allenfab's 95 Tacoma build

Thanks! I really hate how low the atlas and the skid hang, but without some major work, I couldn't clock it any higher. I am counting on the shorter wheelbase helping me out and preventing me from dragging the belly over rocks and what not.

 

I had a 1" body lift prior to the installation of the atlas and that seemed to make a difference. Also, I think the atlas 4 is physically a bit bigger than the 2spd atlas.

Mine actually sits almost a full inch higher than the factory tcase was LOL. So it is slightly above the bottom of the frame rails. I wish it was higher but I am actually happy with where it is.

 

Ended up scrapping the skid plate. After a lot of thinking, I decided that I am going to change the design up some and add a support under this heavy ass atlas. I ordered a few parts to get it going so I am waiting on those. If I end up wheeling this weekend like I want, I'll just have to go easy on the truck

 

Hey Todd, I've noticed most of the time, ppl have their upper link on the diff side of the truck. I like how yours is, but I'm wondering if there would have been more room for it on the other side, with no exhaust or starter to worry about (I mentioned the starter since it seems like the thing would super easy to get to on an SAS'd truck with no upper link in the way). Your thoughts?

 

yes and no. I originally was going to have mine on the drive side, but in my case, I would have been welding to the pumpkin which is doable, but I just didn't want to do it. The starter wouldn't be an issue unless you were trying to go super low ride height and had a really tall axle mount. The started is a little easier to get out now without the IFS.

I am actually very glad I did mine the way I did, because I would have probably had some interference issues with the bracketry and the Atlas. If I had installed an Atlas 2, it would have definitely had clearance issues with the upper frame link mount

 

Wheel the damn thing

 

sooooooon

 

You might benefit from it. The atlas 4 is like 25-30lbs heavier than the 2spd atlas, plus it is longer too. I have been debating about a support for mine as well, but I don't think is needed. Dunno, i might want to add a support later on.

My upper link is on the driver side. Some people weld on top of the pumpkin, but mine has a small truss on top of the pumpkin, and that's where the upper link rests.

Many 1st gen SAS have the upper link on the driver side as well. It is all a compromise. Putting it on the passenger side might be easier in some ways, but then you probably have to reroute the exhaust, including possibly a custom header, etc. So I guess it is all about picking your battles

Interesting, my atlas 2 did not present any issues with upper link placement at the frame end. The atlas 2 is actually just a bit bigger than the tacoma factory tcase. I took a picture of the two side-by-side on the floor prior to installation and quite frankly, they are very close in their dimensions. Can't find the damn picture now.

Now on the axle end of things, As mentioned above, there's a small truss going across the pumpkin of my D60, and that's where the upper link rests. So no welding straight on the cast. It also helped raise the upper link a little, so more vertical separation between upper and lower link.

Here's pic of the 2spd Atlas



This is a different angle that better shows where it actually sits. It really sits above the frame rail, an inch higher than the factore tcase was:



Here you can see truss on top of the pumpkin


Kind of far away, but here's the upper link on top of the truss across the pumpkin

 

Got it somewhat streetable now. Going to start working on getting 500 miles on it so I can complete the gear break-in procedure. After driving it about 70 miles so far, I've realized I have a lot more things to do before it's ready to go off road.

 

I could put 500 miles on it driving to work and back for a week.

 

What's been popping up

 

Well, I still have to finish the crossmember and atlas support, but I will have to change all the remaining mounts (motor, trans mount) to polyurethane to stiffen things up. Just driving over speed bumps causes the atlas to hit the floorboard. I clearanced it already, but I will have to do some more but with the poly bushings, it will pretty much prevent anything from moving, which is why poly is usually referred to as "solid mounting". I will get more vibrations but I can live with that, being it's just a trail truck anyway.

 

Holy @michaelrussell , batman! I just noticed your exhaust pipe. I trust you're not leaving it like that, haha.

 

Definitely not haha. I welded that turn down on it in preparation for Citrus since I didn't have time to get to an exhaust shop. It will be getting a full exhaust with muffler that dumps out behind the axle. This thing is obnoxiously loud how it is.

 

Lol mine isn't much more than that

 

Lol I actually have a muffler though

 

Not so you'd notice. Seriously, I can't imagine it being any louder if it was just dumped like Todd's is at the moment. Need to put that thrush back on it. That sounded good.

 

but i kinda like it it should quiet down some when i finish running it out the side of the bed

 

I just threw some flowmasters in the garbage.

 

Todd, if you want a Flowmaster, I have a 40 series with a single in/dual out I got from Rick sitting in the shed. I don't think I'm going to use it because I want to go with a 50 series. If you want it you can have it.