My 1st build! '86 Runna

[pELYgroso]

well I've had a few rigs that I aquired already built and I tinkered with them, but this is my first full build. Starting with a bone stock '86 4runner auto tranny, everything works and is cleeeean. Even the A/C! Here's some pics of some stock wheelin that I did at the end of last year. I've been working on rounding up parts and money for this build and we're ready to start. My wife insists on helping build so I guess I'll let her This is going to be part expo rig, part crawler.

List of goodies to come are as follows:
dual stock cases (not sure if i'm going to put them with the auto or W56)
SAS using crossmember, shackles, etc from donor rig
5:29's in axles, detroit in rear and welded front w/longfields
haven't decided on 35's or 37's. I've got a set of both.
63" chebbies with buggy leaf in rear
hybrid pack in front
crossover steering (not hysteer) (trying to keep it somewhat low)
I've been reading up on the easy hydro assist mod and I'd like to give it a try.
snorkel eventually
possibly roof top tent
custom solar system to charge a seperate car battery for camp lights, etc
sliders, bumpers, ramsey 8k winch on moveable hitch mount

anything I'm missing? suggestions? (I appreciate suggestions)

I'll add more as I think of it. I'm starting to tear out the rear end tonight so my wife and I can install the chebbies tomorrow.

please let me know if I'm doing anything wrong! :greg:

 

[pELYgroso]

Here's the donor rig. The pink thrasher. we had my rig and my wife's rig, both not streetable, so we decided to sell one of our rigs, get a more comfortable stocker in good shape, and use whichever rig didn't sell as the donor rig, and build the stocker, keeping it street legal. The beast sold first so we're left with the thrasher as the donor.

parts from it we're using:
axles w/ gears and lockers
steering
dual cases (maybe the w56 if we go that route)
cb

I bought another gutted rig w/ nothing left but the suspension that I'll use for the springs, the SAS, half doors, extra ps box in case my hydro assist mod fails, front bumper

 

[ricsrx]

you have me thinking on the extra battery w/solar panel.

 

[pELYgroso]

Questions/ opinions

K, there's a couple things I haven't decided on yet that I'd like to get some feedback on:

I hate that 4runners drag the back end a ton. SO, I figure I can do 1 of 3 things about this:

A. I can bob the bed and the top,
B. I can leave the stock axle location and long rear end and just build some rock proof bumpers to slide along whatever they need to, OR
C. I can install the front eye of the chevy springs into the stock spring hanger which would push the wheel base back about 10.5 inches. This would leave the rear shackle about 1" or so under the tailgate (PERFECT!) BUT, I'd have to chop out the wheel well and move IT back 10" as well.

A and C are a bunch of work. I really like all the storage that I have in the back and would like to keep it that way for expo/camping trips. Bobbing it would take some of that away. Moving the wheelbase back seems like a sweet idea but would be a pain, and I'd need to worry more about non flatbelly issues. Leaving it is easiest but I hate the scrapeage.

opinions are welcome!

another question:
this is the auto vs. manual question.
I love the auto for ease, and my wife gets confused with 5 gears plus 2 t case shifters, BUT I already have the W56 with duals all put together and ready to go. I'd have to buy the inchworm auto to gear dr. t case adapter then pay somebody to put it all together, as I don't trust myself to get it right...(or buy somebody some Dews to come help me with it)

is the hassle/money to get the auto in there worth it? lay it on me!

do I dare ask these questions on Pirate? I'm a sensitive lil' tyke!

 

[pELYgroso]

you have me thinking on the extra battery w/solar panel.

I just found some solar panels for a GREAT deal, and thought it would be pretty sweet to try out. I haven't seen it done before.

I'm gonna go work on rippin out the rear end

 

[jeep-N-montero]

Dang, I where can I find a wife like that?

 

[Thursty]

Dang, I where can I find a wife like that?

On the trail.

 

[SLC97SR5]

I'm a fan of stockish dual purpose rigs so I say ditch the auto and stay with the W56.

I wouldn't bob the back or top, it's just too clean, the HD bumpers are the way I would go.

 

[BOB-CAT]

Sounds like a fun build.

 

[NOTATOY]

I'd say bob the bed, I've taken 13" out of both of my runners and I love the way they look!

