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Long Travel Taco Build MRK 2

Discussion in 'Long Travel Suspension' started by IFS4LIFE, Jan 4, 2015.

  1. Jan 4, 2015 at 12:10 PM
    #1
    IFS4LIFE

    IFS4LIFE [OP] Well-Known Member

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    As the primary designer of the components on this truck.

    http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/lo...ballistic-fabs-prototype-long-travel-kit.html

    I am now doing a revision 2 build on my own vehicle that will be utilizing a few changes to the build based on some personal critiques I had of the first round.

    I am starting with the rear as I feel that's where I had the most to initially gain in terms of ride quality. This has been a design, build, design, build process so the entire rear kit is not installed, but I add a few pieces a day. The primary difference between this truck and the one above is that mine is primarily going to be a bolt on system with minimal welding and I have a true extra cab, not an extra cab/double cab bed conversion. Also, I do more rock crawling than high speed work so I have tried to keep ground clearance to a maximum and I've kept the 2 piece drive shaft as well as the stock width 8.4 axle in lieu of the Tundra Axle.

    Note: The TRD logo is on my personal build only and would never be sold or offered for profit. Just trying to cover my ass, but since my truck is all Toyota I figured it should look stock by having the appropriate logos.

    Some of the photos will be CAD work, and some will be actual install photos.

    TacomaRear4LinkCrossmember_999d458388286c9f4cdaefb684aef403e073be80.jpg

    20150104_130120_d0894f8cf68d69a739ad93d5cb7aace58fcfdeee.jpg

    TrailingArmMRK1_640276ab9bedb16fdba84ec009b9fd8d4ddb0a5d.jpg

    20141228_163854_6c5d9cff64a5dd64537331588955458ebfd58f94.jpg

    20150103_113216_255ebaa4cea9e3c24a3a5a10f5c01512bce04a7b.jpg

    20150102_210640_a73ebdbafb17b86019aef1bd96ff9a0a55ebdceb.jpg

    TacomaRear4LinkCrossmember-1_945585305a8ffea08196d637a5ca2fa345ade2f7.jpg

    Hopefully I'll have it back on it's own weight in the next couple weeks. The only item left to be designed is the shock towers.

    To be fabricated:
    -Carrier bearing crossmember
    -Trailing Arm Fish Plates and final welding of them
    -Final welding on upper links
    -Finish drilling holes in the frame for the front link mounts
    -final welding on lower link axle mounts
    -Shock Towers
     
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  2. Jan 4, 2015 at 2:29 PM
    #2
    BAMFTACO

    BAMFTACO Another day another beer

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  3. Jan 4, 2015 at 2:39 PM
    #3
    TacoBran

    TacoBran You're Unique, Just Like Everyone Else

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    Icon coilovers, TC UCA, icon shocks w/resi's, deaver leafs - 4x4 swap in progress
    Yay for progress! Ever plan on making it a kit to sell?
     
  4. Jan 4, 2015 at 2:41 PM
    #4
    IFS4LIFE

    IFS4LIFE [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Potentially. We'll see how this one performs and how the total install goes.
     
  5. Jan 4, 2015 at 2:46 PM
    #5
    PcBuilder14

    PcBuilder14 Well-Known Member

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  6. Jan 4, 2015 at 3:03 PM
    #6
    IFS4LIFE

    IFS4LIFE [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Last photos for the day.

    I'm pretty happy with the shock towers. Although they look massive in the model, they won't be once installed. The crossbar fits under the bed and the image showing the shock coming through the bed is as far as it will protrude, which hides well below my tool box. As with all my builds, I try and hide and keep things looking as stock as possible.

    TacomaRear4LinkCrossmemberShockTowers_8390f03c58ea2703c9baec660e494df2c7f539f7.jpg

    TacomaRear4LinkCrossmemberShockTowersA_971f2066d8632e8e470c881ca0ab7afec8947d8c.jpg

    20150104_152939_25c0bd8d611ebf4332375fc7577324d81d980ee7.jpg

    and don't mind the rectangular tube object thing in the bed, that's my fixture to let me remove the bed easily with a cherry picker since I've only had it on and off about 10 times.

    Also, a requirement for this conversion is boxing the frame. I did that several years ago so it isn't covered in the build up.
     
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  7. Jan 4, 2015 at 3:14 PM
    #7
    Mad T

    Mad T Well-Known Member

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    That looks so awesome! What software do you use? I use Inventor at work. And did you draw up the truck frame yourself? take dim's off your truck and draw it up in 3D? Sub'd!
     
  8. Jan 4, 2015 at 3:30 PM
    #8
    IFS4LIFE

    IFS4LIFE [OP] Well-Known Member

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    It's SolidWorks. For the straight sections of the frame it's all tape measure and caliper. For the curved section I made a template and traced it in SolidWorks.
     
  9. Jan 5, 2015 at 9:01 PM
    #9
    IFS4LIFE

    IFS4LIFE [OP] Well-Known Member

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    A bit more work done tonight

    Crossmember notched and ready to go around the upper frame mount link tabs
    20150105_205503_8a880637cf1c57c9d7543a9a7302437f5624f0d2.jpg

    A better image of the lower frame link mounts in position. I may end up moving these flush with the frame on revision 3, but that hurts the geometry so we'll see how bad of a rock anchor these are for now. I feel with my sliders back on the truck they won't look or act as obtrusive.

