What have you done to your Tacoma today? 1st Gen Edition

@JLee

Edit... but wouldn't be opposed to eliminating the drain and using the bottom 3rd member bolt as the drain (like @Squeaky Penguin suggested) if it would work otherwise.

 

You'll just be taking the diaper off to drain it since those skids come all the way up to the pinion nose area. Not a terrible compromise though

 

Ya... I figure it wouldn't be that big a deal. I change my diff fluid once a year. Wouldn't be a problem to remove the skid, and would probably need to have dirt/rocks/mud etc out of it anyway.

The "nose" is EXACTLY why I like @JLee skid. Seems like it would provide a bit of protection for the u-joint.

 

Got a maintenance charger for the AGM battery.

 

Made some progress today,
Got the gaskets in,
The half moons in,
Cam seals replaced,
Spark plug seals in,
they are now torqued and bolted down

 

I got them on ebay. they worked perfect. https://www.ebay.com/itm/Axle-Weld-...e=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649

 

Hm I believe that actually the drain is dependent on it's either an elocker or an open 8.4 diff. The 8.4 is passenger side and elocker is driver.

That's how it is on 1st gens at least

 

@JLee diff skid specifies that either 8.4 or 8 inch diff, the plug must be on Passenger side. (on his site)

I have an 8 inch e-lock with plug on driver side.

But... as I mentioned... if plug location is the only thing really causing a problem, adjustments can be made

 

Woot?

I got the same one in the mail today

 

Yep! $35 and free shipping, couldn’t pass it up.

 

Did my first DIY alignment. I went by the write up on here, that harbor freight gauge is a piece of garbage, no matter how I calibrated it is would be off 2 seconds later. I even used a machinist level, no dice. So I bought a longacre camber/caster gauge, machined a mount and it made the process way easier. -.75° +3.5 drivers, -1° +3.5 passenger. Drives way better, keeps straight and corners well. No more arguing with the alignment dicks that I want + caster not - and - camber and not +. After three alignments my truck still looked like \ / and drive like crap. We'll see how it goes, I'll drive for a few days and tweak it a bit and see what I like.

 

couple of questions for y'all on winches:
1) thinking of picking one up. was planning on waiting but i'm running out of projects. Looking at either a Comeup Seal Gen2 9.5rsi, those run about 1k.(or might get a steel cable one which is significantly cheaper) or on the other end of the spectrum looking at a Smittybilt XRC9.5 with steel rope. school me. I know you get what you pay for so the answer may be obvious, but i was curious to hear what y'all think. what about the weight savings of synthetic? worth the price?
2) i've got an ARB front bumper/bull bar that it'll be mounted in. have been considering beefing up the stock frame end-caps, but uphill welding with a stick machine is a complete PITA and downhill isnt an option (besides the detriments structurally, the slag drips down and extinguishes the arc). I was hoping to wait on this until I could get my hands on a proper MIG welder. worth doing? i could also wait on the winch till i can get a MIG machine but it's so tempting.

 

I just switched to a synthetic line from a cable on my warn m8000 and I’m never going back. If the majority of your winching is going to be skidding logs, or anything where the line is going to be subjected to a lot of abrasion, use steel, otherwise, the synthetic line is superior in ease of handling, weight ability to be repsliced on the trail and safety.

 

Closer...just plain giddy with how it’s coming together and very thankful for carefully measuring and lining everything up before drilling and painting.

 

Thanks for the reference pics and the link. I always enjoy checking out the reg cab builds on here. Your truck is looking great!

 

Thanks it's been a fun build.

 

Looks good!

I can already recommend beefier hinges.

 

Woot the hell?
Do I have to join woot to get the dealio?

 

SmittyBilt Gen3 (magnetic controller and flashlight in the end) with synth line.

 

No you can use an Amazon login. Woot has good deals on limited stock of items. This deal is over unfortunately.