northwesttaco's SOLD LT Build w/ 35's and BS

My OEM head lights with a the mini D2S retrofit kit from The Retrofit Source, then a bad ass paint job and install by @dakotasyota

 

Right on, thanks! Now i have a good idea of how I want my headlights.

 

Good news: Rack showed up on my front porch last Thursday.

Bad news: Rack is pretty much completely fucked. Drove to the store last night (started off with full PS reservoir), 8 miles round trip and checked it at home to find no fluid left new rack is going in Thursday.

 

When r u going to just own up and change the name of the thread to SAS instead of LT?
Tired of waiting for my prophecy to come true.

 

Ill do it when it actually starts happening. This may be the longest I keep any front suspension so far

 

Here for the LT part out...

 

Get back to me in 2-3 years

 

Will do

 

Will do

 

Will do

 

So lets talk LT and 35's.....


Things i know ill need to do....

1. Trim fenders.....(rear?)
2. BMC
3. Pinch weld smashing (BFH)
4. Regearing (eventually)

Questionable...

1. Limiting straps
2. spindle gusset
3. cam tab weld
4. remote reservoir
5. new wheels (16s v 17s)
6. tire selection (i would like to go AT if possible)

 

1) Trim fenders depends on tire size. For 35's you WILL have to trim fenders up front, rear is questionable depending on the amount of up travel you have.
2) Definitely body mount chop, and I had to cut the outside corner of it, not just shaving the front off.
3) Pinch weld is easy to smash, notch the lower part of it in 1" segments with the angle grinder (be careful not to go too far..) and it makes it much easier to pound back. Upper half of it is fine to do as is.
4) Definitely regear but again depends on tire size.

1) Limit straps come with the LT kits.
2) Definitely gusset the spindles and cam tabs. I don't have coil bucket gussets and neither does the Total Chaos Tacoma so didn't think I need them. For desert racing you definitely do. I have spindle gussets with sway bar mounts since they are beefier even though I don't run a sway bar.
4) Remote reservoirs came with my Kings. King doesn't sell a coil over for the 2nd gen taco that doesn't come with a R/R
5) I like my 16's but 17's aren't a bad option either.
6) I like the Cooper ST Max, BFG KO2, and Toyo RT's for all terrain tires.

 

Got the truck back yesterday morning and HOLY CRAP this thing drives like a new car. Well steering at least... Went from about 1.5" of play in the steering and hating myself every time I went on the highway to less than 1/2" of play and loving it.

Drove it down to my friends place to help him out with his GX 470 and we quickly shined up my headlights


Time to get this thing ready for Moab next month

 

Did you just do an OE rack?

 

Its a rebuilt OEM one from CVJ, so kinda. Not really any other options to go with

 

Foook yah, glad CVJ worked out for ya!

 

CVJ is the shit! The only place to go for CV's and steering racks!

 

Is it going to be any tighter than the OE rack? Coming from my last vehicle, BMW M3, I really miss how tight the steering was. I'd love to find something tighter.

 

I definitely feel like its tighter. I had about 1.5" of play in the wheel and now its less than .5" an inch

 

Just for me to keep track..

Pre Moab checklist:
Steering rack Compete
Tie rods Complete
Diff oil changes
Cut front bumper to clear tires at full stuff
Rock lights
Straighten out/paint skids
Weld on rear diff guard

Post Moab Checklist:
Fix what ever is broken (if any..)
Repaint skids/sliders/bumpers
Retube driveshaft
Weld on frame plates
King air bumps in the rear
Super bumps up front
Put on donated shackle hangers
Fab reinforcement for shackle hangers
Axle shims
Carrier bearing drop
Sand blast rear bumper/rattle can it
New swing out (so a 35" spare doesn't cover the tail light)