Hey guys, I am new to this site needed some help on lowering my 83 standard pick up. I got this truck from my uncle and is in okay condition with 160k miles. I was thinking of buying a datsun mini truck but I like this truck just as much. I will post some pictures soon to see what you guys think of it.

thanks!

-Adam

 

Take a look at my 83, that should give you some ideas, re-key the torsion bars if you crank those, mine are pulled. http://www.toyotaminis.com/forum/build-up-project-threads-21/1983-toyota-pickup-project-17719/

 

Welcome buddy. Those body style trucks are one of the best things Japan ever exported. Even a Datsun 620 has a hard time beating it in style.

Lowering it is pretty simple. A spacer block between the leaf spring and axle, and readjust your torsion bars. On the trans crossmember are two "keys" basically a bar going into a lever with a large bolt and two nuts. Loosen the upper nut then turn the bolt while holding the lower nut. Helps to do it with the front suspension drooping (jack stand on frame not control arm) so they have less pressure on the bolt. You can also carefully cut the bolt if its in really bad shape. That's the gist of it. SD Yota on here has done quite a few writeups on lowering the 79-95 chassis trucks. All the same except a few details like torsion bar diameter and the later has vented brake discs.

About a 4" total drop with a smaller tire diameter, like 24-25" is best to start with. If you keep the 14s a 195/70/14 or even a 195/60/14 works great to get some extra drop (smaller diameter means the center moves closer to the road, and since the truck is held off that center point, it goes with). I wouldn't run any larger than a 225/60/14 up front with a large drop. It'll rub when you turn and be pretty ballony on a stock 5-6" wide rim. I have some 215/60/14s on a set of 14x5s an they're just right. I run those in the rear with a 195/65/14 up front. That's when I don't have alloy rims on. For 16s I like 205/50 and 225/50. Stay away from anything less than a 50 series on the rear or the gearing will be super high rpm all the time. 17s a 45 series.


That's alot of info for saying hi

 

^^ his truck has a nice useful height. It sits a little higher than mine body wise but thats also cab shape between body styles. My 78 is different. Enough to clear stuff but still look pretty dang low. Rims really really change the entire attitude of these trucks. Mine looks boring and old school on 14s but looks racey and JDM on 17s. It's weird.