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85 toyota ext cab as a build up trail rig

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934RNR

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Discussion starter · #1 · (Edited)
What do you think of a 85 ext cab as a build up for a trail rig?

I got tired of pondering how much money it's going to take to SAS my runner and have someone willing to trade it for my 4 runner.

Anything to look out for on them? Meaning weak spots in the frame other
issues?

I was thinking the first mod should be maybe a regear or front and rear lockrights or aussies. Also to run 34x10.50 LTB's on it.

The other thought was a IFS box and hysteer but it's not lifted alot to jusify it yet I guess. I kind of want to keep it low but also flexable.

Open to suggestions on it.
 
Discussion starter · #3 · (Edited)
Like what? It's already a solid axle truck that's on less thing to do.
I understand the need for different springs and extended brake lines longer shocks etc. As far as I know people still wheel even with the dreaded J-arms...
It seems more economical to go this way rather than waiting for enough money to SAS a newer truck after fixing your broken IFS over and over to keep it running as a daily. This way I could do one thing at a time as needed on a older rig.
Sorry but I hear this constantly how the 84-85 older vehicle is inferior to the 86-88's I don't buy it.
Yes I would have to drill and weld on the mounts for a IFS steering box if I was to goto hysteer.
What are the weak points on the 84-85's? The frame? Easily fixed by welding some plates or a frame brace on it isn't it?
 
#4 ·
If you trade a 93 for an 85, you are foolish.

1 - frame rot, you'll have it, don't kid yourself. IFS Frames are Powder Coated
2 - Stock steering - you'll hate it, not only that, but it's not safe IMO w/lift
3 - You'll eventually buy the IFS box and x-over or highsteer so don't even count that as as savings
4 - Wider rear axle on your 93 / you have a v6 in the 93? Even beefier
5 - Even if you have a 22re in both, your 93 is surely in much better condition
6 - Room, you'll lose a lot of what you are already accostomed to.

on and on and on and on and on.

I would choose to SAS before buying something older (I made that mistake) and now I'm forced to start over.
 
#5 ·
DogDenII said:
If you trade a 93 for an 85, you are foolish.

1 - frame rot, you'll have it, don't kid yourself. IFS Frames are Powder Coated
2 - Stock steering - you'll hate it, not only that, but it's not safe IMO w/lift
3 - You'll eventually buy the IFS box and x-over or highsteer so don't even count that as as savings
4 - Wider rear axle on your 93 / you have a v6 in the 93? Even beefier
5 - Even if you have a 22re in both, your 93 is surely in much better condition
6 - Room, you'll lose a lot of what you are already accostomed to.

on and on and on and on and on.

I would choose to SAS before buying something older (I made that mistake) and now I'm forced to start over.
Click to expand...

what he said. I thought I was clever and bought an 84 4runner. yeah, it had the solid axle, but I ended up replacing EVERY single scrap of sheet metal, redoing the interior, and efi'ing the motor. just do an SAS.
 
#6 ·
Listen to OOPS. He has given this advice for years. He should know, he was one of the first guys to do a SAS on a 3rd gen pickup. You'd be crazy to trade your 4runner. I had a 92 xcab and sold it then bought an 85 4runner. If I had to do it over again, I would, because I love the 4runner, but I'd seriously consider buying the lowest mileage 89 V6 SR5 and SASing it like Chartdog (Pete) did.

You will end up doing every bit as much work to that 85 as you will an IFS truck. Don't kid yourself. The push/pull steering sucks. If you were on a hard trail run with me and had push/pull, I wouldn't be hanging around to help when your J arm breaks. That is the first mod anyone should do when building a real trail rig. I'll never forget the time we ran Outer Limits at the Hammers and some numbskull did it with 33" tires and stock push/pull steering. We were stuck on the trail for 12 hours because of him continually breaking his steering. Don't be like him. Do it right the first time.

Kurt G.
 
#7 ·
934RNR said:
Like what?
Click to expand...
If you notice I said almost as much to make them both "Trail Worthy"!!! Plus you will be getting a newer rig. In my opinion the front springer on the 79-85 is a weak point and needs to be addressed. with an aftermarket/homemade spring hanger. Granted there is more labor in doing an SAS but to me part of this sport is the building/fabracation. :grinpimp: Here are some examples of what you will have to purchase:

Springs--79-85-Yes, SAS--Yes
Spring hanger--79-85-Yes, SAS--Yes
X-over steering--79-85-Yes, SAS--Yes
Front end--79-85-No, SAS--Yes
IFS steering Box--79-85-Yes, SAS--No
Shocks and hoops--79-85-Yes, SAS--Yes
Front D-Shaft--79-85-Yes, SAS--Yes

Things that will make it better

Wider IFS Rear End--79-85-Yes, SAS--No
Lockers and Gears--79-85-Yes, SAS--Yes
Tires and Wheels--79-85-Yes, SAS--Yes
Dual T-Cases--79-85-Yes, SAS--Yes
Drive shaft work--79-85-Yes, SAS--Yes

So as far as the labor, yes you have to do more work and as far as getting the front end, the IFS steering Box and wider rearend make that part a wash. Once the axle is hung on a SAS the costs are the same on the 79-85 and a SAS!!!!! Believe me I thought this threw a lot six years ago when I started buying parts for the SAS plus my truck only had 70,000 miles on it. No engine to rebuild, as of right now it only has 115,000 miles on it!!!!
 
