Tacoma 2uzfe 5spd crawler build

Hi guys. New to tacomaworld, just thought I'd post up my build thread. Hope you guys like it!

It started out as an auto 3rz ext cab truck. At first it got a manual swap and a Dana44 front axle with the Sky offroad kit. Plus dual cases, elocker rear (taco) and welded front.

I quickly found the limitations of that axle and even with chromoly parts, the weak link was ball joints almost every hard wheeling trip. Also, uptravel was severely limited with leaf springs and the 'IFS' frame geometry.

I didn't want to do this build three times so I started planning 4yrs ago collecting parts. I wanted to go fast and crawl, and I wanted bigger differentials.

I opted to also stay true to everything toyota, for artistic appeal and because 1 ton Dana axles that most guys use are horrendously heavy. And I wanted drop out 3rds.

So I picked up a rear full float landcruiser 9.5" elocker axle. Geared it to 5.29 and three it under the rear. Then I bought a ruffstuff 9.5" axle housing with FJ80 birfields. I threw Hellfire hi steer knuckles on it.

That axle sat for two years while I gathered parts for the v8 swap.

I used 1uzswapkit to mate the 2uzfe to an r150 trans. The v8 has hi mileage and blew its timing belt. Slapped a new belt on thing runs fine. Has one low cylinder but whatever.

Then the big project came, I chopped off the frame at the firewall. I built a new frame to mimick the old solid axle frame ( hi arch over the axle to accommodate articulation)

I made motor mounts and got the 2uz in there, it fits perfect. The. I designed the front link suspension, after months of learning how to calculate anti-dive m, roll center etc (that was intimidating but not so bad in the end)

I suspended it with Fox 2.5 16" coilovers custom valves with race pistons by AccuTune Offroad.

Offroad Solutions built me a plug and play wiring harness.

Now I have a beast of an Offroad rig that is a joy to drive on and off road. I'll start posting pics of the build process. Cheers!!

 

Here are some of the build pics

Chopped off the frame

 

Here is the frame I built

 

Mocking up and making the links

All ruffstuff components, the links are 1/4"wall DOM tubing with 1 3/4 heims

 

What issues did you run into with articulation to make you cut the frame? Building my 98 with the typical king pin 60 and 14 bolt but haven’t run into clearance issues as of yet. Also will be running an extremely heavy engine.

 

There was just not enough space for full articulation , especially the links. I wanted a stronger frame, and to move the axle forward a lot. I would have had to redo the radiator and body mount to fit the steering box as far forward as possible. Also in order to tuck the drag link as high as possible with my axle where it is at full compression I needed the frame out of the way. I would have been cutting patching and clearancing all over the place as well as plating the frame for mounting everything. All in all it was way less work to just cut the frame off and build exactly what I needed out of stronger material. I wanted 6" of uptravel at the same height that I only had 3" previously. I still had to clearance the frame for my passenger side drag link and tie rod at full compression passenger/full droop driver. The amount of modification to attain this with the stock frame wouldn't have made sense. I also had to make my own oil pan to clear everything as well at full compression.

 

See my cutouts for the front links? For the amount of up travel I wanted (6") for speed runs and maintain low cog it made the most sense to copy a stock straight axle frame design. The IFS frames are flat only for bracing the diff bracketry and suspension. All toyota straight axle frames rise over the axle (cruisers and pickups)

 

Yeah I gotcha. I can’t tuck my engine far enough up to really have a whole lot of up travel without completely refabbing a new firewall along with a stupid amount of body lift so that’s the only reason I’m sticking with the original frame.

 

Sub'd for the slexin pics

 

I did a 2" body lift to fit my engine stock hood closed. It's a gamble. I barely have enough sump oil to keep pressure up, planning on adding an oil cooler for the loss in volume.

 

What did you run your Castor at? I tried the do about 6-7degrees

 

It’s sitting at the factory set 8 degrees and I like where it sits now but have plenty of room for adjustment. (Haven’t fully welded my suspension yet).
Still mocking stuff up at the moment.

 

is this what tacomas are suppose to look like? godsend

 

Like what? Always an un-finished project? Yes lol