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Up Topic Chit-Chat & Non-Welding Discussion / Off-Topic Bar and Grill / brushguard buildin?
- - By norcalwelder (**) Date 02-15-2009 01:47
Hey guys, my bro joined the army and left his 85 toyota straight axle 4x4 to me to use for a few years. I'm thinking its needing a brushguard, but I don't know a whole lot about that kinda stuff, so I though I would throw out some pics and my idea, and see what you all can add or whatever.
What is on it now....http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q42/timpowell1/weirdstuff002.jpg http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q42/timpowell1/001-2.jpg
My idea....http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q42/timpowell1/brushguard2.jpg
Parent - - By RANDER (***) Date 02-15-2009 05:36 Edited 02-19-2009 00:37
Norcal,
Check these forums out.   I recommend the Mud forum..  They are primarily Toyota Landcruiser people but lots of info on the truck section as well.  
http://www.ih8mud.com/
http://www.pirate4x4.com/welcome1.php
Parent - - By norcalwelder (**) Date 02-15-2009 06:02
thanks for the sites...I did a search and managed to find this pic on there, so yeah... I like the basic idea of the guard cause its built off the same thing I have. I'm thinking some heavy mesh wouldn't go wrong though, cuase I don't have any KC lights for it. Whatcha guys thing?
http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q42/timpowell1/TOY2-26-07005.jpg
Parent - - By RANDER (***) Date 02-19-2009 00:46 Edited 02-19-2009 00:48
Well Norcal, not too many replies here but like I said ask the guys over on mud...................  A brushguard may be more of a damage multiplier than a help but it depends on the kind of offroading you do.  Here in So. Cal Im on clean trails with no rocks most of the time.  ("Hammers" excluded)  I dont need a brush guard.  Decide how much trail use you will experience vs street use.   An impact on the streets may damage more with the additional metal pushing things in and around.  Look at "slee offroad" for more designs that are sensible for trail use.  Ive got a 94 landcruiser and Im toying with ideas too.  so post up what you come up with....
Parent - - By norcalwelder (**) Date 02-19-2009 02:00
Yeah I hear you Rander, I'm thinking a bumper would be better then just a brushguard. (coolness factor does count alot here :)) http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://addictedoffroad.com/myPictures/PICT7610.JPG&imgrefurl=http://www.frontrange4x4.com/forums/showthread.php%3Ft%3D2720&usg=__naJ6VI99z7VWcQ3stOwaHYrahZ0=&h=480&w=640&sz=87&hl=en&start=2&um=1&tbnid=oX015dox0c2eZM:&tbnh=103&tbnw=137&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dtoyota%2Bpickup%2Bbumper%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26safe%3Doff%26sa%3DN
These dudes are making some cool stuff, only they are for a winch, but I guess it wouldn't be hard to change the design a little if a guy built one.
Parent - - By RANDER (***) Date 02-19-2009 03:46 Edited 02-19-2009 03:48
Yeah!  That tube bumper looks nice.    I think I want to go tube also and im contemplating a winch just as a backup..  Im mostly expedition style( take the princess and kids out on some nice trails with something to see and hopefully lock the diffs up)  But yeah a winch can sure pay itself off in a hurry!!!!!!!!!!!!!!     ( coolness factor.........................HA thats most all So cal!!!!!   Lots of 2wd and some 4wd trucks that never seen gravel!!!!!!!)
Parent - - By norcalwelder (**) Date 02-19-2009 04:35 Edited 02-19-2009 04:38
I'm not really sure how to bend the pipe and stuff for a bumper like that, but it sure would be fun to have! My 4 wheeling so far has been riding around with my older bro with a couple of hounds lookin for bears. Alot of fun for sure, although pretty hard on the trucks. I'm not sure what he hit, but it was big, and he was going fast because he broke his add a leaf in the back and stretched the whole leaf spring pack out on the one side. I ended up putting new leaf kits, and then blocking it a little more in each side to level it out. Now I get to worry about something horrible happening like the axle falling off while i'm driving down the road. (not that its going to, I torqued that stuff really well, its just I don't have alot of confidence when it comes to that I think lol) 
Heres a pic of the rig...I just took it this afternoon.   Pretty cool huh? I love that thing...
[IMG]http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q42/timpowell1/truck/Truck018.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q42/timpowell1/truck/Truck011.jpg[/IMG]
Heres the side with a 1/2" of blocking...the low side got an 1"
http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q42/timpowell1/truck/Truck009.jpg