 

[OREGON85]

I'd defiantly loose the auto. I think about 1 in 10 bobbed FourRunner tops that I have seen look good. The rest look hacked up and stuck back together, but the ones that do look good are really cool.

 

[pELYgroso]

I'd defiantly loose the auto. I think about 1 in 10 bobbed FourRunner tops that I have seen look good. The rest look hacked up and stuck back together, but the ones that do look good are really cool.

ya, the runner that I sold was bobbed and the top actually looked pretty good, but I've never fabbed anything before, and mine would prolly look like a hack job. I like the look of bobbed runners but again, I need the room in the back.

any opinions on moving the wheel wells back? I took some pics of the 35s next to the rig where they'd be and it looks pretty cool. I'll post pics in a bit.

got the rear axle out last night....hopefully the wifee will help me throw in the chevies this afternoon!

 

[solidfrontaxle]

On an expo rig you need a) as much cargo space as possible, b) as low a center of gravity as possible, c) as streetable as possible, and d) as simple and reliable as possible.
So, in your shoes, I would:
NOT bob it. I like the idea of extending the wheelbase, its new, and would be an awesome long truck, but it would also look kinda weird (who cares right?), and your breakover angle would suck instead of your departure angle. I think I would just go with a beefy bumper unless you really want to do all the work.
NOT do a buggy leaf. Just my personal opinion, I like to keep things stable, and chevies are felxible enough on their own.
Run the 35s instead of 37s to keep it low.
Use selectible lockers if possible, just for the streetability. Or at least do an aussie in the back so its more smooth.
Not do a roof top tent if you want to get crazy with it. Thats alot of weight up high.
On the 5 speed vs auto, I think either would be great. Whichever one you think is more reliable and comfortable to drive.

This sounds like a really cool project. I'm interested to see how it turns out.

 

[BOB-CAT]

I love the auto in my runner. I would extend the WB in the rear and not bob the 4 runner.

 

[pELYgroso]

THANK YOU FOR ALL OF YOUR SUGGESTIONS AND OPINIONS!

ya, if I get a rooftop tent it'll prolly be the oasis II which is only 40 lbs and can EASILY be dismounted and thrown on the back seat or something. (or I might end up building an off road trailer with all that stuff in it):greg:

with the buggy leaf, I've thought about the fact that it might be a little spongy for the road and light trails, so I came up with the idea to clamp it down towards the rear of the buggy leaf with a square ubolt around the frame and make it quick release, so when I'm on the road i can clamp it and it won't be able to travel at all but when i'm in the rougher stuff I can unclamp it and have all the flex. It works in my head at least.

I'll prolly mount the axle in the stock location (or maybe 2-3" back) for now and If I don't like it that much I'll try to extend it back. I've never done any body work so it'd prolly look like a hack job anyways.:-\

the gas tank hangs down super low. is it possible to mount it where the spare tire used to be? It seems like it would be a little more out of the way there. It doesn't look like there's much clearance between the tank and the body to lift it where its at.

 

[big cherokee]

on the gas tank you can either cut the stock brackets and take about 2 inches out and reweld them together to get the tank up even with the frame
rail

or go to a ford gas tank (check pirate4x4) and put it in place of the spare
tire.

i like the idea of moving the axle back 3 inches and then building a nice bumper for the rear maybe seal it up and use it as a onboard airtank.

i wheel with a full bedded extra cab and dont mind draging the rear end around with my bumper i made.


going to be a cool rig for sure.

my wife misses it and did not want to look at the pics, glad its being put to good use.

 

[OREGON85]

I've seen wheels that mount to your receiver. You could try one of those!

 

[pELYgroso]

I've seen wheels that mount to your receiver. You could try one of those!

 

[pELYgroso]

progress...

so I figured out where I'm going to be putting the axle. the pics are of where the wheel will sit. I'll need to cut a bit of the rear of the fender out but it will work, and the shackles will hang about 3" inside the rear of the body. I'll fill those 3" with bumper.

from my calculations, I'll be mounting the front hanger 7 inches forward. (If I'm doing this wrong please tell me!)

I like the amount of body that hangs over the rear wheel. not too much but not ugly.

 

[pELYgroso]

pic of the pink thrasher as she sits,

runner in stock form

the lovely duals that I'll swap into the runner