This was my first truck that I bought when I graduated from High School in 1987. This truck took me to college back and forth from NC to VA. The truck has 290,000 miles on the original engine and transmission. I've always wanted a truck with big tires and a lift since I bought it 20 years ago, but it was always my main source of transportation. Then in 1995 when I bought my Dodge Ram the ideas started to form. I kept the truck as a local run around truck with the thoughts of future customizing and restoration. We finally moved to Harrisonburg where I was able to install a car lift at my dad's shop in 2006 which enable me to get started on this project.

I designed much of the new 4-link suspension design a year prior to the start of the project. So in June of 2006 I finally got started cutting and modifying. It is now almost 2 years later and I'm finally in the home streatch of finishing the truck underneath. I still have a few things left on the front end to do before it's driveable. The body work will have to come later.

The rear suspension is a hibrid 4-link/leaf setup that will still use the stock leaf springs but elminate axle wrap under acceleration with help of the rear link arms. The arms allow the axle to articulate without binding. The front is a 4-link with 10" fox coil over shocks. This should yeild a good ride but offer more flexibility offroad.

My main goal is to make this a completely bolt-on kit using a doner 1985 toyota front axle. So far there was no welding on the 1987 frame. All the brackets are bolt-on. The entire truck was drawn in 3D CAD (solidworks) and designed ahead of time. I took a welding class this past fall and this has enable me to do all the machining, fabrication, and welding.

Hopefully when I'm done the truck will end up looking as original as possible except for the new 6" suspension lift and 35" tires. It's been a fun project but time consuming. I'm sure my wife Sue will be glad when I'm done.

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