If anyones interested (or just bored lol) heres a album with a bunch of pics of the project.
http://s133.photobucket.com/albums/q42/timpowell1/truck/
Parent - - By Cumminsguy71 (*****) Date 02-21-2009 00:23 Edited 02-21-2009 00:27
Your question about bending the pipe. I had a friend that wanted to build his own headers. He figured the angles and the layout and went to the local muffler shop(not chain place) and asked the guy how much to bend x amount of pipe. Paid the guy and brought it home and welded it. You might check into that option.

I used to have an 83' toyota with about 8-10 inches of lift and 15.5x 35 bias super swampers. I had it in mud holes with water pushing over the hood and that little sucker just kept on going!! On the interstate though, the guy I got it from did'nt change the gears for the tires and had stockers. I'd have to run down the interstate in 4th gear and if I hit 5th it was because I was going downhill on the bumper of a trailer truck with a tornado pushin! Awesome in the mud though!!
Parent - - By norcalwelder (**) Date 03-04-2009 01:30
35" swampers? So you do need to change the gear ratio for big tires...is it a big deal or what? BTW I gave up the whole "brush guard" idea, and decided to make a bumper out of all the diamond plate I have lying around. heres what I got so far. The card board will sort of give you an idea of what the sides are going to be. I couldn't figure out how they would look, so I used the cardboard for a mock up. Any ideas? all the pics of it are on this album. http://s133.photobucket.com/albums/q42/timpowell1/truck/
Parent - - By hillbilly (**) Date 03-05-2009 05:27
Most toys came with 4.10s, some of the earlier ones came with 4.30s. If I was to use it for any kind of highway driving, I wouldn't get over the 32-33" tire size and I make sure to use aluminum wheels to save some weight. Now if you willing to spend alittle coin, then you can always upgrade ring and pinions and get that little 4banger back in it's power band. Those little 22Rs and 22REs aren't known for power, more so for longevity. If you were closer I could whip you up a tube bumper and guard in no time on my ole tube bender. I figure with a username like "norcalwelder" you nowhere close to me. Haha
Parent - - By norcalwelder (**) Date 03-05-2009 05:48
Yeah I mostly drive on the hwy, so I'm probably going to stick with 31-32" tires. I heard about someone putting in like a 3.9:1 or something...what all would you have to change to lower the ratio?  The engine should be just gettin broke in, cause its only got about 500 miles on it. My bro ended up putting new a entire new engine (think brand spanking new) and a new clutch. Right now its got 250K miles on it, so I bet that truck runs till 500K...I'll probably end up replacing just about everything on it in that time though. :D I'm getting close with the new bumper BTW, I did alot of the welding tonight. Now I just need to cut holes in it for the turn signals, and then try and make it fit on. I'm thinking i'll cap the ends of it and stuff, although if you look at the bumper on it now, it's going to have to come back about 6" cover up some stuff. I'll try and post pics to show what I mean. http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q42/timpowell1/truck/Truck018.jpg notice how the bumper on it comes around the side...thats what I'm talking about. Ideas anyone? I'm thinking just welding a piece of plate like i'm using so it wraps around, but I'd love to hear a better idea.
The bumper: http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q42/timpowell1/truck/009.jpg
http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q42/timpowell1/truck/011.jpg
Parent - - By DaveBoyer (*****) Date 03-05-2009 05:58
You need to go with a "bigger" number to get a lower ratio, if You have 4.1:1 now, going to 3.9:1 is the wrong direction. The ring gear and pinion that Hillbilly mentioned are the gears in the rear that You would need to change to get a different ratio.
Parent - - By norcalwelder (**) Date 03-05-2009 06:00 Edited 03-05-2009 06:03
ohhh....ok i'm mixed up. I got it now. So would that work with out doing the same to the front? I would think that there would be a conflict when its in 4 wheel drive...not that I know much about it lol, but still. How hard is it to do?
Parent - By DaveBoyer (*****) Date 03-05-2009 06:23
    If You change 1 You will need to change the other. They might not be exactly the same, My Dad had a '67 Dodge Power Wagon that had a slightly higher ratio [smaller number] in the front, 4.11:1 & 4.09:1 if I remember.

