SAS 02 Taco Double Cab

[awhotrods]

Looking for information on doing a SAS on a double cab.  I would like to keep the truck all toyota, (no dana 44) but don't really like those custom front housings.  Has anyone here completed one yet, or know someone who has?  I've heard of guys doing tranny swaps, etc, but would rather keep relatively focused on the front end.  Thanks

[86bobbedtoy]

I wish I could tell you toyota has a axle that will work with that trans but sorry they dont, I have always wanted to cut the axle tubes off a 85 sa and swap them, there for it would work for your application. that would be PIMP

[46&2]

Well on here at least I only know of one Taco double cab SAS, that is Revivalist's rig. Though he uses a custom front axle. I have seen a few tacos done with 79-85 toyota front axles on pirate4x4 (dont know the specifics about those trucks, you'd have to look em up on the Pirate Taco forum) but most commonly they use diamond/44s/60s. Anyway, I can't help you out that much but if you want to check out Revivalist's sweet build up it may give you some starting points.

http://board.marlincrawler.com/index.php?topic=26900.0

[motorider228]

Not sure on what side the Tcase drops on in the tacos but would an FJ80 axle work?

[awhotrods]

Thats a sweet truck!  Unfortunately, none of the pics show up for some reason.

Well on here at least I only know of one Taco double cab SAS, that is Revivalist's rig. Though he uses a custom front axle. I have seen a few tacos done with 79-85 toyota front axles on pirate4x4 (dont know the specifics about those trucks, you'd have to look em up on the Pirate Taco forum) but most commonly they use diamond/44s/60s. Anyway, I can't help you out that much but if you want to check out Revivalist's sweet build up it may give you some starting points.

http://board.marlincrawler.com/index.php?topic=26900.0

[86bobbedtoy]

I could only get 5 to come up? weird.. I sure would like to see them.

[MiniSimp]

Not sure on what side the Tcase drops on in the tacos but would an FJ80 axle work?

Drivers Side.

[Austin W]

I dont think that a stock toy axel will even be wide enough for a taco. might have clearance issues with the springs etc. I know pat's tacoma buildup on here has been converted to a driverside drop.
http://board.marlincrawler.com/index.php?topic=27707.0

[46&2]

I dont think that a stock toy axel will even be wide enough for a taco. might have clearance issues with the springs etc. I know pat's tacoma buildup on here has been converted to a driverside drop.
http://board.marlincrawler.com/index.php?topic=27707.0

I would have thought the same thing, but I have seen a few tacos with toy front axles. THis is the only picture i could find. Dont know the specs on the truck like what drivetrain he using but it actualy doesnt look that bad. Pretty narrow but it works....

[hudlenutz]

So the trick with a tacoma is the driver-side drop.  All the toyota solid axles I've seen have the passenger drop.  What you need is an axle with a driver drop: dana, diamond....  or a TacoBox from Marlin to switch over to passenger drop.   

Dual cases, with the RF1A gear driven happiness in the rear

[hudlenutz]

either that or the aforementioned tranny swap.  The latest manuals are the W56(4cyl) or R150(V6) or R151(4cylturbo).  I'm not sure what the autos were.  Tranny swap could be cheaper depending, but you gotta have duals, right?

[awhotrods]

Would love to have duals, the problem is that all double cabs are automatic, I've converted older trucks from automatic to manual, but not sure if its as simple on these tacos.

either that or the aforementioned tranny swap.  The latest manuals are the W56(4cyl) or R150(V6) or R151(4cylturbo).  I'm not sure what the autos were.  Tranny swap could be cheaper depending, but you gotta have duals, right?

[hudlenutz]

For the tranny swap, you should use the manual ecu and tranny.  Everything else would be the same as a normal conversion. 

The tacobox works on autos as well as manuals, so there's no need to convert unless you just like the stick

[awhotrods]

I would like to keep the auto, I didn't know there was adapter that would bolt up, then convert to the older style t-case!  I think the trick setup would be to get a FJ80 front axle as I believe they're a little wider then the minitrucks.

So the trick with a tacoma is the driver-side drop.  All the toyota solid axles I've seen have the passenger drop.  What you need is an axle with a driver drop: dana, diamond....  or a TacoBox from Marlin to switch over to passenger drop.  

Dual cases, with the RF1A gear driven happiness in the rear

[hudlenutz]

yeah, the fzj80 is 63.5" wide, and the newer tacos are 60", which seems like a good place to be for stability.  In addition, you can get the high pinion e-locker, and the birfs are an inch larger in diameter.  What brings the suck is that the steering is all wierd.  I've almost bought this axle, twice, but didn't, because I didn't know what to do with the steering.  Take a look at an axle and you'll see what I mean.  There's another thread in the suggestions section, talking about high-steer for the 80.

[hudlenutz]

btw, I think one version of the older axle widening kits (not wheel spacers) makes the pre ifs minitruck axles about 60", which would match the rear, so don't throw that idea too far out the window.  Yeah, your scrub radius gets all jacked up, but it's a wheeler righ?

[kiyul4130]

yahoo is your friend. ive used it for a years to search for info. double cab tacoma SAS should bring up a bunch of stuff.

[inmyownsummerami]

I dont think that a stock toy axel will even be wide enough for a taco. might have clearance issues with the springs etc. I know pat's tacoma buildup on here has been converted to a driverside drop.
http://board.marlincrawler.com/index.php?topic=27707.0

Pat's truck is pass. drop, he used gear driven cases. Instead of adapter-gear driven case-adapter-chain case, he went adapter-gear case-adapter-gear case.

[awhotrods]

I wonder if you can run minitruck knuckles on the FJ80 axle?

yeah, the fzj80 is 63.5" wide, and the newer tacos are 60", which seems like a good place to be for stability.  In addition, you can get the high pinion e-locker, and the birfs are an inch larger in diameter.  What brings the suck is that the steering is all wierd.  I've almost bought this axle, twice, but didn't, because I didn't know what to do with the steering.  Take a look at an axle and you'll see what I mean.  There's another thread in the suggestions section, talking about high-steer for the 80.

[86bobbedtoy]

I wonder if you can run minitruck knuckles on the FJ80 axle?

not sure but dont think so.  but what do I know??  I would like to know though. oh wow the beer is kickin in...

[hudlenutz]

You'd have to swap the outers (the ball shaped thing that's part of the housing(?))with a mini-truck, which seems like a lot of work.  Presumably, you could order a diamond housing that way, to use 80-length inners and mini outers?  Then you'd have the high steer.  The diamond housing would be beefier and have better clearance.  By the time you get a mini axle, an 80 axle, and do all the work to swap knuckles, the diamond would be worth the money to me.

[awhotrods]

I agree

You'd have to swap the outers (the ball shaped thing that's part of the housing(?))with a mini-truck, which seems like a lot of work.  Presumably, you could order a diamond housing that way, to use 80-length inners and mini outers?  Then you'd have the high steer.  The diamond housing would be beefier and have better clearance.  By the time you get a mini axle, an 80 axle, and do all the work to swap knuckles, the diamond would be worth the money to me.

[jtaco1]

I am in the process of gathering parts to run and FJ60/62 front axle flipped to drivers drop.  I am going to flip the housing and rotate the knuckles.  THe axle is 58 3/4" stock, so with IFS hubs it brings you out to around 61" which is perfect.  Just another option to consider, and not all that expensive to build.

[Ramrod]

there is someone now selling high steer arms for fj80 fronts so that might be a good option for you