lift dilema

[myles.artus]

hey guys so this is where i am... i bought the 4runner back a year ago and by the time i got settled and ready to start moding it... it was basically a month ago...

here is where i am so far...

replaced and re-wired tailgate (now working and opens)

removed tire swing arm (for sale if interested)

cleaned out the engine compartment and underbody and started preping for a coat of rust proof

removed fromt bumper and valence and installed an 8000lbs champion winch with a custom bumper.

grabbed 4 new 31" tires for 150$ sweet deal...

new battery

new rad installed (should have replaced hoses at same time now theres a leak! ) :mad2:

also repleaced the cv axels...


now im looking at my truck and it sits so borringly low.. i think everyone knows what i mean.. lift it up! well the project is starting to make a dent and although in a month or two i can start up again.. so in them ean while i wanted to bouce some ideas off you guys to see how i can lift her up for a decent price...

option...
i looked into longer rear coils with some upper BJ spacers... this seemed pretty reasonable considering price...

also checked into rear coil spacers... not sure if better or worse then the longer coils..

i havent seen anyone with any spares of these parts but that would be handy or even if used... next year i might turn around like i always to and start ripping the truck apart again... but for now i wanted to hear you guy's opinions since this is my first yota..

also i noticed the winch and bumper a little heavy on the front so i thin i will need to beef that end up a bit...

what do you think guys? and dont hesitate to throw a more expensive option at me because i might be trying a cheaper way but i definitly dont want to be screwed with where im going... :cool:

[TheOtherSide]

I lifted my Jeep in stages... based on my new interest in off-roading at the time and budget at the same time. Toyota will have different options... but this is how mine evolved:



upgraded tires to 235/75/15 All Terrain KO's on a stock truck
2" Budget Boost (coil spacers) and a front adjustable trackbar
31" All Terrain KO's
Pulled the 2" spacers and put in 3.5" lift springs and an adjustable rear trackbar
added the 2" spacers to the 3.5" springs and added 8 adjustable control arms. Switched to 33" MTZ's
switched out the rear 3.5" springs for 4.5" springs

That's how mine was put together... each step was about a year apart from each other.

All I'm getting at is... you can chill on it and do it slowly... or spend it all and get it done in one shot.

[myles.artus]

what was the approximate cost without tires... what type of parts did you buy? brand? do you know where there are deals? ive checked out a few places but im not as familiar with the yota gear... the jeep parts are all over the place... (rubicon/tj) anyways...

[TheOtherSide]

My costs could be way different than yours... but I'm an ebayer and have bought lots from there. Ebay things were, Rubicon Express springs, Bilstein shocks... and they were new. Other things like the control arms were from a Grand Cherokee forum and were good used ones. I got wheels/tires from Summit Racing in the states.

I search and do lots of deal shopping and have bought very little locally due to price and poor customer service. I would love to buy locally... and have bought some stuff locally, but for instance my 33" tires with the steel wheels, I saved just under $500 buying from Summit... and that's landed and brought across the border with the tax I paid at the border too. (of course this is when the dollar was about $0.90 or so a couple of years back).

All I can say is shop shop shop... and you'll get great deals. As for specific parts for your toyota... you'll have to get advise from guys like Axel and Jeremy, they have some pretty sweet trucks... and I think Jeremy started mild and went from there in stages.

[myles.artus]

ok nice good start.. i figure it could take a month or so to figure everything out and start piecing it together... if axel or jeremy pop in...

shoot me some examples/pics/cost to compare... i always like to get a felling of what others are doing before i make my mind up..

[Jeremy]

Well as you can see in my truck thread I started off stock and went in stages.

I first installed some worn out 31" BFG mud's ($100 cant complain) on new Black steel wheels. Total $400 with new wheels.

After that I got BJ spacers for the front and Downy rear coils with 2" spacers, 2" BL 33" Truxus MT's, Pro Comp shocks, and pan hard drop bracket. $1900 with tires.

After a summer with the above and about $700 worth of idler arm replacements. I knew I had to do something else, I found a 4" bracket lift on a local board for $300 and figured why not. Well just before I was about ot start on this I went out 4x4ing and Axel was there. He made it very clear how good and happy I would be with the Bracket lift. DO NOT WAIST YOUR TIME! Although the bracket lofts are cheap there is a reason why a $1200 new lift is worth $300 a year later. A good friend of mine and fellow 4x4er has since installed one and he is not very happy with the performance and the constant bolt tightening and Alignments.

