Newbie to crawlin and marlin boards, Bay Area CA

[rayjayx78]

My buddy got me into the whole wheelin scene last year, so I started ghosting on the forums.  Bought an 1985 4runner 7 months ago that has some good stuff in it, but had broken rear r&p and needed some work. 

'85 4runner
IFS rear axle
5.29's f/r
ARBs f/r
4.7s in the t-case
interior cage, sliders
35" tires

Been up to some trails, and it wheels great.  I'm pretty green to wheelin and know my mechanical basics.  Im starting to get some nasty body sway when driving at highway speeds so its been sitting pretty on my driveway (maybe need sway bars or suspension rebuild??).  And its not the prettiest 1st gen runner out there, has good amount of rust in rear fenders/wheel wells. 

I know the 4runner has lots of potential, but im getting to the point where i'm questioning continuing with the project?

What you guys think?  (Keep at it? Sell it? Shops/forum members that can help?) 
Thanks! 
 

[Yota Rolla]

welcome man where ya located im in fremont. .

[toe]

 

[rayjayx78]

Im in Union City

[Yota Rolla]

kool man my shop is in fremont if you ever need something built we do it all. .

[rayjayx78]

Yea that would be cool.  PM your shop name/address?  Thanks

[Peterbuilt84]

[yoshaleng]

  2 

[rayjayx78]

Thanks!

[Yota Rolla]

trade you my 1st gen. .

[rayjayx78]

hmm..interesting.  Whats the specs on your yota?

[Yota Rolla]

hmm..interesting.  Whats the specs on your yota?

http://board.marlincrawler.com/index.php?topic=76970.0;topicseen

[46&2]

  from Davis. Have you checked out your leaf springs? Could have broken your center pins or lost some spring retainers, causing it to shift more when you are driving.

[rayjayx78]

Im going to put the 4runner up on jack stands soon and go through the suspension.  Those are good pointers, anything else I should really look at that can cause nasty freeway body sway?  Thanks

[rayjayx78]

http://board.marlincrawler.com/index.php?topic=76970.0;topicseen

I might be open to trades but kinda want something with a 22re?

[rayjayx78]

yota rolla...your rig looks pretty sick though, looks like a lot of work was put into it.

[87hillbillyoter]

and if you ever feel like giving those ARB locked thirds away, i can always take spare parts

[BigPapa]

  From Clovis ! You didn't say if you had a body lift !! If you do check that !!

[Yota Rolla]

I might be open to trades but kinda want something with a 22re?

if your down for a trade ill give you a 22re topend for it

[yotaneck13]

from pa

[Yota Rolla]

GET ANY GOOD OFFERS?

[Rocksurfer]

   To the board

[rayjayx78]

Thanks for the warm welcome everyone! 

Yota Rolla ... still considering offers but I think i'll end up configuring the 4runner the way we talked about and put it on the boards.  But still got it, PM me if anything changes!

[rayjayx78]

Hey guys, I haven't touched my newbie page since I started, but I have been ghosting the pages ever since!

I gotta vent a little.  I'm starting to get there mechanically, but have NO metal fab skills whatsoever.  A few months ago I ended up paying a local shop I found on craigslist to de-body lift, replace my beat up rear quarter panels, and chop/re-weld my bumpers and sliders on my 87 4runner.  I got a good deal on the work, but the fit and finish of the re-welding, especially the front bumper, was rough (terrible).  When I respectfully brought this up to the shop, they took offense to it, threw me my keys and told me to leave and refused to work with me!

I attached pre and post de-body lift front bumper pics.  What do you guys think?  The front bumper's the worst of it, I can put up more pics if anyone cares.  The shop even said the spot where they bent flat bar to attached the bumper could be used as a recovery point!? 

So I learned the hard way that I get what I pay for.  Anyone know good metal fab shops that you'd vouch for around the Bay Area, CA (94587)?  I'd appreciate.  I need to get this cleaned up cause i'm embarrassed to bring my rig to the trails looking like this! 

[Moit88RNR]

nice. those look like my first weld ever. you were definitely right to pregnant dog 

[jimbo74]

contavt seth from twisted minis..... he is a really cool guy, and his fab work is amazing

[rayjayx78]

Thanks guys.  Yea, really bad welding and even worse bumper integration.

jimbo74: Just looking at the Wicked Mini's site, work looks great, but I think it might be too far of a drive from me.  I'm hoping to find a shop a little closer to home.  Thanks though!

[Carolina82]

Welcome, looks like a pretty capable rig.  The Besttops help alot with weight. A few guys I wheel with have them, nice but expensive.