Well, add another one to the forum, just finished installing my lift today

I've been working on it off and on for the past week. Just me, no help from anyone else. Aren't friends great? haha.

Anyways, Bilstein 5100s set at the middle setting (what is that 1"?) with OME 880s in the front. Bilstein 5100s with Wheeler's 5 pack in the rear.

Looks great, feels great, I couldn't be happier. Only setback is that I damaged the tie-rod end trying to take it off (when I was doing the steering rack bushings) and had to cut the top off, through the hole, so now I can't put the cotter pin back in. I'm going to have the shop fix it when I get it aligned.

Pics:

























Next on the list is some 16x8 rockcrawlers with 32's and the exterior of my truck is done.

Couldn't have done it without this forum, so thanks to everyone here!

 

very nice.... 32s are gonna look sick

 

very nice. I love your wheels.

 

thanks. I'm a little worried about the 32s since it's a 2.7l and I am not going to regear. Maybe I'll settle for 31's and just a bit wider. We'll see.

thanks man. They're for sale, if you're interested

 

What gears do you have? I ran 32's on my 2.7 and now I'm running 33's with stock 4.30 gearing. If you have anything less than 4.10's then you may lose a few mpg's. The 2.7 can and will run smoothly with any tire size, as long as the gearing ratio is right for the tires then you won't have any trouble.

 

running 31s saves mpg but it makes the truck looks a awkward with smaller tires. im running on 31s and i want 33's.

 

I don't know, to be honest. It's a stock 2.7l prerunner, non trd. What would that be?

 

If it's a first gen this website should help. http://forum.ih8mud.com/95-gen-toyota-trucks/199061-tacoma-gearing-question.html

I might look this up on my truck also, just for shits and giggles.

 

Look on the door jam of the driver side. Theres a white sticker and the axle code is on there. IE Mine says B07A which means it's 4.30.

The axle code for your rig can be found on the manufacture's sticker located on the driver's side door jamb as follows:
First digit:

• A = 7.5" ring gear
• B = 8" ring gear

Next two digits:

• 01 = 3:42
• 02 = 3:58
• 03 = 4:10
• 04 = 4:56
• 05 = 3:15
• 06 = 3:91
• 07 = 4.30

Last digit:

• A = 2 Pinion, Open
• B = 4 Pinion, Open
• C = 2 Pinion OEM Limited Slip

 

neat, thanks
(B03A for me)

 

If this is it:



Then I have 4:56

transmissions and gearing baffle me. I consider it black magic. So what does this mean for me? Someone school me.

I currently have the 16x7" SR5 alloys on there, and this sticker seems to state that the truck came with 15x7? Tires I have currently are 265/70-16.

 

Well it's TRD so I'm sure that the dealer put the 16x7's on. also says that you have 225's on haha. I'm sure you have 265's on if its a TRD. But yea 4.56 is the stuff dude, you can run 35's with the 4 banger and still get like 17-18 mpgs.

But to explain gears for you. Higher the number such as 4.56, 4.88, and 5.29 (these are the most common among tacoma's) After that you need to upgrade axles. So Higher the number means there's more teeth on the ring gear and more pinion teeth. It takes less power to turn to the next tooth, if you have low gears such as 3.58's it takes more power to turn the pinion to the next tooth on the ring gear. Makin sense? If not I'll try to explain better!

 

no, it's not a TRD. But yes, I have 265/70-16 currently.

The truck has a frame hitch and trailer wiring that looks too clean to be aftermarket. I'm guessing maybe it has a factory tow package on it, thus the reason for the gearing.

I'm a bit confused though. If my gears are set to be able to handle bigger tires, wouldn't that mean that with the smaller, lighter tires I am currently running, my truck should be a rocket off the line and have no top end?

I feel as though it's a bit sluggish off the line, personally, and I don't really ever have a problem with cruising at 70-75mph. It will slow down to about 65 when going over an overpass or up a hill though.

now also keep in mind that my frame of reference for it feeling sluggish is 1) a new Honda Pilot with a 3.5L V6, and 2) A VW GTI with a supercharged V6 and 275whp.

so what do you think, 33's and call it a done deal?

 

Hm not TRD huh strange. But hey that's awesome. Yea I would go 33's and call it, I would also keep the stock wheels. I like those!

Ok let me explain the tranny and engine. All because the gear ratio is that setting doesn't mean that the engine's power will be better. The gears serve best in mpg's. Less power to turn the wheels, less power you drawing from the tranny/engine. Lets keep it at that for now. You have the automatic and yes it's sorta slugglish of the line when you compare it to a car, hints you drive a truck longer wheel base and larger tires to push and more front end weight. When you incline up hill with the automatic it will drop it's power b/c now it's taking more power from the engine to turn at the same speed you were on flat pavement. That's just a down side of automatics. Remember this is a truck not a car, car's are much lighter so they benefit from that.

 

ok, good advice there. So basically what you're saying is I shouldn't notice a difference in driveability with the larger tires. That's good to know.

I like the stock wheels too, except that they are only 16x7. I think that 33's need to be at least 11" wide and I don't think I can pull that off on a 16x7. Gotta go to a 16x8.

 

Go 285/75/16's they fit on stock 16x7 wheels I promise, b/c I have mine on stock 16x7. And that size won't rub since you have wheel spacers already. Mine rub a small bit at full lock. You personally will notice a difference in driving, it will feel that you have extra weight which you do, but you should still get around 21-22 mpg's. It was different for me driving with them, but I got use to it quickly and they ride great.

Just some advice, wider tires will pull hard when you hit bumps or ruts. Stick to skinny ones, 285/75's are 11.5 wide. I like them and I think they look great.

My junk (note that this is also with a 1" body lift so the tire doesn't rub to much when it's stuffed in the wheel well):

 

well, I think you made a believer out of me. Thanks for all the help and advice.

 

Oh you are welcome! One thing tho...I noticed you little fuely thing in your sig saying you get 17 mpgs? How do you get that with a 4 banger?

I got around 23-24, then dropped down to 19-20 with the 33's.

 

A couple of thoughts...

If it is sluggish now with 265/70-16s (basically a 31"), it'll definately be more sluggish with bigger tires. The next larger size would be 265/75-16 (basically a 32"). Next larger after that would be 285/75-16 (basically a 33"). Each step up also increases weight of the tire which will also add to sluggishness.

The wheels you are sporting are not the wheels that came with the truck originally. That wheel design in 16s came on 4-runners. '98-'00 Tacomas also came with wheels that looked the same except they were 15s not 16s.

It is great that your truck has 4.56 gears but I think it has those gears because when the 2.7L is mated to the auto tranny it really needs the help. The auto sucks the power right out of the 4banger. If I was to make a guess, I would say that your truck originally came equipped with 225/16s or possibly 235/16s (28s or 29s).

I would think long and hard about how large a tire I put on there. Bigger tires look really cool but the performance hit might not be worth it.

My $.02.

 

sweet photos man. what do you shoot?

and is that a little HDR i see?