daved5150

iTrader: (1)

Yea that's what I want to do...regear and start with a rear locker. Selectable as well but much $$$. So I'll be following you here as you research the different types of lockers. ARB's would be sweet but that's alot of bread. I'm hoping to get a set of used V6 thirds as they are built heavier. I have the stock 4.10's with 235/75-15's so a switch to 4.88's would be nice. It's going to be a DD as well so I want the on road manners to be predictable.

Check this link out about yota diffs.

That fuel door looks mint, bro...

Keep up the great work. You are a great inspiration to married guys like me...
I want to do this as my kid has never really been off the road, so to speak. I will take him one of these days as she sits now, but I want to get the rust and holes done first before I do so as to not get mud and moisture down inside the rear quarters...

Man you have a good looking Runner there. And from what I've heard, 4.88's are good up to 33's. I wouldn't want to set up new gears myself as I would be lost. You have Zuk on here who does it and here is his site. It is best left to guys who have the experience and tools. Here is another site to check out preassembled thirds.

Keep on posting dude. I'm watching.

Ocell

Thanks daved5150! I was actually looking at that Marlin page last night. It was the first source I found for built 7.5" IFS diffs. They only offer the Spartan locker on the IFS diff, though. I don't know much about it, I think it's comparable to the Aussie. Seems like it would meet my needs. So I could get the front and rear geared to 4.88 with Spartan lockers on both for $1,500. Not bad... I don't plan to have larger than 33" tires.

Thanks for the feedback on lockers Luvmeye22re. If I can find a way to get Detroits, I'm going to try to go that direction, but the pieces aren't falling in to place so far.

Alright, I'm off to Hidden Falls!

daved5150

iTrader: (1)

"Thanks daved5150! I was actually looking at that Marlin page last night. It was the first source I found for built 7.5" IFS diffs. They only offer the Spartan locker on the IFS diff, though. I don't know much about it, I think it's comparable to the Aussie. Seems like it would meet my needs. So I could get the front and rear geared to 4.88 with Spartan lockers on both for $1,500. Not bad... I don't plan to have larger than 33" tires."

No prob, bro...you can me DoubleDee....(DD). Everyone else does! Have fun on your trip. I'll have to look at that page in detail as well. The largest I'd go is 33" as well.

I don't know if you've read this page, but check it out. It has alot of info there.

Check out what member tc does with his 4Runner. It will blow your mind....

Ocell

Thanks DD, I'll check those pages out.

Here's a photo/video set from the trip today: /
Hidden Falls was a great place! They've got trail levels 1 through 5, and my buddy (in a stock Tacoma) and I were backing out of some of the level 3 stuff.

1.) I'm amazed at the kind of stuff people get their vehicles through.
2.) I'm also amazed at the features we were able to tackle with our trucks, my nearly stock 4Runner with a stiff suspension and very little experience behind the wheel, and my buddy's stock Tacoma (also lacking any real off-road experience).

I didn't get any climb videos of my 4Runner from outside, but it was a champ, really surprised me.


Here are some highlights (but there are more photos/videos at the link above if you're interested):

My buddy's Tacoma
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ocell/7918130318/http://www.flickr.com/photos/ocell/7918130318/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/ocell/, on Flickr



http://www.flickr.com/photos/ocell/7918135958/http://www.flickr.com/photos/ocell/7918135958/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/ocell/, on Flickr

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ocell/7918395292/http://www.flickr.com/photos/ocell/7918395292/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/ocell/, on Flickr

Spotter (first time spotting): "You're good, come down."
Me: "I think I feel the rear wheel coming up a little."
Spotter: "Nah, it looks fine, you got it."

Inch forward, and rear wheel pops up FAST.

Spotter: "Ok, stop... that doesn't look good."

Past the bottom of the frame of the photo looking at the truck from the front, the trail keeps dropping off pretty hard. We were worried that with the length left for the passenger front wheel before the drop a roll may have been a serious risk.

We strapped my rear to my buddy's truck and pulled it back, and we turned around.

Maybe things would have been fine, it looked pretty bad in person (photos never do this stuff justice) but I didn't feel ashamed tucking and running. Live to fight another day. I'd rather take it slow than roll this thing. (No cage, stock seat belts.)

I need to get some more travel out of this suspension.

Ocell

I was happy to get up this without any interesting stories to tell. This is looking uphill pretty hard. Taking the photo level, you would have just been looking at dirt.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ocell/7918163332/http://www.flickr.com/photos/ocell/7918163332/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/ocell/, on Flickr

Here's a video of the Tacoma getting up this:

Ocell

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ocell/7918169398/http://www.flickr.com/photos/ocell/7918169398/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/ocell/, on Flickr

We found a steep bump and tried to get our trucks twisted.

I didn't set this truck up, so I'm trying to see what needs to change.

I think things are far too firm. The Zuk mod coils are keeping the rear wheels from hitting the bump stops, or even getting close to doing so.



http://www.flickr.com/photos/ocell/7918171576/http://www.flickr.com/photos/ocell/7918171576/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/ocell/, on Flickr

The front has been lifted, I'm assuming by pre-loading the torsion bars, and I think that's keeping the wheels from tucking enough up front. I've got PLENTY of clearance for my tires, these would fit fine without any lift. It's got BJ spacers, but those just add travel and not lift, right?

