Father & Son 1 Ton 4Runner Build

[LowDown]

We've been busting our asses with side work over the last few weeks and....

 

[LowDown]

It's going to be nerd wheeler Christmas this week. We should have the Magnum Thursday and dug an early GM NV4500 stock bell housing out of a local LKQ

 

[Beat93]

with a passenger drop 60 and an early nv4500 post up if the front driveshaft clears the external slave cylinder when you get around to mocking it up. I have similar parts sitting in my shop but i might have to go with a later nv4500 with the internal slave so the driveshaft will clear the bellhousing at full bump the last guy i messaged about this went AA bellhousing and drivers drop slave.

 

[LowDown]

with a passenger drop 60 and an early nv4500 post up if the front driveshaft clears the external slave cylinder when you get around to mocking it up. I have similar parts sitting in my shop but i might have to go with a later nv4500 with the internal slave so the driveshaft will clear the bellhousing at full bump the last guy i messaged about this went AA bellhousing and drivers drop slave.

For sure - The driveshaft clearing that sucker is one thing I'm concerned about. Worst case, we'll go with with AA bell housing that moves the whole mechanism up on the bell housing. Cost wise sucks; we paid a buddy about $30 for the bell vs. the +$300 for the AA bell.

 

[LowDown]

 

[LowDown]

We stopped by SSChassworx in Norwood, North Carolina with the 4Runner frame to talk with owner Steven Barfield about bending a new pair of frame rails, incorporating the changes that I planned on making with back and front halving the stock frame. Having front and back halved a few frames now, it'll be well worth it. The new frame will be made from 2" x 4" x 0.125", single piece frame rails, bent on SSChassisworx's Baleigh mandrel bender - a freakin' super sweet piece of equipment. Instead of the front portion of the frame being flat, the rails will kick up 5" over the stock IFS frame. Instead of the rear frame being straight back over the rear axle, the new frame rails will kick-up 2" then return to stock width around the shackle mount. I also asked Steven to tack in a few cross members including a rear bumper, mid frame cross member 2" behind the factory horse collar cross member, then a 3rd closer to where roughly the motor mounts will be. Anyway, we're supposed to catch up on sketches later this week then hopefully pick up the new frame by the end of the month.


Hemi powered F100 Steve's building a frame for:

 

[azdirt3.0]

That's awersome.

After doing a front half and all the cleaning I needed to go through on my 35 year old frame covered in POR15 I wish I had made an all new frame

 

[LowDown]

Initial mock up of the vertical bends only.
Front half - front frame rails are 3" higher than stock. Rear half - flattened out by the rear spring hanger. Stock otherwise.


Front half - front frame rails are 5" higher than stock. Rear half - flattened out by the rear spring hanger, flat section over rear axle. Stock other wise.


Horizontal bends. Front half - similar to stock. Rear half - narrowed 4" over axle over stock.

 

[chaplinfj60]

wow now thats legit!!!

 

[LowDown]

Steven Barfield - SSChassisWorx (https://sschassisworx.com/about-us) finished up the frame the week of 12 July and we brought her home from NC to MD on the 19th. It's all 2" x 4" x 0.125" cold rolled rectangular tube, mandrel bent and hand mitered. The rear cross member is there to stay, the front is temporary and the mid may stay depending on final drivetrain position. Body mounts are 1/4" and will hopefully only need some minor trimming to fit. I'm a happy camper and Noah's super stoked. He managed to crack a smile which is Noah speak for "This is f*ckin' cool!"

 

[LowDown]

The model frame was our stock '89 4Runner chassis - typical IFS '86 - '89 4Runner frame. The stock front frame rails being mostly flat generally suck for solid axle swapping one of these trucks and ending up with a low ride height. Steven and I decided to raise the front frame rails of the new frame 5" over stock which was an educated guess between the two of us comparing to a 2WD frame, an '84 - '85 SA frame, also taking into account ride height, radiator dimensions and positioning, body mount positioning, exhaust manifold clearance, orbital valve clearance, belly clearance, etc.

 

[LowDown]

SSChassisWorx body mounts

 

[PAToyota]

Years ago I built a rectangular tube frame for my '85 pickup as the original one increasingly rusted out. I wish something like this was available at the time. Is SSChassisWorx looking to put these into production now that they have the design?

 

[Slander]

Looks good, you have the gears grinding in my head now!!

 

[LowDown]

I left the '89 frame factory frame with Steven which he plans on using as a template for '86 - early '89 IFS 4Runner frames which he said he's more than willing to build more of to order. Price point will be about $2k for 2" x 4" x .0.125" with body mounts.

Tags: replacement new factory stock Toyota 4Runner truck frame SSChassisWorx

 

[72blazer]

But you fucked up those BLs by painting them black

 

[LowDown]

Yea I can't say I'm crazy about painting the BLs black either but Noah was the decision maker on that one.

 

[LowDown]

Driveway building this thing. Frame braced, front temp cross member removed, front hanger squared up and burned in.

 

[LowDown]

 

[LowDown]

I think this is going to work

 

[LowDown]

Scratching away.

 

[mastadon]

I have the same beadlocks waiting for me in their boxes still. Love the way they turned out in black. Even if that ring will be chewed up in no time, I think they look amazing.

 

[LowDown]

The visual is underwhelming but we made a pair of mock up leaf springs for the front, set, and marked frame centerline the length of the frame.
From here, we'll flip the frame over, mark location of the shackle tubes, sling the D60 front axle housing below the mock up springs and tack in the driver's side spring perch.






Also, we should wrap up shaving the 14 bolt this week then set the gears and locker up once I'm able to order them from ECCG.

 

[LowDown]

Getting there

 

[Snowracer]

new frame is mint looking, some nice fab work there

 

[LowDown]

Just leaving myself a note: GM 14 BOLT REAR END YOKE - 30 SPLINE | NeratDemo.com

 

[YotaAtieToo]

That frame is damn sweet, I keep checking to see what you guys come up with to make that front frame section not look so hodge podge..... Nothing looks like it was thought out. I would try to chop up the winch mount and make it look like it was all meant to go together vs 3 universal kits slapped on.

Also, you may want to get the body mocked before burning that winch mound in. Because unless the axle is going to be 8" forward, it sure looks like the winch is occupying the radiators place.

 

[LowDown]

I admit that I’m straight up function over form and that lack the artistry seen in the hobby over the years. Hanger included. It’s awkward appearing and how I tied into the frame isn’t so great looking but we’re not done yet either so hopefully the finished product will flow better. Anyway, like you said the front axle is about 6” toward of stock. Imagine the radiator ~11” behind the face of the winch mount.

 

[YotaAtieToo]

Sorry, but it's not really functional in its current state either. At least just tie the front face of the mount into the front of the frame and leaf mount.

But I also wouldn't be burning in leaf mounts first thing, that should be last. Once you get wieght and everything mocked up.

 

[LowDown]

Sorry, but it's not really functional in its current state either. At least just tie the front face of the mount into the front of the frame and leaf mount.

But I also wouldn't be burning in leaf mounts first thing, that should be last. Once you get wieght and everything mocked

I appreciate the constructive criticism but I built the front hanger on my Cruiser really similarly and it’s working great. Again, this one isn’t done. Give it time.