REAL MAN TRUCKWORKS & SURVIVAL
VEHICLES, CAMPERS, and BOATS => Tires, Wheels, and Suspension => Topic started by: Flyin6 on September 26, 2014, 12:46:40 PM
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Years ago I discovered the TRD off road package I had on my Ivan Steward edition Tundra meant it was capable of pulling off the road onto a parking lot or driveway. the truck had 4WD in the event the driveway was gravel, and even low range in the event you had groceries in the back seat.
I was so disappointed with the off-highway capability of that truck that one day I decided to commit to a solid front axle.
I thought I'd show that commitment by simply putting it on jack stands, then using a plasma torch to get the stock junk on the ground!
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I sourced a high pinion Dana44 from an ancient Ford F250
Yea, what I was thinking...Dana 44 in an F250.
Oh well, I bought it!
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Then I slid it under the frame rails using plumb bobs to accurately locate it
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PVC really increases accuracy!
Well, maybe it doesn't, but I was believing my way through it!
I ended up deciding to do a coil-over 4-link mostly because everyone else was doing leaf springs
I had to build the arms myself from DOM tubing and a 3/4" threaded insert and home-made studded jonny joints
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Had a cool garage floor before I started too!
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I made the studded joints by welding a 3/4" bolt to a jonny joint. The threaded stuff and all the gee-whiz stuff was not on the market yet at that time, so I had to get more inventive
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Then out of sheet steel, I drew and cut out the tabs, then welded them in place
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A little crude looking, but OK for 2003
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Then I fabbed up a new cross member. I did so because I was going to use that for the top arm mounts.
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That second pic, last post is the modified skid plate
I selected King to build me up some dandy 12" stroke coil-overs with two different rate springs
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I fabbed up a couple three legged shock hoops, bending up some 2" tubing on my model 300 bender
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And after plating the front frame with 1/4" steel, welded them in place
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The upper and lower control arm mounts came next:
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Sort of snuck ahead there with the pics.
Next I built the panhard bar
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The steering box was built by PSC and featured a pressure takeoff for a lower ram assist
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That box was actually from an earlier IFS toy truck which had been given the full treatment
So next the steering linkages
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Then I had my brain removed and decided to paint things awful colors
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Then the shocks went on and I started running the lines for the ram assist
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You might have noticed the ring and pinion.
I have been a long time customer of Randy's Ring and pinion. I ordered a complete rear 4.56 set up carrier, and all the stuff along with an eaton locker front
I actually set those gears up myself
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Then new drive shafts including this Tom Woods unit with some strange offset U-joint
It never worked well, and was only good for 5mph. The truck needed a double cardan unit on the transfercase end to be sure
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Assembly continued
along with some way small 33" tires and 8" wheels
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I had ended up flipping the shackles which gave me all the lift I needed for the read. That required some 14" Brillstein 5150's and some rewiring of the brake system
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Then just like that, it was time to test the flex
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Nothing historical, but a lot better, and as you will see in a moment, it gets a lot better in the dirt
I then added some 35" tires to cut down the gear to a proper hum and fill those wheel wells up some
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And in the dirt
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I did like that set up. I wanted to do that to mine... but I sold it.
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Me too!
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I'm not in to tundras....but...that was an awesome setup, and I bet you enjoyed it!
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I did for over 10 years
It had 37's on and 4.88's that Tate helped me setup.
I added a supercharger and was building it when one day I took it out and floored it from a dead start.
It ripped half the teeth off the ring gear before snapping the pinion gear in half.
I guess it was making a bit more torque that I had suspected.
Later I did something interesting
Instead of selling or junking it, I took it apart and ebayed all the parts fetching near premium prices. I recall getting $3700 for the supercharger, $2800 for the Dana 44, $1200 for the trans and on and on.
What I had left was a pretty good looking body that I tried to give to our very own Bobby, then later Ashley, but with no takers, I sold it for $1500
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It sounds like you did alright!
Speaking of Ashley, I haven't seen him (here) yet. I miss conversing with him.
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It sounds like you did alright!
Speaking of Ashley, I haven't seen him (here) yet. I miss conversing with him.
Ditto, I hope all is well with that young man
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It sounds like you did alright!
Speaking of Ashley, I haven't seen him (here) yet. I miss conversing with him.
Ash is back, he just joined!
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I remember when you were trying to get that "toy" out of the garage during your builds. At least you got some $$ back from it.
I am off to do 4 pallets of pavers next to the pool. Hopefully the burb can get some work done on it at night. retired and less time!
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retired and less time!
Good problem to have!