Toyota Pickup (old Koenig racing truck)

congratulations on a rad purchase glad to see your putting it to use. I recognize this Truck but don't know it, what are its specs, accolades, pedigree, any interesting history on it? I just remember it used to do well in NorCal stuff.
 
  • Like
Reactions: SG2
Honestly, I don’t know all of the history on it. I know Mike Koenig built and raced it. And that total chaos developed their race kit and trailing arms on this as well as a couple others. Being from socal, I was more aware of Matt Helton and Dan Vance during the same time period, all while I was building my first Tacoma. Im still learning about the history of this truck from articles on race dezert, YouTube and from all the folks that remember it. Any info is appreciated.
 
I welded some of the "A" pillar tubes to the frame in 2007 in Mikes garage. It was I think the 3rd truck to have the Gen 3 kit, first was Helton, second was Metcho (just after I started at Total Chaos) and we installed in on a trailer in his parents driveway.
 
I also made the custom Upper arms with the 1.5" uniballs but I don't remember the year I made those (its probably stamped in the rear upper arm pivot gusset, along with possibly a note for Mike if I remember correctly). The one thing to keep an eye on with those knuckles is that you need to check the snouts for cracks where the snout meets the face of the knuckle.
 
Thank you for the info. I’ll pull the front off for inspection and new paint in the next couple months. The truck came with a bunch of spare parts, upper and lower a-arms (missing one uca) and spindles included. I’ll look for the note haha
 
I did a few off-road trips with Mike in my first few years at Total Chaos. I raced with him in Primm a couple times too in that truck. Mike is one of the original Locos Mocos guys who would go to Mexico and set up pits to fix people‘s shit for free. I always loved that mentality and if anyone knows me, they know that if I can help I will. I remember going to Vegas to Reno in probably 2008 and running one of the Goodyear pits (Rawhide outside of Hawthorne) with Locos Mocos And having to change out an entire transmission and third member out of the General Tire Tundra class 8 truck. The third member went out and locked up at 100 miles an hour, and all of the force twisted the bell housing in half and spun the transmission under the truck 1/4 of the way around. This doesn’t really pertain to the topic but just a funny memory I remember doing with Mike and Locos Mocos in the middle of the Nevada desert at about two in the morning.
 
Camper shell fun said:
I did a few off-road trips with Mike in my first few years at Total Chaos. I raced with him in Primm a couple times too in that truck. Mike is one of the original Locos Mocos guys who would go to Mexico and set up pits to fix people‘s shit for free. I always loved that mentality and if anyone knows me, they know that if I can help I will. I remember going to Vegas to Reno in probably 2008 and running one of the Goodyear pits (Rawhide outside of Hawthorne) with Locos Mocos And having to change out an entire transmission and third member out of the General Tire Tundra class 8 truck. The third member went out and locked up at 100 miles an hour, and all of the force twisted the bell housing in half and spun the transmission under the truck 1/4 of the way around. This doesn’t really pertain to the topic but just a funny memory I remember doing with Mike and Locos Mocos in the middle of the Nevada desert at about two in the morning.
Click to expand...
SO much torque it twisted the chassis on take-off!? That is actually so gnarly lol. Love the stories and stoked the truck is back in good hands!
 
Right on, Mike must have welded that at some point. If there aren't any cracks then you're good to go. We have those same spindles on our race truck at the shop (I mean the same base knuckle 86-94 4X4) and I've never seen a snout break off, just seen cracks that get welded up and are perfectly strong.
 
  • Like
Reactions: SG2
Also a side note, I don't know what hubs Mike used, but if you want to make the truck a little narrower you can use Toyota straight axle front hubs on the IFS knuckles and I think its like 3/4" to an inch narrower per side.

Another side note, the 2-bolt pattern for the caliper on those knuckles is identical to a Wilwood caliper. That's what we put on our truck, we just had to make spacers that welded onto the knuckle to get the caliper to be centered over the rotor.

IMG_4806.JPG

IMG_4807.JPG

IMG_4808.JPG
 
Camper shell fun said:
Also a side note, I don't know what hubs Mike used, but if you want to make the truck a little narrower you can use Toyota straight axle front hubs on the IFS knuckles and I think its like 3/4" to an inch narrower per side.

Another side note, the 2-bolt pattern for the caliper on those knuckles is identical to a Wilwood caliper. That's what we put on our truck, we just had to make spacers that welded onto the knuckle to get the caliper to be centered over the rotor.

View attachment 38010

View attachment 38011

View attachment 38012
Click to expand...
@Camper shell fun thanks for the great info! I want to upgrade front brakes soon. As for front hubs, I dont know what Mike used but they have a .500” thk wheel spacer currently.
 
Not sure which front hubs
 

Attachments

  • IMG_1376.jpeg
    IMG_1376.jpeg
    1.8 MB · Views: 18
  • IMG_1378.jpeg
    IMG_1378.jpeg
    2.1 MB · Views: 18
  • IMG_1379.jpeg
    IMG_1379.jpeg
    1.7 MB · Views: 20
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

SG2
New member! Toyota enthusiast
Replies
5
Views
171
Brett_408
Brett_408
bajabugmobbin
Trixie The Twin Turbo Race Truck
Replies
17
Views
1K
bajabugmobbin
bajabugmobbin
H
Not much left Tacoma left... 4500 koh build
4 5 6
Replies
108
Views
4K
BFAB
BFAB
A
PILE oh shit bronco 86
Replies
12
Views
521
Austen2019
A
M
Boat seats on bedcage
Replies
5
Views
236
UR_Mawm69
UR_Mawm69
Back
Top