DC Fab Tacoma. gotrocks TACO LIBRE *Lots of updates 2-18-08*

[Gittinit]

  Hey don't be backtracking now! 

[gotrocks]

Here are some teaser shots.  The bed is off because I'm boxing in the rear of the frame.

[Doof]

are you going to bob the bed at all or just leave it stock length?

[skipnrocks]

I vote bob!!!  Truck is awesome anyways, but bob would be awesome..

[gotrocks]

You'll just have to wait and see.  My wife now has a car and the truck is going to be my DD now.  I put way to many miles on my Dodge tow rig and so I'm going to do a few more things to the taco now that its my truck.

There was a mix up in some of the parts that came and so I'm waiting on them right now.  I just started school this quarter and I'm going to be maxed out on my time and so hopefully I can get a lot done on the weekends. 

I need some input from you guys though.  I guess I just spill the beans and get some voting going on.

Question 1
A. Bob the bed
B. Leave it stock
C. Bob and put in a bed cage.
D. Stock with bed cage

Question 2
A. Link the front with Coilovers on my "stock" 85 toyota axle(my design) and sell the front leaf springs
B. Leave the Marlin 4" springs on (brand new by the way)
C. Link the front with a Dana 60 (most likely my buggy axle since I'm having issues with the buggy and build a replacement later)
D. Link the front with a Diamond axle with my "stock" innards (and new inner shafts to match length)

Question 3
A. Paint it WRX Blue
B. Leave it white
D. Paint it gunmetal gray

Question 4
A. Build an interior cage
B. Leave out the cage

Question 5
A. Shorten the frame and front of bed (and a bob of course) because its Hella long (130" wheelbase right now)
B. Leave it stock and possibly put a Double Cab body on it down the road.


As you can see I'm kinda in limbo of what I want to do.  This is always my least favorite part of a build because I can't make up my mind.  However it gets built it is never to be put on a trailer.  I want to build it with a family in the future someday and the part that I'm really having a hard time with is the fact that its not really family friendly.  I have my gray 4Runner sitting out side of my shop with a boatload of parts that I was planning on putting into it.  That is very family friendly and I know that I can turn it into a extremely capible rig for the family, not to mention that its always fun to take the top of the runner in the summer time.  The Tacoma however has really cold A/C, Cruise and its pretty comfortable as well to drive.

If I built the Runner and did the very bare minimum to the tacoma I know of an D44 Axle right now that I could get for cheap with hi-steer and an arb, put that in the Tacoma, wheel it for a while and sell it later to build up the 4Runner. 

The 4Runner would for sure have
Dana 60's f/r
LS1
700R4 or Th350
Stack 3 speed or Atlas
Linked and be able to bolt on my 42's when I wanted to but run 37's on the street.  Again NOT BUILD FOR THE TRAILER!!

It would be safe for the family and not be so stinking long like the tacoma and I don't feel bad about cutting the 4Runner up to mod it.  It sucks cutting a tacoma thats not even 10 years old yet.

So please give me some feed back let me know what you think I should do.

[skipnrocks]

Bob and full cage would be my vote, if you have time links and a d60 would be great if you have time.  Lockers front and rear.... Cant remeber you wrote a freakin test of questions, you should change it and do polls.

[gotrocks]

5 questions are to many?

Just list it like this
1. a
2.b
etc.

[skipnrocks]

5 questions are to many?

Just list it like this
1. a
2.b
etc.

LOL for my attention span it is  LOL

alright

1.C
2.C
3.D
4.A
5.A

[gotrocks]

So what you saying is that I should build it pretty extreme.

[lilbuddy]

1 A
2 B (but with a diamond or d60 front, ditch to mini truck width)
3 D
4 A
5 A

Hows is your taco 21 inches longer then my taco? Its virtually the same.. My truck is only 123 1/2 and i plan on moving the front axle forward and rear axle back...

Were you measuring from the front of the front tire and the back of the rear tires? If so that makes sense...

[gotrocks]

Yeah sorry edit on the w/b  I measured it again because that measurement seemed rediculous long but it is still roughly at 130 .  I axle is moved quite a bit forwards although  but don't really want to move it to much further back since my front spring mount is flush with the front of the frame.

[lilbuddy]

Yeah sorry edit on the w/b  I measured it again because that measurement seemed rediculous long but it is still roughly at 130 .  I axle is moved quite a bit forwards although  but don't really want to move it to much further back since my front spring mount is flush with the front of the frame.

Oh fo sho...

I want to move mine forward cause right now its pretty close to the body and i plan on stepping up to some 40s so.. it kinda sucks.

[gotrocks]

Oh and btw.  The front mini axle is only 1/2" narrower than the rear axle.

