Did a little chassis restoration...

Hey guys... so this isn't really what I would consider a build thread but just wanted to show some of the work i'm currently doing on my Taco so far. The Taco needed some TLC, the chassis had some rust issues and needed some new ball joints and steering rack ends. the truck was imported into the country a few years ago and it seems like the person just sprayed undercoating on the undercarriage just to hide the rust . So i acquired it from a company that had bought it from the importer knowing the work that had to be done....
So onto some pics.... This is how she sat when I went to pick her up


A few days later... after some servicing and replacing the broken leaf spring and general TLC


Then made a custom roof rack and installed some Vision X LED bars



She stayed that way for a little while until a few weeks ago .... Started the strip down


As you can see the rust is pretty bad... had to replace the brake adjuster/splitter thingy also


The rust had caused the frame to split at this point


Cab and Tray off



Cab mounts totally finished



More rust

 

So the plan was to sand and chip the chassis to remove rust and painted over rust along with cutting out some of the very rusted spots and re-plating them, then we would do a 1st coat of anti-corrosive paint followed by a final coat of Rustoleum Road Warrior coating
Anti-corrosive... this is the same place in the previous pic that had the brake adjuster/splitter attached


Another spot


So I had bought the Energy Suspension Master Bushing kit along with Moog Upper & Lower Ball Joints and Inner and Outer Steering Rack Ends oh also Sway-bar End-links


A few pics after the second coat with the Rustoleum





These sections were where the rust had weakened the chassis causing the split, we cut out the bad sections and welded in new metal



Brake caliper clean up, a caliper rebuild kit was also installed at this time and resprayed with Rustoleum's caliper paint




Rear of chassis re-coated



New cab mounts



That's it for now... will update in the next few days as we proceed. Thanks for looking and comments are welcome

 

Damn, pretty cool to see a Tacoma in another country. Looks like yall are doing some good work! Should be a nice truck when yall get done!

 

Looks like you are doing it right. Nice job!!!

 

Very cool, sub'd for outcome.

 

Coil AND leaf springs?

 

Yea, even though I have the OME Dakar springs, we found that the rear sagged quite a bit with load when I go out of town so this is a quick and very common fix here in Guyana. It's a pair of front coil springs from a Toyota car. It rides really good with and with out weight. Rear doesn't sag with weight now.

 

Did you get the correct length rear shocks after installing new leaf springs?

 

Looks really good. I envy you on having the knowledge to do that, but I really envy you that you have the time and energy to do all that.

 

Yea the shocks are the correct ones, without any load she sits level but with weight it just goes down too much.

 

Why doesn't the frame/chassis come pre-rust-proofed?

 

Toyota wants it to fail so they can make money off of you buying a newer model.


Looks like you're doing an excellent job OP!

 

Incentive shouldn't be because your older one craps out.. It should be because you want the new diesel engine option!

But really, surely that isn't the case, Tacoma's selling point being their dependability?

 

Yup. They have to make money somehow. So by not undercoating, they save money on materials, time spent building the vehicle, man hours spent, and they get to hope you buy another one because to most people it was one of, if not, the best vehicle they had the pleasure of owning.

 

That's evil... evil genius, but evil.

 

That is cooperate America and capitalism for you my friend

 

Sigh.... Sorry OP, hope I didn't steal your thread, great job! Would love to do this

 

x2 i apologize!

Can't wait for your update! Looks great

 

I have also been wanting to rust proof my undercarriage this summer. Is that possible without taking my truck apart?

 

VERY nice work man and very nice truck!!! Its nice to see guys on hear restoring there Tacomas instead of junking them because of a hole or crack in the frame. Most of the Tacomas that iv seen get recalled or totaled are in really good shape... engine wise and body.

Quick question. I like that roof rack!! i like how it makes room for your tool box. What brand is it?? Also to (and iv seen may guys to this with there snorkels) but why do you have the top turned facing the rear?