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tomollet · Jul 10, 2020

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Squeaky Penguin · Jul 6, 2020

That's quite the start to a build! Awesome fab work.

ToyotaDriver · Jul 6, 2020

Impressive! Welcome to Tacoma World! Hide your Wallet!

Wulf · Jul 6, 2020

tomollet[OP] initial post: ↑

I wanted to build a more offroad capable "adventure" truck. My main platform was to include a solid front axle, suspension lift, 33" tires, regeard locking differentials and body armor all around. I wanted to keep the ride height as low as possible however - just enough lift to achieve adequate tire clearances with minimal body mods. I wanted the end product to remain a steady highway worthy vehicle. This was not to be a serious rock crawler.

Here's what I came up with:

I started out planning to install a 3 link SAS kit, like perhaps from Trail Gear, but after learning more about offroad suspension options, I really hoped to install a triangulated 4 link front end. I could only find one option for a kit, but it was too radical a design for me. So I set out on my own to see if I could come up with something workable.

I opted to use a Toyota/Lexus front axle from a '94-'97 Land Cruiser/LX450 even knowing that the housing wouldn't work as is because of the wrong side pinion placement. I figured using something Ford or Chevy might be stronger, but also tougher to adapt. The Toyota axle also included the locking front diff. I had ordered a Ruff Stuff Specialties axle housing, and with a three month delay, decided to attempt to create a mockup housing in order to continue figuring out the rest of the design. I cut off the knuckle balls, cut out the diff. housing section and began welding on axle tubes. It didn't take long before my mockup efforts started looking like it could be the real thing. I cancelled my order.

Now to be clear. If I'd known going into this, just how complicated this would end up being, I might not have gone this 4 link route and would have settled on a complete, fully designed 3 link kit. But I was ignorant and inexperienced as a 4x4 fabricator, so off I went. With a lot of creativity, determination, time, resources, pretty decent mechanical aptitude, dumb luck and an internet search engine, I worked my way through the design and redesign, fabrication and refabrication and it all turned out pretty nice.

Yes. Everything clears nicely, including the cat. converter, though I did have to cut and weld and reposition it. Also had to modify the stock oil pan for drag link and tie rod clearance. But after finalizing the steering layout, I could have done with less of a cutout.

One other major modification I had to do was to move and plumb the factory engine oil cooler from it's location on the lower left side of engine block to out front on my new frame crossmember. Pictured below are the cover plate and fittings I used.

Here is a pic of the crossmember/ transmission mount/ lower rear link mount I made. Wasn't quite finished here.

Here's a high steer arm I made for the right side knuckle. I eliminated the need for preload shims with a preload adjuster bolt.

I had to swap lower steering arms left for right, and modify them both to fit within the inner rim diameter facing forward and out beyond the knuckle axis in order get proper (Ackerman) steering.

I failed to pay proper attention initially to the camber I was getting out of the axle housing and so had to address it after the fact by offsetting the knuckle pivots upper and lower. I know it sounds crazy, but it works fine now.

The rear end was all straight forward off the shelf, bolt on mods. Nothing too interesting there.
Well there you have the more significant aspects of the build. There are plenty of details I left out that perhaps I can post later.

Special thanks to Rock Rods Tech Jake Burkey for vital four link tech info.
Click to expand...

Squeaky Penguin said: ↑

That's quite the start to a build! Awesome fab work.
Click to expand...

ToyotaDriver said: ↑

Impressive! Welcome to Tacoma World! Hide your Wallet!
Click to expand...

fuckin a!

This is very unlikely for a TacomaWorld build

Check out irate4x4.com as well

ToyRyd04 · Jul 7, 2020

Nice and tight packaging, kudos for going out of the box. I'm liking the setup, what size coilover did you shoe horn in there?

Maybe im partial but bumper choices are spot on

tomollet · Jul 7, 2020

Thanks for the comments. I went with 12 inch coil overs but had to poke them through the top of the fender wells into the engine compartment. And yes I am also very happy with my choice of bumpers.

slander · Jul 7, 2020

Interesting! Well you found out the hard way why people just do a 3 link front!!

More pics of the actual build!

SnowroxKT · Jul 7, 2020

Damn thats a hell of a start to a build! Great detail, pics, and awesome end point. I've heard that 4 links don't steer well, have you noticed anything odd about how the front end steers?

tomollet · Jul 7, 2020

I added more info and pics to my original build post.

Broke Okie Ty · Jul 7, 2020

Damn nice work!

Arctic Taco · Jul 10, 2020

Looks great, good functionality as well. Very nice work. Great detail in the photos. How much additional oil capacity do you get adding that sump?
Nice build. Would like to check out your build post/thread When you get around to it

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#1
tomollet [OP] Member

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Squeaky Penguin Nothing Ventured, Nothing Gained

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ToyotaDriver Well-Known Member

#4
Wulf no brain just damage

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ToyRyd04 Taco Transformer

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Arctic Taco Firefly, Serenity Ed. -Arctic Taco, a slow build

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