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Substitute frame ever been tried?

Discussion in '1st Gen. Tacomas (1995-2004)' started by Tacomasaurus Rex, Jan 6, 2020.

  1. Jan 6, 2020 at 5:06 PM
    #1
    Tacomasaurus Rex

    Tacomasaurus Rex [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Wheels are turning on my frame issue... gotta friend installing a 5 window 50’s Chevy truck on S10 frame. Thinking maybe it might be worthy to consider adapting GM or God help me a ford frame to a Toyota? Don’t shoot me for saying this but Anything has to be better than Toyota frame. I’m sure it might be a pain but it’d probably be worth it, if it could be done. The other manufacturers don’t seem to have these issues. Truck is a project so just considering my options
     
    Last edited: Jan 6, 2020
    High Noon and PennSilverTaco like this.
  2. Jan 6, 2020 at 5:42 PM
    #2
    PennSilverTaco

    PennSilverTaco Encyclopedia of useless information...

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    I kinda like this idea...
     
  3. Jan 6, 2020 at 6:13 PM
    #3
    Black DOG Lila

    Black DOG Lila Well-Known Member

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  4. Jan 6, 2020 at 7:42 PM
    #4
    onakat

    onakat Well-Known Member

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    If the issue you are referring to is frame rust, well, other manufacturers frames do rot just as bad
    Just type nissan, ford, dodge, chevrolet frame rust and you will see. Nissan Navaras in Europe are infamous for this
    Toyota is the only one who did something about it, and that's why toyota's frame rust issues are more heard of

    The culprits are the winter salt and chemicals. These wreak havoc on cars and any even the best of the best quality steel will be affected when exposed to this crap. Only defence is to rustproof or don't drive your car during winter

    As for your question of putting another frame or a custom one, yes, with some work, anything is possible :sawzall::welder:
    A few years ago, I did see a tacoma on a hacked and chopped fullsize chevy frame. This was an offroad toy, though, but still, as I said, with some work it is possible to make a good road-legal job or build a frame from scratch
     
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  5. Jan 6, 2020 at 7:50 PM
    #5
    3JOH22A

    3JOH22A Toyota Gigolo

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    Yes let's put a Chevy frame on there...

    [​IMG]



    3498d1528891643-99-frame-rust-repair-res_4c893fa6d99a590b086fd402ac97b33712f11e9a.jpg
     
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  6. Jan 6, 2020 at 7:52 PM
    #6
    3JOH22A

    3JOH22A Toyota Gigolo

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    How about a cab mount chop, as nature intended?

    [​IMG]
     
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  7. Jan 6, 2020 at 7:58 PM
    #7
    cruiserguy

    cruiserguy Well-Known Member

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  8. Jan 7, 2020 at 1:00 AM
    #8
    Wyoming09

    Wyoming09 Well-Known Member

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    If your in the Liquid Brine Belt all bets are off for any frames that don`t need tender loving care .

    I looked into this for the time involved to move things fabricate custom parts because you want to keep your Toyota Drive train .

    Far more cost effective to build a new frame with all new parts .

    Putting A Tacoma Cab on what ever drive train is much easier
     
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  9. Jan 7, 2020 at 6:09 AM
    #9
    Indy

    Indy Master of all I survey.

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    Or just buy a different truck...
     
  10. Jan 7, 2020 at 9:33 AM
    #10
    Tacomasaurus Rex

    Tacomasaurus Rex [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Don’t get me wrong I’m sure they do rust and for many different reasons. I’ve got a 72 Cheyenne that’s frame is looking real good for 48 years old. Haven’t really noticed a lot of other trucks no matter what breed with this many issues. Anyway was just a thought... anything from the rust belt is toast no matter what brand.
    Also wondering if frames had better grounds attached if that would help? Maybe more of them. Supposedly that helps fight corrosion.
     
  11. Jan 7, 2020 at 11:26 AM
    #11
    Indy

    Indy Master of all I survey.

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    Taco frames are junk. Toyotas aren't famous for frame rust because they are doing the right thing and every other company is ignoring the same problem. They're more prone to have the issue.
     
  12. Jan 7, 2020 at 2:55 PM
    #12
    Tacomasaurus Rex

    Tacomasaurus Rex [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Don’t know the proper terminology for the old Cheyenne’s frame design... but it’s not boxed in like the tacoma frame. I think this is one of the big issues with them. You can’t wash them like the one on the Cheyenne. Just driving it around seems to keep it clean. Setting around is harder on vehicles than driving them in some ways. My Tacoma frame is corroding from the inside out. Looks good outside but when you stick your fingers in the various holes you know it isn’t. Should’ve asked more questions before buying it. Well I guess I’ll just get another Tacoma frame and treat the $hit out of it.
     
  13. Jan 7, 2020 at 3:58 PM
    #13
    jbrandt

    jbrandt Made you look

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    Seems like you'd have more fabrication work than just building your own frame from scratch, or repairing all the rust on your current frame with frame plates.

    Doesn't seem worth it.

    How many 20+ year old trucks do you see driving around the rust belt that aren't complete rust buckets?

    I see 5 year old vehicles that are solid rust. Toyotas just last longer in general, so there's plenty more time for the rust to take hold.
     
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  14. Jan 7, 2020 at 5:42 PM
    #14
    Rachelsdaddy

    Rachelsdaddy Well-Known Member

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    I wash the underneath of the truck once a month in the self serve bay. Hot soap, rinse well and twice a year I oil the crap out of everything with a pump up sprayer filled with WD-40. Its original and looks new. PS, live in salty NH... cheap n easy
     
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  15. Jan 7, 2020 at 5:46 PM
    #15
    tommyc

    tommyc Well-Known Member

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    Why waste the time and money, slap an oem frame on and be done, or just get another truck.
     
  16. Jan 7, 2020 at 5:55 PM
    #16
    hfjeff

    hfjeff Well-Known Member

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    I spent several years on the jeep forum as I was restoring a CJ7. Back about 15 years ago there were 2 or 3 companies that offered aftermarket mandrel bent frames. I have never seen a company that made them for Tacos though.

    https://throttledownkustoms.com/i-26373447-cj7-jeep-frame-1976-1986.html

    https://www.quadratec.com/products/...MIp5nYx_Hy5gIVBL7ACh1yfA9FEAQYBCABEgJA5_D_BwE

    Also have never heard of anyone retrofitting some other manufacturer frame to the Tacoma. I had considered buying a new aftermarket for the CJ7 but was able to repair mine.
     
  17. Jan 7, 2020 at 5:59 PM
    #17
    Empty_Lord

    Empty_Lord Toyotaholic

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    Chevy frame won’t work too well. The Colorado’s have the same exact rust issues.
    As much as I hate Chrysler, they seem to have the most rust resistant frames
     
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  18. Jan 7, 2020 at 6:03 PM
    #18
    hfjeff

    hfjeff Well-Known Member

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    Agree. After 5 years of WI winters and salt, my Ram 1500 frame still looked new with no treatments.
     
  19. Jan 7, 2020 at 6:19 PM
    #19
    Empty_Lord

    Empty_Lord Toyotaholic

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    Too many trucks and mods to list.. check builds
    I just don’t understand how the trucks hold up good. But the jeeps? Eek
     
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  20. Jan 7, 2020 at 6:52 PM
    #20
    austinmtb

    austinmtb Well-Known Member

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