My slow build of "The little Taco that could"

I’ve been on here awhile and I thought that it’s about time that I made myself a build thread. So here it goes…

Vehicle:
99 Tacoma 2.7L 4x4 5 speed manual
Currently has a cab from a 02 2wd Tacoma
Wheels and tires:
36x13.5R17 Super Swamper Iroks on 17x9 Pro Comp steel wheels
Axles:
-Front: Dana 44 from an 87 Wagoneer using Sky Manufacturing's 7" hanger w/ 4.88
-Rear: Stock 8.4 w/ 4.88
Suspension:
-Front: Rubicon Express RE1430 leaf springs, Fox 12" travel shocks
-Rear: Chevy 63" leaf springs, Bilstein 5125 12" travel shocks
-24.5" frame height
Lockers:
-Front: Eaton E-Locker
-Rear: Lockright
Armor/Recovery
-Homemade front bumper with Ramsey Profile 9500 winch
-Homemade sliders
-1/4" belly pan
-1/4" rear bumper with Smittybilt XRC8 winch
Other Junk
-02 2wd body
-LED switchbacks in the front corner lights
-Uniden 505 CB w/ 4' Firestick
-Magnaflow muffler
-Bed mounted tire carrier w/ 315x70r17 BFG All-terrain for a spare... SOON
-20" LED light bar
-15lb CO2 tank
-Line lock used to replace parking brake.
-CS144 alternator for extra power for the winches and lights.

Future plans:
-Roll cage, possibly partial Exo with a flat bed
-DIY Beadlocks
-Crawlbox or Lefty T-Case
-

Wet dreams:
2JZ swap (in process)

As it sits now...


What it used to look like before the roll in Moab '14


-Golden Crack T.A.Co 2013-

As it sat prior to Moab 2012


[Disclaimer: This is MY truck I did what I did because I wanted to]


Life for my truck started out as a stock single cab that I bought used with about 86000 miles.
It came with some all-season tires that were low on tread but still had some life to em.


The first thing on the list was some new tires. So I waited until the “new” BFG KM2s came out with a 31x10.5R15.



I played stock for a while then I put a cherry bomb glass pack muffler that used to be on my YJ project for a while, so the insides were broken in so it didn’t sound too crappy. No pics use your imagination.

After the exhaust I decided to build myself a front bumper. I didn't take photos of the build of the bumper but through the pics you can see the modifications to the bumper. The bumper was built with metal I had laying around my house. Inside the bumper sits a Smittybilt XRC8 and for turn signals I put some LED marker lights.




I later changed out the signals for some clear 6" LEDs that I also wired to the marker lights, some Wal-Mart el cheapo driving lights inside the bumper, and 6" knock off lights. I changed out the corner lights to LEDs but I don't remember when I did it.



After the bumper I decided that a lift would be in order, so I could fit bigger meats on my truck. So being on a budget that I was I opted to get a spacer lift with an AAL which gave my 3 inches of lift and a slightly stiffer ride. With the lift being stiffer there was less body roll while cornering. With the lift my 31s seemed to be a little small. So I sold some cattle and bought some Mickey Thompson MTZs in a 33x12.5R15 and had them mounted on a set of Pro Comp steel 15x8 'rock crawler' wheels with 3.75" BS. Still with stock gears.


Now that my truck was a little bit higher, the wife wanted something so she could get in and out easier. So her brother-in-law who had a 4Runner had some side steps he wanted to get rid of. I took em home and cut them down to size to make em fit on my truck.


I used my truck as a truck so I didn't mind the stiffer suspension.
Tending to the needs of the cattle

Wood for the winter

sand for my kids play area

Somewhere down the line I made a mix and matched rear leaf spring set up using some Chevy leaves from a 96 S-10 Blazer. I kept my main leaf and put some of the S-10 leaves in along with a 84 Ford Ranger overload leaf because it was straight.


Changed out the MTZs for some Pro Comp Xtreme MTs


Prior to Moab 2012 I built myself some sliders out of 2" .120 wall tube I had laying around.


Sometime in middle of 2010, I made a tire carrier for my truck built around a 33" tire that replaced my tailgate, can be seen in the pic above. I built it so that it would swing out to the passenger side. I made it with the same 2" tubing my sliders were made of. Made around a 33" tire but can fit a 35" tire.

The mounting plate. Bolts to existing holes for the tailgate.

