bone collector

http://www.lowrangeoffroad.com/index...uspension.html

something like this will help get a little more travel for a stock suspension. soak up the high speed bumps better, when used with good shocks like mentioned above.

akdenali118

I read about bump stops like that in an issue of 4 Wheel and Offroad a few months ago. The put them on their budget 4 Runner they're building. And they also used RS9000s

Zpd426

I would check the bilstein website or call them to check if you can get the pin style . I think the reservoir will clear. You won't need to build a shock hoop. You can get adaptors. Or just go with 5100s/stock replacement in the front and 5150s in back. The low bumps get some travel but when you hit them it kicks the crap out of you. The stock ones have more bounce and work better for big hits

akdenali118

I might do the 5100s in the front and 5150s in the back. How do I figure out what size shock I need? I cant find any that are specifically for a Toyota Pickup so I would have to order them by the extended and compressed lengths.

cheez

buy a subaru.


not on topic, nor helpful. But it's the first thing that came to mind.

akdenali118

I might think about that too. I'd like to have a mid 90s Impreza

akdenali118

Im actually gonna spend my money on an 85 Toyota Pickup. So forget shocks and frame braces Im buying another truck. It runs it just needs a clutch to be drivable and its only 700 bucks.

ThatGuy1295

Is this one just for fun?

akdenali118

Yeah it is. I'll probably fix it up and maybe sell my 93. Ive always wanted a solid axle Toyota but I sold my 84 project truck cause someone made me and offer I couldnt resist. And I want a Toyota that looks like the one in Back to the Future.

ThatGuy1295

Well it was actually pretty thick mesh. It helped the front crossmember that those thunderbirds have not dig in so much when landing hard. And was free, that thing was a total junk yard build. I even had a gas tank in the trunk. And never had working brakes. But it sure was fun.

akdenali118

The 85 I bought is pretty sweet. It runs kinda rough, I think there might be a vacuum leak somewhere and it probably needs a new TPS. Turns out it doesnt need a new clutch, just a new slave cylinder. I'll start another thread for that if Ive got any questions.

bone collector

So you turned the topic of high speed offroad ifs upgrades into "i just really want a solid axle truck..." lame. just lame

akdenali118

Well I didnt have a solid axle truck when I started this tread.

BlazeN8

Your budget can't afford $1500 for LT but can afford starting over with an old beater? Ha ha that's funny. I went down the same road as you are about to take. I too always wanted a solid axle rig!


Point of perspective: I bought my 1985 extra cab pickup for $800 and have dumped at least $4K to get it to a mild trail rig and a quirky street rig. It still doesn't have gears or lockers or even a cross over steering conversion. As for the suspension, I did upgrade the leaf springs with 3” lift springs and a set of shocks to match. I replaced the J-Arm drag link with an adjustable one. Basically I did a $1K budget suspension upgrade.


Because this was a beater with 450,000 miles it had issues. For one the front axle assembly was worn out and leaked. I should have done gears during this rebuild but didn’t. Wheel to wheel front axle rebuild is a big job. With the axle rebuild complete and the 3” suspension lift done I installed rims and tires (33x12.50 on 15x8 with 3.25” backspace) I found 3” suspension wasn’t enough and the tires rubbed. To remedy in went a 2" body lift. Next some body work and a new paint job. In the end I did a moderate restoration to the point where it’s cosmetic and mechanically in good condition. Everything is working and complete. It’s a nice rig! I passed on a $5,500 offer before I decided to keep the truck for a work truck.

I am at the point on the 1985 that it rides poorly on the street and performs mediocre off road; as would Marty McFly's ride in Back to the Future! In comparison a basic lifted live axle rig (like mine) is on par with an IFS rig with a 4" drop bracket for over-all score. The live axle would do slightly better off road but the IFS would be better on road in terms of handling and a more comfortable ride. At speed the IFS is much more stable in cornering and hard braking. Hard braking in the live axle rig is downright scary


To get a live axle to perform on the trail you need to do a bit more work than my $1K budget upgrade. I suggest an All Pro 6” extreme travel suspension system and no body lift. A suspension lift over 3" means you need to upgrade the steering as the push pull J-arm design no longer functions. This extreme lift means you lose the front torque arm causing poor breaking, axle wrap, and front end dive. The extreme lift will result in lots of body roll as there is no longer a sway bar. Because the pre-1985 axles are so narrow the bigger tires will rub the leaf springs in the front and the frame rails in the rear. So, do you swap in wider axles or install wheel adapters? In the later, adding wheel adapters or altering the backspace of the rim messes with the scrub angle and the steering gets quirky.


To get a live axle rig to perform at high speed to keep up with LT you’re probably better off going for a linked suspension conversion (front and rear) than an extreme leaf spring lift. I guarantee this cannot be done for the $1,500 you will spend on BL LT.

cheez

Nor the 3+ grand on a TC LT kit .

do you still sell the plans to fab your bl kits yourself, Nate?

akdenali118

I dont plan on doing anything crazy with the truck yet. When get the 85 running good i'll probably sell my 93 and then use that money to upgrade the 85. I'm just gonna use it as a daily driver to get to school and work. I would rather put money into the 85 than I would the 93.

BlazeN8

Ak, I get it, as far as investment the 85 may hold its value better! Either rig ends up being a money pit when one starts "building" it for crazy use.

Cheez, I never sold "plans" for the DIY LA kit? I occasionally sell the pieces needed to build the LCAs and the UCA Extension Bracket. But, as of yet I have had no feedback of anyone actually completing it. I don't mind collecting the money but why someone would go to the trouble and expense to obtain the parts to just give up on makes no sense to me. At least call me or write me to let me know how it went or didn't so I have an idea of weather its feasible or not. As of now I am really annoyed and will probably never sell them anymore. Which reminds me, I should remove it from the website.

cheez

Oh, I see. As long as you sell the completed kits I may start saving for one. I want to SAS but I drive my truck A LOT. LT is probably a much better option.

BoMan

Yup! I would suggest this to everyone even people who just DD. just measure the distance between the control arms before ordering one. stock is 17 inches I think.