Slodgetto's Green Dragon 4x4 Conversion Build

Yep. haha

 

Yup, don't think they make them for Tacoma's though...

That's nuts. lol That's why you'd go with 3.54s or 3.73s in the 60 to get a 5.31 or 5.60 final ratio with the portals.

Yes. However, I remember the axle wrap with my stock leaf springs and it's not as bad. Not really noticeable from inside (just when I'm looking at the leaves when it' rolling) and wheel hop isn't bad at all. I don't think it's a much of a result of my shock location on the back of the axle, but mostly due to my thin and somewhat loose leaf spring packs. An anti-wrap bar would be ideal..

 

lol

 

Oh, added to the list, I'd like to try my hand at tire grooving as well. Haven't decided on a pattern yet

 

Updated to-do list for Moab...

Got steel today, for bumpstop re-locate and bedside protection. Visiting the junkyard tomorrow to scrounge for spare parts and some control arms. (I didn't realize you're supposed to keep the outer bushing sleeves of the old control arm bushings when replacing them with the energy suspension control arm bushings until it was too late. X__X)

Lurry talked me out of grooving the tires, his MTR Kevlars were grooved when he ran a lot of trails in Moab last year, and he said it wasn't worth it. The MTRs perform well enough as they are...

1. Replace upper and lower control arm bushings
2. Preload front coils another inch--DONE
3. Alignment
4. Rebuild Spare CV axles and obtain more spare parts
5. Oil change
6. Fab up bedside protection
7. Re-do rear bump stops to create more forced articulation (i.e. move bumps inboard several inches)
8. Spare tire Mount
9. Rock Lights
11. Install CB--DONE
12. Tune CB antenna

A lot of crap still has to get done in less than a week...... this'll be fun

Some of the New Mexico guys noticed that I needed a CB radio for Moab and they all pitched in and BOUGHT me a good one along with all the necessary attachments!! The surprised me with it all at one of our local meets a few nights ago.


Installed with the great help of tomtom! Will get it tuned Sunday, and all will be good to go.

 

Lol it's only 3 days away..haha and how did precompressing work?? Might have to as well after my skids go on..

 

Lol yeah... I'm leaving we'dnesday morn so I've got a little extra time. I havent my got the truck back on its tires yet, since I'm having issues with the control arm bushings. Been on jack stands for almost a week now... But ill report back on the preloaded coil overs...

 

good luck with the control arm bushings man.... i woulndnt touch them til after moab if i was u... long story short, almost not worth it to do them, just buy lower control arms new with new buhsings in them. are u still on stock ucas?

 

Too late, I started this project almost a week ago.... I'm finding you're right though. I'm about ready to pull my hair out. I should have waited until after Moab, but I wanted to get an alignment before the trip, and the old bushings were so far gone that some of them were loose, and they couldn't get a good alignment without replacing the bushings first.

My truck has looked like this for the past several days now, and I'm getting depressed!


Here's my problem.... I didn't realize the new bushings a got (energy suspension) DON'T come with everything! (I shoulda read the instructions first.) I got the old bushing pressed out, threw them away, went to install the new ones, and realized that I was supposed to keep the outer sleeves from the old bushings in installed. Also, for some reason, the new bushings came with new upper bushing inner metal sleeves, but not lower... Apparently I was supposed to keep those too!!! Stupid..

See how loose it is without that outer sleeve?


I didn't come up with anything at the junkyard this morning.... I called all Toyota stealerships within 60 miles and no one has the bushings in stock. They said they could order them but they won't arrive until Wednesday. (and besides, they want $62 per lower bushing, and I'd have to buy the complete UCA assy at $200 something...........)

At this point, I'm thinking about just running some welds on the inside of the control arm eye's until the new bushings fit tight, and then hopefully I can find the lower bushing metal sleeves from a hardware shop...... that's probably a long shot, but it's all I can think of.

I'm open to suggestions, but I might have just screwed myself for Moab.

 

Yea looks like you screwed yourself. I would NOT run weld in there. No way you could get it to fit right and smooth and you'd end up ruining those bushings.

Shitty deal man even if you get them by Wednesday wouldn't you still make it??

 

Well that sucks...

 

It's like me and my driveshaft last year..so you have to pull it outa your ass Silas!! MOAB!!!!






Wtf I'm not even going...

 

Man too bad I'm not still in Socorro. I'd be happy to turn you a set of spacers on the lathe.

 

This makes me wish I kept my lowers after the swap.

 

dude! i wish u wouldve said something! i tried putting those bushings in as well in the stock uppers.... i gave up when i found out u had to use the outer and inner sleeves. so freakin stupid, there's no way.... junk yard didnt have any control arms tho huh?

i just bough new oem bushings for lowers and bought ucas when i ran into this problem.

 

Maybe this guy still has them?

 

Good point...

Yeah, I guess I could make it up Thursday... so not totally lost. still kinda sucks.

That crossed my mind today, actually.......



Lame.

Dang, that woulda been awesome!

Junkyard only had 5 lug tacomas and the only correct year 4runner already had the LCAs stripped. It did have the UCAs, but the shock towers were all bent up from what looked like a hard front end crash and I didn't want to risk getting a bent control arm.

Chad has his old uppers from his SAC. I'll probably just drive to a few hours to grab those and then get those OEM LCA bushings ordered form Toyota. Don't see any other viable options at this point.

Almost sent him a PM.... but I think the dealership would be faster

 

So if I overnight the Rock-auto version, apparently the soonest it could be here is Wednesday. x__x

It definitely has the inner sleeve and both washers that I need... but I see no outer metal sleeve. What do you guys think? It sorta looks like it replaces the outer sleeve...

I've got some lower bushings on order form Toyota just in case, but if these are the right ones, they're way cheaper and will arrive at the same time if not sooner...

Anyone know if the outer sleeve is supposed to be integrated into the bushing? If so, (I'm thinking it is) the rock auto guy said they're bushings should work just fine and I won't need the outer sleeve.

Did you happen to notice on your new, OEM bushings, Jace? Did they come with the outer, metal sleeve, attached? Mine old ones were very shot and it was hard to tell...

 

yes. its all one piece. inner sleeve is probly 1/2 in id. then ur rubber, then ur outer sleeve. i would honestly just order the rock auto ones and press them in. dont bother with the poly bushings.... more headache than its worth. just get to moab!

 

I know a hint of what's to come