The Drive train swap.

[rattlecanpaint]

Got the newest project started. These are the only two pics taken so far. The first is the muffler. That's how it came off. Pretty much goes with the rest of the exhaust system. The second is just before engine removal. We cut the front clip to ease removal since we pulled engine, tranny, and transfer case all together. The new vehicle is a '85 4runner I got before Thanksgiving. This is the first weekend I've had to actually work on it! Got the Brake lines and booster out of the old truck and into the new one and the clutch hydraulics and pedal out of the old one and into the new one too. Next item is 3" body lift removal and cut down to 1" and front axle and hi steer install in new truck. The axle will be out of the donor truck too. Hopefully then I can install drive train and then just work on getting it running.

 

[rattlecanpaint]

Finally got the front axle out of the truck and into the 4runner. You can see how much arch the lift springs have over the originals in the truck. I finally got the steering done today. Such a slow day at work, I took a personal day and worked on my project.) I'm using Trail Gear's Hi steer setup slightly edited for a flat pitman arm.
I ran into a couple of snags, one with the body lift. I decided to just cut it in half so I've got 1.5 inches of body lift now, just couldn't find 4 1/2 inch grade 8 bolts so after 2 trips to Lowes and 1 to Home Depot, I just settled for adding a couple of washers to make up for the extra length.
the other was with the u bolts being not long enough due to the lift springs and shims. So I've ordered u bolt flip kits for both axles. Just starting the nickle and dimeing I guess. Still need new flexible brake lines and to swap the rear axle and install the drivetrain. Next weekend!!!

 

[rattlecanpaint]

Got the drive train in but have decided to go with an IFS rear so gonna leave the old axle in the truck. Gonna take the third member out as it's got a locker already in it. Also broke down and ordered a Weber carburetor for it. Just think it will clean up all the crap over there on the intake and make it easier to get running. Anyone that has one that loves or hate it chime in here as to why you feel the way you do! I've heard good things about them, but not much bad. Brake lines, u bolt flip kits and carb should be here this week! Just need a fuel tank of cell (Haven't decided which yet) and shocks, and upper shock mounts, and driveshafts. And the other few things I'm missing that I don't know about yet I'm sure. It's coming together though! Can't wait to drive it. Sorry for the crappy cell phone pic. Digi cam was at home.

 

[1stgenxxx]

You get that header on yet? My truck is still sitting in the front yard.

 

[rattlecanpaint]

Yea, got it on and got it fired up! I've been at school in SC since Tuesday so I pretty much got the header on,the fuel tank hooked up (2 rubber fuel lines ran from the tank in the back out the side window, down the fuel filler neck portion of the body and into the existing steel lines). It's a great looking redneck setup! I got to drive it out of the shop and up the hill to the employee lot Monday night before I had to come down here. Will play with it more on Saturday.

 

[rattlecanpaint]

Well, it's outside, and it got there under it's own power! I had to go to school this last week so I had to rush it to get it outside to free up the bay it was in. It's got the wheels and tires off my DD '97 4runner on the back since they were bald and I needed traction in the snow we've had recently. This thing kinda sucked up the money I had for new dd tires. Things left to do.
Shocks, hoops for the front, and some way to mount the rears.
measure for drive shafts and shocks.
Exhaust. Currently has an open header.
Tires, thinking 33's to 35's.
Am also tossing around the idea of extended shackles for the rear since it sits a bit low in the rear. The front is new lift springs so I figure they will settle a bit, just not sure how much.

Also got some really cool bubble wrap fender covers from one of the parts guys, but it was really distracting cause I would just sit there and pop bubbles!

 

[rattlecanpaint]

Dig the fuel lines out the window and down into the fuel filler neck to the steel lines under the truck! I was in a hell of a hurry to get it outside since I needed to leave for school so this is what I came up with. Still has the truck tank that won't fit in the stock mounting location. Also a pic of the steering box. Used a flat pitman arm with the box moved forward as far as possible for extra spring clearance.

 

[JL Marvin]

i might have missed it, but what kinda springs and shocks are you using?

 

[88yota]

looking good man!

 

[rattlecanpaint]

Springs are stock rears with add a leafs and the front are Superlift. It came with them, I just had to eliminate one of the leaves in the front cause when I set it down, they didn't compress at all. Shocks are still to be determined. Didn't get to do anything this week due to being in school for work. I need to get some shock hoops for the front and top and bottom mounts for the rear so I can flex it out and take measurements for those and drive shafts.

