Getting My '85 runner up and running!

[Toyonrocks]

I had an '82 Yota I had built about 7 years ago. I worked at a dealership as a Tech when I was building it so I had the best tools available and lots of brains to pick if I had questions. 3 of the other techs were avid wheelers and had crawler projects. I put a lot of blood and sweat into her. She was up on 36x12.50r15 TSL-SX, waggy springs front, Dodge 1500 springs in the rear, 5.29's, Detroit in the rear, Marlin clutch, Marlin dual case, Marlin crossover high steer.
(In her early stages)  Well the sad part of the story is I sold the rig after I bought a boat and didn't take the truck out for a summer. I regretted selling her as soon as she drove away. Well I'm back at it! starting from square 1! I bought an '85 runner the other day! She's got a solid start. Nice trail armor, A winch, she's fuel injected, 35" BFG mud terrains. But that's about it! So I have a lot of work to do but I'm super stoked to get back to tinkering! Next summer will be my first trip back to the Con!! Best camping and wheeling trips ever!

(the new project)

[Rocksurfer]

  II 

[1985CRAWLER]

welcome! sweet runner! although that 82 sounded well built!

[Toyonrocks]

Got the front axle completely stripped and the 5.29's in the front diff!! Moving right along!! So many things to do still.

[Toyonrocks]

Got the 5.29's in the front. While doing that I cut out the pan hard bar mounts and found my hub bearings were beat up. Pulled the steering arm off and flipped the ball on my left side steering arm. Gotta do the cheap upgrades till I can get MC high steer on this beast.  So essentially rebuilt the entire front axle.



She's coming along! Still have high hopes I can get the 5.29's in the rear within the next week so I can make a Rubicon trip before it gets Blistering cold up there at nights.

[Toyonrocks]

So I know its not terribly exciting for most, but I'm really excited! I've got a pile of parts in the garage! High steer, Chevy 63's, spare case and MC07 adapter, TG front springs, steel braided brake lines!! Getting ready for the summer!! My first big journey will be the Rubithon in June!! I'll post pics of my progress later!!

[helipilot77]

Love the 4runner. I think you made the right choice in a vehicle to redeem yourself. Although I am biased. Glad to see you are digging into her so soon. With the parts you have there, you should have a decently capable rig.

[Toyonrocks]

Thanks Helipilot! I'm hoping she'll get with it.
Here's my stack of parts! ready for install.

[Toyonrocks]

And here's progress so far!

[Dingman.]

That is a good start!

[Toyonrocks]

Fabbed up my front spring hanger this evening. Its beefy to say the least! Gonna hack of the old hangers and weld it in tomorrow!!

[Toyonrocks]

Here's the Marlin steering gear box mount getting put in with my hanger.





Not gonna lie.... The welder was feeding shitty and some of the welds aren't awesome to look at. I know they're all strong though and I'm closer to wheeling with high steer.

[toe]

 

[helipilot77]

Keep the progress happening. You are well on your way to a sweet rig.

[1985CRAWLER]

high steer and the ifs box was the best mod i did to my 85, was probly one of the first things i did.

looks good!

[Toyonrocks]

Can't wait to be crawling again...

Got this all mated up. Be Low lOw by the end of the week.

[Toyonrocks]

So I got back into the garage and started Fabbing up my soon to be crossmember. It took seriously the entire day to get this far. All the measuring and check and recheck. I was cutting 3/8 plate with a Dewalt grinder and a cutting wheel too. And drilling 8, 5/8 holes and 4, 3/4 holes takes time but still.... all day! Frick.

Still have a bit of clean up work and strengthening folds to add but all and all I'm happy with it. 

[Toyonrocks]

Oh yea, Almost forgot. Put a 23 spline input shaft in my rear case too!


Pretty big difference! The super tight tolerance was obvious when I was mating it back up to the crawl box!

[Dingman.]

23 spline is where it's at! 

[Toyonrocks]

I went to prison hill yesterday. Gave my runner her first rock rash and bent my right rear leaf. So I guess the 63" Chevy springs are a necessity before the Rubithon. Here's what the garage is looking like this afternoon!

The 87 housing is in front and 85 rear. Definitely see the difference side by side! The 87 is way more stout.
.

[Toyonrocks]

Here's an unfinished photo of what I did. Not sure if you would call it "frenched in". I just cut enough frame out to put the front edge basically flush with the frame.

I got the rear axle in with the ubolt flip done and I'm super happy with how soft the chevy springs are!! But I'm saggy in the rear, bad.

I'll add another pic later. I should've put the front in there too. The front is easily 3-4 inches higher... Other than blocks.. Any ideas?

[Dingman.]

when i first did my chevy 63" swap i ended up runnning a 2" block and 7" shackles for it to sit level..

At the moment i removed the blocks, and put 2nd gen rear springs up front and i feel like its sitting a touch higher in the back so i may shorten the shackles.   

[1985CRAWLER]

thats how it sits on 35s? i like that height, i would lower the front by pulling the bottom front leaves to match the rear height. but thats just me.

mine sits low on 37s with a 6" shackle with no blocks on 63s.

make a longer shackle, try and stay away from blocks

[Toyonrocks]

Figured I'd show a better side view of the rig.



It's not too bad. I'm still gonna make some shackles for it.

[BlackRunner87]

Looks good!!!

[Toyonrocks]

Here's a little shot from Rubithon!
I had to take a side hill line because my front approach would've been too shallow. My buddy with 38's went straight down.

And when my right front slipped off the rock before my left I barely avoided flopping!

[1985CRAWLER]

sketchy line

be a shame if u flopped that clean runner!

[Stew_pedaso]

Clean looking 4runner 

How was the rest of your trip through rubicon?

[Chevota22]

Nice progress so far! Keep it up.

[Toyonrocks]

The rest of the trip was fun! I didn't get to go as far through the Con as I wanted just because it took so much time to go from place to place with so many rigs on the trail. I had a good time though. My truck did great! Broke a hub on the way out somehow and a tail light so not bad carnage.