Auto lockers for 1st gen taco

My first post. I have lurked on the forums for some time, but finally, here I am. Hello from eastern Idaho!

The story goes like this. I was browsing Craigslist on Sunday morning about a month ago. Stumbled across an ad for a 1st gen Taco for $2500, within minutes of it being posted on CL. Looks rough. 260xxx miles. Got out there quick, cash in hand. No rust, nothing major wrong. Ran flawlessly. My first thought was maybe it is stollen. But the owner had his hot rod builds up on the wall all with his name. Same name on the title. I handed over the cash and drove it away as other people were showing up to test drive. She is a 98 SR5, 4x4, 3.4L in red (3K4) with 5spd. Best $2500 I've ever spent.

Over the past few weeks I have been in the process of giving the new rig some much needed love. Overhauled the air conditioning system, did all the routine stuff. Lots of minor things. Idler pulley was metal on metal. Parking brake cable was snapped. Warped front rotors. Destroyed driveshaft carrier bearing... etc. Now that all this TLC stuff is done, I am starting to think about mods. Currently she is bone stock.

During summer months, the truck will see light duty on dirt roads and logging trails in the tetons. It is winter that I will be driving frequently in heavy snow and ice. I don't plan on doing much towing. My axle code is B06A. Correct me if I am wrong... that is open diff, 3:91, 8" rear gear.

Is my front clamshell 7.5"? I am leaning towards auto lockers because of ease of install. I am wondering if others have used the spartan locker / grizzly lockers on Marlin's website. I will probably be doing front first, because I am going to drop the front clamshell to do CV boots and reseal my oil pan.

 

It's an unwritten law here on TW, that you have to post pics of your new to you Truck.

 

If you ever use 4wd on the road for snow an auto locker in the front will be a pain. Otherwise, they are great off-road. I went with an ARB in the front of my Tacoma.

In the rear I have a preference for welding the diff over going to an auto locker next the behavior is more predictable even if it does slightly increase tire wear. It's never gonna lock/unlock at an inopportune time and surprise you. When it's heavy rain or snow throw it in 4wd with an unlocked front and there's no drivability concern.

I've had Detroits in the rear of 2 separate vehicles and they are kind of fickle, especially with a manual because it may lock/unlock and send you darting one way or the other every time you shift. that said you can and will get used to it all the same.

 

$2500 in this economy?

The previous owner may not have stolen it but you MOST CERTAINLY did!!