#8 ·
OOP'S said:
Springs--79-85-Yes, SAS--Yes
Spring hanger--79-85-Yes, SAS--Yes
X-over steering--79-85-Yes, SAS--Yes
Front end--79-85-No, SAS--Yes
IFS steering Box--79-85-Yes, SAS--No
Shocks and hoops--79-85-Yes, SAS--Yes
Front D-Shaft--79-85-Yes, SAS--Yes

Things that will make it better

Wider IFS Rear End--79-85-Yes, SAS--No
Lockers and Gears--79-85-Yes, SAS--Yes
Tires and Wheels--79-85-Yes, SAS--Yes
Dual T-Cases--79-85-Yes, SAS--Yes
Drive shaft work--79-85-Yes, SAS--Yes
Click to expand...
Ding ding ding... Winner ^^^^^^

One thing I would add - wheel spacers. But that's it. The price difference between a SAS and starting w/ a solid axle is MAYBE $250... Depending on what you have to pay for the front axle....
 
Discussion starter · #10 · (Edited)
No problem finding a toy axle I can find plenty of 85 toy front axles a guy I know locally has 3 of them and 2 dana 60's stacked up in a pile at his work HE a suzuki fan he also has 2 other wrecked suzukis and 85 toyota reg cab pickup. 3 22RE motors and a couple other parts like Drive shafts laying around. He also has 3 running samuaris as well.

The pickup I am looking at in question is already has EFI the front birfs had a leak and have been fixed. It also has a new alternator and fairly new tires.
A pic of it:
Image


So the deal is this guy wants to trade me my vehicle for his vehicle plus he is giving me $500. That is my money for hysteer right there. Also the frame I was told was pretty clean minimal rust at best since it is from the mid west.

I honestly want a lighter vehicle would prefer a pickup to my runner. Anyone weighed a newer 93 4 runner that damn thing is heavy as hell. I thought about getting a cherokee of all things only because I can get a heep cheap. I don't really like jeeps though.
 
#11 ·
934RNR said:
No problem finding a toy axle I can find plenty of 85 toy front axles a guy I know locally has 3 of them and 2 dana 60's stacked up in a pile at his work as well as his 2 other wrecked suzukis and 85 toyota reg cab pickup. He also has 3 running samuaris as well.

The pickup I am looking at in question is already has EFI the front birfs had a leak and have been fixed. It also has a new alternator and fairly new tires.
A pic of it:
Image


So the deal is this guy wants to trade me my vehicle for his vehicle plus he is giving me $500. That is my money for hysteer right there. Also the frame I was told was pretty clean minimal rust at best since it is from the mid west.

I honestly want a lighter vehicle would prefer a pickup to my runner. Anyone weighed a newer 93 4 runner that damn thing is heavy as hell. I thought about getting a cherokee of all things only because I can get a heep cheap. I don't really like jeeps though.
Click to expand...
Sounds like that guy is getting a deal! Wish I could find deals like that:(
 
#12 ·
I loved my 85 xtra cab. Wheeled the shit out of it for 10 years. Do what makes "you" happy. I have a '90 SAS 4runner now, I love it too. I love the extra space inside, but it depends on what you use it for.
If you go with the '85, definetly do the hy steer. As far as weak points, the frame around the front spring hangers should be beefed. Since you are going to change to an IFS box anyway, I would plate the whole outside of the frame, from the body mount in the front all the way back to the next body mount. Then build your new steering box mounts. I never had anymore probs after I did that. You have to remember there is a lot of torque from that box pushing back and forth on that frame.
When I did my '85 I moved my front spring mounts down and forward, and beefed up everything around them.
I do have to agree that the runner is and will be worth more, and if your worried about weight, unless your competing it really only matters in the snow. Then you just put bigger tires on it and press firmly on the giggle pedle.
Have fun!
 
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#13 ·
The main advantage of using SA frame is that it's meant to have a SA below it - there's room in the frame humps. You can keep the truck lower and run bigger meats. That's what I love about my '81 - I'm running 36" Iroks with only 3" springs and could drop the whole truck 1" and still be fine. With an IFS frame; there's no humps which means you compression is limited before your highsteer and junk hit the frame. If you're not concerned with the frame issues then by all means, get a later gen truck and SAS it. The guys are right - to build a truck right you're going to cut off the factory spring hangers off your SA frame anyway and drill it for the IFS box (been there, done that). However, you might end up chaging the factory location of the steering box on an IFS frame anyway...Think about some things - what's the truck's intended use and where do you see yourself going with it in the long run?
 