 

[rattlecanpaint]

Bling for cheap! One of the guys in the shop had this for his mustang and never used it. $50! 16 gallons or so.

 

[rattlecanpaint]

This is what I'm thinking as far as installation. It has to sit up off the floor like this because the rear fender ins in the way. Was thinking about adding a spacer under the mounting tab and leaving it open underneath to put small stuff. 2x4s are just there to get the idea about how high it will sit etc.

 

[1stgenxxx]

Bling for cheap! One of the guys in the shop had this for his mustang and never used it. $50! 16 gallons or so.

I hate you

 

[rattlecanpaint]

Ahem. Neener neener! So does yours run yet?

 

[rattlecanpaint]

The donor is gone. Got $200 for it (and all the steel we could find in the shop to throw in the bed.) It weighed in at 2400 lbs. (Mostly due to the stuff in the bed.)

Got lock cylinders in the 4runner and holes drilled in the filler neck of the body for fuel lines. Just ran out of fuel line at the shop. Had to go buy more.

 

[RatLabGuy]

If you put that fuel cel there, do you thgink it's going to affect teh behicior of your suspenion on that side when it's loaded? E.g. weigh it down right there over the spring.

I can tell the diference in mine just having the spare in place(it's mounted upright on the D-side), and it's only about, what, 75 lbs?

 

[1stgenxxx]

Maybe he could mount a spare on the other side?

 

[rattlecanpaint]

If you put that fuel cel there, do you thgink it's going to affect teh behicior of your suspenion on that side when it's loaded? E.g. weigh it down right there over the spring.
I can tell the diference in mine just having the spare in place(it's mounted upright on the D-side), and it's only about, what, 75 lbs?

Not sure on this one. I figure that the original tank was on that side in front of the rear tires (granted a lot lower), but this holds a little less than the original. I don't want it in the center cause that will suck up most all of my storage space. I thought about putting it under the rear but it'll just get me hung up on everything and get trashed. The guys at work think I should put it on the roof or the hood. It's not mounted yet so if anyone has any better ideas, I'm definitely open to them.

 

[rattlecanpaint]

Maybe he could mount a spare on the other side?

I'd kind of like to build a rear bumper that will have tire mount on it. Maybe I can find someone who just wants to give me one.

 

[RatLabGuy]

Not sure on this one. I figure that the original tank was on that side in front of the rear tires (granted a lot lower), but this holds a little less than the original.

I think the big key is that it's not only a lot lower (below the frame), but also alot farther forward, so the weight is distributed more towards the front and at least partially carried by the front suspension.
Def a tough problem, if you want to keep the cargo space, I don't know where the best place is.
I do like Jeff's idea of balancing it w/ a tire. Actually that's where I keep my spare, a 33" MT fits in there upright very nicely. For racing I lay it flat to avoid the suspension problem, at that time I don't care about storage.

 

[rattlecanpaint]

Well it's been a while since I updated this thread and a lot has happened since then. It's on the road finally!!! Been driving it about 2 weeks. Have found a bunch of stuff that still needs to be done. I just temporarily mounted the fuel cell for this season and next winter I will be getting a Ford Econoline tank to mount under the truck over the rear axle. Just needed to get this thing out of the upper parking lot at work and spend some time in the drivers seat instead of just looking at it every morning when I pull in.

 

[rattlecanpaint]

Wow, those turned out huge! 1st one is a shot of the Marlin Crawler 4.7 crawl box which clocked the rear case 10*, 2nd is the front driveshaft courtesy of Olivers (Shameless plug), 3rd one is the gauge pod I got since the temp guage always read in the red (even though it wasn't overheating). The empty spot is for a fuel gauge for the up and coming Econoline tank, the 4th is the driveshaft parking brake courtesy of All Pro, (though I had to cut a bunch of it out and make a new bracket for the brake caliper due to the clocked case.) 5th is a shot of the rear looking at the muffler from Scotts Muffler (another shameless plug) here in Winston. and the 6th shot is the splines on the front driveshaft. (beefy)! Had to take care of one hell of a rattle coming from the tail gate finisher inside and am still waiting on Marlin's twin stick to come off backorder so I've duct taped the rear shifter hole for now so I can drive it.

My 7 year old was grinning from ear to ear when I came to pick him up from school in it the other day.