02 Tacoma doublecab 3-Link on FJ80 axles

@slander did you put the rear in first or did you swap the front first.

 

He's local as well, his build on pirate that he never updates

http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/toyo...9-tacoma-build.html#/topics/1498450?_k=yxdl71

 

yeah I remember checking his build out, his build pushed me to the 4WU kit.

 

Rear first, about a year and a half before my SAS. started out as a rear brake service, ended up with an 80 rear axle.

 

You missed a step. borrow someone elses then break it, THEN buy your own welder.

 

what did you do for a rear pinion angle just stick with stock tacoma ?

 

Yea, we measured it and it came out about the same as the stock tacoma. it was vibe free up to 80. Also the stock brake system works great with the axle, Dont believe all the garbage you read online that you need a residual valve and adjustable prop valve.

GOT COPE? on TTORA was the first one ive seen swapped into one of these trucks way back when.

 

I already have an adjustable in the back from when I got rid of all the ABS. Im running the 1-ton t100 master and booster, you think that will be a problem

 

I wouldnt worry about it. i just like to warn people about the other brake parts because i fell into that trap and didnt use any of them.

 

Roger that, yeah I have a residual valve laying around from when people told me to get one for the FROR full floater kit that I never put on because they stopped making Celica/supra calipers and I've been too lazy to call brian and figure out what to do with it. With the 80 rear I don't need it, Ill try and get it install-able and just sell it to make some more SAC money back. The credit card is filling up fast

 

For anybody that is serious about wheeling, a SAS is simply inevitable. It's just the only way to go. The performance gains are so huge that it is totally worth the time/money it takes.

LOL! That's real commitment right there

The biggest issue, for me at least, has always been time. Even if my welding skills were up to the task, I would have probably hired a builder to do the work anyway. Working 60-70 hrs per week and sometimes weekends too, there's no chance in hell I am spending the few hours I have available in a week tackling something as big as a SAS. Time off is to watch TV and sleep LOL. I just want to wheel and do basic maintenance. Building/fabricating is so time consuming. I really admire guys that do this at home with full-time jobs, families to take care of...etc.

 

@1999RegCab If I had the money to just pay a shop to do it, I would have been done along time ago, that and I genuinely love working on the truck, it is an outlet for me away from my job and the BS so im kind of stuck in limbo as my next move.

 

Still need:
*pick up a t100 oil pan and parts
*Need to get an ifs box (use my leaky one as a core)
*PS hoses
*heims for the tie rod/drag link
*flatter pitman arm
And a bunch of other small things

 

I feel you man, my buddy built his rig in his shop with almost everything you can think of at his disposal as I looked on enviously.

Every little challenge I ran into he would just say "that's no big deal man" "I'd do it this way if I were you" all the while I could only tack stuff on (terrible electrical at my house that's 20+ years old)

So I ended up just barely tacking things in and my buddy who's a welder (for 15+ years) came over with his mobile rig and did the hard stuff for me. If I had the means to do it myself I would have but it made it my life so much easier.

Trust me, it doesn't seem like it, but setting up your panhard and links and steering and figuring out where full bump is, getting things clearanced and checking for binding, is the fun part!

At the end of the day you have to remind yourself that you're doing that something that less than 1% of the world is doing and that it's all gonna pay off in the end. No matter how many headaches you run into.

/end buzzed rant

 

@Jimmynolife funniest shit ever. That's exactly what I needed to hear man. Your not alone on the buzz. I got after it tonight, had a few mugs to get some perspective, it's when I do my best thinking.

 

It's all based on specific scenarios. If you have all the tools and space at your disposal, then doing it yourself is cheaper.

In my case, I would have had to rent a garage and spend thousands of dollars in tools and supplies I didn't have. After crunching the numbers for the tools and garage rental, paying somebody to do the work ended up costing me about the same.

Only negative is that I still don't have the tools LOL. But to me time is money. I enjoy working on my truck only when I have the time. I'm not in a 8am-4pm type of career, so long gone are the days of spending entire days and weekends wrenching.

It seems like you have all the tools and space, so it makes sense to tackle the job yourself.

 

Yeah i have most of the tools thats not the problem, the issue is the welding.

 

No real big news to report on the conversion front. Got barefoot offroad working on getting some parts for me, if they can source them if not then have to go through lowrange. Also found that ordering the oil pan parts from online Toyota parts vendors instead buying it in "kit" form saves about 40-50 bucks. Taking that welding course on Wednesday, depending on how that goes will decide my next move.

 

Ruffstuff is having a Halloween sale for 20% off so I'm going to pick up all my steering heims and a few other things from them.