#14 ·
Hey Bro,

I just looked at your cardomain.com site and saw your 4runner. YOU ARE NUTS if you trade your nicely built 4runner for that 20 year old stock pickup + $500. I think you are getting blinded by the notion that an 85 is so much more trailworthy and rare. Don't be fooled, and don't trade your runner...you will regret it!!! Plus, unless that pickup is from CA or AZ or you can get proof it has been garaged its whole life and never driven in the snow, I can assure you it has rust somewhere. It is a mid-80s Toyota.

If you really want an 85, sell your 4runner for $7000 or so and then go buy a clean, stock 85 truck for $2500. Then you will have an extra $4500 to do a hell of a lot more than hy-steer.

Kurt G.
 
Discussion starter · #15 · (Edited)
Well as far as the terrain I run it's mainly dirt, mud, tight wooded areas and some rocks. I want a vehicle that I could drive to the offroad location rather than trailer it. Having a larger vehcile it is much more difficult to clear things like slow cornering around trees.
I only plan on running 35's max on it probably will run 34x10.5 LTBs on it until I can afford and nicer tire. The thing is my rig is going to be used in the woods in tight sometimes low hanging tree areas not so much on open jagged rock faces like what you guys have out west. So keeping it low with minimal lift and a larger tire is good enough for me.
 
#16 · (Edited)
dude, I bought a running 85 efi xtracab SR5 with a rebuilt motor, no rust, smittybuilt bumpers. Looked almost exactly like the one you have pictured. I bought it in Ca, so no rust, and paid $2K is your runner only worth $2,500, your getting robbed, my $.02

edit: its also had a 3" procrap lift
 
#17 ·
I agree with the comments above from genshie and meyeore. You are getting robbed for that trade.

Do you really nead a strait axle or just want a strait axle? Are you going to drive the same places you have been and if so have you had a problem wheeling wiht your current setup? I love my driving my 85 truggy on hard trails but I have seen IFS toys do fine on moderate trails. It doesn't seem like the type of wheeling' you are talking about demands a strait axle.
 
Discussion starter · #19 · (Edited)
The trails I run I bend something in my IFS steering almost everytime out and am frankly sick of it.
I want something stronger it's pretty crappy when you are running the same trails that your friends are with their 4.5" lifted jeep cherokees on 33's and your idler arm is bending and your front tires are doing the inner humpty humpty on hill climbs then you have to get pulled up the hill by a heep.

Yes I guess my 4 runner is worth around $2500 because it's not perfect it has dents all over from trail runs most people look at the dents and walk off before really looking at it. Most of them expect it's going to be in perfect and something they can reference using KBB condtion it's not.
I have yet to find someone willing to buy it who actually appreciates it for what it does or knows what it is really worth.

I am frankly frustrated I don't have alot of money to play around with my wife is not working currently people owe me about $1100 total no one is paying up and I don't want to be sitting around saving my money for SAS on my vehicle meanwhile my friends are out wheeling. I am now seriously concidering selling my runner and getting a cherokee at this point. I thought by trading it for another toyota that was already SAS'ed I would be saving and I would be staying toyota but I guess I can't afford the mods people say I have to have on the 85.
.
 
#20 ·
934RNR said:
The trails I run I bend something in my IFS steering almost everytime out and am frankly sick of it.
I want something stronger it's pretty crappy when you are running the same trails that your friends are with their 4.5" lifted jeep cherokees on 33's and your idler arm is bending and your front tires are doing the inner humpty humpty on hill climbs then you have to get pulled up the hill by a heep.

Yes I guess my 4 runner is worth around $2500 because it's not perfect it has dents all over from trail runs most people look at the dents and walk off before really looking at it. Most of them expect it's going to be in perfect and something they can reference using KBB condtion it's not.
I have yet to find someone willing to buy it who actually appreciates it for what it does or knows what it is really worth.

I am frankly frustrated I don't have alot of money to play around with my wife is not working currently people owe me about $1100 total no one is paying up and I don't want to be sitting around saving my money for SAS on my vehicle meanwhile my friends are out wheeling. I am now seriously concidering selling my runner and getting a cherokee at this point. I thought by trading it for another toyota that was already SAS'ed I would be saving and I would be staying toyota but I guess I can't afford the mods people say I have to have on the 85.
.
Click to expand...
trust me, forget about ever getting $ owed you at this point. looser scumbags will never pay, best you can do is beat um untill you feel you got your $ worth of bloody knuckles:) or hope the worst to them if you are knuckle impaired:D
hell if you think you will be happy with the cherokee (uh you won't be, lol) then go for it.
 
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