First Gen DC TT Tacoma

[Flapjack935]

Moar farting around. Threw on the headers and intake to see what clears and what doesn’t. Also got measurements for spacing to order a harmonic balancer, brackets for the low mount alternator and new mounts for the power steering pump.

Gonna need to bang, and adjust some stuff obviously but gives an idea of what to keep in mind when packaging.

Side note once I get it back from Tommy, should I go with a Moruzzi special? Mullenix? Or a local shop to rebuilt the 2 engines I have already? Down the road decisions but I don’t need anything wild. Just want some decent reliable power.






Need to get the transmission in also and get it better aligned as the engine obviously has the Carolina squat.

 

[Flapjack935]

Picked up a Ron Davis radiator today. Threw it up in the rear to see fitment. Rad and oil coolers will go in the back window/down bars depending which fits best where. Then threw the spares on to get an idea out the look. Definitely gets motivation and some vision after imagining it for years.

Only bummer the front coilovers are 3-4 months out. Hopefully beginning of January they’ll be ready. Other than that, I’ve got all the major parts for the big ticket items for the most part.

 

[Flapjack935]

Loaded up ready to go out to Tommy on Saturday. Kind of surreal this thing is finally gonna get major progress done after a couple years. Pumped to see it come together. Still a long way to go but it could just sit under a cover and keep saying “one day”

 

[Bakoholmes]

Sucks when projects go into shop jail and don't make any progress. But that seems to be part of the game if you don't have the time, talent, or motivation to do everything yourself. Looking forward to following this thread and seeing this beast blast through the desert!

 

[Flapjack935]

Sucks when projects go into shop jail and don't make any progress. But that seems to be part of the game if you don't have the time, talent, or motivation to do everything yourself. Looking forward to following this thread and seeing this beast blast through the desert!

Yea last shop was a buddy deal and work on it when he had time but it got pushed for different work and a race team so no hard feelings.

 

[85Yota]

Ok everyone I am finally making some progress on this truck now that it's in my shop. First step was to get the truck onto stands level front back side to side. Then I cycled rear suspension and checked the pinion change. Pinion change wasn't good AND i ran the numbers in a 4 link calculator and didn't like was I was seeing there or in real life measurements. So I cut out the entire rear floor and back of the cab since it is getting redone with a single 3rd seat in the middle. So I got to do the fun job of cutting off the old upper link mounts. I then needed to plate the inside of the frame to clean it all up and make it stronger to add the new upper link mount in correct location for proper geometry I have used in the past with great success. Got the new upper link tabs tacked in place so I can start making templates to box them all in. I am also going to do a diagonal tube from them to the carrier bearing crossmember and then forward to prevent anything from moving in the future. I am also going to run a tube between the bottom diagonals of the cage so I can do the seat mounts and floor plating into that. Also when I pulled apart the rear suspension the Camburg lower links have uniballs on both ends BUT no anti wobbles so I need to source some 1-1/4" ID urethane bushings so I can make anti wobbles to prevent it from flopping at all and eating the lower eyelets on the King shocks.

 

[85Yota]

OK haven't update this BUT i got the shocks mocked up and I couldn't get them vertically because the outer tube from C pillar to the upper junction on the backhalf. So I cut that tube off and doing so the tube layout wasn't the order i was hoping where that tube landed on top of the other tubes BUT it was first tube and cutting that it made so the other horizontal tube and bent down tube land on junction without having unneeded sleeves. So I cut both those tubes off and tacked on a new horizontal tube from rear cage to bulkhead area. Then since I got the upper link mounts all done and cycled rear suspension. Pinion change and rear geometry is good now BUT the rear axle fill cap hits the bottom front tube on the fuel cell cradle. So I then removed that tube i tacked in place and then decided to remove the entire backhalf so I can slide it back 2 or so inches where it sleeve's over the stock tacoma frame. So I'm at this point now and tomorrow I'll get the backhalf reattached AND start replacing tubes and lacing so I can get the shock mounts and bump's mounted up. Gonna be a photo dump of progress from last week or so.

 

[85Yota]

 

[85Yota]

OK so got backhalf tube's back on and everything working as it should. Got shock mounts on and it cycles 28-3/4" metal to metal with the 18" shocks on the camburg 48" links. Shock mounts on and boxed in now. Bump stops tomorrow.

 

[dwphoto]

wait wut... did you back half the back half and then re-back half

 

[85Yota]

Basically the backhalf and links were on and done. Cycled rear end and pinion change was horrible. Ran link geometry numbers and it was all wrong. So cut the upper link mounts off and redid them. This resulted in the rear-end hitting the fuel cell cradle. So I cut backhalf off to slide it back 1-1/2". Doing this resulted in removing the upper backhalf tube's thay were in way of shock mounts and not right. So reattached backhalf and redid tube's and miter down tube. Now it's all right and moving in the right direction. Also my Sawzall died so it won't slip again.

 

[dwphoto]

Basically the backhalf and links were on and done. Cycled rear end and pinion change was horrible. Ran link geometry numbers and it was all wrong. So cut the upper link mounts off and redid them. This resulted in the rear-end hitting the fuel cell cradle. So I cut backhalf off to slide it back 1-1/2". Doing this resulted in removing the upper backhalf tube's thay were in way of shock mounts and not right. So reattached backhalf and redid tube's and miter down tube. Now it's all right and moving in the right direction. Also my Sawzall died so it won't slip again.

haha @Flapjack935 likes this.

 

[85Yota]

@Flapjack935 wallet doesn't like this. But it's done right now and going to work awesome not just because Kings bro

 

[4xFoorOffroad]

Been following his truck on TW since 2015, amazing to see it this far.

 

[85Yota]

Are bumps are on. Will box the bottom once everything is torn down before final welding.

 

[85Yota]

OK taco is back in the shop since next week I ahouod be working on my f150 again.

Since I don't have a 3rd and need to find rough carrier bearing location for the 2 piece shaft I made a mock up yoke locator for the rear axle. Also makes it way easier to mock everything up without a heavy 3rd going in and out and cycling with that in axle. I'll install the final 3rd with yoke when rear driveshaft is measured.

 

[85Yota]

Got rear floor and firewall started. Floor is bent sheet metal to go under the floor tube's so making seat mounts and everything to hold down tools easier in the future. Learned that on my old ford after changing a few things after floors were welded in and can't get to support tubes under the floor easily. Had to do 2 piece middle section and a jump to clear carrier bearing crossmember. Upper link bolts will go from inside the cab which allows rear seat to be lower and help with head room.

 

[85Yota]

Floor and trar firewall all stitched together. Added another tube to land on junction between new welded rear frame and the factory frame too. Got everything fully welded out back on shock mounts and bump stops. So now onto mounting rear rad and trans cooler and battery boxes

 

[85Yota]

Firewall all finished up and silicone to seal it all up. Start of rear radiator and trans cooler mounts tomorrow.

 

[85Yota]

Got radiator and triton trans cooler mounted up. Need to remove them and do final welding on the mounts and tube