2003 Long Travel Double Cab 4x4LongWeiney

I'm no stranger to LT trucks, but this is my first Toyota.



Since the truck is pretty built as is, I guess this isn't much of a build thread. I'll be documenting the last little fab work the truck needs as well as using it, questions, and whatever else. Here's how the truck sits:

2003 Tacoma double cab. Power windows, locks and keyless entry.
3.4 v6 w/ 55k original miles. Auto trans, 4x4 capable
Tundra rear axle (needs gears)
Fully caged front to rear
ESB lower arm and modified stock spindle w/ custom upper
Deaver F67 leafs
King race series c/o and bypass in front, bypass in rear
32 gallon cell
Fiberwerx dash
CBR Radiator
CNC brake pedal and masters set up for left foot braking

Shit to do:
Patch holes in the cab and finish small cab cage details
Sound deaden the fucking shit out of it
Residual valves on the brakes and maybe hydroboost
Put in as much of the stock interior as possible (including dash)
Add stock A/C
Buy front drivetrain parts and figure out what's needed to make it all work together
Extended front axles
TRD Supercharger and URD 7th injector
Bumpers
Gears and locker
Paint




The fabled ESB kit. I intend to get a fully fabricated spindle (Solo's looks nice, if it'll be compatible) for 4x4 and correct steering geometry.




I've got a single spare tire I need to mount back here, a bumper to build, and a 30" Rigid race light to mount. Thinking about getting an FOA jack instead of a floor jack too. Battery and battery switch are sitting right behind the cab in that big open space, will probably move it to the outside of the frame and put the cell up there w/ shocks outside the axle. Current cell location will be turned in to storage




Got some little amber LEDs that I am gonna use as turn signals.


The lens on them isn't flat so it'll hopefully diffuse the light but still be visible with the headlights on




Epic truck needs epic off-roading in Holy Jim's

 

I've had this mock up link from my old job in my garage for about 2 years now. I find it every few months when cleaning, and well yeah.

 

Looking for a stock grey dash if anyone knows of one for sale in the OC, CA area

 

Damn nice truck!

 

Very nice truck!! How much did you pick it up for? The Solo spindle is nice but that with heim steering is over 2k. Are you planning on making on street legal?

 

Thank you. Solo's spindle is just one option that I know of besides putting a completely stock spindle back on. I know the steering location on my current spindles was modified from stock to cure the bump steer problem the ESB kits had. If I went that route, I'd most likely contact them to see if I could buy them unfinished to be able to weld the steering on where I need it. Or go 100% custom with a D44 hub.

I'm in the process of transferring the title from the old owner and registering it in CA. I'm waiting on some paperwork to show up in the mail so I can take the truck to get inspected and finish up the registration process.

 

nice, grats on the purchase

 

Nice! trucks sweet, any plan for new wheels...? Im asking because I like mickey thompsons lol

 

Awesome truck

 

When these tires wear out, or I find a deal on some 17's and 35's. I do like how they look, but when I get new wheels I can let ya know? No idea when that'll be though. Money is needed elsewhere on the truck at the moment.

 

thats a sweet truck boss

 

Cool, let me know! Cant wait to see the truck when your all done buttoning some things up! What did you have before this tacoma?

 

Thank you all very much!

This was my first truck. 05 Ranger with BTF mid travel in front, cantilever shocks and Deavers in back.



Just got rid of this about 6 months ago. 01 Ranger with BMS LT and hubs in front, Giant 64 kit in back. I think it looks the same and is somewhere in south OC.

 

Cool you made a build thread on here, hopefully you can come out to the races or the meets and come out with some other tacos. As for the spindles, the solo spindles probably do not work, like everything you can try to make something work but your far better off making a fully fabbed spindle, best bet to do something with dana 44 hubs, and tundra brake system would be ideal! Not sure about that with 4x4 though.

 

I appreciate the info, this is all new stuff for me coming from Ford and GM trucks. I'm pretty bummed that there is such little info about the ESB kits available.

The two things I've learned about them over the years is:

1. They're sick as fuck
2. They're not made anymore


I've been looking to do the Tundra brake swap with my current spindle too, definitely seems like a worthwhile upgrade. I still need to add residual valves to the CNC set up, I might have to get Tundra brakes to do the upgrade at the same time. No point in bleeding the brakes twice.

 

Try getting ahold of Landon on here hes friends with the ESB and he can help you get the spindle for the kit. Hit up a junkyard and get the brake calipers and needed parts. I think you need 16+ rims for that though. I think there is someone on ttora running the esb kit with 4x4.

 

Yeah I've been talking with him some. I think you're right about another guy running this kit on TTORA, might have come across him when researching the kits. I'll have to look him up. If I remember right, those spindles use the manual 4x4 hubs?

 

All done painting the bedcage. The cell is like 3/4 full so once it's mostly empty I'll drop it again to paint the cradle and straps.

 

Cab cage is all subframed and the frame is plated. Neat.

 

When taking the bypasses off to paint the bedcage, one of the shock shafts tapped the battery cable. Bought a shaft off a friend since he was switching to welded rod ends on his truck.

Thanks to Micah at Downsouth Motorsports, I was able to get seal kits, bearings, and new misalignment spacers. Best part is that I had the order at my door within 24 hours of purchase. Can't beat that kind of customer service.

Old oil definitely needed to be changed.