Avsfreak1234

Im just a true fan of IFS. it really isnt that weak. look at one of the best 4X4s ever built... the Hummer. it has IFS and IRS. if your worried about CVs then put on some limiting straps or a diffdrop. and wheel until you break the whole suspension. then SAS.

Snorkeldepth

Did you crank your T bars up, leave them where they were, or ease them down a skosh? The consensus among the gurus here seems to be to ease the T bars down a bit after the BJ installation.

Hmmmm . . .

My vote is to save your money and dial in the IFS to run 33's if that's possible. (That is possible isn't it? ) Get some lockers and have fun. Get through school, reward yourself with a cool DD, and make yourself a trail rig!

slosurfer

I have a set of 33x12.50x15's that I offroad with. The rims have to have 3.75" backspacing. The steering stops should be adjusted a little bit to keep from rubbing on the idler and pitman arm. ( I haven't done this yet as I just barely rub at extreme turning). The pinch weld has to be hammered flat if you run with your sway bar disconnected. I haven't done this yet so I keep my swaybar connected. Trim the valence and no fender trimming. I still have my running boards on so I have to remove the front cap when I go offroad, but they don't rub on the street.


I vote to save your money, lock your rear end, and see if you can get the bj spacers to work with 33's Then SAS it down the road

jsnby

SAS. It's night and day. No more rattles, screwed up spindle bearings, alignment thrown outta whack after a speed bump.

And it's really nice finally being locked up.

Tofer

Thanks for all the Replys. Life has been CRAZY with finals, working (worked 20 hours stright) packing and moving... and i am not actully home yet, i am actully sitting in the Rogue Valley Rest Area where the state of Oregon has provided me with free WiFi i'll have a better reply to everyone's comments once i get home and get some sleep, but i just wanted to say that i havent forgoten about this thread, lifes just been real busy.

bruzer1123

I say keep your rig the way it is, and sling an axle under your 2wd. cool link to one on pirate...http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showt...t=447914&pp=25

Tofer

humm.... that might not be a bad idea... after towing it wiht the 4runner today i dont know if i want to do it again. i was WOT in 3rd most of the time going over the pass having to downshift to 2nd a couple times. but i like the idea of turning the 2wd into a 4wd. hummmmmmm

94runnerguy

If you are a rockcrawler kind of guy SAS it now. If you like the mud like me then leave the IFS.

Tofer

Yes, i know IFS isnt as bad as everyone says it is. whats wrong with my current setup is that its not as lifted as i want, the LC coils are sagging so bad it looks like i have stock coils, i want to run 33x12.5.

I agree with waiting on the trail rig till i am out of school. as for the SAS i have a friend who is willing to do it for me for more or less free so all i have to do is buy parts and beer.

that was my thought too. my buddy said that doing an SAS on 2nd gens are easier then it sounds.

the problem with Wheeling the crap of it it till it can afford to sas is that i am afraid if i take this route i will do damage to more then just the IFS, i would rather have it set up right in the frist place and not have to wheel it till i breaks. i would hate to go beat the snot out of it, and end up blowing the motor and tranny.

I was afraid i was going to get comments about wanting to SAS w/o having lockers first. again i would rather have it set up right in the first place.

T-bars are stock.

thats what i was hoping to hear.


and i talked to my dad about doing the conversion of the 2wd to SFA 4wd. and he said NO. as is the 81 is taking the spot of his new Z4 in the garage because he's embarrased by it and wants it hidden.. so he's not happy that his Z4 is parked outside as is. so wanting more garage space to do a conversion is out of the question..

tc

More lift = more trouble. The higher you go, the bigger tires, the more likely you are to break something REALLY expensive or even hurt/kill yourself by having a rig that gets you in WAY over your head.

I would argue that stock + lockers IS set up right in the first place!

