1999 4Runner - "The Frankenstein Front End"

ARB Old Man Emu Front Prado shocks, Part # N91S Firm
Blue Bilstein shock boots, Part # 422982
Very top OEM front shock washer drilled out to 9/16" or extra Old Man Emu upper stud washer
Rubber Isolator Ring: 48609-35010
Upper Retainer: 90948-02161
Stock Toyota Front Coils from a 1999 4Runner
1.5" Front 4Runner Steel Cornbred Spacers
Revtek Top Out Spacer, Part# TOE-2
10mm Grade 8.8 bolts, 3cm long

*** As of Fall 2004, The Tundra TRD Coil lift has surpassed the "Frankenstein" as the ultimate soft off-road setup. Take a look at the "Tundra Coil" section of my site. This page is maintained so you can see the series of progression we went through to getting to where we are today. ***

*** WARNING !!! (9-13-2004) It appears that Cornfed Suspension has changed the design of their Cornbred Spacers. This "system" was worked out with what they called the generation 2 spacer which is made completely out of steel and has fine thread tapped metric threads. The latest design is made of aluminum and is NOT the same dimension wise, it also has pressed in grade 5 course thread 3/8" bolts. This new aluminum Cornbred/Cornfed spacer with the pressed in bolts is not recommended for the Frankenstein Front End. Over the years even Revtek has changed it's top out spacer from the original milled aluminum design to torch cut steel. The Revtek top out spacer I used was the latter torch cut steel version which was then chrome plated. I have no control over these other vendors and they do change their product from time to time. Unless you can without a doubt obtain the exact same parts that I have from these vendors or the used market, I can not predict your results. Unfortunately piecing this setup together may no longer even be possible. ***

Sway-A-Way RaceRunner and painted Old Man Emu shock, both are the same extended length.

The Old Man Emu boots will not fit inside the Cornbred spacers so I retrofitted blue Bilstein boots on the Old Man Emu shocks. A stock Toyota shock is also shown.

Here you can see the difference in the size of the shafts. The Old Man Emu shock uses a very large diameter shaft. The stock Toyota shock can also bee seen, Bilstein, Rancho and most other shocks are closer to the stock Toyota shock. Piston Travel: Stock 3.5", OME 5.25" which is 1.75" longer than stock. Add the Revtek top out spacer and your a full 2" longer than the stock front shocks.

1.5" Cornbred spacers powder coated black. Longer bolts are needed when you add the Revtek spacer to the top.

Old Man Emu shock with Bilstein boot.

Old Man Emu instructions detailing the proper parts placement.

The 1999 V6, 4WD, 16" stock Toyota coils. The Downey Coil-over install sheet states that the stock Tacoma spring rate is 420 pounds and the stock Tundra spring rate is 575 pounds. Sway-A-Way used both 650 pound and later 675 pound springs.

Compressing the coil and building the assembly.

Installed "Frankenstein Front End" on the 4Runner.

ATS upper a-arm and top of the "Frankenstein Front End" assembly.

Even with 35's, same results.

Sway-A-Way shock uses a heim joint which can be replaced, Old Man Emu shock use a sleeved rubber bushing. The Sway-A-Way Race Runner shock needs to be recharged every once in a while and disassembled and rebuilt. The Old Man Emu shock is simply replaced when worn out.

Old Man Emu shock boot and modified Bilstein boots.

Revtek top out spacers.

The stock upper retainer and rubber isolator ring is used on the Cornbred spacer.

Here you can see the difference between the stock Toyota shock and the Old Man Emu shock.

Stock V6, 4WD, 16" 1998 coil on the top, Stock V6, 4WD, 16" 1999 coil on the bottom. The 1999 coil has 1 additional wind than the 1998 coil.

Part numbers and indication of correct side the springs go on.

Completed "Frankenstein Front End" shock/strut assembly.

To get the lower bolt in you need to remove the 4 bolts holding the lower ball joint because the assembly is 3/8" longer with the Revtek top out spacer. It is very important that you put the nut forward or it will cut into the CV boots. This is the longest assembly you can run on the vehicle.

"It Just Works" Drivers side stuffed to the bump stops, passenger side drooped so that the back of the ball joint just touches the coil. Save your money and ask yourself "Got Frankenstein?".

Across the country guys are getting the same results.

FAQ:

1.
Question: My stock Toyota springs are shot, I'm just going to get new Old Man Emu springs since they are the same price, should work the same right?
Answer: No way, You can do that but what you will end up will be nothing like what I have. Both the OME 880 & 881 springs are alot stiffer than the 1999 4Runner springs. OME springs in this formula is a bad idea.

2.
Question: I have 1996 or 1997 or 1998 or 2001 or 2002 stock Toyota springs, they should be good enough, right?
Answer: Nope, very disappointing results will occur with any spring other than 1999 4Runner.

3.
Question: I'm gonna get the Sway-A-Way Race Runners, King coil-overs or Donahue Racing coil-overs since they are more expensive they have to be better.
Answer: If your looking for maximum BLING BLING or only drive fast in sand washes the Southern California coil-overs are for you, If you actually looking for something that works on rocks, use my formula.

4.
Question: I have Bilstein front shocks or I would like to use Bilstein front shocks will this work?
Answer: Bilstein shocks will not work. The yellow 5000 series Bilstein shocks are high pressure gas, where as the ARB/Old Man Emu Heavy Duty shocks are low pressure. High pressure is best for road suspensions where as low pressure is best of off road suspensions.

5.
Question: I want to use the Old Man Emu "Comfort" shocks.
Answer: Bad idea,The Old Man Emu N91SC are designed to be used with the stiffer Old Man Emu coils. They will be too soft with the stock springs in this application. For comparison the Old Man Emu N91S Heavy Duty shocks are softer than the stock Tokico shocks the factory used. The comfort shocks will not work correctly for this formula. Use the Heavy Duty shocks.