88 4 runner conversion to solid front end

[Johnnyknocks]

Yea i just bought my 4 runner and i have so many questions about what i should do with it. well first off i want to use it for trails and camping on long trips so i dont want to make a beater out of it but i want to upgrade the suspenion and lift if from stock. Is it worth converting the front end on my truck or should i keep the IFS and just get a lift kit. And if it is better to convert to solid front end what do i need and how much is it and where can i get the kit/parts. I live in So Cal so let me know thanks.

[Ford4x4Chik27]

I'll PM you a link to somewhere you can find ALL the information you need and more. Look me up I'm FFC on there. Doin the solid front end is tons of fun and a lot of work. But it's a huge learning experience too!! I'd say do it!

[Johnnyknocks]

Nice ill check it out

[marland]

CRAWL Magazine is a good place to start for components.

Originally Posted by Johnnyknocks

Yea i just bought my 4 runner and i have so many questions about what i should do with it. well first off i want to use it for trails and camping on long trips so i dont want to make a beater out of it but i want to upgrade the suspenion and lift if from stock. Is it worth converting the front end on my truck or should i keep the IFS and just get a lift kit. And if it is better to convert to solid front end what do i need and how much is it and where can i get the kit/parts. I live in So Cal so let me know thanks.

[390FE]

I don't really off road my truck (don't truck the frame) but from what I hear the IFS can hold its own on light off roading. If you rock crawling or doing serious off roading or mudding every weekend that I say do the swap. Not positive but I tihnk IFS gives you a better ride on the road.

My girl likes the Toyota better than my 83 F250 and besides it being smaller I think the IFS over the solid front of the 83 makes it a smother ride. The dog even seems to like the Toyota better, he dosent try to crawl between me and the seat. Try shifting & driving when you have a 60lb PittBull shoving you into the steering wheel.

[Ford4x4Chik27]

IFS can hold its own if you know how to take care of it. For instance, wheeling carefully you can get an IFS rig through the same gory trail as you can a SAS'd rig. Here's my friend's truck this weekend, he made it all the way through the Rubicon Trail on IFS and 35's with a crawl box.

I personally prefer the solid axle because it requires less maintenance, and has fewer components to break. Have you checked out that site yet? Whereas 98% of the rigs on the trail this weekend had solid axles, I like the way they were so much easier to fix when they did break: My SAS'd Amigo:

You get into the magazines and read up on how to do it there, it'll run you thousands of dollars you don't need to spend. Stick to the forums and classifieds there and you can do your swap in under $1500

Keep in mind this is a rough estimate of used parts that you can find on the board, specially that one I sent you.
All you need is:
The complete axle ($250)
Possibly the axle rebuild kit just to be safe ($100)
Leaf springs ($200)
Driveshafts ($250)
Various types of steel ($100)
High Steer kit ($400 new)
Various Nuts and Bolts ($50)

You can make your own shackles and hangars and gussetts and what not.

Keep in mind, when you do the solid axle swap, hang on to your steering box, that is a huge asset when it comes to setting up your steering!!

[stuckinmytruck]

if your going to do a sas swap got to (allprooffroad.com) they have an entire kit to do it and good instructions on what needs to be cut off and where to install the new parts. check it out. i get all my parts from them.

[jvmin]

Originally Posted by Johnnyknocks

Yea i just bought my 4 runner and i have so many questions about what i should do with it. well first off 1.I want to use it for trails and camping on long trips so i dont want to make a beater out of it but 2.I want to upgrade the suspenion and lift if from stock. Is it worth converting the front end on my truck or should i keep the IFS and just get a lift kit. And 3.If it is better to convert to solid front end what do i need and how much is it and where can i get the kit/parts. I live in So Cal so let me know thanks.

1 what type of trails and how serious do you plan to wheel it?
a. mild to intermediate trails fire roads and power line trails and what not?
b. mud bogging, jumping, desert running, rock crawling, and all the above?
c. all around functional capable wheeler that is easy to drive on the street but reliable on the trails?
2. what size tire are you planning to run? answering these questions will help you determine how much lift you will need and what size tire and what type of tire you will need to run
also are you willing to cut your fenders with a sawzall for more clearance?
3. to answer 1 and 2 will help you answer 3 which was is it better to convert to solid axle?

A good general reliable all around truck is an ifs with 3 inch lift maybe a 2 inch body lift,
33 in tires 4:88 gearing or 5:29 gearing 35's if your willing to cut your fenders.
both of these would require re gearing your truck axles
a locker helps a smaller tired vehicle wheel so much better.
you can usually find gears and stuff pretty cheap for a ifs because of all the conversions to solid axles.
all this depending on your driving style and how heavy your foot is in the gas pedal.

if you have a heavy foot then build it for beef
if not then the ifs may last you for years before your ready to upgrade to something more beefy

so you have some questions to ask your self. Here is where the real truth, that only you can answer, comes into play. Despite your ego, and the confusing suggestions of the masses.
just how much truck do you really need?
and just how much money do you have to spend on it?
so be real with your self and your wallet and go from there.

my suggestion for you is go slow, take your time, and continually build it better over the years.
your skills will increase the longer you own the truck,
and you can make the necessary changes to suit your driving style,
as you go and learn you can determine just how involved you want it to get.
it's a lot more fun that way and you get to wheel it a whole lot more.


a few pointers
1 get a winch bumper and winch $800 -1,000 bucks
2 get a lunch box locker for the rear axle 200 bucks
3 get some 31. x 10.50 tires and go wheeling and see how often you get stuck.
if it's a little then your good
if it's every time you go wheeling then you have some of the answers to your questions above.

have fun wheeling