SO after that talk with Axel the Bracket lift was sold for $300 and the next week I got the Trail Gear IFS eliminator kit. My kit is the small one 3" and what I would recommend to anyone looking fit up to 35" tires. I had gotten a 83 solid axle about a year before in anticipation of doing this some day, that seems to be the hardest part to find.

Now after installing the solid axle swap and leafs in the rear of the truck I am very happy overall. I was able to wheel all last year with out having to do any maintenance on the any of the suspension and it drive so nice on the logging roads and trail. It took a bit of getting use to on the road and I was not happy with how high the truck was to start. The springs are settling in nicely and I am still tweaking, trying to get the truck down as much as I can.
Total cost of the SAS and rear leaf swap as well as all the re gearing and stuff came out to just under $5000. I came to realize that its best to spend the $$ first time then to spend it 2x.

I also try not to go cheap on the truck, when you are 100kms from anything last thing you need is that cheap part breaking.

Good luck with the truck! If you have any questions feel free to post here and we can help.

[AxelR]

I'll add that if your truck is only going to see pavement then the bracket lift would probably be fine. If you plan to actually wheel it I wouldn't bother.

I don't know anything about BJ spacers so I can't help there. As far as the coils, longer coils are always going to be better than spacers.

I don't know how much experience you have or how much wheeling you do but if you are just starting out I would start with some sliders, bumpers and a locker in the rear. keep the 31's and wheel it the way it is.

I ran that combo in a truck like yours for years and probably went 75% of the places I do now. My SAS definitely works better and I go the other 25% now, but it cost a lot to get there.

Contrary to what people will tell you the IFS in your truck woks pretty well and is pretty strong and reliable. IN IT"S STOCK FORM! Put a lift in it and that will change. It gets really expensive when you start lifting trucks. I'm not saying lifts aren't nice but gears and lockers is where it's at!

Your best combination for functionality, reliabilty and coolness is going to be an SAS. However, no matter what people tell you it won't be cheap. If you do it properly anyway.

If I were to build another truck, a lift would be one of the LAST mods I make. If you want to do it just for looks. Try to get over it.lol.


If you absolutley, positively have to lift it, I don't know any way other than an SAS that is really worth it. Cost vs benefits wise.

[myles.artus]

hmmm i like your idea... i might just go with that... i rahn my old jeep stock so i never really planned a build... the winch should pretty much get me out of anything so i could wait actually...ill shoot some pictures tomorrow and put them up, im going to be doing a roof rack and lights in april. what are some of the common problems you guys having with your trucks? coalant leak seems to my truck's favorite...

i think ive found the leak, it appears to he a hose so ill have to change all the hoses i think. the rad is new... have you guys had this issue? what are some of the issues you had with your rigs?

bear in mind she has 331,000kms all original and runs great just the leak...

[myles.artus]

Here is a link to see the truck when i first bought it... tomorrow ill take pictures or it since the changes... the interior is ok so at least there is nothing to do there except i was considering removing the carpet and puting a rhino coating. check it out.

http://s588.photobucket.com/albums/ss325/myles-artus/

[myles.artus]

http://s588.photobucket.com/albums/ss325/myles-artus/

[Jeremy]

My truck stock made it anywere I wanted to go. Good first mods would be rock sliders to minimise the damage a stray rock may make. Then a rear locker (best off road mod) its not so great on road though so really have to do that mod carfully. Best way to go is get a e-locker out of a 96+ 4runner or ARB air locker. That way on the street you can have the locker in an open position and it will drive like stock.

After that a rear bumper of some sort the stock on is not much better than a tin can is attached the body not the frame. Mine after 2 years of 4x4ing looked like a crumpled pop can.

Tires are always a good upgrade with in reason. I have seen quite a few stock 4Runners with 33x10.5 tires and no lift other than non sagged rear springs. But with this you will find with the auto that the truck is gutless and that the millage will get really bad too.

As for common problems with the truck as long as its maintained well and looked after you should not really have any. My 4Runner has 311kms on it and its still going strong. It did get a new short block and the head gaskets done on the recall at 180kms.

If this is mainly going to be a DD with a mud puddle here and there keep it stock most mods for off road have a negative effect on.

Jeremy

[myles.artus]

well guys as usual i get a little carried away... did the bondo today and started painting.. ill throw some updated photos up once im done i thought it would count for a good laugh! lol

[myles.artus]

the truck is for off road only.. i efinitly wont be driving it around much considering furl economy ... i just got my cataloge on arb so im gonna look into their lockers... not sure where im goign to get a solid axel or how to install it though... i figure with this i should be in good shape as long as i keep her healthy... some fun lights and a roof rack and i think its good to go!