What have you done to your Tacoma today? 1st Gen Edition

My passenger side was the bad one as well.

 

Well glad to hear I'm not the only one

Is it normal for these to taper inward toward the rear like this?

 

I did do that project like 6 years ago, so that probably explains the better fit up, and less f'd frame.

Yes, they're designed to tie into that boxed section above the shackle hanger.

 

Do you have weight on your truck with no crossmembers in? I'd put it up on jack stands with no axle otherwise things are likely bending and deflecting, the frame is super weak and floppy without the members in.

 

The only crossmember I took out, is the spare tire one since it has to come out to box the frame. Rear bumper is still attached.
rear axle and tires are still installed and sitting on it's own weight able to roll around on all 4.

Are you saying to separate the rear springs and axle from the frame and support the frame with jack stands that way? I don't see how that would be any different than leaving the axle attached because either way the springs and axle are unsprung weight so it's not like they're contributing to a load on the frame, right?

 

At least you have a crossmeber in still and the bumper, should be okay. I'll take a short video when I get home, with no bumper or members and the leafs off the frame and frame supported up by the cab on jackstands, the two rails can be moved a ton in any direction by hand

 

It's trying to be like the dodge swivel frame

 

Oh ya, no I wasn't planning on removing the bumper too cause I've heard the same thing.
Curious to see that video and exactly how much they move by hand, but I bet it's a lot forsure

 

who needs suspension flex when you have frame flex.

 

It looks like fitment would be better if it moved forward a little. So many frames have likely been tweaked over the years, not to mention who knows the condition of their model frame too.

It could be worse, you can design the templates specifically for your truck and still fuck it up...

 

This was basically what Pontiac tried with their convertibles... turns out you can damp suspension flex with shocks... frame flex just continues to oscillate haha

 

They must have a terrible jig setup if they are even using one. I've seen kids in shop class cut straighter with a torch.

 

Ya I'll play with it some more, but it's only gonna get so good.

lol ya I remember reading your thread way back when you were doing it. It was really just that one area. Everywhere else is still better fitment than the TG ones.

I thought about making my own, but I got the TG kit for free so wasn't worth the time trying to make some when I can just stack up some metal with the metal squirt gun.
I do like how far forward you went with your boxing though.

 

If you're talking about TG, it's all just done by laser with the same program as since they released the product.
Just goes back to what we were saying about all the variances in our trucks. Not to mention being ~20 years old and high mileage

 

Cardboard bruh. Coloring inside the lines was never my thing.

That shit snowballed on me, but I tend to always do that to myself. I jumped back and forth on it a bunch but at the time the full 4x8' plate and tube cost like 60-100 more than the TG kit and I just sent it. I boxed mine less for off roading but hoping to strengthen the frame in a rear end collision.

 

CAD, yes. I would have transferred the cardboard to a sheet of 1/8" ply or something to have a more stable edge. Unimportant now. I'm assuming it all worked out in the end.

 

I learned in retrospect I should have used foam board, it would have been far more stable to run the plasma against. Live and learn for sure.

 

Got ‘‘em in. What a great company, service and quality. Look great too.

 

I love mine!

 

Painted and installed 4crawler shackle anchors




and a well hidden fuel cutoff switch.