Fitting 35’s with minimal trimming NOW ADDING LONG TRAVEL AND 934 CV’s

Hi guys... not sure if this is the right place but I wanted to start a thread documenting my build. I just picked up a 2015 that had some mods and now I want to put my touch on it. While the truck looks pretty sweet the way it is I just can’t leave it alone. I will be doing some stuff I haven’t seen done before and am excited to share with you guys. The plan is to make new lower arm pivot boxes that push the arms forward 1-2” and then build an upper arm to correct the caster as well as modify the steering arm to eliminate bump steer. I will also be modifying the LCA to accept an air bump and limit strap. The main goal is to fit 35’s without limiting the travel and not having to beat the hell out of the firewall for them to fit.

Before you guys tell me I’m nuts and this won’t work I would like to qualify myself... I have 15+ years of off road fab experience and for this specific project I will be working with JD Fabrications to ensure the geometry is perfect. The idea is this will be a simple kit to install, won’t cost a fortune and allows the fit of 35’s without having to hack up the truck.

Please feel free to ask me questions, I’d love to hear what you guys think. Below are some pics of the truck and a few of my 81’ ... enjoy!

 

Welcome to TW

 

Literally just got done texting a buddy how to hammer over his pinch weld.

 

I’ll wait to see if you pull it off. My 82 Toyota had 8” lift with 38’s. Those trucks kicked ass.

 

I’ve read through hundreds of pages on here about what guys have done to fit 35’s and there has to be a better way. I’ve been working on the design with JD Fab for a few weeks now and am really excited about it. I will also be cutting the front frame rails back and so I can integrate a skid plate that ties into the lower arm pockets and has a much improved approach angle. I will be keeping the stock bumper because I prefer the look but will be running a tube behind the lower bumper cover just in case I get a little too wild.

I understand a lot of guys don’t care for the stock bumper but for me this is not my main off road truck. The idea is to have a very clean looking truck to drive around town but can still take a beating during surf trips in Mexico or when doing MTB shuttle runs

 

I LOVE my 81... it’s at stock ride height with 37’s, I don’t have a stock frame though

 

Your approach angle won't improve if you are keeping the stock plastic bumper you'll still drag that and catch that on everything. Not much sense to me in doing that unless you get rid of the bigbulbus and low hanging front bumper cover.

 

The stock skid plate hangs fairly low and acts like a snow plow at full bump, I am trying to eliminate that and at the same time it will tie the lower arm mounts into the frame for added strength

 

But that isn't approach angle that's ground clearance in that area. I've looked at this and have been working on something to deal with that. Take the factory skid off you'll need to move both front diff mounts to on top or the side of the cross member and cut that bulge off the cross member. Those things limit how high you can get the factory skid.

 

I agree it’s ground clearance under the bumper or I’m calling it approach angle underneath the stock bumper but you get what I’m saying. And the mods to the stock front crossmember/diff mount are exactly what I’m doing with the new front pivot boxes

 

Awesome idea, but in order to fit 35s and full bump and lock, you will need to cut or hammer a lot of the inner fender towards the front, in the windshield wiper reservoir/battery areas

 

I'm interested in what you come up with!

 

I get that... the biggest thing I’m trying to avoid is hacking the cab mount to almost nothing and beating the pinch seam to the point of leaking

 

No disrespect meant here, but to me, the pinch weld and the cab mount were the easiest parts. It seems like a lot of work/$$ to avoid the easy parts. That said, I'll still be following this thread.

 

I like the idea, but they do already have cab mount relocation kits and no one is losing any strength integrity using those. Also, I'm sure "Won't cost a fortune" is all relative. Do you have any idea of a price range this will cost? Looking at your other rigs set up, "a fortune" might be very different things to people.
Beautiful stance on that thing. What motor are you running in it?

 

I'm on board

 

Also curious on price. A lot of people didn’t spend any money getting 35s to fit. Just time.

 

I get that fitting 35’s isn’t really difficult it just requires a big hammer and lots of cutting, I’m trying to avoid excessive cutting and hammering especially after reading about guys having their cab leak from beating the pinch seam. I’m trying to come up with an alternative so I don’t have to hammer the hell out of my new truck. The other thing I’m trying to do is reinforce the lower pockets and improve ground clearance/approach angle down low

 

I started another thread for the 81 in the correct section with more details on it

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/81-tube-frame-trekker.626283/#post-21407834