3rd gen 4runner belly clearence improvment

[troyboy162]

ok so Ive got time on my hands again and thats the devil. i dont think we have much info here on UY about this stuff even though i think we have the most 4runners.

the 3rd gen has some pretty junky clearance under it. this clearance would be the next largest increase in ability for my truck. if you think about it, gaining aprox 4 inches of belly clearance is very valuable especially when our overall truck lift is in the 4-6 range. for example a clocked t-case gains 3ish inches. to get that clearance any other way id have to run 6 inches of front lift or run 41" tires. i think alot of scenarios call for raw clearance more often then articulation or tires.

also worthy of discussion is the give and take of ability vs price. in addition, im often torn about whats reasonable for a 3rd gen. i know its a capable platform but you have to admit its not the first choice for a hammers build and i think that perspective should be kept in mind.

we've got:
-low transfer case
-low gas tank
-really low control arm mounts

the transfer case
looks like budbuilt has a clocker available. i dont know if this works on a 3.4 auto yetit even works on autos. after doing this fabing a crossmember becomes an issue as well. i cant tell how far this clocks it but it looks to be pretty far. id guess the body lift will make the process easier. id hope no cutting of the floor will be needed. maybe just some hammer to clearence for drivetran flex.http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showt...=720499&page=2

building the crossmember
near as i can tell the budbuilt goes beyond 10 degress of clock. that rules out any premade crossmembers from FROR. but they have a univeral one that could be made to work with some welding.
http://frontrangeoffroadfab.com/nfos...9be79259187130

the gas tank.
relocating ala BruceTS style....not a ton of info on this out there but its been done a few times. i wonder if it would sag my rear springs to move the weight of the tank out back.
http://www.yotatech.com/f88/fillsrun...-heavy-132060/
http://home.4x4wire.com/erik/97runner/fueltank.htm
http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showt...=609488&page=8
http://www.ultimateyota.com/index.ph...;topicseen#new
http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=484247
http://darksidersrealm.forumotion.co...l-tank-efi-mod
UPDATE:
http://www.ultimateyota.com/index.ph...6&topic=9802.0


the control arm mounts
http://www.ultimateyota.com/index.ph...6&topic=8857.0
detailed pics of linkage http://board.marlincrawler.com/index.php?topic=71778.0
no one has done anything simple for this yet and to me its a real stopping point on harder obsticals. the easiest thing(as previously talked about by Bruce) to do would be to cut out the old mounts and make ones up close to the frame. then you would have to get longer links from spidertrax or someone(make some cause its the easiest thing you will do that day). the only thing i wonder about with that is if your diff will remain at good angles through the travel. of course this also messes up the angles of the suspension and will likely cause odd behavior, but jacking up the rear end messes up all our short arm suspension geometry anyhow.
UPDATE:No way to fix this without a complete custom geometry http://www.ultimateyota.com/showthre...l=1#post108267

building custom control arms (great info)
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-ge...wer-links.html
http://www.sonoransteel.com/index.ph...products_id=19
bungs and creeper joints:
http://www.billybobs4x4.com/Trail-Ge...-material.html
http://www.ballisticfabrication.com/...er_p_1405.html
frame mounts 9/16 holes:
http://www.ballisticfabrication.com/...nt_p_1511.html
http://www.ruffstuffspecialties.com/catalog/CHLB.html
bushings:
http://qualityairride.com/4-link-par...ar-end-34-stud
UPDATE:
http://www.ultimateyota.com/showthre...ht=custom+arms

detailed stock rear suspension:

[Scuba]

Before reading your whole post. I thought to myself: move the tank behind the axle (since I know you're not going to put in in the cargo are cause that would take up "tent" space.)
Think about it. The height of the skid row tcase skid is about the best you're going to get unless you plan on making a new transmission crossmember. I've seen you stuck just about every way possible. I don't think your gas tank is as much of a problem as that damn D crossmember that holds the tank. But then, if you move the tank, the next problem is your link mounts and the links themselves, but those could be beefed. Last time in the hammers, you got stock between the tcase skid and gas tank/skid. With out the tank there you'd have been just fine.

[troyboy162]

i agree that would be the best order of events...tank, then links. t-case is not much of an issue unless things get really hairy

[YotaFun]

I have been weighting my option with getting the belly of the Runner more flat myself.
The first huge one being the gas tank.
Bruce's I think is the best idea of us 4Runner guys next to getting a fuel cell.
I have also heard of some guys using Jeep wrangler gas tanks, another option to possible explore.

As far as t-case is concerned, I am surprised mine doesn't have a nice crack in it lol!
My little "skid" on it is practically unrecognizable anymore...
Like you, I too have an auto so I run into that issue.
An option I am thinking of exploring that I saw one of the local guys here do to his taco was make a skid plate with lexan on it.
The t-case doesn't sit that far below the cross-member so I was thinking of just running this skid right from behind my budbuilt.
While its not higher the lexan should help me slide over a rock a little easier.

As far as the rear lower control arm mounts, unless we start changing the geometry like you said, I think our best bet for now is just to beef them up and deal.
I have the Rubicon Express Lower Control arms that Sonoran offered at one point and they have taken plenty of abuse the joints themselves are now the lowest point since most of the metal have been bashed away lol!

[troyboy162]

me and scuba have had pretty good luck with the skidrow tcase skid. its pretty strong compared to the bud built one. we have both landed on it a few times without issue. thats also why id put clocking the case lower on my list since that skid will hold back the rocks for now.

[Scuba]

Except when I was trying the buggy line on Odessa and was denied cause I was getting hung up on the tcase skid Damn thing must have flexed a good bit and been real close to the case cause I could feel the vibes in the floor.

Love the skid regardless though.

[BruceTS]

The first phase of my flat belly project is complete, that was the tank relocation. Next step is to relocate the lower link mounts, so not to affect the geometry, the plan is to run longer links and triangulate them as well. This will reslove a few issues. The first needing a new crossmember level with frame rail. It will also be the mounting points for my new links. Issues it will fix is the rear steer from articulation and having those rock hanger removed. I do have a Budbuilt clocking ring and it will work for both stick or automatic transmissions. I was also thinking about just getting Marlins clocking adaptor and swap it out with my current one, but since I have a mill now, I'll simply machine out the adaptor for the thickness of the clocking ring. Then a bit of sheetmetal massaging will be required to gain clearance. Some exhaust work will also be required, but when all is done I will eventually have a full flat belly.

Most work on my 4Runner is currently on hold, I have another few projects to complete first, I'll start a new thread when time comes....

[troyboy162]

updated a few links in here. i may have a garage to do this work soon. after thats its just learning how to weld before i mod major suspension components lol.

[Scuba]

Keep me updated brother. Put a good 220 mig gun in my hand and I'm pretty sure I can weld anything. Can try to teach you how to weld as well.

[troyboy162]

haha im web researching as much as i can. it looks like i may have to source a smaller fuel tank with my current rear bumper set up. part of it enrouches on area where bruce has his tank.