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chassis help

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TR4v8

TR4v8

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help! i have a 66 tr4a that has an earlier solid axle chassis under it (straight frame rails, not the later frame that also was used for IRS) it also has the pass floorboard equipped emer brake handle. can someone direct me to where on the chassis there might be a number to identify year etc. or is there a certain chassis part i can look at to i.d. what i have? TRF has a big sale on chassis stuff & i would really like to buy all of my rebuild stuff while on sale, but want to know what kit to buy.
 
There should also be a number plate on the left side rear inner fender. You'll have to take of the wheel to see it; and it's straight above the axle on the inner fender sheet metal.
 
i'm pretty sure this is a "heinz" as the body is def. a 4a (side markers,grille, even has the brackets on the tunnel for the late e brake). i'll check the engine number & see what it shows. hopefully, the engine is original to the chassis & i can i.d. that way. if not, arre there any specific parts that changed between the early/late tr4 that i can look at & i.d. what it is? thanks!
 
o.k. did some looking & the engine number is CT 4680 E & the body tag is CT 58710. also looked underneath & the upper ball joint is the early style (looks like a tie rod end). so i'm assuming its a early tr4 chassis with a tr4a body. is there anything inherently weak on the early front suspension that should be upgraded? thanks again for all the help!
 
Judging by the engine number and your description of the suspension system, it appears a previous owner did a body transplant onto an early '62 TR4 chassis. Although rare, this is not unheard of.

Even though the suspension system was improved shortly after your chassis was made, I don't think the older system was inherently weak. It worked just fine for the 10 previous years.

If you want to keep the expenses down, just rebuild the system you have. The only problem I could foresee is the previous owner. If they went through the trouble of swapping the body, they may have also "upgraded" some suspension parts which would be a very bad idea. Many of the later suspension parts should not be mixed with the earlier parts.

BTW- Just for your info, your engine number could also put your chassis very close to the time the disc brakes were changed. This is just an approximate guess made without knowing your commission number and can be easily established.

Gary
 
Well, if you want some self centering on the steering you could add the later style ball joints pretty easily - you would need to scrounge up a few used parts to do it though. If I was doing a complete rebuild including buying the lower trunnions, that would be one change I'd consider.
 
TR4nut said:
Well, if you want some self centering on the steering you could add the later style ball joints pretty easily - you would need to scrounge up a few used parts to do it though. If I was doing a complete rebuild including buying the lower trunnions, that would be one change I'd consider.
Click to expand...

would that be as simple as changing to the later upper control arms & swapping in the 3 deg lower trunnions or are more parts needed? thanks!
 
Celtic2 said:
Judging by the engine number and your description of the suspension system, it appears a previous owner did a body transplant onto an early '62 TR4 chassis. Although rare, this is not unheard of.

Even though the suspension system was improved shortly after your chassis was made, I don't think the older system was inherently weak. It worked just fine for the 10 previous years.

If you want to keep the expenses down, just rebuild the system you have. The only problem I could foresee is the previous owner. If they went through the trouble of swapping the body, they may have also "upgraded" some suspension parts which would be a very bad idea. Many of the later suspension parts should not be mixed with the earlier parts.

BTW- Just for your info, your engine number could also put your chassis very close to the time the disc brakes were changed. This is just an approximate guess made without knowing your commission number and can be easily established.

Gary
Click to expand...

thanks! i'm planning the cressida/4runner upgrade on the front brakes. hopefully, i'll have the car inside & start tearing it down soon, so will be easier to i.d. things with the wheels off & better lighting etc.
 
TR4v8 said:
TR4nut said:
Well, if you want some self centering on the steering you could add the later style ball joints pretty easily - you would need to scrounge up a few used parts to do it though. If I was doing a complete rebuild including buying the lower trunnions, that would be one change I'd consider.
Click to expand...

would that be as simple as changing to the later upper control arms & swapping in the 3 deg lower trunnions or are more parts needed? thanks!
Click to expand...

That is the majority of it - but I think a comparison of part numbers probably shows a change to the steering arms as well as the brake caliper mounting plates if I remember correctly. I don't think the brake plates are critical, I made this change to my TR3A and the old ones were fine. Same may apply for the steering arms, but if you had easy access to later TR4 versions that may be worth getting to avoid potential bump steer issues.


I see you are talking about the Toyota brakes, I'm fairly sure the old mount plates would be fine there.
 
Are you planning on putting a V8 in it or do you already have a TR4v8? If you are planning on putting a V8 in this car, you may want some beefier upgrades than what TRF offers anyway.

Dan B
 
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