[gotrocks]

With wheel spacers of course.  And with it being that close I can't justify buying a diamond front houseing unless I bought a rear to match as well.  I would want them both wider. like around 65 wms

[lilbuddy]

Oh and btw.  The front mini axle is only 1/2" narrower than the rear axle.

Oh really?

Then yea id say just rock the leaf springs till you really want to "wheel hard"

I mean you can still wheel hard with leafs but i say you should just get it rollin and take it out a few times and eventually get some fullwidths and link it.

[gotrocks]

Yeah I probably will just run the leafs right now anyhow.  I have the cases with 4.7 gears and everything I need to finish it right now.  I'll just roll the Runner into the shop and start working on it later and put what I really want in my next toyota.  I love the tacoma but its still not what I really want in the long run.  I love the 4Runner and wish it was a little newer with a few more creature comforts.  In all honestly I wish that toyota made something very much like the new 4 door jeep wrangler.  I love the idea of 4 doors with a completely removable top.  Besides the body and top I hate the jeep.  Everything sucks about it and I honestly can say that because I've driven one.  Granted it wasn't off road but it was WAY WAY under powered and way over priced.

[lilbuddy]

Yeah I probably will just run the leafs right now anyhow.  I have the cases with 4.7 gears and everything I need to finish it right now.

Hey if you dont want to finish it pass the cases and gears my way...

wait what are you doing again for it? I forget is it a v6?

i need to get too much junk for dualing up mine. v6 plate, 23spline input, mini truck to taco cas adapter... Too much $$$

[gotrocks]

I am putting in dual cases for the pass side drop.  I bought the inchworm adapter (because marlin was back ordered and I already waited a month for them to get the parts in) to go from a 4 cyl W59 5sp to gear drive t/case and then a regular gear drive MC07 adapter, I also got 4.7 gears.  I did not want to run a drivers side drop because I already had this houseing setup ready to go, and I did not want to run the chain drive case.  I like the part about being able to shift on the fly but seriously with my luck I would break the t/case.
If worse came to worse I'd sell the parts I got and start over but as of this moment in time I think I'll just run what I already have.

[lilbuddy]

I am putting in dual cases for the pass side drop.  I bought the inchworm adapter (because marlin was back ordered and I already waited a month for them to get the parts in) to go from a 4 cyl W59 5sp to gear drive t/case and then a regular gear drive MC07 adapter, I also got 4.7 gears.  I did not want to run a drivers side drop because I already had this houseing setup ready to go, and I did not want to run the chain drive case.  I like the part about being able to shift on the fly but seriously with my luck I would break the t/case.
If worse came to worse I'd sell the parts I got and start over but as of this moment in time I think I'll just run what I already have.

Yeah thats what i thought about after i posted that. I forgot you had a mini truck front end and a 4cyl also....

Right on though. Im stoked on when your truck is going to be done. Itll be motivation for me to lower mine, chop the fenders up, get some 40s and just get things done to it that i want done. I need to bob it too.. that bed sticks out too far. Im used to my runner now haha.

[gotrocks]

Yeah this will be a monster off road compared to anything else I've wheeled.  My buggy is just unfair to compare to but with a w/b of 109 on 42's this thing on 37's will feel like a school bus.  I really wish I could fit my 42's under this but I just don't see it happening unless I start cutting the crap out of this truck.

[gotrocks]

Here's blackdiamonds old truck on 42 iroks with 4 inches of lift.




I know it doesn't look like it in the pictures but it will actually clear those turned and stuffed with minimal trimming.

[blackdiamond]

Ironically, I can't view these pictures until I get home.  The "Red X" looks great! 

[mudmaster]

The pics looks even better 

[gotrocks]

Ironically, I can't view these pictures until I get home.  The "Red X" looks great! 

Sorry.  The tires make the truck look small.  I don't know if you know this but he has diamond axles f/r now with t100 diffs.  He's building it right.  He's also wanting to put in a 3.4 v6 now.

[THK Matt]

ballin

[fatt_matt]

1) A
2) B
3) B - the white tacoma's are amazing
4) A
5) either, it is your preference down the road..

p.s--i didn't mean to spell out that popband from 90's or 80's whichever it was...

(this was for good wheeling, without compromising too much streetability, and keep it clean as possible)
it's your truck, you choose!

[skipnrocks]

(this was for good wheeling, without compromising too much streetability, and keep it clean as possible)
it's your truck, you choose!

X2 never hurts to get opinions but ultimatly you have to be realistic for what your going to use it for and build it to match..... 

[toybuilt]

1)C
2)B
3)B
4)B
5)B



Looks really good Can't wait to see more

[skipnrocks]

Did your B button get stuck TB?   

[kiyul4130]

thats a custom housing right? (not diamond)