95 5lug 2wd Tacoma

So, the beauty (2wd 5lug 2.4) is 30 years old and lies in a 16 year old’s hands at 136k miles, 2nd owner, rebuilt engine, and about 4k poured into it… all the effort, it was 10/10 accept paint, and all that to get hit while driving. I now have some play money (they totaled it so you do the math)- i’m getting a salvage and nothing is wrong with it (functionality wise) so i’m contemplating bags vs lift. It was my grandmothers truck, and she would honestly hate it slammed. I’ve gathered some info from the Forum but need some direct advise, Fabtech spindle kit, AAL, and a body lift? I’m shooting for the 6-9 inch aerea, i live in AZ and want to take it off road and camp. I need more travel! I looked at the long travel kits but- at 16 with a job and no welding experience and that as my daily i cannot bring myself to pull the trigger. Now it’s your turn, educate me old heads (i may have messed up posting this, i’m new to it all.)

 

Sounds like you're gonna need to start saving and ride it as is for a while. Pretty expensive to turn a 5 Lug Tacoma into what you are thinking. I wish you luck. It is a cool truck and would be rad to see converted, but honestly I feel like you're better off just starting with a 6 Lug Tacoma from the start.

 

YO
Welcome!!!

my taco pretty much same as yours and going to my kid

just be aware
5lugs with 4cyls
Put too big of a tire, lil engine can’t accelerate worth a crap
0-60 in 25 seconds…..at best
From what I’ve read, 5lug suspension not the best to modify/lift

that patina you have on blue paint is incredible! I would def save that. Clear coat it or use that brush on Shine Juice

are those 15inch or 14inch rims?

 

I have a 96 5 lug. My long travel experiment has been a nightmare. I would leave it stock and just use it as it was meant to. Basically a car with a bed

You don't want a 6-9 inch lift, none of the geometry on the truck is meant for that. If you absolutely want to throw money at it here is what I would do

fabtech or Doetsch Front lift spindles, new Doetsch upper control arms for the lift, then put the biggest shocks and springs in it that will fit. ~$1000-$1200

Change out your 3rd member to 4.10s, add a tru trac - $1200-$1400

235/85/R16s - ~$500-$1000

Then measure how low your rear is. Have Deaver or Alcan or some other leaf spring MFG build springs that will correct the rear ride height, handle the truck and payload how you want, and be built for your truck and hangers - $800

Get new rear shocks ~$200-$500

 

so a retirement project? i will
just do the paint and put it on bags then

 

I appreciate it, i am gonna look into bags. That was the next step because i’ve read a lot about the process being hard and i appreciate it. Slammed taco soon

 

Long travel to bags is kind of the opposite direction. Don't take this the wrong way but it sounds like you don't know that you want and just want to do something.

That's fine too, but do something cool then, like turbo it

 

Well- no. I’ve been thinking about it sense i was little and my uncle had the car for a bit. when i first got the car it had a oil run off for a turbo and it leaked so i needed to replace the oil pan. I’ve thought about putting on a turbo and slamming it just as much as lifting- but again, i’m kinda new to (actually doing) any suspension. with that said- i’ll get a different truck when im older to torture with big kid money.

 

If I had a choice for your taco
Slammed or Lifted

would slam it with bags all day long


Keep that Patina!!!!!
So fucking sweet looking