Hey, Im new to toyota 4x4 building, but I have built a few jeeps. Anyways, Im looking to buy an 81 pickup longbed, 22r, 5-speed, 4x4. Went and test drove it tonight, it ran ok, really rich though. All stock smog equipment and carb...anyways the guy had just put a 4" lift on it. New springs in the front and add-a-leafs in the rear.
The problem is that the driveshaft angle on the front is so bad that the yoke on the x-case hits the one on the driveshaft..like bad. Well when I had this problem with my jeep i just built a drop crossmember for the transmission and x-case, and that took care of the angle...or at least enough so it wouldnt hit or vibrate too bad. The guy told me that you cant drop the crossmember on a toyota....he didnt know why, he just sayed I couldnt. I dont see any reason why not....Help!?:confused:

Does the front driveshaft have a cv joint? what is the yoke on the x case are you talking about, and how is it hiting the one on the driveshaft,

Its not a cv joint, its just a flange that a regular u-joint knuckle bolts to on transfer case side. It hits right where the two parts of the driveshaft are connected by a u-joint, right next to the transfer case flange. The angle is so severe that the two parts that are connected by the u-joint are hitting everytime the yoke turns.

you need a front shaft with a cv joint or swap out a tranny for something 85 and up which will move everything back

I don't think dropping the crossmember will take care of your problem. It will make the angle on the front driveshaft worse. I think those older transmissions are really short so the front driveshaft is short as well. Swap in a W56? tranny which should be longer, or get a tcase doubler, or a high pinion front diff

I remember an old truck like yours, stock suspension, the front driveshaft was almost at max angle just when the frontend drooped down, that shaft couldn't have been any longer than 12"

Did the 81 model year toyota pickup come stock with a 5-speed? This truck has a five speed and the owner thought it might be a later model transmission..

Did the 81 model year toyota pickup come stock with a 5-speed? This truck has a five speed and the owner thought it might be a later model transmission..
if the x-member hasnt been moved then its probley a 82