allenfab's 95 Tacoma build

Thanks for the offer, but I plan on using the muffler that I had on there. It's a Walker Quiet-Flow 2 or 3. The main reason I bought it was because it had the "quiet" in it

 

Haha, yeah, that's why I want to go with the 50 series. Had one on my YJ back in the day and I could hardly hear the difference from stock muffler. It just sounded a little better when I was leaning on the rev limiter.

 

Just finished ordering a couple parts...

4xInnovations transfer case mount
RuffStuff Specialties motor mounts

Both utilize poly bushings so it will stiffen things up and prevent the drivetrain from twisting so much, which causes ripped rubber mounts and drivetrain contact with the body. I am taking a gamble with the RuffStuff motor mounts because they are only labeled as fitting 22R/22RE motors but they look identical to the Trail Gear bomb-proof mounts, minus the shit trapezoid shaped bushing on the TG mounts, and they are advertised as fitting 22R/22RE/3.4, and other motors. I think the RuffStuff mounts will fit though.

Got some 1.5" DOM and internal tube clamps in today from Chassis Unlimited that will be used to finish the transmission crossmember. I am also going to build a mount that bolts to the inspection plate on the bottom of the Atlas that will have another poly bushing that will bolt to the transmission crossmember. That Atlas is ~140lbs.... so I want it supported. And then after that, a newly designed skid plate.

 

or install a 1" body lift like i did and most of your problems will be solved. You could probably install it faster than building custom mounts

 

But then that would cause small gaps between my bumpers, and then it would throw off the lines with the body and my bed sides which are mounted to my tube bed, which is welded to the frame lol.

In all honesty, I get a lot of satisfaction building stuff, probably more than I get with actual wheeling. So the endless building of all this custom stuff doesn't bother me at all. And plus, I hate body lifts

 

That's right, I forgot that you had done all those mods to your bed. So never mind then haha.

I hate body lifts too But a 1" body lift I can tolerate, it's really barely noticeable.

 

Continuing work on the crossmember. The 4xinnovations mount is in, which raised the case and trans up a little bit, which is good and bad. Good for ground clearance, bad because it's kissing the floorboard while sitting still

Also got the atlas inspection plate mount drilled out, but forgot to take a pic. Still thinking of a good way to mount a bushing it or or the crossmember to support it. Motor mounts should be here tomorrow.

 

Trying to understand the pic, so is the full weight of your atlas resting on that cross member?

 

No, I can see how it appears to in the first pic though. Right now it is supported by only the new transmission mount, but later on there will be another poly mount under the atlas

 

Ahhh....got it; the angle of the pic threw me off

Looking forward to seeing the mount you create. I might eventually want some support under my atlas as well

 

Got the ruffstuff motor mounts installed and they are a direct, bolt-on fit (they are different heights in the first pic, but there is a plate that goes on top of the stock mount when installed, so with that in place, they are the exact same height). Took it for a test drive and the vibrations are definitely noticeable but more than manageable. No more shifter movement and it honesty feels like it is shifting better/smoother. Only thing that I need to do now is trim some more sheet metal around the twin shifters for the atlas. After the new mounts, the front wheel drive lever won't shift into high. No big deal though, it will be a 15 minute fix with the air saw.

 

Man, those mounts look really good!

Is your atlas hard to shift? Mine was hard to shift at first. I've heard is even worse for the 4spd.

 

Nope, it's been easy since day one. I think there are just certain things you have to do to get it to shift smoothly like be in neutral, be rolling slightly, and sometimes pressing in the clutch even when in neutral. The only thing I can complain about though is that it has some pretty good leaks coming from multiple spots already

 

Shitty.

 

thats the nature of these cases honestly, my fj case even leaks after the twin stick mod

 

So they're like the Pratt & Whitney of T-cases: if they aren't leaking oil, they don't have any in them.

I hate oil leaks. I'd be going to town with some RTV.

 

Yea I kind of expected it, I've yet to own or see an aftermarket transfer case that didn't leak.

3 of the leaks are easy to fix/easy to access spots. The 4th leak is where the planetary box bolts to the main case, which would require pulling the entire case out and disassembling some of it. That is not what I want to be doing.

 

Haha, I'd be okay unless it was leaving spots on the carport. Then it'd be a contest between my natural laziness and my hatred of oil leaks. I'd be able to hold out for a while, but it'd eventually eat away at me until I couldn't stand it.

 

It's dripping just enough to leave spots, but only after I drive it. After sitting a while, no leaks whatsoever. But I'm like you, I despise oil leaks. I'll just let it ride for now and pull it out next off season.

 

180 miles after the atlas install and already the first breakage ... Speedometer stopped working while on the interstate earlier. It managed to mangle itself and I am pretty positive it's from the tight radius in the speedo extension that AA provides you. They sent me two for some reason so the second one is in. When it happens again, I am going to look into converting it to an electric speedo.

Also, still no flange from high angle driveline