Wow! At 4700 lbs with basic gear, your truck is lighter than mine unloaded! I think after this swap you should consider a V8...just because you're old and retired doesn't mean you have to be slow!
Cool swap! Keep us posted.....and you should buy the wife a helmet so she doesn't hurt herself when she passes out at the bill......
HAHAAH yeah I was thining the SAME thing... My 1st gen 4Runner is 5500 wet with NO camping gear. The older trucks ARE heavier duty though and I still belive that the old style IFS is and can be further built alot stronger. Doesn't RIDE as nice, but it does have it's qualities... Kind of like a middle ground between a FUL SFA set-up and the modern IFS units in terms of strength and ride quality... Although TangoBlue's linked SFA will ride just as nicely if not better then my IFS... If/when I go to an SFA I'll be doing leaves for ease of service and robustness, but I've ridden in a fair few Linked C/O'd sas trucks and they ARE VERY nice when done properly.
Cool axle choice too Tango. Is it running Toyota center sections or somehting like a Ford 9" ??? I'll be sticking with Toyota units and Axle, but I've heard AMAZING things about fab'd axle housings and Ford 9" units.
I slo agree with you about staying with the 4cyl... There's something so TOYOTA about a little 4banger espescialy when you run with a bunch of guys in V8 rigs eh. Simplicity and durability have their advantages, plus with proper gearing you've got all the power you need IMO. I love my 22RE, just wish it was a 1KZ-T Diesel, but the 22RE has proven itself to me time and time again both here and in Australia in trucks with well over 300+K on them and used HARD in teh bush
I'm really looking forward to getting my Diff's and locker in so I can get back the power I lost with the 33's and I'm not worried in the LEAST bit about the pinion size of the tAller gears. This has been discussed adnauseam on ALOT of boards and the outcome is that the taller gears while smaller have very good strength despite the visual clues that they wouldn't eh. The tooth engagent when set-up right is every bit as strong (although I'm sure it could be a bit touchy in a Desert Racing application
) as the 4.10's. I think of it this way. I can use ALOT less skinny pedal with the taller gears and keep the clutch alive longer wich in turn means the diffs have less sterss on them. AS it is right now I bounce alot more and I KNOW that's not good on Diff's and Drivetrains in general eh. I like to crawl and pick good lines. were I running a buggy or something, I may be inclined to run a bigger motor with the 4.10's but as it stands the lower gears will suit MY needs VERY well (for now untill I cut the front end up eh
.
Cheers
Dave
