Newish member here my 95 Tacoma

[FhRanger04]

I can say it’s finally time I introduce myself, this may be a long write up haha, I’m 18 currently in school to become a lineman, been on the forum for a year and a half when I bought a ranger and was wanting to build that but it blew up it didn’t work out so good so I bought and 95 Tacoma 5 lug it had a total chaos kit on it with some poor welds and a bumper rest of the truck was stock I’ve had it for a year now and the rear end is done front is redone has adv glass frame plating etc just needs a cage now
Here’s how it sits today on 35x10s has a trussed 9” from a 78 f150 with 5.13s a spool, Currie axles and gm disk brakes. Has Chevy 63s sua with a 10” shackle mounted under the frame, fox 2.5x16 3 tube bypasses and trail gear 2.0x3 bumps, it’s bumped and strapped at 16.5 inches of travel and has 10 inches of up travel at ride height. 4” adv bedsides gonna get the fiberwerx 8” glass. Custom bed cage rear bumper with a single spare for now.

Fronts got the 3.5 gen 2 total chaos kit for a 5 lug bumped and strapped at 14 inches of travel it’s quite modified, fox 2.5x8 coilovers with 600lb springs, fabtech 3” lift spindles that also give me an additional 1.5” if track width a side. Front track width is 87 inches and rear is 83 inches. 3.5” adv glass hoping to get 6” McNeil glass in the future. Gonna be picking a te designs cage kit for it next and some new prp seats and harnesses and make an engine cage and delete what’s left of the stock bed and add a fuel cell and 2 spares. I do tig everything on my truck even though it takes longer that’s just all I’ve got.

She’s slow and loud but definitely fun I run in the Reno Fallon area when I can need to get it tuned now that the suspension is a decent point this is what I’d call a more budget build most parts were used and freshened up.

Sorry for the huge write up haha I just know when I was building/rehabbing the little work that was done I noticed little 5 lug info was out there. If you made it those far thanks for looking if you have any questions feel free to ask and if you’re in the NorCal Reno area and would like to hit the desert let me know

Also if you have a tips, pointers or advice for me anything would be much appreciated thank you.

 

[4xFoorOffroad]

How much of the truck was built when you bought it - did you install the 63’s yourself?

How does the rearend perform compared to the front in the whoops?

 

[FhRanger04]

I traded a stock ranger for it so I’m assuming the truck couldn’t have costed too much it was rough condition it blew the head gasket on the way home from getting it yes I built the whole rear I’d say it’s very balanced the front just needs more compression but it’ll go as fast as the 4 banger can make it go through whoops haha

 

[4xFoorOffroad]

Most 1G Tacomas are spring over stock. Yours was spring under because it was a 5 lug.

Most well performing spring under 1G Tacomas and race trucks like the Helton’s SY2/4 trucks will do 12” shackles above the frame and 62” Deavers like F55, F67, H70, H70HD. Lighter trucks use F67’s or H70’s. You could call Deaver with the weight of your truck and see what they recommend. They’ll flex better and get you more travel than the 63’s.

If you’re not too broke after buying the TE kit, then you could think about checking the front spring hanger location and converting to 12” shackles above the frame with some Deavers.

I think this is from Total Chaos back in the day but it is kind of a baseline for spring hanger placement and shackle placement.



Also here’s a list of many build threads and videos of 1G Tacos which are mostly long traveled. You can use them as info.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/1st-gen-long-travel-directory.750980/#post-26752386

 

[FhRanger04]

Thanks for that info man I’ve considered deaver h70 and doing a fuel cell and finishing out the rear to be on leaf springs with the cage a lot I’ll get an inch or two more of down travel and better rear weight bias but I may just end up linking it I have 14” coilovers to go with my 16” bypass the 1000 bucks for the springs I’d put into a 48” WIY trailing arm and materials to link it. I know it’s gonna cost a good bit to really dial in the truck whatever direction I hit with the rear, just depends how much work I feel like doing when I do the cage but definitely just gonna start with the cage for now I’m thinkin if I link it the front is gonna get a giant beam kit for the 1G tacos cheaper than a race kit for my truck and I’m capable of doing the work.

What are you’re guys thoughts 6k for the Jd race kit for the 5 lug 16 inches of travel 2.5x10 co and 2.5x10 3 tube bypass still a small hub (Dana 35 4x4) and I’d still be stuck with my tiny steering rack it’ll prolly be around 8k or even a little more going that route or I do the giant beam kit for 4k do a 2.5 co 2.5 bypass unsure what lengths for those, but converts me to a steering box set up the kit comes with everything but shocks and steering box obviously a good bit of fab work is required and I’ll be able to run any Dana 44 hub/ knuckle assembly I want with their beams I should be able to get an easy 20 inches of travel out of that and im guessing I’ll be anywhere from 7-9k to make that happen both setups will get a proper engine cage tied to cab cage.

I think I’d like to start on the from first after the cage though considering the front kit is the weakest point of the truck let me know your thoughts thanks.

 

[desert_steve]

As someone with a toyota p/u thats on an ESB knock-off kit up front and deavers out back, I 100% support your idea to beam and link your truck! Take lots of notes and pics for those of us that dont have the balls to pull that trigger.