SMKYTXN'S 2011 DCFBFTMFW Solid Axle Swap

Much better. Now get to work!! You may need to help Alex get the 14B back under the Squirrel pretty soon.

 

Looks like I'm getting the remainder of my 3link brackets and frame plates before the weekend, so I'll be busy! I was out there last weekend, but only managed to get the new cross member tacked in and the doors on the Ford fixed. lol

When are we cutting the back half of Red off?

 

This looks incredible... also... thanks for putting unreasonable ideas into my head...

 

I need to finish buying parts for the rear 4 link unless I can convince Dave to build the backhalf off of the truck. Otherwise I'll have to do both at the same time which won't be easy on the wallet.

 

Daaamnnnn its a fkin great project!!!! Can't wait to see it when its done!

 

Subbed! Awesome!

 

I managed to get the frame plates welded on yesterday. I underestimated how much time it would take to get these on, but four feet of weld takes a while.

I also question just how much these are really helping. If you want to strengthen a section you add material to it's extremities. So in this case if I really wanted to strengthen the frame I should have added top and bottom plates, not a side plate.

Also, when welding the shock towers on I will be cutting back through the frame plates so that I can weld the towers to the frame and frame plates. Welding the shock towers to just the frame plate would make for a weaker connection than welding to the frame itself.

Frame plates mocked up. They arrived to me flat so I had to mold them to the frame.



Tacked and molded in. I used a map gas torch to heat the plate and beat it to the profile of the frame.



Here's a closer shot showing the plate conforming to the bend in the frame.



Fully welded.





Driver side.



More plate contouring.



Done for now. Every bit of exposed steel rusts instantly down here so a coat of primer is a must.





The stock airbox, snorkel, and intake hose were just going to get in the way, so they had to go. I installed a URD intake in their place. That will leave me more room for all the other stuff that has to go back in before I'm done.





That's it for now. Next weekend I'll be bracing the frame and cutting out the transmission cross member since it's in the way of the lower links. Everything is in the way!

 

Looks good buddy

 

Murphy's law rears it's ugly head again. I ordered the wrong gears for the front axle, so that's pushed me back another week. I dropped off the new "thick" gears yesterday, so I should be able to assemble the axle next weekend.

I did get some work done today though. The transmission cross member had to go as the lower link mounts are behind it. So I added a temporary cross member under the transmission and a jackstand under the transfer case and got to cutting.

I was going to tack in the lower link mounts, but thought better of it. I'll wait till I get the axle underneath and some mockup links before positioning anything.

 

Saw the truck yesterday.... you're gonna need a v8 to spin those pit bulls they're huge lol

 

What where you doing out at the shop? Did you happen to drop off the cash for that steering rack?

Yeah, they're a tad bit large. lol

 

Getting parts for the 1st gen hilux I'm building

And. Nah man we were talking hilux shit the whole time and it didn't even cross my mind

 

He has more woopow to spin those tires than I do. My 22re will spin my 40s kinda...

 

tacoma 2.7 here with 40"s. It goes on the highway but i stay on the right hand lane a lot

 

damn, and here 90% of this forum is complaining about the smaller tires

 

exactly haha. Well, you have to take into consideration that a lot of people on this and similar forums consider light bars and grilles to be "mods" lol.

 

Phew, at least you didn't mention Derping, otherwise I might be in that category.

 

What if you derped your light bar?

Asking for a friend.

 

@SMKYTXN

Truck going to be ready for the TX4WD thing at the end of October at Barnwell?

 

Negative. I'll be rocking a Pinzgauer though.