2000 Turbo Taco - Race Truck Edition, to include wannabe fabricator and machinist stuff(PIC HEAVY!!)

Rough to hear about the move delaying this project. Just read through the whole thread, looks great! Not sure if you ended up using the door trim for the edges of your bed, but we commonly use something like this https://www.brownaircraft.com/BA-085-9C-Cat-Track-Caterpillar-Grommets-p/ba-085-9c.htm for grommets on aircraft, just use some hysol or epoxy to attach it, and it can be painted to match. It would conform to the corrugations pretty well too. Good luck with the relocation stuff.

 

The cheap door edge guard actually worked better than I expected it to.

Fortunately my orders actually ended up getting cancelled right before I was supposed to finish out processing. So no move! (For now...lol)

I am looking at going to the August autocross event. That will help me get motivated to tidy up a few minor things. I did end up swapping the rear springs out because the ones I bought originally were entirely too soft.

 

Here's a little teaser, lol.

4th of July burney!


https://youtu.be/C-w3q3-RUsc?si=Lpsf5xQIhjjorMHn

 

So I've been chugging away at the truck for a few days now. I'm really trying to make it to the event tomorrow, but I'm not sure I'll make it... Just running out of time it seems.

I did manage to make some brackets to mount a second set of calipers on the rear wheels for a hand brake. I'm not really a drifter, but it might be fun to play around with it every once in a while.

I need to finish up some trimming on the fenders and bedsides because according to the rules, you can have cut body panels, you just can't have sharp edges, and I have a ton of those, lol.

I've also got a bushing on the left rear cantilever pivot that seems to be crumbling apart. Not really sure how that happened, so if I can find the energy to make one and get it swapped out then I might just make the event tomorrow.

Btw, those are the factory front calipers from this very truck that I repurposed for the hand brake. It works fantastic!

 

Small update I got rid of the temporary "remote" reservoir, and installed a master cylinder mounted one. The remote one was originally just supposed to get me through last Sunday so I could race, but actually ended up not making it due to that bushing... I'll get the bushing swapped out and hit the next one for sure.

 

I should have taken a picture of the bushing that was worn out but was too in-the-zone on making new ones. I think I really only needed to replace the one side, but I did go ahead and do both while I had everything apart. Here is a pic of the last one before I put it all back together.

 

First event since getting everything suspension wise finished.

 

Finally took the plunge and bought some lighter wheels. I was running steelies before and you can really feel that extra rotating mass. I don't normally like shiny stuff, especially wheels, but this "hyper black" I fell in love with.

 

Im putting in some work on a few final touches and working towards trying to improve the aero. I found this truck spoiler that's meant for something similar to the old craftsman truck series stuff. I really like the simplicity of it. I used riv-nuts to attach it to the top of the tailgate, and still waiting on the strut supports for the rear of it because it does have some flex due to the way the tailgate is made.

 

I got tired of not being able to drive it as often, so I went down to the tag office and got a new license plate and registration. I drove it to work last night for the first time in like 4 or 5 years, lol. There is a scale on base that is always on, so when I left work last night I stopped by to see what it weighs. 2780 lbs without me in it. If my memory serves me correctly, the last time I weighed it it was somewhere in the 3200 lb range with me in it (I was probably around 160lbs around that time), but that was also with the super heavy fiberglass tonneau cover on it as well.

I set up an appointment with a local automotive glass company to come replace the windshield as well. It's had a crack going across the lower half of the whole width of the windshield for about 13 years now. This is necessary because I'd like to take it The FIRM down in Florida and run it on their road course. They do not allow ANY cracks in the windshield...

 

Just when I thought I could just drive it for a little while and not HAVE to work on it, I was driving home from work last night and evidently gave her a little too much beans. The #3 rod let go, both sides of the block have holes now. Picked the wrist pin to that piston up off the driver's side motor mount. Whatever came through the block on the passenger side came out with so much force that it destroyed the oil filter mount, and the oil filter (while still connected to the mount) is lying on the cross-member just in front of the steering rack. Luckily one of my co-workers was behind me, so he gave me a ride home so I could grab my 3rd gen and my trailer to bring it home...

I built that motor back in the beginning of 2018 and have truly flogged the crap out of it ever since. It was meant to be raced (abused), and I did invest a significant amount of money to try to make sure it could take it. I guess I'm not really all that mad that it lasted a little over 6 years with what I've put it through. You gotta pay to play as they say, so now all there is to do is tear it apart and do it again.

When I get the motivation to get it pulled out and start rebuilding it, I'll document it here as much as I can. Until then, I've got a few other projects that I'd like to make more progress on...

 

Well damn, that sucks. As you said you built it to beat on and beat on it you did for a good long while. Update us when you get started on the rebuild.

 

OMG
what a build
STELLAR fab work!
great freakin job

feel for ya as far and engine goes my man
"A True Wrencher's Work is Never Done"

 

Thanks a bunch, man. That means a lot!

I noticed your location in your post header... Fun fact, I bought this truck from an older gentleman in Sugar Land, TX back in 2011.

 

Just read the first couple and last page. Looked at all of the photos. Great work!! I bet that thing is a hoot to drive! I hope your motor rebuild is coming along well.

 

i was a committee member for 10yrs for Hou SCCA Region
im not the best AutoX'er.........did go to Nationals twice (i sucked both times)
but its always about fun factor/friends
of course that was 18yrs ago

i drove
98 Green Subaru Impreza Coupe (STC)
then did complete swap of a 05 STI into the same car
would have to go to SM but no money for R-compounds....luckily, Hou Region had a street tire Unlimited class

what is your home track? (b4 engine woes)
saw the TX flags in the shop

 

Spence Field in Moultrie, GA. I'm active duty Air Force and stationed at Moody AFB near Valdosta, GA

 

Dang
Would LOVE to see that Taco race
Oh the Sounds she would make on track/under power would be heaven to listen to in person

 

Pretty much every time I've raced it at least one person comes to ask why it sounds the way that it does and says how amazing it sounds

 

This Divisional race I was at
Track was a thin airstrip runway
I was working corner at the end of the U turn to head back towards finish
Damn I forgot class, but there was 3 bugeye MG’s all running in same class(running back to back to back)
All of them had 3 rotor engines
Was so freaking loud, all corner workers could not use their radios to call in penalties……for 3 cars running in a row

Dude…….it was literally like 3 Tyrannosauruses were screaming for 3-4 mins straight

One of best days ever!