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

Started work on the rear axle housing. Everything going reasonably as expected so far I'd say, but I only had a couple hours to work on it, so only got through the destruction part today.

Cracking looks extensive to me - or at least more than I expected. I don't think it's all cracked through yet - only the largest (one side of the spring perch) has started to make its way through - but it appears that there is also a crack along the front of the perch (to me).

So, I could use some help/second opinions on the drilling. I tried to use a pencil to show where I think the ends of the cracks are (hard for me to see).

1. I think there are 2 cracks. One "vertical" and one "horizontal."
2. These look like the right places to drill to others? The more detail you can give to show me where you think the extent of the cracks are, the better. Feel free to screenshot and mark up with your favorite paint app.
3. There is a 3rd spot at the end of the video where I sort of point at an area with the pencil. As I look at it on the video, I don't think this is a crack. Agree?
4. Lastly, does the "waviness" of the cracks give anyone pause? I wasn't expecting that. Esp. you Ryan @Reh5108 and Brett @Squeaky Penguin.

And thank you for your time. Very much.

 

I never investigated the extent of the cracks on my old housing before it went to the scrap bin, but there were definitely cracks running along the front of the perch as well. What you really need is Ryan's magic powder that makes cracks more obvious.

 

I see four spots to drill. Sorry about the tiny red circles, hopefully you can see them.
This looks like pretty classic stress fatigue, you’re getting tearing around the perch which is a stress riser where it’s attached to the axle tube. I was originally going to say that you could probably weld it and live with it for a while, but after seeing this I think it’s a good idea that you’re getting a new housing.






That other area to the left, hard to tell. You could grind it down a little more and see if anything appears.

Are you going to groove the cracks before welding?

 

Mag particle would be ideal, but some dye penetrant is a lot cheaper and more readily available to further inspect cracks

 

Thanks very much. Same four spots and questionable spot that I saw. Makes me feel better.

I'm definitely planning to groove the cracks a bit after I drill. Wish I had a die grinder for that, but the angle grinder will have to do. Or maybe a square file for a bit more control.

And then I'm going to hope that my fix gets me 2 months of trips.

I considered some food coloring. I'll have to look into dye penetrant, never heard of that.

 

Might have better luck than me, but all I can find is this 8 can kit

CANTESCO K801S Dye Penetrant Kit, Solvent Removable, 8 Can Kit

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00T46ZDLW

used it before in a welding inspection class I took last semester in college. Really cool stuff, UV penetrant makes it a little easier to see, but it shows all the surface cracks. Mag particle would be best in this situation since you likely have some sub surface cracks there, but I doubt you want to drop $1000 on one of those kits lol

 

Like @DashMaple said dye penetrant would be good here. Usually airgas or other welding supply shops have some.

The way the housing is cracked, I'm guessing it's compromised passed the extent welding will help. But if you partially grind out and drill the cracks followed with a cover/patch plate it could hold.

 

I would say those are all cracks. It looks pretty similar to mine. I did not find any additional indications of cracks after doing a dry mag inspection that I couldn't see with the naked eye.

 

I don't know how I missed this yesterday. No, I was just messing around, be pretty hard to get it to ignite even while you're torching the oil out of the cracks, it'll just smoke and smell.

 

Went for a drive, took 6.5 hours to go 142 miles...

 

So, I actually looked at buying one of these before making one and they retail for $1500 - which is why I took on the challenge lol. I now completely understand why they charge what they charge. That, and the fact that a standard Supra/IS/Celica wheel rewrapped in leather routinely sells for $450. A standard leather wrap would have taken about 4 hours on and off. Between the flat bottom shaping and the carbon fiber, I have been at these two wheels on and off since July! That being said, I would probably sell either of the two I have built for $500 as they are not 100% perfect.

 

To go along with all the rest of the winter projects (the list that never ends)




Going to set this in place of my M8000 (in front) and mount the M8000 in the back

 

So I just drained my transmission oil for the first time that I’ve had the truck for the past 85k miles (I know…) and the oil looks NEW. It’s got that clear reddish tint to it. Is that normal? I’m perplexed cus I don’t remember ever getting this done since I’ve had the truck.

 

That's 100% normal with transmission fluid.

 

Ok that’s a relief. Thanks

 

Currently in a "new to doing mods/actually putting my hands on cars, getting in over my head" mode with a front bumper conversion for my partner's 01 Taco.

Heard that 4runner bumpers from the 3rd gen (1996-2002) look good on the 1.5 gen tacoma (01-04). Found a fairly intact looking front bumper at a salvage yard an hour away, hauled out one saturday and pulled it off a '96 4runner. Did not realize that I should have taken the mounting brackets, too. Sigh. Also should have taken as much of the turn signal electrical as well.

1) Do I need to redo mounting brackets for the front AND the fenders, or just the front? I threw my hands up and ordered 4runner front mounting brackets, though I'm now learning that drilling likely would have worked, too.

2) What do I do with the turn signal lights? The wiring is different in the 4runner. Can I move over the Tacoma housings + lights entirely? What's the easiest way to resolve this?

Thanks!

 

Speaking of winter projects you still looking for a 95.5 to 97 regular cab project?

 

I am. But now I have a bunch of irons in the fire.

Between winches, rebuilding racks, replacing racks, re-doing rear suspension, replacing my new tires with bigger new tires, re-examining my gear to get lighter... etc. I may not be, currently, in the market.

Along with that, I have too many vehicles and not enough places to park them. I'm literally having to park my truck across the street, in front of my neighbor's house right now.

 

Nice its always fun having to many trucks. Im'm getting this guy next week and will probably not do much with it till spring. If you want the cab and frame then just let me know.

 

Okay so I don't think this is a great swap personally. It is much cooler to swap a 01-04 tacoma front end to a 4runner. The 4runner bumper has a big "under bite" look to it. It stick out much further than the tacoma's. But have at it my man. The 96 one isn't bad though, it's pretty slim so be better than a later 3rd gen 4runner. Might be a bit square but you'll find out.

The mounts will be quite different. Nothing that is impossible though. Mainly the frame end mounts are way different, the tacoma has a single stud out of the frame end and the 4runner has a plate with 3 welded nuts on it thats attached to the end of the frame. So that'll take some tweaking to make happen, but not impossible.

It should line up enough that you won't need to do the grill hood fender swap, unless you want too...

I also think you can honestly probably just put the lights from the tacoma into the housings of the 4runner. They might be the same twist lock outlet. I'd check that first. Other wise, just cut the wires and attach them correctly to the tacoma wires and you'll be good.