I would like to up date my little trucks suspension to I.F.S from a 1989-1995 two wheel drive toyota pickup. I have no idea how to do this but would like to be able to add a spring kit and drop spindles and disc brakes to my 1977 hilux. Any ideas? I stopped by the toyota wreckers and found a 1990 pickup with allits front suspension goodies for about 300.00 but it does not look like it will bolt up. Does anyone know if there are brackets to fit it or can it be welded to fit or do I have to chop the frames and replace the front clip? please help. thanks Jay

 

your truck uses coils correct?

 

yes

 

that would be far more work than it's worth

you would be better off swapping your body onto a modified newer frame

which actually would net you a more powerful engine, newer drive train etc
and really would not be all that hard just very time consuming with lots of measuring, cutting, and welding.

if you want to lower yours easily slowly heat the spring till it drops a couple inches or cut off a small section

you could always go big money and order custom built coilovers

 

wouldn't the 89-95 be too wide for the 77 body? seems to me like it would be.

 

swapping to a newer xmem would be a serious undertaking. on the 77 the eng mounts are tied into the xmem. so you have to make new eng mounts as well.

then the steering is on the wrong side of the wheel.


but i bet a 77 cab fits on a 85 frame, or at least close enuff for horseshoes.



if your gonna lower the stock stuff on the cheap, dont heat the coils. REPEAT dont heat the coils.

it unloads very oddly over bumps. its actually harder to heat the coils up in the truck then it is to pop the springs out n cut em.

i got a lil write up on how to slam a hilux cheaply. got this for $32.75, cut 3 coils and 3in blocks.

 

well you could cut the front frame clip from a 85-95 and just weld that to your frame. people do that to ford rangers so they can get ifs as well

 

Wow, I never thought it would be this hard to add drop spindles & disc brakes to this little 1977 pick up! I am looking at the costs and the pain in the wrench to do this chop/ front clip replacement/weld on the new front end. Looks like at least $1200.00 , $550.00 for 4wd disc brake swap, $250 drop spindles, $500.00 toyota 1990 front clip. Almost looks like buying a rolled 1989-1995 2wd with good rolling suspension and then try to fit the 1977 body on it would be more cost effective. The only reason I dont jump on this is because I want to use a different motor than is available in the 2wd toys, I would like to go MR2 turbo four cylinder or nissan four cylinder turbo.
Thanks for all the input. Jay

 

if you want to motor swap just buy a rolling chassis with no motor, do your engine swap, then swap on the body

 

what size engine is in the mr2? i was thinking it would be kinda cool to put it in the rear of a truck.

 

in my opinion the hilux front suspension is superior to the later versions for dropping.

no torsion bar to deal with.


i have yet to get my hands on a set of newer stock spindels but it looks like you could take the drivers side one, flip it upside down and install it on the pass side of a hilux and it just might work.

but i have yet to find out for sure.

 

Now I am considering bagging the beast, What do you all think will it still handle good in corners like back country roads with 2-300 horse under the hood planned? Whats involved in bagging do they have all the parts for old trucks? In the end I just want it to handle nice and stop and go fast oh ya and look way cool too.

 

mr2 engine is a 3gt 4cylinder with turbo 290hp I think

 

3sgte

 

which is a pita to install in a front to rear drive train

 

ya i would go with something a lil more bolt in.


a 7m could use the tranny you have now. or upgrade to the superior W58. and it would take very lil fab to fit.



there is jack and **** made for the older trucks. you have to buy for something newer and make it fit.

real big issue i see for you is the brakes. could be as easy as swapping rotors and calipers onto the older spindels. but i havent got my hands on newer calipers yet.

 

Ya thats what I originally planned to do was a 7mge supra turbo motor , but thought it might be trying to stuff too much in. But sheazzy who ever heard of too much? I just want to tackle the suspension and brakes first. Any Ideas?

 

Take a look at my ride in the gallery downloaded some pics this morning

 

get it from the Toyota Altezza in japan, then swap whatever 3S-GTE parts you can onto the 3S-GE motor that you did get in lol

 

We're would I find drop spindles and drake kits for my 1977 SR5