Big Block Tacoma

[Fenix Motorsports]

I figured I would get the thread started on this build seeing that its going to be more than a minor overhaul, and more along the lines of a complete teardown and built back up from scratch.

This is my buddies 2006 Tacoma, 2wd, automatic V6, supposedly a pre-runner model without the badging. Anyway, build plan morphed from doing a DK LT up front with spring under rear setup, to now, I'm doing everything from the ground up, all the design work, full drivetrain and powertrain, etc.

Heres the plan:
- +6in J arm style race kit with anti dive delete
- Backhalf with wheelbase extension (stretching to long bed dimensions)
- 40in tires (I'm designing it for 40s. will probably only ever get 37's)
- Custom interior/dash - I really want to try my hand at doing all the fancy tinwork in this thing
- New(ish) Engine - 454 Big Block Chevy, probably (hopefully) going to punch it out to a 496, shooting for about 600hp N/A - Pushing for a fully forged bottom end, aluminum heads (AFR or Brodix) to save a bit on weight. Hawg ass cam - full roller valvetrain, upgraded timing gear, ARP hardware, etc, etc, basically just way overbuild it so it never has issues
- 4l80e trans
- Ford 9in based rear axle housing
- Swap over to a saginaw style steering box from Howe or PSS with swingset steering
- Mid Mount Fuel Cell
- Dual Spare Tire Setup
- I'm pushing for a Haltech or something similar for the ECU, but he doesn't want a carbureted style intake, so that leaves me with Edelbrock or Aces fuel injection, I may just get the intake from Aces and run the aftermarket ECU, or maybe even try and track down an 8.1 EFI intake, but thats the less bougie option obviously - all this because I haven't been able to sell him on a hilborn stack......yet
- Full Custom Fiberglass, no-one makes +6 flares or long bed fiberglass for the 2G
- Rear Mount Cooling Setup

That's pretty much the basics on this thing, probably will be one of those infamous 10 year builds, I havent started doing much with it yet, but he let me have the truck early so I could do some product development on it, then I got wrapped up in the sand demon and building my website up so I'm running behind as far as my plans with it.

The Engine fits in the truck way better than I thought it would too, which was a nice surprise





Still have the dash, fuel tank, shifter, brake booster, rear end, and some other stuff for sale as well if anyone wants it.

 

[4xFoorOffroad]

Some might say the first part to buy when doing a V8 swap on a Tacoma is a fullsize cab & frame.

 

[BlackJacket705]

Colour me interested!

 

[Hansoloo]

Oh yes this is the way

 

[badlinesgoodtimes]

Brothhhher just start out low key on it eh ?

 

[Fenix Motorsports]

Brothhhher just start out low key on it eh ?

Yeah, figured I'd let the cat out of the bag early on.......Get everyone's hopes up, then string 'em along for however long until it gets finished, hopefully the timeline gets pushed harder than I'm expecting, my other issue with doing Tacoma's (really any stock frame truck I guess), is all of them end up being the same or very similar, I need/want this thing to stand out instead of getting lost in a sea of cookie cutter builds, and the current plan supports that, so until I can build my Sierra, this thing is my "shop truck"

 

[Fenix Motorsports]

Some might say the first part to buy when doing a LS swap on a Tacoma is a fullsize cab & frame.

I've tried convincing him to get into a full size, never worked out, this truck also has some sentimental value to him, albeit, its a P.O.S, so its kind of perfect to build, maybe just not "convenient" per se, since I'm cramming 10lbs of stuff into a 5lb box, which is a part of the reason for stretching the wheelbase, I'm going to need all the space I can get.

 

[4xFoorOffroad]

I've tried convincing him to get into a full size, never worked out, this truck also has some sentimental value to him, albeit, its a P.O.S, so its kind of perfect to build, maybe just not "convenient" per se, since I'm cramming 10lbs of stuff into a 5lb box, which is a part of the reason for stretching the wheelbase, I'm going to need all the space I can get.

Gotcha - sounds like you decided and challenge is accepted. Right on. Idk how familiar you are with j arm kits made by @basikbiker or quixotic, and I’m sure you’re going to want to start with a blank slate, but might be worth using for brainstorming during the design process.

 

[Fenix Motorsports]

Gotcha - sounds like you decided and challenge is accepted. Right on. Idk how familiar you are with j arm kits made by @basikbiker or quixotic, and I’m sure you’re going to want to start with a blank slate, but might be worth using for brainstorming during the design process.

Yeah, It'll be a clean slate design from the ground up, I try to refrain from going and looking at other people's designs while I'm working on my products so that way I can try my best to come up with something original, instead of something that looks like a copycat/ripoff product of someone else's work.

 

[4xFoorOffroad]

Yeah, It'll be a clean slate design from the ground up, I try to refrain from going and looking at other people's designs while I'm working on my products so that way I can try my best to come up with something original, instead of something that looks like a copycat/ripoff product of someone else's work.

Copy that. Would you consider front halfing the truck with all new drivetrain and suspension going in?

 

[Fenix Motorsports]

Copy that. Would you consider front halfing the truck with all new drivetrain and suspension going in?

Personally, if this were my truck, I'd just do a full tube chassis, center mount, etc. But its not financially feasible for him, the only reason we are going as far as we are, is because I can get him a price break on all the parts for the truck. I did throw the idea of a center-mount at him, and he shot it down saying he'd go to a full-size cab at that point, which I agree with, I know it is possible on a midsize, but the cab would be really tight.

Obviously though, with how much power and suspension the truck will have, it is getting caged front to back, frankly it wouldn't hold up if it wasn't.