Steve's 81 Toyota "angelo" build

[sixstringsteve]

oh, and if anyone's doing steering anytime soon, I have the 3/4" drill bit if you want to borrow it.

 

[864runner]

Looking good Steve, what stopped you from finishing up mounting that box or knock out the hydro assist?

 

[sixstringsteve]

I got burnt out and my brother invited me to play disc golf and I couldn't resist. Hopefully I get it all done tomorrow.

 

[864runner]

That's a damn good reason! I need to get out and throw a round.

 

[sixstringsteve]

Do you play? We gotta play sometime. I try to go every saturday. It's pretty much the only thing I do for enjoyment since this project has started.

 

[864runner]

Yeah I play, but I'm not very good. My brother got me into in about 2 years ago

 

[sixstringsteve]

there's a tournament in American Fork at Art Dye park in October. My brother and I are going to play in it, just for fun. you should play too.

 

[sixstringsteve]

Today's updates:

Anybody notice anything wrong with this picture?

According to Trail-Gear's website, this is what they say about their PS bracket:

"If you're installing crossover steering on your 79-85 4wd Toyota you're going to need to mount an IFS steering box. This frame mount kit includes both inner and outer frame reinforcing plates, grade 8 bolts, DOM tubing, and Crimp nuts. Inner plate is 1/4, outer plate is 3/16". Angled leading and trailing edges prevent frame cracking. Heavy duty design. No questions asked, lifetime warranty."

Only problem is, they said this completely backwards. Inner plate is 3/16, outer is 1/4". So that got me confused and I installed the plates backwards. (I should have just listened to you Eric!)

Thankfully I recognized the problem before I welded the plates to the frame. So I spent tonight cutting off the 3 tubes and working on the steering box. I still can't quite get the outer plate straight, but I'm going to try a BFH tomorrow. It was too late tonight, I didn't want to bother the neighbors anymore than I already do.

 

[sixstringsteve]

I also cut off my rear shock bar thingy. I'll relocate it a few inches back to accommodate the longer gas tank.

Many thanks to my buddy York for hanging out and helping me tonight.

 

[sixstringsteve]

One month from today is the goal. I think I'm actually going to make it.

I'm starting to get really excited, it's getting close. I should be able to start the engine on Saturday. I probably just jinxed myself by saying that. Knock on wood.

 

[sixstringsteve]

I told trail-gear about their mistake, and they have corrected their website. Way to go guys. I know not many people like Trail Gear, but they've sure been good to me, and I've been really impressed with their parts (I still run marlin seals and koyo bearings though).

It may not look like a ton of progress, but it feels like it.

Steering box mount. That was WAY WAY WAY more work than I thought it'd be. I'm sure it was compounded by me putting the brackets on backwards. I must not have drilled them as straight as I thought I had, because I had to bend the plates a lot to get the 3 tubes to match up. THe frontmost tube is still not lined up. more fun tomorrow I guess.

Glad to have that done. I'll mount the box tomorrow.


I cut out the dented part of the cab. I should have done that a long time ago.

Getting ready to do the tunnel and the horseshoe collar clearancing. I'm not sure how much higher than the top of the t-case I should make the tunnel. How much room do I need to leave for the shifters and boots?

 

[sixstringsteve]

I've gotta put a plug in for Bolt and Nut in Midvale. Not only do they have seemingly every nut and bolt ever made, but their prices are ridiculously cheap.

 

[ricsrx]

Man you hammered the piss out of that plate.... I think I installed mine wrong also.

My bolt holes were lined up perfect

 

[sixstringsteve]

Man you hammered the piss out of that plate

That's an understatement. It wasn't lining up straight so I pounded the crap out of them with a chisel. My bolt holes aren't straight, so I have to drill them out a little tonight. I'm going to cap the entire brace just to make sure I never have to touch that box again. The steering box was the most frustrating part of this entire build so far. I expected it to take an hour, but it's taken me all week. Plus the bolts that came with it were too short since I moved the box so far forward. And... I had to bend the inner plate to match the contour of the 1st gen pickups. This wasn't too bad, but you'd think their instructions would mention this. It's plenty far forward though

 

[sixstringsteve]

Ok, so now that I took the steering box off and re-drilled the holes, it turns out that they were lined up perfectly to begin with. BUT, since the TG kit uses 1/2" (SAE), and the truck is Japanese (Metric), I was having some issues. The holes for the mount were perfectly aligned. THe holes in the steering box, however, were smaller than 1/2". I didn't even think to check that since I got the box from TG as well as the mount, and I assumed the 1/2" hardware would fit in the box.

Note to anyone doing steering: check to see if your steering box holes are big enough for your bolts. I assumed the box was fine and blamed my mount.


Now that I drilled out the steering box holes, it lined up perfectly and went in without a hitch. I sure could have saved a few days if I had checked that first. Yes, I'm a moron. The good news is that if I can do it, most people can do it. It's still not a piece of cake on a 1st gen pickup, but I definitely made it harder than it had to be.

 

[sixstringsteve]

Got some work done tonight. FINALLY.

Steering box mounted and connected. Steering shaft lengthened.

It's as far forward as I feel is safe to go. Any farther forward and it'd hit on approaches, and my hydro assist line would be hanging out in the open.

It's about 1.5" forward of the tie-rod. So I could move my front axle forward another inch if I really wanted to, but I'm happy with where it is right now.

 

[sixstringsteve]

And I got the horshoe collar cut. Hopefully tomorrow I finish the horseshoe collar and get most of the tranny tunnel framing done.

 

[sixstringsteve]

Working on the tranny tunnel. The hardest part is just starting out and deciding how big you want to make it.

 

[zukijames]

dude i cant wait to have dual toy cases sticking up through my floor !! good job on putting your box that far forward! when the drag link crosses the tie rod you run into problems.. ask me how i know.. and with the drilling out the steering box.. i bought my bolts and sleves from trail gear also i ordered mine individual cause i needed 4 for the fj box and i thought it was just cause i was using the ifs stuff for fj box but i guess its just a stupid thing. they should put some thing in on some instructions.. it took me a min or two at first i was just going what the heck!

keep up the good work and i'll see you down here in 3 weeks?

 

[sixstringsteve]

haha, I wish I could make it down there in 3 weeks. It will be drivable in 3 weeks though.


Thanks for the compliments James, the steering was way more work than I anticipated, but I'm really happy with how it came out.