Steve's 81 Toyota "angelo" build

[sixstringsteve]

Ok, I FINALLY made some progress.

Leaf packs put together:

For the teflon pads I used a cutting board and JB-welded it on. The cutting board was a little sheet of plastic, the flexible kind. $3 for two sheets bigger than a piece of paper. we'll see if they work. I figure it's better than nothing.

 

[sixstringsteve]

Then I cleaned my axle, installed my marlin eco seals, put my stud eliminator bolts in, and threw the front diff in to keep it from getting dirty again.

 

[sixstringsteve]

Then, after more grinding, I was able to mount my hanger. I had no clue where to mount it. THere aren't many 1st gens running RUF with good pictures of where there hangers are. This is the TG hanger with a 1" drop. According to TG and Marlin, the 79-83 trucks had a frame that was 1" shorter, so you're supposed to put your hanger 1" forward from stock. On the Pirate RUF FAQ thread, they say that you need to move your hanger 1" forward or so on top of that. I didn't know the best way to measure, so I just looked at as many pictures of front hangers and their placement as I could, and tacked it in and decided to go from there.

The back of the TG hanger is close to even with the front of the stock crossmember.

 

[sixstringsteve]

With the springs just sitting there under their own weight (no axle), this was my shackle angle:

It's just slightly forward. I don't know if that's good or bad, but there it is.

 

[zukijames]

Come put some marlin seals in mine after I tipped over the pass started leaking now both are ha bent housing probably but good job on the leafs don't look like the ones you got from me

 

[sixstringsteve]

Here's my shackle angle with the weight of the truck on it:

 

[sixstringsteve]

I was worried that the shackle angle was too tall. I thought that something closer to 45 degrees would be best, but now I'm not sure.

So I decided to try and flex it as close to flat as I safely could with the truck on jackstands. I figure it's only got 1/2" max left before it's flat.

And here's the angle with the springs almost fully compressed.

What do you all think? Is my hanger too far forward, or do those shackle angles look good? I'm running a 5-pack with an anti-wrap leaf up front (still not clamped down as evidenced in the pictures)

 

[sixstringsteve]

Come put some marlin seals in mine after I tipped over the pass started leaking now both are ha bent housing probably but good job on the leafs don't look like the ones you got from me

It's easy to put those marlin seals in, and they're definitely worth the extra money since they have the double-seal. Getting the old ones out was a bit of a pain, but once they were out, it was smooth sailing.

Yeah, you don't recognize your springs anymore because they're all cut shorter than stock. It looks like it's going to be a great leaf pack. We'll see how it does.

 

[sixstringsteve]

I decided the shackle angle looks fine. The springs will probably settle a bit, and if they don't, and I hate my angle, then I can drill my shackles shorter anyway and get a little lower stance and some better caster.

So I went ahead and burned it all in. Tomorrow I'll build the gussets to the crossmember. Gotta love welding in your driveway at 2 AM. Hope it didn't wake the neighbors.

 

[zukijames]

That angle is fine. Might loose a hair of down travel. But compared to your ifs this things going to be a flexy monster.. How big is your shackle? The toyotas I've seen climb the best( goose and toyota rockhead)had very short front shackles to minumize axle movement

 

[sixstringsteve]

it's a 5" front shackle. I'm going to see where it sits after they've broken in. I'd like to shorten it to 4", but I've gotta see where my shackle angle is going to sit once they're broken in. I hope that drop hanger doesn't give me too much lift. I've got some plans if it does. For now I just want the dang truck to drive down the road.

 

[sixstringsteve]

Got some more done today. Not a ton, but progress is progress. At least I can jack the vehicle up from the front hanger now.

Added some gussets:

and on the back:

 

[sixstringsteve]

And, to finish the weekend, I attached the housing. That's a huge milestone for me, and it really got me pumped to keep going.

The goal of Moab in Thanksgiving shouldn't be a problem. I'm now trying to get it done in time for Marlin's Rubicon run in September. I think it'll be pushing it time-wise, but it's a good aggressive goal.

 

[sixstringsteve]

I hope not, that was the general idea. I may add one or two more gussets to be safe. Trying to figure out where to put a front receiver for a winch like yours. I don't want the weight on there all the time, and I don't want to lose my approach angle.

 

[zukijames]

Great work man your almost ready

 

[sixstringsteve]

Yeah , its getting closer. I just need to do the rear suspension, steering, and interior.

 

[zukijames]

that wont be bad.. you going to be around tuesday or wednesday night?

 

[sixstringsteve]

yup. I'll be working on it on Tuesday night after 8:30. I'm not sure if Wed night is open or not. Text or call me and you can come check it out.

 

[zukijames]

okay sweet. i cant tell from the pics is the gap from your spring hanger and that crossmember thing between the frame to big to fill with weld.

 

[sixstringsteve]

Yeah, its a bigger gap than I would like. I may just fill it with caulking or silicone. I'm open to ideas.