MJP2's Build

2023 Edit: The build lives on under new ownership! https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/nv529s-2006-long-travel-tacoma.805340/

My thread's more off topic than on, so based on suggestions from members I'll list where the build content is to help get around the fluff.

. This page lists all my pre-race modifications and my first round of mid-travel components.

. All Pro steering upgrade and some shifter work starts here:
http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2nd-gen-builds/17641-mjp2s-build-2.html#post312904

. More All Pro steering stuff:
http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2nd-gen-builds/17641-mjp2s-build-3.html#post324439

. I decide to change to Sportsman Truck and alter the direction of my build:
http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2nd-gen-builds/17641-mjp2s-build-4.html#post409528

. The Giant Motorsports kit arrives:
http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2nd-gen-builds/17641-mjp2s-build-4.html#post409528

. The Giant Motorsports kit installed:
http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2nd-gen-builds/17641-mjp2s-build-7.html#post515268

. The Camburg kit arrives:
http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2nd-gen-builds/17641-mjp2s-build-8.html#post628835

. High Angle Driveline driveshaft arrives:
http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2nd-gen-builds/17641-mjp2s-build-8.html#post642122

. Camburg install begins:
http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2nd-gen-builds/17641-mjp2s-build-9.html#post647136

. Camburg install continues:
http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2nd-gen-builds/17641-mjp2s-build-11.html#post666574

. Excellent advice:
http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2nd-gen-builds/17641-mjp2s-build-13.html#post670821

. Camburg install continues:
http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2nd-gen-builds/17641-mjp2s-build-14.html#post704288

. Ed provided my truck with a new powerplant:
http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2nd-gen-builds/17641-mjp2s-build-19.html#post707621

. Pictures along with the Camburg kit still being installed:
http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2nd-gen-builds/17641-mjp2s-build-21.html#post710210

. Bypass shocks arrive:
http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2nd-gen-builds/17641-mjp2s-build-22.html#post728340

. Rear bypass shocks arrive:
http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2nd-gen-builds/17641-mjp2s-build-26.html#post731565

. Shock comparison pic:
http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2nd-gen-builds/17641-mjp2s-build-27.html#post748430

. The source of my avatar:
http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2nd-gen-builds/17641-mjp2s-build-27.html#post748436

. Finally get some axles to install in this thing and get the truck rolling again:
http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2nd-gen-builds/17641-mjp2s-build-39.html#post759059

. Rear LT fabrication underway:
http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2nd-gen-builds/17641-mjp2s-build-52.html#post849064

. Rolled into Primm for the 2009 race:
http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2nd-gen-builds/17641-mjp2s-build-58.html#post918246

. Final pre-race prep with photos and recap from the 2009 SCORE Primm 300:
http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2nd-gen-builds/17641-mjp2s-build-59.html#post952414

. Professional race photo:
http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2nd-gen-builds/17641-mjp2s-build-69.html#post1077097

. Ordered coil bucket gussets, Camburg rocks, and air bumps ordered:
http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2nd-gen-builds/17641-mjp2s-build-71.html#post1626013

. Did some local wheeling at Rausch Creek:
http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2nd-gen-builds/17641-mjp2s-build-72.html#post1626188

. Bent a gusseted spindle:
http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2nd-gen-builds/17641-mjp2s-build-73.html#post1632571

. How I bent the spindle:
http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2nd-gen-builds/17641-mjp2s-build-74.html#post1634265

. Ordered a winch just in case I'll have to drag the truck onto the trailer:
http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2nd-gen-builds/17641-mjp2s-build-77.html#post1659596

. Coil bucket gussets installed, nitrogen setup purchased, more spare wheels and tires ordered:
http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2nd-gen-builds/17641-mjp2s-build-77.html#post1764141

. The reason why I made this list:
http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2nd-gen-builds/17641-mjp2s-build-78.html#post1767688

. Spindle gussets and heimed UCAs installed:
http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2nd-gen-builds/17641-mjp2s-build-79.html#post1778677

. David Tarantino's shop helps me out, and I wrestle with rear leaf pack issues:
http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2nd-gen-builds/17641-mjp2s-build-81.html#post1796391

. 2010 Primm 300 race prep update:
http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2nd-gen-builds/17641-mjp2s-build-87.html#post1874053

. There's only 1 thing that'll help my build:
http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2nd-gen-builds/17641-mjp2s-build-94.html#post1991376

. Explanation of why I'll run a Ford 9" rear axle at some point:
http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2nd-gen-builds/17641-mjp2s-build-99.html#post2030733

. Load-over fenders on my trailer:
http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2nd-gen-builds/17641-mjp2s-build-109.html#post2125668

. The truck is ready for the 2010 Primm 300:
http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2nd-gen-builds/17641-mjp2s-build-110.html#post2130936

. Post-race recap:
http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2nd-gen-builds/17641-mjp2s-build-112.html#post2193871
http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2nd-gen-builds/17641-mjp2s-build-114.html#post2217761

. Race/trip pics linked:
http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2nd-gen-builds/17641-mjp2s-build-115.html#post2255639

. Post-race damage report and repairs:
http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2nd-gen-builds/17641-mjp2s-build-115.html#post2458129

. Video from inside the truck when I smashed my passenger side door and bedside.
http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2nd-gen-builds/17641-mjp2s-build-116.html#post2666446

. Shed delivery so I can clean out the garage and get back to work on the truck
http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2nd-gen-builds/17641-mjp2s-build-124.html#post4219292

. Road salt blows
http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2nd-gen-builds/17641-mjp2s-build-131.html#post5700894

. Cleaned up the rust and painted the shocks
http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2nd-gen-builds/17641-mjp2s-build-136.html#post6825106

At this point I've revised my suspension design twice and already have 1 more revamp to go. My advice to anyone thinking of getting into desert racing: Study, observe, ask, learn and ride with people. When you think you have a handle on things, start over and go through the process 5 more times.

