My 84 extra cab is gone. Tacoma build now.

[Ramrod]

why not just unbolt the arm and throw on the caliper?

[gotrocks]

why not just unbolt the arm and throw on the caliper?

x2.  How often will you need to unbolt your calipers anyway.  Seems like a lot of wasted work to mill it or bend it when you just need to get the caliper on and its only 1 bolt.

[kiyul4130]

take the arm off and install it!!! dont screw with the arm. your going to have to bend it a TON more than you think.

[pumkin toy]

why not just unbolt the arm and throw on the caliper?

i deffinately agree too!  you dont want to sacrifice any strength by heating and bending or removing material!

[Hyena]

you never know when i might have to take the off on the trail.  i would rather do it right the first time.  the plan is to mill it and plate the top.

[kiyul4130]

your high steer arm is 5 bolts. you can pop that off and pull out the caliper bolt. i wouldnt screw with the arm. im sure there are tons of other people that run the same setup. i bet mines like that to. ill look tomorrow. id take the arm off before messing with it.

[Hyena]

5 nuts, plus the 5/8's bolt, plus the 3/4 inch rod end bolt, plus the ram.  to much work for something i could fix easily enough tomarrow.

[kiyul4130]

you pull off the arm and twist it around. screw the tie rod. it can move around. i dont know, just be careful.

[gotrocks]

Brad its cool if you want to machine it.  Heck its non of our business what you do but I can tell you that I'd almost bet money that you won't ever have to take that off on the trail.  I've been wheeling the piss out of my buggy and have not once touched the front axle EVER while wheeling except for a broken ram mount off the axle and haven't had to mess with anything else.  I just said that i don't think its necessary just because it'll save you a little bit of work.  But like I also said, it doesn't matter what any of us think.  If you want to machine it, I know it'll be done right because you do really good work.

Keep it up man.  I'm enjoying your build. 

[Hyena]

Thanx.  i know you are all trying to help, i am just stubborn and have to have it my way! 

i did get it back together today.  it looks pretty good to me.  came out a little higher then i would have liked at 26 inches to the belly.  but i have about 5 and 1/2 inches from the diff to the frame and the same from the ram fitting to the frame so i can't go any lower.  i did mill out the arm and welded a gusset on the top.  i may step it down to 16's for the front and just move the mounting point up on the axle a little.  and i ordered the wrong fittings for a my orbital. ordered SAE 10m but i guess they are really SAE 8m so i have to send them back and wait for the right ones to show up 

[Shamb]

 

I didn't think you'd have to mill that much off looking at the first pic it looks like it was maybe 1/16 to 1/8" off. Looks like you had to mill a bit more then that.

Thankfully you braced it!

I'm the same way Brad, I learn from my own mistakes   

[gotrocks]

Looks good brad I know you'd brace it properly.  When are you planning on ordering your coilovers?

[Doof]

looks super clean.... only a few more months and then this thing will be rollin again

[Hyena]

I actaully still had to stuff the pin in there, it just barely fit even with milling that much out.  it because the arm sits at an angle.  i *should* be ordering my coil overs within the next 3 weeks, if not all four then just the front for right now (minus the springs).  i need to find some 1 inch dom at work so i can make some shock mounts for the front.  i usually just use 3/4 inch solid rod and drill it out but our lathe is broken at work 

[gotrocks]

i usually just use 3/4 inch solid rod and drill it out but our lathe is broken at work 

solid??  I guess I can't image why you'd use solid rod. What kind of mounts are you making?

[Shamb]

solid??  I guess I can't image why you'd use solid rod. What kind of mounts are you making?

Have you seen Brad wheel?!?!?     

I'm suprised he's not wheeling a chassis with a seat and a few pedal's by now.

[Hyena]

use 3/4 solid and drill it out to 1/2 inch.  then i drill a 3/4 hole in a tube and run the piece i just drilled through it and weld it in.  then i have a shock mount.  hella easy.  make some sort of simple bracket to make it double shear and bingo!  i have that crossbar for the engine, they will be mounting on that.  its gonna be tight where the intake is on the passenger side but it will work!

[gotrocks]

No kidding.  The body is so thrashed it probably would've been easier to just build a tub buggy.  Either way it had character.  

[Hyena]

i would draw it up in paint but i don't have paint  

[Hyena]

hey, this is my first truck, i will keep it forever!

[gotrocks]

I kinda understand what you saying I just need to see it.

[gotrocks]

What truck.  You only have a couple inches left. LOL

[Hyena]

actually of the original truck, all i have is part of the cab, part of the frame, the tranny and the seats/dash.  evrything else has been replaced.

[gotrocks]

I know thats why I was giving you crap.  I still like your truck though mostly because you haven't gotten rid of it and you just keep wheeling the piss out of it. 

[kiyul4130]

hey, this is my first truck, i will keep it forever!

amen to that.

[TIMS89CRAWLER]

ya fo sho and its been through bout everything already.... its a badass truck man and lookin better now

[Shamb]

And anytime you want to remember the "good ol days"  you can just slap a copy of POR into the DVD player and see you tugging someone out.

[Hyena]

Nah, that was Gription!

[Hyena]

She looked super duper sick from the backside today!  i almost got a picture but then didn't.  you will all have to wait.

[Doof]

is the majority of welding done on this done with FCAW?


edit:

is that gusset on your steering arm welded up with a 350P?