    You have to set the mesh of the gears, that is if it is anything like an old fasioned American made system. This involves putting prussian blue on the pinion teeth and checking where they ride on the ring gear teeth and ajusting for proper tooth contact and backlash. You should check the shop manual for the specific procedure.
Parent - - By RANDER (***) Date 03-05-2009 15:26
http://www.justdifferentials.com/

Talk to these guys
Parent - - By RANDER (***) Date 03-05-2009 16:44
5.71 is pretty low for running 31" tires....Check this handy table to find an appropriate gearing however you probably have no need to regear with stock tires.  Now if you are moving to 35"+ you should consider regearing. 
http://www.off-road.com/trucks4x4/article/articleDetail.jsp?id=186404
Parent - - By norcalwelder (**) Date 03-05-2009 17:09
I'm going to switch to 32x12.5" or something close when I get new tires. With the 31"s I've noticed a pretty big lack of power when accelerating. IDK maybe thats normal for 4 bangers? I'm still not sure when the engine is consitered "broken in" so maybe that is playing a part in it?
Parent - - By Cumminsguy71 (*****) Date 03-05-2009 17:56
Yep, 35's, they were bias ply to!! Took two men and a boy to lift one. I think guys suggested 5...something gears, maybe 5.30's or something but did'nt really get involved with it. I finally knocked it down to 31"x 10.50 radials and it felt like a drag car then!! Still sat up pretty good, had the big foot with the small transport tires look about it so I ended up dropping the lift kit and got it back down to normal size. Then traded it at a car dealer, when I pulled in the lot to drop it off(at night) the engine was hammering(started about a mile down the road) shut if off when I pulled in the driveway and coasted to a parking spot. Ran inside, found the salesman and said, here are the keys to the toyota. Ran back outside and jumped in our new/used exploder and told the wife.....drive!! Just go before they come out and start it!!

Don't know what happened to the engine. Ran fine, changed oil took care of it. Ran it up the highway to the dealer(bout 50 miles)  and ran sounded good. When I pulled off the I-state it sounded like it was getting ready to spit a rod!!
Parent - - By norcalwelder (**) Date 03-05-2009 18:20
8-10 inches of lift with 31's...yeah I can see how it would look a little weird lol. Sounds kinda like what happened to this one...my bro put the new head on, and drove off to the big city only to have the bearings all but disintegrate on the crankshaft. Talk about sounding like it was going to explode...jeez. So umm not to change the subject, but can we talk about the bumper too please? lol
Parent - - By Cumminsguy71 (*****) Date 03-05-2009 18:45 Edited 03-05-2009 18:48
Oh yeah, I do recall something about a bumper!! :-) What you have so far looks pretty tough. You going to wrap around the sides towards the wheel well?
Parent - By norcalwelder (**) Date 03-05-2009 20:29
lol yeah.... umm unless you guys can give me a better idea, I'm going to weld a 2" strip around the bottom of it give it 2 faceted faces (when you look at it front on) instead of one. Since its only 3 inches tall on the ends, this would give me 5" of coverage where it would wrap around.
http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q42/timpowell1/002-2.jpg Heres the side as it is right now.
http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q42/timpowell1/004-2.jpg Same thing, only looking forward. Notice the piece on the bottom that is like a filler piece.
http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q42/timpowell1/005.jpg "IT"
http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q42/timpowell1/006.jpg
Up Topic Chit-Chat & Non-Welding Discussion / Off-Topic Bar and Grill / brushguard buildin?

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