2nd gen tacoma 3link

I got the steering box location holes drilled through the frame and have it temped up. When drilling through the frame you will have to drill through 2 internal threaded studs. If you use a holesaw without the pilot bit it is fairly easy to bore directly through them and then put the pilot bit back on and continue through the inner frame wall. I’m a carpenter so I used a plumb bob to reference both stock and proposed wheelbases. I still have to clean up the inside of the frame rails where the old cross members were before I slide the axle under the truck.

 

It’s not to late. Push that steering box as far forward as you can. You’ll thank me later.

 

Good progress this weekend in between fam and boozing/eating.

 

Doesn’t look like it but there’s only 1” from the steering box to the body mount. At the top end. I’ll keep it there and see how it looks with drag link

 

Bought Coilovers today. Went with 14”king 2.5 remote rezzi. I just had to pull the bandaid off and get it over with. That’s probably the last big ticket item I needed to get. I might run hoops instead of towers too.

 

Just doing curious research on my end, what frame height, uptravel and down travel are you looking to get out of the 14s?

 

Frame heights I don’t know yet but going for 5”up and the rest down. For 5” up it will need 6” of shaft showing. I’ll figure out ride height once I get the shocks in hand and start on links and panhard.

 

Let's get in the weeds. Why are you opting for the 3-link ?

 

Sounds like the approach I'm taking. Going 14 shock but looking for 12 inch of travel and 1 inch of safety net on bump and drop. Any idea on your link mounts on the frame end? I'm building rear crossmember now for the link mounts to go to but always like seeing what others come up with

 

I’m doing 3 link to try and keep it lower and not have to fuck with more shit around the tcase and gas tank for a couple reasons and a well built 3 link works great. Most failures when wheeling are due to shredding to hard. I’m a light footed type of wheeler. I’m not against a 4 link though.

 

What are the future plans you are making room for?

 

I’m going to do straight links on the lower links right in line with the frame and plan on using ruffstuff link kit and brackets. if that’s what you mean and I have a 10deg upper link mount on the inside of the passenger frame. I will have to check it out because it might hit the frame. I still am thinking things through. Buying the shocks just crushed my funds and I need to buy some different shock hoops. I have Barnes towers but am going to go with a 1 1/2” .12 dom 60deg ruffstuff hoop. It will make running the linkage to the steering box way easier and keep it more open. Also the Barnes towers don’t look like they are the right angle that I will need.I guess I could cut the rear flanges on them to angle. I will see.

 

I have a twin stick Fj case and another box in the garage to do dual cases at some point

 

Nice, I was looking at Ruff stuff brackets but ended going Barnes on the link kit and brackets, caught them on a 20% off sale and couldn't pass them up, picked up some weld washers as well to prevent messing up the bolt holes. Good to know about the shock tower, I had an eye on the barnes tower you got but I'l may have to rethink it now.

I need to get shocks next, that's my last big purchase as well, almost done with recouping from the tires I splurged on. Stuff is not cheap

 

Did a little mock up of the steering. Might move the box forward an inch and axle back 1/2”-3/4 .the bump stop pads and sway bar tabs that were on the housing when I bought it need to be removed and I will reposition the bump pads later. I need to look into upper link. It might be really hard to get the upper link the same length or a little longer to keep pinion angle ok throughout droop. Will be looking into it. Will have Coilovers in 2 weeks. Need to buy shock hoops. And pitman arm. Probably ruff stuff hoops and sky pitman arm.

 

Subd for a sweet build

 

What spring rates did you get for the coilovers?

 

Ordered a front range off-road tcase crossmember.