Building the "BEAST"

The First '05 + Tacoma SAS
Setting the bar high right from the start!






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OK. some people wanted me to start a build thread on my truck so I said I would. Please be patient with me on this one as I have to go through thousands of pictures and try to remember what we did. I will also scan some of the Magazines it has been in here and there.

So here we go.
This was the morning after I brought the truck home from Power Toyota in Irvine. It's an '05 Tacoma 4x4 sport double cab TRD edition. Thats my wifes '04 4Runner I bought for her brithday just 6 months prior. It's the sport model also with the 4.7 V8.



I then put 3,000 miles on it to get the first oil change out of the way and we then brought it into the shop. This is the picture that was on the front cover of the premire issue of 4wd toyota owner magazine.
For those of you that don't know him, thats my buisness partener, Jason DeMello. He sure did look happy holding that torch


But first we had to take a bunch of stuff off before the torch could be used.
Thats me on the jack and Jason on the seat.


The guy kneeling by Jason is the editor and owner of 4wd toyota owner magazine, David Zartman.


I know this is just a couple of teaser shots, I'll have more up tomorrow night.

 

Can't wait!

 

oh hell yea!

 

Got alot of the front suspension of now and pulling the front diff and stuff out.


Here are some expensive, barely used parts just waiting for a new home. Sorry folks, they are all sold now.




A brand new truck ready for the torch. It was nice to work on a clean truck though.



And the cutting begins. There was no turning back now



Getting close to grinder time. I hated that part

Disgarded parts that are only good for srap now.


And here is the jewel that will relace all that IFS stuff. It's a Currie rock jock 60 that is high pinion with reverse cut 5.38 gears, an ARB locker, 35 spline axle's Ford F-450 knuckles, Wilwood 4 piston disc brakes, and Warn premium hubs.


Stay tuned for more.

 

oh man oh man, this truck is gonna be sick!

 

it already is! haha this is what time travel must be like

 

Started Grinding. Hated it.


All ready to start plating the frame.


After we ground down the frame we set the axle under the truck to see how it fit.




We noticed a couple of things right away. The swaps on the '05 and later 4.0 trucks would be easier than the older Taco's. Heres why. The oil pan is already set back so you don't have to change the oil pan. The steering shaft doesn't come down straight like the older taco's so you don't have to change that angle either, and the frame kicks up about an inch and a half higher than the older Taco's not to mention that they are bigger in the front. This just cut down the amount of fabrication needed to do to do a swap on these trucks.



Now we started plating the frame. We plated both the front and back of the frame as well as the top and bottom. Now we don't think that this is needed to do the top and bottom but we did't want any problems and felt it was cheap insurance.



The two plates at the front of the frame on the drivers side were made to incoporate the mounting for the new steering box. We used an early model IFS power steering box from a Toyota truck. These are what are normally used on these swaps.

This picture is here just to show you how big the axles and knuckles are on a Dana 60.


More to come later.

 

Sweet post!

 

x1000000000000000:d

 

On the edge of my seat! Great thread!

 

come on

 

yeah, I was thinking the same thing, lol. For those that haven't seen this work of art, you are sooo in for a treat as this thread progresses.

I mean really.

 

damn this is awesome!

 

Very nice, Want to do mine next?

 

UPDATE!!!!! now...lol

 

awsum indeed....thanks for the time your putting into this writeup.

Got me a brand new bag of >> so when you get time, I'll be following the transition.


Very cool to already see the final product and then get to see it unfold!!

 

I will do my best to update it at least once a day. The weekends may be hard but I'll do my best.

 

This is looking good man cant wait to see the finished product