El Taco Diablo... Mall Crawlin, now with LT for tall curbs

Now I just have to figure out a way to squeeze some power out of the 5vzfe. But at least now I know the direction I'm going and I can start finding that out.

 

The bullshit part is that in the 4600 class. Which is the "Everyman Challenge" class.

You're racing against guys like Loren Healy in a factory backed supercharged Ford Bronco lol.

But heaven forbid if I try and have an "advantage" with a Supercharged 20+ year old Toyota.

 

Agreed, I have noticed that over the last few years. It ruins the race for me

 

I can think of $700 worth of stuff that will limit things before a cast crank real quick, but yeah if you can go for it.

 

Tbh racing is kind of a rich man’s sport (hobby unless you break down and hike to the finish).

 

That's a common response, but really has nothing to do with the point about the "Everyman Challenge."

All racing, in general, is expensive relatively speaking. But that's the whole point of having different classes. To have a "Everyman" class dominated by Factory sponsorship is really counter intuitive.

Let's remember... Justin Reese won 4600, in this truck, 4 years ago.





Now the "Everyman" class is, basically, 3 trucks.... that are by no stretch of the imagination owned, built, driven, or paid for, by anyone even close to an "Everyman."



Here's comes a team of not 1, not 2, but 3 factory backed, fully sponsored 4600 "Everyman" trucks. With twin turbo charged rigs, with every bell and whistle, unlimited testing budgets (one of those dudes ran the course 8 times, and GPS marked every single spot on the course, between the time the course was announced and the start of the race).

At 20 grand a set... The portal hubs on these Broncos are worth more than the entire truck that won the "Everyman" 4 years ago.


To call it a "rich man's sport" is also not completely accurate. It's a well connected man's sport. Because I can guarantee 10000% that if I were to line up for the 2025 EMC in a 1997 Toyota Tacoma, I would have more money personally invested in the truck than the guy who will probably win the race (Loren Healy).

While there is no doubt Loren Healy has more money that I do... he will have a net negative amount of HIS money invested in the truck, because he's not paying to build it... and he's getting paid to drive it.

 

a couple thousand? You’ll probably reasonable save like $4k by not having a supercharger.

 

Even better lol

 

Weekend list:

Remove vinyl from hood, prep, and Raptorline the hood where the vinyl comes off.



This is the vinyl... doesn't look this good anymore lol

Replace factory washer nozzels with Honda style

Replace under hood lighting

Replace front brake pads

Rotate tires

Re-organize truck boxes and get tools sorted out (so I don't get pissed on the trail again. because I can't find shit... right @Blue Canary lol)

Attempt to get to the ground on the winch, to clean it, and hope that's what's wrong with it.

 

1 item is in the almost done column for the day.

 

4 wheel rotation and pad replacement ✔️

 

So true. You can piss away so much money so fast on parts. Only to watch them break and have to buy new ones. It's not for me. haha

 

While I'm workin on the hood

 

The difference between running 1-3 races a year for poops and laughter and being competitive in a popular class is way different. Based on what happened to desert racing over the past 20 years it’s not surprising that the Ultra 4 classes are morphing - the 1450 class of desert racing used to be like the Everyman class where it was won with a 4 banger and leafs but now it’s basically trophy trucks with metal cabs. It’s not even the parts that I think about - once in the industry parts can be gotten at discounts but yes they are expensive. What gets me is being able to take 5-6 partial or full weeks off of work.

What textured paint and louvers are you using? Looks nice.

 

Textured paint is Raptorliner. That shit is impressive. I really like it.

Got the louvers off ebay.

 

Also replaced the under hood lights. Some of the old ones were out.

 

Is that rattle can raptor liner?

 

Yep

 

Why'd you go with that vs. vinyl and what else have you used raptor on?

 

Because vinyl turns to shit, in about a year and a half, on 1st gen hoods with no heat shield.



And that was not cheap vinyl. It's the best grade 3M vinyl you can get.

I had aleady done the lower sides, fender flares, and roof.