Snowy's 3-Linked 98 Xtra Cab

So after all the shit talking I do on 1-tons and how awesome Toyota axles are, of course I break the end off of an original 30 spline long. Unfortuantely TG only offered to give me a deal on a new set since I didn't have the original receipt from Bobby. Plus both sides on my truck are custom and they weren't able to get the size I needed. So one phone call to RCV and I have a custom length set coming my way. Best part is that they are based in Rockford and I can pick up locally.

 

Tore down my old motor today and I can't imagine why it was tapping and had low oil pressure...

 

The universe is telling you over and over again to go with wontons

 

First problem I've ever had axle related so I'm kosher staying on Toyota stuff. I'd actually go FJ60/62 front and FZJ80 rear before I'd go D60/14 bolt.

It scales at 3800 right now so it wheels more like a mini truck than it does newer trucks or wagons closer to 5500

 

So I only had 3WD after putting everything together with my new RCV's. I wasn't thinking and didn't check the Detroit for any breakage. Turns out I blew all the teeth off the side gears.



Toss in some new side gears from Eaton and I'm good to go again.

 

Looks like you need rockwells now.

 

so was the Detroit carnage independent from the longs or did the failure from the locker cause the longs to fail?

 

Obviously.

Short side shaft went and then took out the locker. Pretty common for the shock load to do a number on lockers. Really irritated I didn't check it

 

Finally building the exo at the last minute before heading off to Moab. Mostly 1.75x.120 DOM with some HREW mixed in for gussets and bracing. It ties into the bed hoop that is braced with an "X" right behind the cab and into the body in front of the door hinges with plating. Hopefully the Tacoma is short enough that it won't fold over in a hard roll without having to go through the body for more bracing. Unfortunately you can't make a cowl bar for a Tacoma that isn't like 6 inches off the body to clear the hood and wipers. An exo is ugly as sin but I can't bring myself to that level of ugly.

 

From the angle of the pic you are showing it looks good

 

You should have bent the tube along the body to conform to the smashed in side.

 

It's an exo so it'll always be ugly!

The fact I'm exo caging a beat cab isn't lost on me. It was fucking hard to make both sides the same when they are both so raisened up that you have no good frame of reference!

I like my windshield frame and not hitting my head on the interior cage so I'm stuck with it.

Next question, what's stronger? Tying the cross bars from the windshield corner to the door bar upright or tying it into the crossbar that will then be tied in a line to the rear hoop corner

 

How did you end up mounting your aftermarket seats to the frame? I'm going down the same path with some Lexus seats.

 

A lot of Toyota seats from the late 90's and early 2000's have the same seat rail width, just the mounting feet are different. You can cut the welds off the feet and reweld them to whatever seat has the same rail width. Super easy if you have a welder. Just be careful that the Lexus seats aren't too tall, the Tacoma seats have about the same floor to seat bottom height as a Miata

 

Time for an update. I got the exo finished off just in time to take off for Colorado and Moab for a week. Pulling with the 7.3 was great. Until we hit the 285 in Colorado, the cruise was set at 75 and you forgot about the trailer. Even comfortable enough to have my fiancée drive while I slept in the back so we could go straight through. 3100 miles on the Ford and 400 on the Tacoma all said and done

Ended up having a blast...stayed in Telluride two nights, ran Imogene but not Black Bear. I didn't have the nerves to run Black Bear back into Telluride at night. Stayed 5 nights in Moab, ran Rusty Nail, Gold Bar Rim, Poison Spider Mesa, Golden Spike, 7 Mile Rim and Hells Revenge. Rusty Nail was my favorite by far, serious pucker factor. The picture game wasn't as strong out in Moab since it was so hot and I was hiding in the truck's AC. Carnage was minimal, my frame started to rip by my rear shackle mount but was an easy garage fix. I think I've got a evap system issue as well, I was dripping fuel out the vent tube from the charcoal canister. Not sure if it was a VSV issue or something related to the Ford tank being exposed to 100+ degree heat all day.

 

Funny to think i got rid of the truck because i didnt want to drive it to colorado..................

 

I almost called you so you could see the old girl too. I would have no doubt about driving it to Colorado but she gets pretty wheezy at elevation for sure

 

I've finally decided that the truck is going to get tons...won-ton's though. The rear axle is officially sold to fund a FZJ80 rear axle swap. I'm wanting to make the jump to 40's in a couple years and I found a deal on a housing and third that I just couldn't refuse. Longer term, I'm thinking about selling the front axle and going to a hybrid 9.5" center with D60 outers.

 

Don't discount the 14bolt man!!

 

I haven't ordered anything yet...sell me. I'm about $800 all into an FZJ80 rear with gears, master install kit, locker and spring perches.