Florida B.S. Thread

Thanks Guy but I don't have facebook

 

I think this is pretty big news for guys wanting to go to a D60 or 14 bolt rear end with a disc brake conversion...

https://www.ruffstuffspecialties.co...Caliper+Press+Release+Email1&utm_medium=email

It's about time someone did this.

 

The AWD mode is kinda cool and I do use it when the roads are wet, not that I have to, but being as Natty is a pavement princess, I have to do something to knock the rust off the front ring and pinions, haha, but I think I'd still rather have the old skool J shift manual T-case for a trail rig. You could go with a 1999 SR5 with an E-locker and get the manual T-case.

I should have mentioned this before, if you haven't found it already, T4R.org has a pretty good that tells you what models had what and where the problem areas to look for are.

I'd also be a little scared of a Maryland truck. There's a good chance the frame might be rotten. Of course, I know where there's a good solid frame, but that would be an crap ton of work.

 

That’s old news. The caddy calipers have been around for awhile. Adjusting them sucks


I’m pulling all the parking brake shit off my axle

 

I did find a 96 with a e locker for 4K in orlandohttps://orlando.craigslist.org/cto/d/1997-4runner-limited-4x4/6705541301.html

 

The mileage is a little high and the interior is a tad rough, but that probably doesn't matter for a trail rig, especially the interior. I'd probably pull the carpet and the rear seats anyway in favor of a drawer type arrangement like Dom has for carrying spare parts and gear. Slap a set of Wet Okies (Sp?) on the front seats and you'll be good. Not sure if the Limiteds in '97 had the J shift though. At any rate, it's not one I would feel bad about carving up to fit 35s under it and then taking it out and beating the crap out of it.

If you're savy with transmissions at all, I have a 2WD A340E that I believe is fairly low mileage that I'd let go cheaply. Everything but the tail shaft should be the same as the 4WD transmission, so if you did have a transmission problem you could use the guts out of the one I have.

 

im so on the fence even considering a 1st gen tacoma singcab v6

 

Personally, I'd get a 4Runner before I'd buy a single cab Taco. The T4R has a slightly longer wheel base than the SWB Taco so it's kind of a nice trade off between break-over angle and the benefits of a longer wheelbase. Plus, the T4R has a much better departure angle and a bigger fuel tank.

 

What is your take on a 4runner being top heavy compared to a tacoma?

 

I doubt there's much difference after you start adding bed racks and roof top tents and other stuff to the Tacoma. The T4R is definitely heavier than the Taco but the Taco has a greater GVWR. I think even if you put a roof top tent on the T4R, if you added cargo drawers and armor (bumpers, sliders, full belly skids, etc...) and widened the stance a bit with either 16 or 15x10 wheels or 8s with wheel spacers, it pretty much evens out with the Taco with bed racks and a roof top tent. The longer wheel base would help a little there too. I'm not an expert on it since I haven't wheeled Natty to get a feel for the difference between how she behaves off camber vs the OGT, but since you can get higher on an RTI ramp with a long wheel base vs a short wheel base, I think the longer wheel base of the T4R would help even with it having a little higher CG than the SWB Taco.

 

Bed racks and RTT's are not conducive for wheeling places like AOP or Windrock. I personally did not feel comfortable with my bedrack on the truck in a couple of spots up there. When Todd and I were up there, we saw several people with RTT's on cab height bed racks wheeling but they weren't hitting anything that was very difficult for an IFS rig. Keeping as low of a CG as possible is key when wheeling were off-camber situations are regular. Wheeling in Florida, RTT and bedrack all day long.

There were several places at AOP where having a long wheel base would have left you high centered while the shorter wheel base was a non issue.

 

Have you been able to find one at all? I think they were only around for the 95-97 years.

 

Yeah, that's pretty much why I've never seriously considered a bed rack or RTT (beyond the fact that I want a tent I can stand up in to change clothes and stuff, because getting old sucks). I have considered having a low bed rack that didn't stick up above my tool box to carry my spare tire recessed down into it, to keep the CG as low as I could and I may end up doing it someday, but I might just do a tire gate. I dunno. It's pretty low on my list of priorities.

 

Yeah but they are few and far between and there is one in Tampa but never replied back. If i go first gen I wanna bob the bed.

 

If only you'd found this one sooner...

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/unicorn-trip.572514/

 

Daaaaayum. I really wanted to throw the BS flag there with as clean as that engine bay was. It looked like it just rolled off the lot. You think even if it was kept in the garage and never driven it would have dust or cobwebs or something in there, but dayum that thing is clean.

 

All this talk about T4Rs and such is making me think about what I would have done differently if I had it to do over again. What a trip down memory lane that is. I guess it would have started with my first 4WD. Instead of a Bronco II, I should have looked for an 85 HiLux, put it on 38s and held on to it. Then I should have kept my 81 HiLux put it on 38s and held on to it. Then there was my 83 HiLux and my 87 HiLux. Instead of selling the 83 and attempting to put a 350 in the 87, I should have taken the engine out of the 87, put it in the 83 and then put the 87 cab on the 83 frame, then put it on 38s and held on to it. Then instead of buying the Honda brand new, I should have bought a 97-98 3rd Gen T4R and kept it. So many missed opportunities...

 

here is a sweet 3rd gen

 

Welded up a sos bumper Tuesday. Nice kit and easy to figure out the layout. Lots of wire on this and garage is covered In a blanket of metal dust.

 

Placed a order with swag offroad. Can’t wait for that to come in. The fun of bending up to 19”s of 3/16” plate is now going to be a easy task.

Also ordered a porta band table also.