I know the IFS setup isn't doing me any favors, but I feel like it should be doing batter than this. (Sway bar is connected, maybe that's it?)




http://www.flickr.com/photos/ocell/7918174602/http://www.flickr.com/photos/ocell/7918174602/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/ocell/, on Flickr

This is my rear leaf fully compressed. You can see that the Zuk mod coil is keeping the bump stops from even getting close.

I'm thinking I can get some softer coils for the Zuk mod, and then relax the torsion bars up front to bring the truck down an inch or two while giving the suspension more travel.




http://www.flickr.com/photos/ocell/7918176758/http://www.flickr.com/photos/ocell/7918176758/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/ocell/, on Flickr

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ocell/7918180306/http://www.flickr.com/photos/ocell/7918180306/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/ocell/, on Flickr

He got a wheel length further up before his open diffs broke loose too.

Ocell

Here are some video links (I can't embed Flickr with BBCode, I don't think)

Here I'm descending a pretty steep set of stairs in the 4Runner.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ocell/7...57631377215782

Here's the second part of the descent. Near the end you can hear a popping sound. I think it's coming from the transfer case. It's random with no pattern. It was doing the same thing with the truck parked (parking brake, motionless) in neutral. I haven't started searching for what it could be yet, but I'm thinking something in the transfer case. Taking it out of 4WD made it go away.

Here's a nice Blair Witch Project style climb video from inside the Runner.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ocell/7...57631377215782

85gijunk4x4

i've had this..."bug" for years now, and honest to god never even knew those windows slid open. Can honeslty say this is the furst 4runner i;ve ever seen with those windows open. I think its fantastic, everybody who has those windows oughta open 'em up!

daved5150

iTrader: (1)

Nice pics and video man! Looking at your pics, those coil springs look like Jeep springs (maybe Wrangler?). They maybe are probably stiffer(?) springs that the ones that Zuk himsef recommends from this seller.

Go his site here. You can see all the Zuk mods. Here's some info on what size coils to use.

More info:

Zuk mod flex issues...

Zuk mod flex pics....

"I know the IFS setup isn't doing me any favors, but I feel like it should be doing batter than this. (Sway bar is connected, maybe that's it?)"

I think the sway bar was hindering your front flex but I am no expert....

daved5150

iTrader: (1)

Man, everyone learns something from this site! I never had the top off my 88 but used to open those windows all the time when my son and his cousins/friends were in the back seat...luv those 1st gens man...

I'm gonna be selling the 1st gen though...wished I would have drove her without the top. Once saw a dude when I was driving mine with a lift and no top...we waved each other...kinda like bikers...

Ocell

That was one thing about trail riding in Hidden Falls Park. You really get a good workout for your steering hand since everyone you pass gives that man wave, where you pick up three or four fingers off the steerin wheel.

I passed a guy in a sick dark green 4Runner. It was SASed and lifted with a cut short hard top and no doors. That guy threw me the goat \m/ instead of the half wave. Good work.

Surely you can drive that 4Runner with the top off before you sell it DD. It may even sell faster if you get some pics with it off and give some open air test drives?

Ocell

Oh. I just read your sig again, I guess no ones driving that thing with it needing head gasket and timing chain work.

daved5150

iTrader: (1)

Yea she runs, no oil in the coolant but idle only. That head gasket is so bad that coolant goes into the combustion chamber at a fast rate. You have to be careful that she doesn't overheat. It also has the typical "I need a new timing chain and guides that are whole and not in pieces sound as the chain rattles away..." You find any useful info in them links I posted for you?

Ocell

Still reading through. I've read through some of this before, but now it's more relevant now that I have real-world experience. Thanks again.

Luvmeye22re

The truck is lookin good! There is definitely something going on there because both of my stock IFS 1st gen 4runners flexed better than that, at least in the rear. I might try to go with lower spring rate coils or ditch them completely and get some longer shackles or quality lift springs like OME or both.

In the front you could try relaxing the torsion bars and removing the sway bar or getting disconnects. The results may be marginal but if those t-bars are really cranked down it could free up some noticeable flex.

Ocell

Yeah, I think my goal is to get rid of the coil and get a new spring pack eventually. I may try a softer coil for now. Then I'll also lower the front. Hopefully that will soften things up.


Looks like I'm going to be learning how to tear apart the front hub so I can get to the CV boots:

Luvmeye22re

Ah, I have the exact same job ahead of me in the very near future. I found an ebay seller that has two of them for around $120 with free shipping They always seem to have a lot of stock on hand.

I'm hoping I can get all this together before the snow flies. Too much work needed and too little money and time

daved5150

iTrader: (1)

"I'm hoping I can get all this together before the snow flies. Too much work needed and too little money and time"

Man, truer words have never been spoken...story of my life.

Ocell

We certainly don't have that problem in Central Texas. I mean, the snow part.

daved5150

iTrader: (1)

I don't mind the snow part. I've always been the type of person who would rather have to put on a sweatshirt if it is cooler rather than have to take off some clothes if it's hot and I'm sweating. As a matter of fact, my wife and I keep the house at 62 in the day and 60 at night in the winter time. I am pretty much done with the hotter weather...esp. the humid stuff. I am ready for the cooler fall weather. And football season, deer season and snowmobiling.

I love the four seasons here in Western NY. NY State taxes are among the highest in the country, the salt rusts the vehicles and the Buffalo Bills....well, you know. But I would probably never move. But Colorado sounds nice though.