View of the tire carrier in prerunner style

A view of the carrier from the top when bolted in

Since these pics I've replaced the tire mounting plate with a Ballistic Fab 3/8" mounting plate.

 

After Moab 2012 I decided to put my camper back on for some dry storage, being a single cab I need as much dry storage as I can get.

Earlier I read of a thread where someone was wanting to put a window wiper on his camper . I suggested to use a rear window wiper from a Jeep.
So that brings me to my next Modification

It begins with a wiper motor I sourced from my YJ project (which is turning into a parts vehicle by now).


I pulled the wiring harness from the hard top along with all the odds and ends for the motor: ie. rubber grommet, bolts, etc. Then began to remove the unnecessary wires. I then checked for a good place to put the wiper motor by using the wiper arm and right then and there I knew that the arm would have to be shortened. I located a good spot, for me anyways, for the motor to protrude. I used a 1-1/8" hole saw and made my hole for the motor. once the hole was made I put the grommet into the hole and test fitted the motor.



I used the wiper blade from the windshield of the YJ because it was 12" which was the perfect size to use. It took me several tries to get the arm right where I wanted it to be. It took a few cuts and welds to get-r-done.

^The back glass can still be opened all the way up with the arm in this position as well.

I angled the arm so the up position would be in line with the top of the hinged portion of the glass. The brake light can still be seen, plus i think the part thats covered is the area where the LEDs no longer light up


I made the support for the motor out of scrap 1/4" aluminum measuring 1-1/4" wide and 3" long. I used a 3/8" drill bit for the mounting hardware for the motor end and a 1/4" bit for the camper end. I used the 3/8" bit to inset the self tapping screw that was on my camper since it was only a 1/2" long.


With just one mount the motor is holding up fine and if need be I have another mount for the other side that is in the making which will be put on possibly tomorrow(7-10-12) but we will see. I will need to shorten the mount on the camper at it sits a little low to my liking. The other mount that I am making is already marked out to be a little shorter.

I wired up the wiper to my dash to the left of the steering column where the rear locker button would've been with a momentary on button that is hooked up to a single red LED indicator light.

The power comes from an ignition hot wire that I was using for the power supply for my bumper lights. Wires go from the dash down to the kick panel and out through a grommet in the back of the cab. There it follows the stock wiring harness to the rear of my bed where my camper light connections are protruding. I still need to make a quick disconnect for the wires. It is temporarily attached with a quick splice connector.

 

I forgot to add that I installed a CB where the ash tray used to be and the antenna location can be seen in the Moab picture threads. Now that the camper is back on, I move the antenna back a few inches.



Sometime long ago I removed my swaybar and the front end is alot softer than the rear now.

 

nice! cant wait for the SAS!

 

Awesome! Subbed for sure.

 

Me too just need to finish getting parts.

They'll be up for grabs after the SAS

 

Nice

 

nice work on the bumper

 

"The little Taco that could"

Great porn title. I'm subscribing to your thread just for that....

And the great rear wiper mod. Love your build so far, my kind of truck.

 

Another addition that I forgot to put on was some hood struts from the Redline Tuning group buy. I just followed the instructions that came with it and tada.


The lower mount


The upper mount

 

its awesome seeing another little red truck buil like mine my friends deemed mine "mighty might"

 

Small update:
Got a package from All-Pro the other day


Installed the extended brake line.


Next on the list of things to do is Chevy 63" leafs and longer shocks.

 

I had 1" tube I had bought for a bed rack but wasn't sure which way to go with it. So I decided to make a headache rack while I piddle around ideas for the bed rack.
I added the rack on to my rails that I had made previously.

Now I just need end caps for the top bar.

 

Nice work Chad! I was totally impressed with your truck and your drivingin Moab last May.

 

Thanks Adam, means alot coming from someone with a truck like yours. Your truck is awesome makes me want a DC 1st Gen. Maybe I'll have to do the trifecta again whenever I get the SAS done. Shooting for it to be finished and tested prior to the next T.A.Co. Moab trip. Hoping.

Edit: Gotta give credit to an awesome spotter/spotters.

 

Just a little update on the SAS.
Waggy D44 just needs a few more things.


Forgot to mention it already has 4.88s

 

Nice!

 

too bad it wont be ready for the meet this weekend

 

Yeah Gian, too bad. Plan is to have it ready by T.A.Co 2013.

 

that will be sick. what size tires are you planning on running?