Green taco build

[CrawlerJunkie]

This is my 2001 Tacoma and all the transformations its gone through from beginning to current

 

[CrawlerJunkie]

Moved to Big Bear California and found out what offroad trails where all about up there. Then I met the TTORA Socal guys and quickly realized that I need to modify my truck more.

 

[CrawlerJunkie]

First thing I got was some TG sliders. Then a good friend of mine helped me tub the wheel wells to fit 33s with no lift.

 

[CrawlerJunkie]

Went back to Big Bear and started to look for harder trails and decided to try Johnbull for the first time even though I was still open diffs and was shocked that I finished the trail with no assistance. Also got rid of the use tires someone gave me for free and got some KM2s

 

[CrawlerJunkie]

I then came across a great deal on a old tcase so I had to get it and start building a crawlbox. Went with 4.7 gears for extra low range.

 

[AK_F250]

Use the full size image button...

 

[Clb]

Please

 

[CrawlerJunkie]

Got some lift springs for the front and TG 3in springs in the rear with some shackles. Also welded the rear diff so I at least had 3wd and I daily drove and and wheeled like that for a while.

 

[CrawlerJunkie]

Use the full size image button...

Where is the full size button? When I upload this is how they come up

 

[AK_F250]

Once you upload scroll down and hit fullsize for every image

 

[CrawlerJunkie]

Once you upload scroll down and hit fullsize for every image

I tried but not finding anything after uploading, maybe because I'm using my phone? I'll try to edit from my pc...

 

[CrawlerJunkie]

A few months later I found out I was going to be a dad so I decided it was time to SAS and the truck went into the garage for 6 months.

 

[CrawlerJunkie]

After getting it all back together the first place I went was the Hammers!

 

[CrawlerJunkie]

I got a set of 35s and ditched the small tires

 

[CrawlerJunkie]

After beating up my bed a little I figured it was time for some more protection so with the help of a friend I started a bed cage and relocated the gas tank out of harms way.

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[CrawlerJunkie]

Had alot of with with the way the truck was set up, drove it to work daily and drove it to hammers and anywhere else to wheel and back home. Even made it up Backdoor my first time with it.

 

[CrawlerJunkie]

Next I got 40s and hydro assist steering and the real fun started, felt like my truck could go anywhere but I was always very worried about a big roll over.

 

[CrawlerJunkie]

Well someone handed me a sawzall at the wrong time and I went all in.... but after getting it back together I was definitely not afraid of rolling as much.

 

[CrawlerJunkie]

So now I moved out of California to Nevada to finished the cage, had the motor built with some goodies and made a dash since the stock one was pretty beat up by now.

 

[CrawlerJunkie]

Well after wheeling it for over a year I learned that Toyota axle don't hold up to much abuse with a larger rig. So they were sold and I got a deal on a Super60 front and 14bolt rear and figured it was time for another makeover. Cut 6.5in out the back and 8in out the front and started rebuilding the cage. With the axles I originally was going to just stay leaf springs but end up just saying screw it and went with 4link front and rear.

 

[CrawlerJunkie]

Here are some photos of the work I did on the axles before they went under my truck.

 

[CrawlerJunkie]

As of now I'm still working on the truck, recently got a new radiator for the rear, 2.5 air shocks for the front, 2.0s for the rear and new race seat. Still have a good amount of work till it's on the trail but parts are coming almost weekly so hopefully not much longer till I can wheel again.

 

[Slander]

Sweet!! I miss TTORA, that place had almost as epic of a downfall as PBB.

How do you like the pro comps?

 

[CrawlerJunkie]

Sweet!! I miss TTORA, that place had almost as epic of a downfall as PBB.

How do you like the pro comps?

For the price they are definitely a decent tire. Mine are the DOT not sticky compound because I was still daily driving it when I got them. But I run them at 10-12psi with no beadlocks and never had any issues, had to heat them up one or twice in a few spots and they still have alot of tread. Definitely recommend them to anyone looking for a budget friendly 40.

 

[Slander]

For the price they are definitely a decent tire. Mine are the DOT not sticky compound because I was still daily driving it when I got them. But I run them at 10-12psi with no beadlocks and never had any issues, had to heat them up one or twice in a few spots and they still have alot of tread. Definitely recommend them to anyone looking for a budget friendly 40.

Nice! I have the 37s DOT on my tacoma because no trailer, but only have wheeled on them once. Was curious to hear long term impressions, thanks!! Dig the build!

 

[Yotota]

That progressed quickly!

Nice to see more Tacos out there, the platform is getting more popular as these rigs get older (but not any cheaper! Tacos are worth stupid prices). Is your new engine worked over at all, or internally stock?

Mine is similar to yours but scaled down a bit and probably staying on 37s (maybe some smaller 39s). Currently the same damn green color too, but it's getting spray bombed again in the spring. I'm working on a big overhaul so maybe I'll start a thread one of these days.

 

[CrawlerJunkie]

That progressed quickly!

Nice to see more Tacos out there, the platform is getting more popular as these rigs get older (but not any cheaper! Tacos are worth stupid prices). Is your new engine worked over at all, or internally stock?

Mine is similar to yours but scaled down a bit and probably staying on 37s (maybe some smaller 39s). Currently the same damn green color too, but it's getting spray bombed again in the spring. I'm working on a big overhaul so maybe I'll start a thread one of these days.

My motor does have some good stuff in it but I wanted it to be built for more reliability then power. I live close to LCE so I went there and got stage 2 cams, balance shaft delete kit, egr delete kit, ARP head studs. Then went with Toyota water pump and all new timing chain and tensioner. Head had 250k on it so also got a new head and valve set. It's a very strong setup in my opinion, probably got a little bit more power out of it with the mods but definitely feels like a totally different rig with it.

Lint automotive in Orange County CA built my motor, I have known Kyle there for many years and he has put 3RZ motors in all kinds of Toyotas, even a few with some nice turbo kits. So when he built it we made sure to make it possible to add a low boost turbo on the motor if I ever want more power.