Success!

I haven't been able to post in a while, but some of you might remember this post from a few months ago. (https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/01-frame-swap-rebuild-thread.546223/) Basically I bought a Tacoma in January with high hopes only to discover a completely rusted frame. With the help of a few friends I was able to do a complete frame swap.

After a few months of driving around the Memphis area catching and tweaking other repairs as I could find them, the time came to pack up and move myself, my partner, their dog, and all of our belongings all the way to Berkeley CA. We ended up signing a lease in the end of June and leaving July 10th. Just 3 days before leaving I finally got to changing the brake pads, freeing the parking brake levers, and inspecting the rotors/shoes which turned out to be just fine. Im guessing from years of being stuck and non-functional. . Also managed to rent tools to fix the AC finally! Can't really imagine or want to imagine towing through the mountains and desert without well functioning brakes of AC! Especially at highway/interstate speeds. (Actually I can, in fact have mostly driven through the desert without functioning AC )

Well the day came to finally pick up the Uhaul we reserved and hoped would fit all we thought we couldn't live without (not limited to but including a motorcycle, a walnut dresser, full sized bed and box, a complete PA system with stereo 15" subs, drum kit, 2 guitar amps, and a decent library of records/books, plenty of kitchen tools seeing we both work in the food industry, and a few bikes). Holy Cow! We didn't think we really had that much till we started packing! It got stuffed to the gills and then some! My rear leafs were inches from the frame rails, and the truck felt like a boat compared to its nimble self. With the trailer, bed, and even cab were completely stuffed the dog had to sit on the passenger floor board. It was a suuuuper cramped situation.

First off all this post is really about is HOLY MOTHER OF GOD THIS TRUCK CAN HAUL. It didn't miss a beat the entire 3 day 2200 mile trip!! In every situation throughout the trip we felt pretty comfortable despite how cramped it was, safe, and able to enjoy the passing scenes. The closer we got to Flagstaff the more nervous I got about it being able to handle the gradual uphill haul to, and then the instant drop following. I had done the drive a few times before. It handled everything with relative ease! I have driven brand new rental cars that complained more! As we came back down to the flats and headed towards southern Cali and miles more of beautiful desert, I felt a huge sense of relief. But I knew that it wasn't over. The hills and mountains of Southern California can really test a truck. There were definitely doubts in my mind as to whether or not I had made the right decision. But with each hill we climbed and each bend we took, I felt more confident that the build had paid off and we were going to make it safely to the Bay.

Havent posted since we made it but we are making it! Back to slinging espresso and getting into trouble. My roommate was able to find this Cal20 that needs some work. So im pretty stoked on this new project! Never lived next to so much water before! Its been a lot of fun going out with my partner and taking this dog camping and hiking too! Would have more photos but my camera hasn't worked in some time now... Oh well could be worse right?

Thanks for all the help TW. I don't know when I will have the finances for it but I'm thinking the next thing I need to really invest in on this Taco is a new suspension set up. Really get everything refreshed and relaxed after all these years think the thing just wants to keep going so strong after all these years. Well that and the bumper I guess lol. I kinda like the rusty reminder of its earlier life.

 

Congrats on the frame swap and on the move - hell of a job!

 

I envy the skill of any man who can do a frame swap himself!

 

Dont you just love your Tacoma after all this?

 

Is that boat a Cal 25?

 

@ctjones need to update your profile info now too

 

good eye! its a cal20