It would have been much cheaper and easier had I done more homework when I first got started. Not a whole lot of desert here in NJ so my first experience was after I'd already built most of the truck. I already knew of some issues I'd have to address, but after that trip I realized that my stage-2 ideas would need to be reconsidered as well.

This thread will show the build in chronological order.

It started innocently enough.
(Side note here...the fabrication capabilities of Carroll's Rod & Racecraft are mind-blowing. If you can dream it, they can build it.)


Then the interior went away.


And the padding on the floor to prep for bedliner.


The rollcage is made from 2" .120-wall chromoly.




The cage is tied into the frame under the floor of the cab.


The rear axle is gusseted.


Front suspension, mark 1.


Lots of lights up front. After testing at Barstow I can see why people put far more than this on their rides!


The can for the custom 60 gallon fuel cell.

 

The rollcage is gusseted per SCORE rules.




Up on the lift it was easy to see the amount of suspension downtravel.


The custom window nets leave the windows functional.


Budbuilt skidplates, custom driveshaft armor, Total Chaos lower control arm skids.


The Liberated Racing logo is waterjet cut into the front bumper skid.


I've got tunes for when I'm just cruising around.


Here's the truck before the first round of testing at Rausch Creek in PA. Rock crawling brought some interesting shortcomings to light.


That's it for now. I'll post test results and the resulting modifications another day.

 

Dumbass me didn't know I'd be there either. I mistakenly went to SCORE's corporate location instead of their tech location, so I had the pleasure of driving from Calabasas to Vista during rush hour with a deadline. New York City traffic is NOTHING compared to the 20-mile-radius mess surrounding LA!

 

Thanks guys! I went into this from a rock crawling perspective since that's most of what there is to do around here. I figured I'd build a truck for that purpose and beef up the suspension. Right now I have a truck that weighs a ton and still needs a suspension, but it does surprisingly well on the rocks!

 

Assuming 8 miles per gallon (complete guesstimate based on nothing) I'm looking at 350-400 miles before I'd really start sweating. The stock fuel gauge still works so I'll be using that a lot.

The weight of the fuel is something I'm going to take into account when I have new rear leaf springs made. And you're right -- handling will definitely change from full to empty. I have a lot to learn about shock technology and valving before I get back to messing with the suspension.

 

no

Pretty killer and still a great place to break stuff. I'll be back this winter. From what I hear it gets so slick there that it's a struggle just to get out of the parking lot when it snows.

 

I left off on my way to Rausch Creek for testing....


Since my aluminum fuel cell was (is) still at FuelSafe having the custom bladder made, this Jaz fuel cell was bought, modified, and installed so I could use my truck.


Crawling was a great way to work the suspension in a controlled manner without really thrashing anything. Still, lots of stuff took a beating.

I had preemptively cut my exhaust before the trip so it wouldn't get smashed up on the rocks. It was a good call.


The driveshaft armor took a hell of a beating and actually dented to the point that it would rub the driveshaft.


The thin sheetmetal was removed and replaced with 1/4" sheetmetal and reinforced with some square-tube stock to keep that from happening again.




I also had an issue with the rear disc brake conversion kit. The calipers rubbed the shocks bad on the driver's side, so the rear shock mounts were redone and some 2.5" reservoir shocks were swapped in.

 

While updating the rear shock setup, the brake lines and wires were re-routed to the center of the axle, bundled with a length of cable, and run to the rear axle as a single unit with plenty of slack. This would make it less likely for debris to kick up between the axle and bed and take out something critical. In the event something did get up there, the cable would take the strain and hold things in place.


After fixing stuff it was off to California for SCORE tech inspection.


I passed.


While out there I met up with some guys from TTORA and tested at Barstow, during which time I snapped an UCA, broke my front limiting straps, and wore out the front shocks. Once back home I started on more repairs/upgrades.

Cosmetic stuff first, just because. I stickered up the truck before driving to CA for the sake of advertising. Once back, I installed some fiberglass fenders to avoid tire damage should I bang into something and mangle a fender during a race. I also installed the all-important TacomaWorld sticker.



Went from the 2.0" Walker Evans shocks to 2.5" Fox coilovers that I picked up at All-Pro while I was in CA.


With new UCAs my front suspension looked something like this.


On the passenger side where I had snapped the UCA I saw that the upper coil bucket had taken a hit. It would need to be straightened and reinforced.


This is where my goal for the 2008 race ended. I had no time to make major changes to the suspension and test, so my sights are now on the 2009 season.

I'm still making updates and will post updates as they happen. It's mostly going to be suspension and tuning this year.

 

I know! Work has been incredibly inconvenient lately and I haven't had much time to screw around during the day!