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

I got the last coat of satin clear on the axle and gave it ample time to bake in the south Georgia sun. I also got a coat of the semi-gloss black on the frame. I then wheeled the axle back into the shop and immediately realized that I forgot to mock up the rear sway bar and fab some attachment points on the axle for the sway bar end links...

For now I'm planning on reusing the sway bar that I had before (I think it's an old hellwig kit made for the Tacoma). I may try and tie the end links into the lower pushrod mounts, not quite sure. Got some engineering to do for sure. Lol

I knew things were going too smoothly at this point

 

It probably doesn't look much different in pictures, but I got the satin clear on this evening. I'll probably start putting it back together tomorrow.






Then it's time to measure how much of my bed floor I'm gunna cut out

 

Started reassembly last night. Now to start planning for the cuts in the bed floor. I might try to get the bed in place this weekend, but I'm also supposed to be going to get a bigger\better metal lathe as well, so we'll see how much I get done.

 

So much room for activities between those frame rails...

 

This is true. I had half a mind to do a rear end bob... Get rid of some of that unused space/unneeded weight.

 

I was thinking just x-brace the rear frame to stiffen it up. Or mount your fuel cell nice and low for performance reasons

 

Oh I gotcha. I honestly don't think it'll be necessary since I plated in the the entire rear section of the frame. Not to mention both of the bolted-in stock stamped crossmembers were removed and replaced with box tubing and welded in. If I have significant flexing in the frame, I will be concerned. Lol

I still have to install the sway bar as well. So that will be something that's sort of in that area. I may get that done today if I can figure out a way to attach the end links to the axle without having to grind\cut anything else. I've got a couple ideas, I'll post up what I come up with for sure though.

Mounting the fuel cell there is a good idea as well...

 

Over the weekend I didn't get much done except fool around with possible sway bar mounting, but didn't get anywhere sadly. I'm a little hesitant on grinding the paint for more welding unless that is the absolute plan.

However, I did go and pick up this bad boy yesterday. From what I can find it's a 1939-1940 Craftsman 954. 12 x 54. Also known as a rebranded Atlas 10 of the same era. Pretty excited to have a much more reliable and capable lathe.

 

Man, I haven't accomplished much that I said I was going to...

About the only thing I've done on the truck in the past week is get the sway bar mounted to the frame with some riv-nuts. Gotta try and make it to the hardware store tomorrow to see what I can do about the end links.

 

I was wondering where the sway bar and fuel tank were gonna go during all that refinishing!!

Keep it up please, I find myself thinking about your project in my spare time lately.. I may actually be back on the the course myself this weekend since my club is back on the calendar!

 

I def plan to finish it, but sometimes life gets in the way and other things take priority. I'll slowly keep chipping away. Lol.

Glad to hear you're still going racing! I wish I could do it more...much more!

 

Somebody offered me a set of dirt cheap 315/30r18's, I might see if I can cram that under the truck on my 18x10.5 wheels.

 

Very nice, I was almost thinking you said you were selling your Tacoma back there.. super glad to hear its still around and better yet getting beefier tires!! Definitely share the outcome please.

Is it up and running currently or what else is going on with her?

I am signed up for the July 8th event in Lake Elsinore, it's been too long and I am really looking forward to it. The Corvette is track ready too now, so I am getting a bit torn on which to bring out but signed up with Trudy!

 

Welllll that was the plan. Unfortunately life responsibilities changed, and it made much more sense to keep the trucks and let the GR corolla go.

The truck is running like a top, just had the bed off a week ago to fix some exhaust and wiring. I'll post some pics in a bit.

 

I really appreciate working at a shop that lets me use equipment/shop space on weekends for personal stuff. Had to take the bed off to work on exhaust issues/melted wiring from broken exhaust. My taillights did interesting things when I hit the brakes...

 

Sorry to hear the GR did not work out, but on the other hand super happy to hear the Tacoma is still around and getting another shot!

I am finally officially signed up for the next event coming up this Saturday, hopefully I recall how to drive this thing!!

 

I was determined to reuse the sway bar that I had but I think I'm gunna just make my own. Unfortunately I gotta slow down a little bit on the spending because we are going on a vacation trip next week and I'm sure we'll blow plenty of money on that, lol. So for now I switched gears and decided to see if I could get the bed cut up and test fitted. Today I managed to get the main part cut out and mocked it up on the frame to measure out where to clearance it for the upper link bars. I also realized that I won't be able to have the truck as low as I wanted to initially unless I make another attempt at pulling the bed sides some more. Still up in the air on that one. I'd love to get it where it's just barely tucking tire on all 4 corners, so we'll see...

 

Woo! The bed is on! Hell yeah!

 

In lieu of racing my Tacoma at this previous event, a friend let me dual drive his bmw with him. I don't think he'll do it again after I beat him by over two seconds in his own car.

 

LMAO!

My buddy that used to have a '14 Mustang GT would make excuses when I outran him in my Taco.