Snowy's 3-Linked 98 Xtra Cab

The name of the game in 2024 has been refinement. Just continuing to refine this thing and work on it to be a better and better daily driver. I’ve got an LS460 for winter and road trips but my work commute is only 10 miles, perfect for the Tacoma. I’d also like to get back to driving it to some wheeling trips too.

I added dzus tabs for easier servicing the back half of the truck with the bed sides off





I built a new exhaust with a v-band clamp instead of the dumb Toyota flanges. I couldn’t make the header collector stop leaking so it can’t leak if it’s all welded together. New cat and O2 sensors fixed my perpetual P0420 from the gutted cat. Also pretty confident that I picked up 10-15hp from not having a crushed exhaust.







I got a little too close spotting Slander in Harlan and punched out a corner marker. So that spiraled into fixing the entire front end and droopy headlight I’ve had since flopping it. Straightened the core support, realigned the fender, new headlight and new markers.





My hydro assist ran got remounted to get it out of the rocks after I bent a rod at Flat Nasty. Mounted it off the panhard bracket instead of the diff.



Aside from that, it got a new OEM gauge cluster bezel to replace the cracked one that I’ve had forever and also ordered new interior grab handles from a 4Runner to replace my whooped driver handle and missing passenger handle. Sounds frivolous but I’d rather get the stuff now before it becomes unobtanium later since I’m hitched to this truck forever.

 

Been a slow summer and fall wheeling season for the Tacoma. Wheeled Flat Nasty for a long weekend in June and Hawk Pride in October. Took a week of vacation to explore the southwest in a Bronco and play overlander around the AZ strip that put a dent in other trips but was worth it.

Paid the Bundy's a visit on the way out to Toroweep. 110% worth the drive out from St George.





Found some cool slot canyons on BLM land and hiked the Narrows at Zion. Had a really good time mixing it up between national park camping and BLM camping over the course of a week. Super interesting to get all 4 seasons from 110* heat in St George to freezing temps at night in Bryce Canyon.





Went wheeling over Halloween in Hawk Pride and played shop truck for the weekend. First gen 4Runner lost a fuel pump on the hill up to the park. Slander needed an impromptu diff rebuild after he lost a pinion bearing on the way out. Flipped the diffs front and rear, reshimmed the pinion and set the pattern using mustard mixed with gear oil. Worked perfectly fine for the weekend. MJ needed a crossmember welded on. XJ needed an alternator, rear u-joint, and a helicopter recovery after it lost a LF u-joint in a huge undercut. Tacoma was flawless all weekend, which is nice. Only change before the trip was adding an inspection port in the front housing to check the R&P condition without pulling the front end apart.

 

Couple of videos and Slander and I playing wanna be rock bouncer on the same hill.

https://youtube.com/shorts/YfzIca3hEXQ

https://youtube.com/shorts/8ycY4BrSptU

 

Where's that at?

 

Somewhere in the back corner of Hawk Pride, the trails are numerous enough there that I'm not even sure which one we were on.

 

Well, I got the new tire itch so I did the responsible thing and ordered a set of 40’s. The stance is just right with them and it drives way better on the street than expected. No need to balance and it’s happy as a clam to run 65 all day

 

Never realized the rear was shortened. What’s the wheelbase at?

 

I'm like 116 with the stretch in front. I'll grab a good measurement tonight. It's shifted a few inches both front and rear in different directions since I last measured.

 

A lot shorter than I thought an extra cab could be. I was shooting for 118 or shorter on the new build so gives me hope

 

Went and measured today. Dead nuts on 119”…must have stretched the front more than I thought with the 3 link.

It would be easy to slide the front back an inch and the rear forward at least 3-4”, if not more

 

Bolting 40's on the Tacoma was easy. Actually making them clear kind of sucked compared to 37's that already rubbed the inner fenders. Got it down to just rubbing on the steering box, which there's not much I can do about.

Had to ditch the factory airbox and battery locations. Just pop riveted some sheetmetal in to keep mud/water from splashing up. The driver's side is 10 lbs of shit in a 5 lb bag up by the firewall but it'll work. At some point I should just rebuild the whole front inner fender structure, but that day isn't today. The wiring was cleaned up significantly more since I took the picture to ensure no chaffing anywhere.





I moved the battery to behind the cab. Bought good heat shrink and a crimping tool that was worth its weight in gold to get everything situated to the distribution blocks. Threw a 300 amp breaker on the battery that should be cover winch loads fine and keep things from burning down in the event of a major short. Came with the added bonus of being an easy battery disconnect too.





Other than that, the punch list is pretty short before heading to Hot Springs in March.

-Clutch slave has a slow leak, new Aisin one is in hand and just needs to be installed.
-Change all fluids
-Possibly pull the tcases to fix a slow leak and inspect them while they are out of the truck.

 

I have to admit that that the 40's were great at Hot Springs, the truck just went up anything I pointed it at. The increase of diff clearance was appreciable as well. Took almost no pictures as usual but had a great time.









Zero to do on my punch list right now. AC still blows ice cubes for summer and I changed the carrier bearing that was well past its best by date after Hot Springs. The inner bearing completely had separated from the rubber that was literally torn all the way around. Changed it and noticed absolutely zero difference since it somehow wasn't shaking or having any vibes at all.