in the bends.  The pipe looks good in person... 95% of the pics I post are uploaded to photobucket from my cell phone.  It's easy and convenient, but the photo quality is all that great.

Worked on adding a leaf to my negative arched front springs today.  I'll replace the top two leaves with some from a rear spring pack when I buy crossover steering.  My ultimate goal is 0" lift in the rear, and bring the front up just enough for the truck to sit level.  Push the axle forward ~2", trim as needed to fit 36" SX's or Iroks.

[81yotalove]

My ultimate goal is 0" lift in the rear, and bring the front up just enough for the truck to sit level.  Push the axle forward ~2", trim as needed to fit 36" SX's or Iroks.

this goal is exactly mine too. the rear has plenty of room for my new km2 35's  to articulate  with an ifs rear or low bs wheels. mine rub bad at the frame and stop my up travel an inch before bumpstop with the stock rear axle and 4.0 bs. oh and they measure to 34.7 inch inflated at 30 psi and weight of my truck. just for reference my front is lifted 2 or so inches and sits about an inch higher than the stock rear too. im at 23 inch frame height measured right under the doors. which is where i want to stay.

[CSR73]

What kinda springs are you running in the front?  Shocks, shackles, hangers, steering?  Look like you have an adequate amount of flex in your profile picture.  If you're clearing a true 35", whatever you're running should be enough for my truck.

I love MedicDB's rig on 37's with no lift.  And it works.  http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=761084

I had Chevies with AllPro 4" fronts in my old Yota, RUF with front CJ's in the rear of my Samurai with double shackles..... those rigs looked geat in pictures all flexed up on a rock or RTI ramp, but it was more flex than I needed on the trail (most of the time).  And the Toyota was way too tall.  ~5" suspension and 1.5" body lift.

this goal is exactly mine too. the rear has plenty of room for my new km2 35's  to articulate  with an ifs rear or low bs wheels. mine rub bad at the frame and stop my up travel an inch before bumpstop with the stock rear axle and 4.0 bs. oh and they measure to 34.7 inch inflated at 30 psi and weight of my truck. just for reference my front is lifted 2 or so inches and sits about an inch higher than the stock rear too. im at 23 inch frame height measured right under the doors. which is where i want to stay.