Broken frame at rear leaf spring/Flatbed build

Look, I had my 09 TRDOR Tacoma for 5 years. I LOVED that thing and went everywhere with it. But needed a new torque converter. I was quoted 15-22 hundred to fix it. I did not plan on getting rid of it . But someone offered me a good chunk for it. Did I sell it? Yes, but almost cried about letting it go. Will I miss it? Maybe, but you gotta understand that a truck is a truck and there will be many more. I have a 16 now and love it.

 

Yeah, you're right. I guess I haven't come to terms with it yet. I'm afraid that if I start throwing money at chasing rust all over the frame I'll eventually spend more time and money then what it's worth.

We had a great 8 years together. Maybe it's time to let her go.

 

theres a guy up here in BC that builds the rear half of the frame for 1st gen tacomas, i think his company is called fractal fabrications. Hes on BC Toyota 4wd on facebook, thats probably the easiest place to find him

 

Thanks, just sent him an email.

 

Hey, Aray: I may be pretty close to you (Highland Park, Seattle). I don't have any welding skills, but I can wrench pretty decent, and have a good selection of tools. If you need anything, or want some extra hands around give me a PM. We 1st Gen guys gotta stick together!

 

Thanks bud, I appreciate that! I'm in Queen Anne/Interbay.

 

I was able to pick up another Tacoma today. Same year same model with a little bit less miles and with a recently installed clutch. Not sure which direction to take with the old one but I'll keep you guys updated.

I'll probably pull the bed off tomorrow to assess the frame damage.

 

Got the bed off to assess the damage. It doesn't appear to be as bed as I had feared.

 

A pic of the new ride.

 

A neighbor of mine is a welder at a local shipyard and he offered to give me a pair of hands in getting her back on the road. I plan to clean up the frame, remove the flakey stuff, and POR 15 the entire rear frame. The front of the frame looks good but I'll drill some drain holes, blast the inner frame with some water/compressed air, and spray some POR 15 inside to stop future rust.

Since I found a replacement daily driver I'm tempted to do a flatbed conversion, smoke stack the exhaust, and install a trail rear bumper and maybe a roll bar.

I'm open to any suggestions though.

 

Working away on being the backend taken apart. Most the bolts are super rusty so progress has been slow and go.

 

I'm actually surprised the rust damage isn't worse.

 

Got the exhaust off as well as the rear brake lines. Next up is to take a needle gun to the frame and cut out the bad stuff.

 

Hell yeah, make that thing into a badass weekend crawler =) Put a simple C-Channel 2x4 flatbed on it and have the diffs welded....

 

I have big plans for this. Stay tuned.

 

Prep work on the frame begins today. Rust/paint removal is the goal.

 

Frame is coming along.

 

Picked up this guy today. A Miller Trailblazer 302 Welder/Generator. I've never welded before but this should make this build much easier from here on out.

 

SafeTcaps ordered this morning as well as a cheap spray gun and several POR 15 prep kites. I want to make sure I have enough to spray inside the frame rails the best I can.

I'll make sure the existing drain holes are clear as well as drill a few more throughout the frame without going overboard.

 

I really like what you are doing. It gives me inspiration and hope if my frame ever breaks. Shoutout to you for not giving up on it like some would have you do