    20150105_203650_ea5796ad4d346c42e5247a2f92a4af44be99f7e8.jpg

    Crossmember in place before initial welding
    20150105_203633_e15f76a9fecaeb6fee898b8420fd207cb1adfd8d.jpg

    The crossmember after I added the gussets. I burned in the 2X2X1/4" wall to the 1/4" plate as deep as could while being upside down under the truck with a Miller212 before adding the gussets around the joint. These will get fully welded on the bench next time the crossmember comes out from under the truck. It would probably hold w/out the gussets, but I like redundancy.

    20150105_214141_355d381a852164b6c4db1e124de7613e500c87ff.jpg

    A better shot of just how far out the lower axle link mounts are. They actually use the backing plate bolts to locate them before final welding to the housing.

    20150105_203616_17a72e44f4f3d824f2d5863d4de3e7a64308d255.jpg
     
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  10. Jan 5, 2015 at 9:40 PM
    #10
    Trigo

    Trigo Because fuck you that's why...

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  11. Jan 6, 2015 at 9:09 PM
    #11
    IFS4LIFE

    IFS4LIFE [OP] Well-Known Member

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    and more progress tonight. Got the driveshaft mocked up. Looks like the angles are close. I might end up making the upper links just a bit longer. Running the 2 piece drive shaft is really what's going to limit the travel overall, but there isn't really much I can do about it. I'll still have more than I started with and the ride quality over the leaves should be infinitely better.

    20150106_213330_a0fc2508001e0d66d19dc32c34aa7e84657f42f8.jpg

    With only 10.25" of shaft showing, another 3.75" to go before full droop.
    20150106_215037_6ec46ffa0fa900c05373b6fa44770e8cfc812035.jpg

    Carrier bearing mounting posts

    20150106_211818_5af2457d597d59df89906ebcb25ccd8d959783fa.jpg

    The carrier bearing I've been running for the last 3 years, hence the overbuilt, overkill carrier bearing protection crossmember.

    20150106_202130_16d159ece11330e42f0e7d21770abff6b172b4d6.jpg

    20150106_202119_7153a50547661b94bc8c4dd6c6b955669bd94da8.jpg
     
    Last edited: Jan 6, 2015
  12. Jan 7, 2015 at 6:24 PM
    #12
    Zam15

    Zam15 Well-Known Member

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    Will be watching closely.... :D
     
  13. Jan 7, 2015 at 8:08 PM
    #13
    IFS4LIFE

    IFS4LIFE [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Carrier Bearing Skid
    20150107_205055_74a1f38adc6b2c2b8feafde7808fad081456cadc.jpg

    20150107_205037_3324d6464463775f48b0de687445538552149779.jpg

    20150107_202437_d12aa3e32be5d7d05bbd09cfdb0adce7b7503463.jpg

    Some more carrier bearing crossmember gussets

    20150107_202426_90f96d33b839a1c27bac2869cc86d992cc014c6f.jpg

    Trailing arm outer panels

    20150107_201350_d14ae2e20af1419c4386deef41471bb7f883c53f.jpg
     
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  14. Jan 7, 2015 at 10:56 PM
    #14
    doyouquaxu

    doyouquaxu Well-Known Member

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    I like those trailing arms!
     
  15. Jan 8, 2015 at 9:24 PM
    #15
    IFS4LIFE

    IFS4LIFE [OP] Well-Known Member

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    A bit more work tonight. Just had the towers clamped to the frame, there are plenty more gussets to add, but they do fit.

    20150108_222013_f1f55d4b81aa11b1e205b881b9a6eb485fde089b.jpg

    20150108_222002_bf81aae1fb033817ac46cae6d5953882eeb601e8.jpg
     
  16. Jan 11, 2015 at 5:54 PM
    #16
    IFS4LIFE

    IFS4LIFE [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Just a bit more chugging along this weekend.

    20150111_135124_c171dd54a9ff027a9cfccb6c123374b5bcb5d3bd.jpg
    20150111_141812_f3c0b37987ca5bdc44d602efee5ee69364a19010.jpg
    20150111_144411_dd0d210774cebe4d38583ae612f0511f38e30247.jpg

    20150111_144356_5a76f297f3912d53a212abc24f29fbf768d24da2.jpg

    Back on it's own weight! Finally!

    20150111_171336_c602f6be92390982ceaedb8b98a288640f0a9e24.jpg
     
  17. Jan 12, 2015 at 9:04 PM
    #17
    IFS4LIFE

    IFS4LIFE [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Just a lot of welding going on tonight.

    About 2/3 done with the crossmember

    20150112_213344_7b2740bd34d3aa99e4415df6e1113f24c4316882.jpg

    and about 1/2 done with the trailing arms

    20150112_214749_c1ff634be1e4d29c9b765e87572e6c7af329e081.jpg
     
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  18. Jan 12, 2015 at 9:10 PM
    #18
    n.gardner

    n.gardner Spacer Hater

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    this is sick dude!
     
  19. Jan 12, 2015 at 9:33 PM
    #19
    uscg2008

    uscg2008 Well-Known Member

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    Holly piss :drool::drool::jerkoff::jerkoff::thumbsup: sub'd for this
     
  20. Jan 13, 2015 at 10:11 PM
    #20
    IFS4LIFE

    IFS4LIFE [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Finished welding up the crossmember and drilled the last of the frame holes tonight. It's mounted for the final time before the test run. It'll have to come back off once again for powder coat, but that'll be in a few weeks.

    20150113_221409_4db765eb031c7db474494153ecff14a4237fd2e7.jpg
     
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