Steve's 81 Toyota "angelo" build

[sixstringsteve]

Nah, I don't have triples, just doubles and the w-56, which is longer than my 4-speed which was in there before. Man, triple cases is crazy. I'm sure 200:1 will be plenty low for me.

I'd be afraid that if I lived in Moab I'd get sick of wheeling. i don't know if that's even possible, but that's always been my irrational fear. I'm sure life would still be so busy that I wouldn't have time anyway. Those guys over at weebejeepinmoab (I forgot their club name) sound like they have a great balance between work/play life. I love Moab, it's my favorite place to be.

 

[zukijames]

Last sunday I tippd over in bfe and missed work. Steve I did metal masher with george breakall and his son a few weeks ago his sons is just like his but lower and flat belly. And it did awesome george is thinking. Of doing it to his this winter! With my 4.3 swap I need to make a new tunnel and stuff anyways might as well get it flat whil I'm doing it. Ps french your rear spring hanger. Places wher other yotas and me we're getting hung up he just slid on his slider then bam tire hooking up him going right up stuff

 

[sixstringsteve]

Do you have any pictures of his son's rig? Is it leaf sprung all around? I'm REALLY interested in getting my rig as low as possible. As it sits now, with brand new springs and a no bed, it's around 27.5" from floor to frame, not nearly as low as I'd like. I'd like to be around 24" or lower. I just don't know how to do it with leaf springs. I think my front hanger is lifting me a bit too much. I'll get the springs broken in and see where it sits.

I'd love to see that rig. And I'd love to wheel with those guys sometime. what does George need to do to get his lower like that?

I've thought about frenching my rear hanger. We'll see where it sits once the springs break in. Even with just the weight of the vehicle sitting there, it's starting to get lower in the back every week.

Man, you've really got me wanting to go wheeling with you now in Moab.

Did you feel like you needed bigger tires in BFE, or did you do ok on 37s?

 

[sixstringsteve]

I'm sure I could drop the rear by about 2 inches, but I am at a loss as to how I could get the front any lower, other than shortening my shackle to 4", which I will probably do in the future. It's too early to think about modifying the suspension, I haven't even driven it with what's on it now.

 

[ricsrx]

Steve. did notice on my 4runner how I used the factory front side rear hanger and frenched into my frame?
I have pics let me know if you want to see

 

[sixstringsteve]

I remembered you frenched the rears on your double-cab build, but I don't remember anything about the 4runner. Feel free to post up pics, I'd love to see it. My rear hanger already sits about an inch higher than stock. I could make a little skid for it and it'd almost be horizontal with the bottom of the frame.

 

[sixstringsteve]

since I don't drink pop or beer, I never have any thin cardboard lying around for templates. I don't know why it didn't dawn on me before, but posterboard works perfect, and it's cheap.

 

[sixstringsteve]

Well, today was one of those days that just humbles you just about to your breaking point. You know those days, where you feel like you have zero skill, that you don't even know how to weld, or to do a simple task? It was one of those days.

There was a point that I was welding for a good 45 minutes and it just wasn't making good contact. It was bouncing around, and spitting. I just kept going, thinking it was because I didn't prep it well enough. Well, it turns out my ground had come off and the ground clip was just sitting on the frame, rather than being clamped to it.

I'm starting to feel like I did when I was halfway through my fender tubbing in my tacoma. I feel like I'm in over my head and that I'm just destroying this car, not improving it. I'm just having a hard time seeing the light at the tunnel right now, and I doubt if I can get it ready in time. This interior is taking forever.

I don't think I have room for my new seats, so now I need to find some comfy, narrow seats that would work in here.

Here's the tiny amount of progress I made after 5 hours.

Pretty pathetic for 5 hours. Anyone who knows me well knows that I hate sheet metal work more than anything. I think I'm getting the hang of it, but I still hate it.

 

[sixstringsteve]

Ok, I'm going to start looking for some narrower seats. It looks like I realistically only have about 18-19" width for the seats. Does anyone have any seats, or know of any for sale that would be good? I'm ok paying a little more for a comfy seat. I like sporty seats that hug your body a bit more, but at this point, beggars can't be choosers.

 

[ricsrx]

It was the 4runner frame that the first gen body was on.\
frenched hangers

rear

front

 

[ricsrx]

Steve if you can afford it i would highly recommend some suspension seats, you would have no regrets laying out the cash for them.
Then make up some adjusters like mine.

 

[Marsh99]

post a pic of your seats I will measure my corolla's and i might just trade you if they work

 

[zukijames]

Steve your doing good man. I haven't started my 4.3 swap cause I knw its way more than I can tackle but the only way to make it happen is to try and nt give up

 

[sixstringsteve]

Thanks for the encouragement James. It seems like I need it hourly lately, but I'm on the home stretch.

I went wakeboarding and wake surfing today at Utah Lake, and that was just the break I needed from my truck. When I got home, I got to work. Halfway through I had to go to the bathroom, so I went inside my house and my bathroom ceiling was raining. Apparently I have some sort of condensation leak in my A/C for my house. Homeowner's should take care of that, it was just a minor setback that took another hour and a half of my time.

But I'm really happy with the progress I"m making. Progress is progress.

I also test-fitted my seats, and i have a feeling they may just work. We'll see this weekend.

 

[zukijames]

I'm miss wake boaring utah lake. I think I will need seats out of a side by side lol. Go get the new king of the hammers dvd that's my latest motivation. Ps looking good your almost thre man

 

[zukijames]

I'm miss wake boaring utah lake. I think I will need seats out of a side by side lol. Go get the new king of the hammers dvd that's my latest motivation. Ps looking good your almost thre man

 

[sixstringsteve]

I'm miss wake boaring utah lake. I think I will need seats out of a side by side lol. Go get the new king of the hammers dvd that's my latest motivation. Ps looking good your almost thre man

On that note, what are all your favorite rock crawling dvds? I kinda get sick of watching the comp stuff too long, I prefer trails.

Anyone seen honkies 2, or halin and crawlin? i enjoy watching the Top Truck Challenge videos on youtube.

 

[zukijames]

i love the king of the hammers movies cause its like a story ! the only others i have are haulin or crawling 6.. its kinda cool .. and one made by bfe films.. im gona start a new post about it instead of hijacking yours.. 4 inch shackle up front to lower it would work great but like you said get it done and wheel it and see how it does

 

[Marsh99]

I need to watch some of these... Steve what did you use to guest your hanger on ?

 

[sixstringsteve]

I just used .120 wall 2x2 tube on front, and 1/4" angle iron underneath.