Shortening an access cab's wheelbase by 14 to 18 inches

After doing my research, I have come to the conclusion of instead of doing a 3 link sas swap for both front and rear, I am interested in having a second gen tacoma access cab and have its wheelbase shortened by 14-16 inches. In other words, shortening the chassis or frame by 14-16 inches.

Will this be cheaper as compared to a 3 link sas swap in terms of material and labor ? Also, where will the stock gas tank go if a cut is going to be made in the middle of the truck frame to shorten the wheelbase? Lastly, am I able to keep my t-case, and both front and rear suspension in stock?

It is similar to this mod without the link suspension mod:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RE9f...xsWjDA&index=2

 

Maybe easier to get a reg cab frame, then swap an access cab and short bed on

 

I'd have to agree with ^^^^ I think i saw a post months ago of a guy on here doing that with a green mid 2000 tacoma. Looked good.

 

Sema did one. Its pic gets whored around the net pretty good. Like an avocado green with a 4.7 in it. Too lazy to look it up.

 

Toyota made one

 

This guy... is probably the god of the second gen access cab shortbed

http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/77748-Containerized-Retromod-Global-Tacoma

 

or sell the Tacoma and get a Ford Sportrac if you are looking for a shorter bed.



Ford Explorer Sport Trac

 

Just spent about an hour looking over that thread.

 

bump......

 

I'm in agreement with the suggestions to start with a regular cab.
The Access cab and short bed will be very close to the proper length for an RC frame, and it will be a LOT easier fabbing up the mounts required for the AC and bed than it will be in chopping an access cab frame down.

For one thing, RC is a single-piece driveshaft (and you don't need the length of the 2-piece if you're chopping the AC down).

Modding an existing access cab is going to be a months-long project.
Swapping AC body parts onto an RC frame could be completed in a couple of weeks.
Look around for a wrecked RC with a solid frame and driveline (rolled, storm damage, cab fire, etc....)

 

how is it harder to chop an access cab frame down 16 inches?

 

its similar to this mod where they chopped a truck frame in half:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RE9fIi6Z8ug&list=FLmhYJTEZ-kPSAqTYgxsWjDA&index=2

 

Chop frame, rework driveline, still have to fab new mounts for the bed....

I mean if you just want to bob it and not shorten the wheelbase, then ya... that's cake, but I get the feeling you want the shorter wheelbase.

The RC is already done and ready to go from the factory...

On the DCSB, the front edge of the fuel tank is under the rear half of the cab, so your fuel tank arrangement on a chopped truck would be similar (might take some rework of the driver's side of the cab floor), but if chopping the AC frame, crossmembers could be an issue.

 

for the bed, I would just flatbed it. New driveline = new driveshaft.

 

however, do i need to change the front IFS, rear axle suspension, and t-case if i decide to chop the frame 16 inches?

 

Hey Tacoma World, Don't waste your time with this guy. He came onto my site with a different user name and asked the same questions but when he was asked questions he never answered them. He asked a series of questions to me on my facebook page as well that were off the wall. He listed his age as 32 on my profile page but then, as we suspected is way younger than that and doesn't even own a Tacoma.

Don't waste your time with him answering questions. He'll just drag you down a rabbit hole.

here are the two threads he started on RST. I have since banned him from there and will watch to see if he tries to get in with a different user name. But I can stop that as well.

http://www.rocksolidtoys.com/forum/showthread.php?t=723

http://www.rocksolidtoys.com/forum/showthread.php?t=720

Wyatt

 

bring it to me, I'll do all the work and charge hourly. It'll probably only be a hundred bucks. You need to give me the title as collateral though in case it costs more and you can't pay.

 

LOL.......