Chris's Long Travel Supercharged do some of everything build

I made a video to mark the end of the Tacomas 5 speed era. I just hope its still as much fun with an automatic. Pretty much everything is here to put it together. I guess i need to get to work on it.

https://youtu.be/DaecCVb4LpM

 

So I was making progress on the auto swap but things seemed to snowball. Somehow adding a switch for the trans cooler fan has turned into rewiring half the truck. I am actually going to install the switchpros I have had sitting on the shelf for a few years. But now I am doing some wiring and installing heaters in the garage because its cold in Michigan. Should be back on truck wiring this week and get that done and get can back to installing trans temp gauge and switchpros panel.

 

For anyone wondering about the RA designs kit here is an install video we made. Gives you an idea of what the kit is and how it works.

https://youtu.be/Wl9iID4SUP8

 

Im suprised this is the first time ive come across this thread. For what reasons are you swapping in an auto trannny, not that im against it I have to trucks with autos and prefer it, but why are you doing it?

 

I am doing the swap for reliability. I haven't been able to get the manual to hold up to the abuse it sees for any extended period of time. It really just does not like the loading and onloading it sees going through rough stuff or jumping. In theory a automatic will handle it much better because the torque converter will absorb some of the load.

In the end I love the fun factor of the manual and banging gears but I am sick of weekends limping through with a broken trans. I keep going the rest of the weekend with no 3rd gear and it bouncing around in the trans.

 

The A340F is a good tranny. On my 4runner I have a pusher fan on top of the tranny cooler to help keep temps down. More than a few times ive over heated the trannys in both my 4runner and my tacoma in the sand and the snow oddly enough not it mud.

 

Do you have a shift kit in your valve body? I plan on putting a decent size cooler with a fan in the bed over the fuel cell.

 

No they are both stock, but I leave overdrive off when wheeling.

 

Putting a Transgo shift kit in. Setting it up for the most aggressive setup. We will see how this 180,000 mile trans holds up.

 

Ok so as much as it hurts me to say it the truck is faster on the dunes with the automatic. It builds power in a more linear fashion. the torque converter seems to keep it on boost so I don't loose any momentum when I shift. It pulls high gears alot easier. The biggest downfall is not having a clutch definitely takes away some of the fun to drive factor and makes it harder to slide corners at times. All in all the truck isn't just blowing the tires loose all the time but that was fun.

First video from the weekend.
https://youtu.be/RjYQ1PeP_ss

 

How does the transgo shift kit feel?

 

The kit feels great. Have it setup for the most aggressive setting and it shifts instantly. It can downshift hard sometimes though.

 

Some pics of how i mounted my shifter. I used mounting plates from wide open designs. Worked out great with my seat bar.

 

https://www.instagram.com/p/CdYEPMcAjiS/?hl=en

 

Attempted to do a build walkaround of my truck. Let me know what you think.

https://youtu.be/VEQxY2wXMBQ

 

So I got sick of not having a windshield washer tank so I came up with this. Its a cheap Amazon tank I just drilled for a larger hole to accept the stock pump. A few tabs on the cage and I have squirters again.



https://www.instagram.com/p/Cguve-bpxpi/?hl=en

 

So my allpro skid plate broke the T case at windrock so I got an Skid row offroad one. Looks like it will work out pretty well.
more in the video

https://youtu.be/oTT3xy_LMNM

 

Welp looks like i've found my favorite Tacoma ever. Beautiful rig! Truly taken back

 

Thank you. I appreciate it.

 

I'd box the bottom of it, I have bent mine sitting on it, and even bent it after I added the reinforcements because I didn't understand how structural support works when it comes to fabrication at the time.

How I did it:



You can see where my tcase started rubbing the skid after it bent, which is what prompted me to do this.