eimkeith's '03 Taco(s)

Same - I think boxing is preferable to plating the outside.

I’m thinking about how I can incorporate a frame plate into that section if the crossmember is cut to frame ID...

I tapped the passenger side forward an driver rearward until the top cleared, then went up with passenger side for more angle. I also removed the strap across the bottom.

It’ll come out.

 

This is good info!

And nice truck!

 

Thanks! I love it bobbed.

 

Build is coming along nice! Not too often you see someone bob the bed before tubbing for 35's

Definitely interested in the gas tank lift. Either bolt on or cut & weld version.

 

Yeah, it’s free and something to do while waiting on slider parts.

Waiting until I put the LT & rear axle on to tub it (I think)

Cool! I’ll get the test parts in a couple of weeks, then I’ll do a run for you guys.

 

Also, the bed bob sure has made it easier to parallel park at the bar...!

 

You haven’t been able to test this with the tank yet right? So the issue I ran into when going up 2” is that if you go straight up 2”, because of the angle of the frame you are actually moving the gas tank forward at least an inch (possibly more). So if you are using the current locations of the frame I would make it so the crossmember can get moved back an inch or so and only 1 and 3/4” tall (still nets a 2” raise) but that’s based off my redneck math. Anything beyond that I call on @jubei. Since I already burned my crossmember in I had to do some work attempting to move the front crossmember up more (part of which I needed to cut into the gas tank mount) as well as notch and smash the tank crossmember.

Tests yesterday:



And tests with my adjustments today:

 

I went straight up perpendicular to the horizon, not the perpendicular to the frame (which throws it forward.)

Should be good to go; I pick up my cut & bent pieces next week, then on to sliders.

 

Stoked to see your results!

 

well thanks man!

 

I got the prototype fuel tank lift brackets on Friday. I won’t be able to put them on the Taco until middle of July (going to the mountains for a week over the fourth), but I’m going to mock them up on the spare frame to verify fitment.

Here are the 6 parts of the basic kit:



The upper two large pieces are the lower lift blocks - they go inside the frame, under the crossmember and double as trimming templates (I’ll show that); the middle piece is the front tank mount - the factory one gets cut off and this guy locates against the horizontal weld on the front crossmember; the lower center piece is the fuel tank strap bracket - it gets welded to the original strap bracket, then the excess original bracket is cut off above it; and the two lower pieces are the upper crossmember lift blocks, they mount above the frame and self-locate everything.

 

Crossmember is up!

 

Nice work!

 

Thanks!

 

Agreed! Keeping my eyes on this. Especially since your an 03 with evap above the tank.

 

I'm re-routing the exhaust up above the frame (trying to get everything up above the bottom of the frame rails) and out of the bedside in front of the passenger rear wheel opening, so I'm thinking I should be able to simply flop the evap stuff over to the passenger side and make a bracket for it over there where the factory muffler would have been. - it'd be nice to avoid lengthening any hoses if that's possible.

Worst case, I lengthen the hoses and put it where the spare tire was, or I backdate the evap system to the earlier style.

 

Nice build! I randomly came across a 3rd gen T4R bumper you are designing when I was on Facebook...wanted to ask if you had any plans to design some stuff (front bumper mainly) for 1st gen Tacomas? Would be very interested if you are

 

oh wow, I need to update this thread.

Yes, I'm going to do bumpers for the 1st gen Taco after I finish the front bumper for the 3rd gen T4R - the rear will be for boobed beds (of course), but the front will be for everyone.

(btw, the 3rd gen rear bumper is available now)

 

good to know, thanks!

 

sorry, guys - I've got some catching up to do on this thread.

Here's the EVAP relocation solution:







and here's the first of 2 bed cross member notches - this one to clear the 2" raised tank..







- would you believe that notch took me several weeks to nail down???

Since then I've tweaked the filler neck, modeled the other bed cross member notch, and ordered a vent hose (one factory hose is now too short with the EVAP cannister relocated).
I'm literally almost done with this modification.