Lockers + IFS have gotten a bad rap, mostly from the "gotta SAS now" bandwagon and people who don't have them. Lockers give you the traction to do obstacles slow and in control.
http://www.ttora.com/forum/showthread.php?t=36079

No matter what you build, you're gonna break stuff. CV's are cheap and easy to replace!

If you already knew the answer, why did you ask?

Tofer

i said that because i knew he had just SASed his 2nd gen and is happy with how it turned out.

rocket

iTrader: (1)

IFS sucks.

waskillywabbit

iTrader: (-1)

Building my 85 was a LOT of work and the parts alone were a LOT of money and to do a SAS, you are looking at some cash flow just for parts, as I don't see you trying to reinvent the wheel just to save some $$$, it is just impractical w/ all the "kits" that take out most of the guesswork, but not the skillz necessary to bolt/weld it all up.

There is a totally built 85 Toy front axle for sale on Marlin for $3500...and that is pretty reasonable considering all that he has in it and has done to it. A comparable Toy rear axle is for sale by the same guy for $2500...that should give you a price cap of what you are looking to do...and those are JUST the axles.

Having it done FREE compared to RIGHT are definitely not the same thing, but that is possible.

I'd say you'd be lucky to get it done and truly wheelable for under (you can add it up)...

85 SFA - $250
SFA lift kit - $1500 (whatever Trail Gear costs these days)
Rear to match - $700 (ditto)
Lockers - ARBs - $2000
30 spline Longfields - $700
Chromoly (Poly Performance) rears - $500
New wheels/tires - $1000
Knuckly rebuild kits - $200
D-shafts redone - $750

And that is just what I can think of off the top of my head...and then there is the "whoops" factor of the things you need, forgot or installations. A friend who will do it for BEER and PIZZA or FREE...doesn't know what they are getting themselves into.

IMO, these days cheap and wheeling don't go together and all those folks that build those "budget" builds are also the DAs always broke down on the side of the trail too w/o any spare parts and/or tools.

Do it right or don't bother.

My SFA rig wheels so much better than my IFS rig did, but they both have merits...just depends on how bad you want it and how deep your pockets are. I'd be more worried about the 3.slow squirrels you got under the hood than the IFS and wheeling it.

Bobakazi

So do vacuum cleaners. But they get the job done. I will now fart in your general direction.

Elvota

Another advantage of SAS that is seldom mentioned or realized until you have one is the increased accessibility to engine and accessories. You gain a massive amount of room under there once the IFS is all gone. With the 3.0, any extra room is a great benefit.

I wouldn't SAS for that reason alone, but it is an overlooked benefit in my opinion.

lclarson

Based upon my reading and this survey, SAS is the way I will be going. I have had my '94 for 6 months and it doesn't take much for me to get at least one tire in the air. I was once balanced in such a way that I could move in my seat to the left and right and make it sway back and forth.

and good discussion.

BeaterToyota

It's like you stole the words right outta my mouth. One of the best/most logical posts I've read on here in a while.

I've been wheeling my '88 junk for the last 13 years, and only a month ago did I finally SAS it. I've run some seriously hard trails over the last three years with nothing but 32"s, dual cases, a spooled rear, and BJ spacers.

I don't want to sound like a dick, but my general feeling is that if you can't really decide whether a 4" IFS lift or a SAS would be better for your own rig, then you do not need a SAS.

lVlr_87

If you want to make your truck ALOT more trail capable spend less money- buy armor and a rear locker. Other than that- leave it alone. Save up for life, finish school, get out on your own, then worry about a toy.

4x4Lamm

I say get a rear locker then see how much you still think you need an SAS for a daily driver.

Lamm

86Original

Aussie in the rear, armor, and save the rest of your money. Don't spend it 'til you have it. You'll be a better driver if you can wheel what you have. As Roger (4Crawler) says, only lift as much as you have to, as little as possible. SAS only really helps you if you're doing really hard rockcrawling. I've made it fine in CO for almost 20 years with the stock tires/wheels/no lift/open diff. It is great for 80% of the trails here.