Deeezy's Locked Sport Grocery Getter Build

Added some tie down tabs to the rear braces in the bed for strapping down the spare tire. A ratcheting Y-strap from Poly Performance was used. I cut the top tab out of 3/16" stock because that one had to be perpendicular to the brace.

 

Here's a few pics of the last gussets I had welded to the cage to finish it up. Some were from Ruffstuff and the other different angled ones I had cut out of 1/4" and 3/16" stock to match.

 

So here is what DD sent me, back of the rear LCA mount. Does yours fit there?





Here is what mine looks like. The taco and 4R frames appear to be different in this area.

 

Oh, I see. I don't even think I still have those pieces but I could definitely make a template and just cut it out by hand. Thanks!

 

No problem, I am just going to use the bottom half for a template and cut one that is extended for my application.

 

Dang, now I wish I kept those pieces.

 

Shouldn't be too hard to make a template and cut one, you clearly know what you are doing fabbing stuff up.

 

Changed out my engine oil and checked out the oil catch can. It definitely works and had about 1/2" of oil caught in it.





Polished my wife's IS250 and tried a bunch of polishes. Nothing worked as good as this Menzerna FG400.




And also polished the Ultra beadlocks.

 

Do your Dirt King lowers have uniballs or ball joints?

 

Uniballs

 

I'm wondering when they made the switch

https://dirtkingfabrication.com/collections/tacoma/products/performance-lower-control-arms

 

I believe not too long ago.

 

Very recently. I have a set of the DK BJ version I am replacing my DK unis with, tired of replacing lower uniballs.

 

Ah, okay. I wish they had made some kind of retrofit kit so we could keep our arms and convert to the new design. Makes me wonder if that was the only change to the new design.

 

There were quite a few changes, I have both versions sitting in my garage, I will grab some pics tonight:

- BJ added
- zirks moved to top of arm
- EAF aluminum skid added
- gusset removed from bushing tube
- shock mount recessed and drain hole added
- limit tabs added (mine were some of the first produced and did not have them, I know that most do)
- overall shape is a bit more streamlined with another bend added to the leading edge
- steering stop tab was redesigned to have an arc to match the lower spindle adapter

 

That's a lot of changes. Lol

Let me know if you think they changed the position of the lower ball joint. Like if revisions were made to fix any drivability issues.

 

Definitely, I am hoping the LBJ was moved forward further as I am getting rid of the camber I built into the solid mount LCA bolt tabs I made (which will now push the LCA out at both front and rear mounts instead of front in and rear out to avoid twisting of the delrin bushings) so I expect to loose camber from that which can only be recovered at the UCA at the expense of pushing the tire into the firewall.

 

Here’s what I can discern: the shock mount is lower with the arm flat on the bench, even with the skid, by a half inch, as is the bj cup; the bj looks to be located in the same spot from the left/right mount; bj arm is lower profile, same height with the skid on. No idea what effects these will have to the alignment. I also do not have the gusset on the bushing that the online version shows, these arms have some history and may be an early production version like the uni ones I have.

 

Well that's interesting. Let me know if you think the way your vehicle handles is different after you install. Thanks!