Gear Head's Solid Axle Turbo Tacoma Build

On my double cab, I plan to protect the top of the cab with cage work similar to Matts where it follows the A pillar down into the fender and ties into the cab. For structural rigidity, I want to go through the cab at the B pillar and put an X or something behind the front seats. C pillar will get a standard hoop that ties into the sliders just behind the rear doors. The doors/fenders/hood won't be protected but the general structure of the cab should remain intact should I roll it. Now I just have to draw it all up and start bending tube

 

I have seen quite a few xj's with that style cage and it looks really neat and clean. I follow you on instagram and your work is really clean so I know you'll pull it off nicely! I really want to give Matt's tubework a go myself but I can't seem to justify buying a bender when this and a new flatbed would be the only thing it would get used for.

 

Got my pro comps mounted. Hopefully I don't trash the lips too much before I buy a beadlock kit.

 

So buy a bender that retains its value and sell it when you're done. I get attached to tools easily so I probably wouldn't be able to sell it when I'm done but you can try LOL Thanks! I'll try and keep it interesting. Had to spend a random $300 to replace all the injectors. Damn motor problem impeding forward progress on suspension and tools to build a cage!!

 

Ha yeah I may just say to hell with it and pick up the jd2 m32. I could always make a couple bumpers to pay for the bender too..

And I hate paying for unexpected shit. Stuff seems to always come up when I have other plans for my money haha

 

.... May have to rent it off you or something

 

Oh I see how it is... gonna let me spend the money and use me huh

 

If he doesn't, I will

 

LOL not using if I rent it off ya, then ill be paying you back for part of it lol

 

Yeah yeah.. lol

 

Don't get mad, I'll get the beer and pizza and tell Ashley that we're just putting puzzles together

 

Got a call from Oliver's today. Front shaft is done and he finally got a chance to spin the rear to figure out what's going on. Turns out when the PO shortened the shaft for the duals, he welded it back slightly out of phase .250" out of round. This is perfectly ok for what he was doing with it but I want to be able to street this thing at highway speeds so I'm having Oliver's cut it apart and square it all up. Their max allowance for out of round is .005", big difference lol.

 

The M32 is a great bender! That's what I use for my business and I like it a lot. Ive got the Harbor Freight hydraulic ram attachment that runs off the air compressor. That makes it REALLY nice! No yanking on the handle with a cheater bar all day

 

Haha yeah I'd go that route too. My neighbor just bought one of those air over hydro rams to put on a engine hoist and it's pretty neat just slow.

 

Can you snap a pic of the exhaust with the pax side tcase drop for me? I'm going to swap my lefty back over to a righty and run some fj60 axles, and I'm curious to see what kind of exhaust mods are needed.

Thank you!

 

Yeah no problem bud. I don't have a driveshaft in there right now though. It's built just waiting on them to straighten out the rear shaft.

It's tight as shit but it should work. I also have a long tube header which doesn't help the situation.

 

Yeah they are a bit slow, but doing it by hand with the cheater bar is slower!

 

Plus you can stand there and drink beer while the ram bends the tube for you

 

Haha those are very valid points. Idk, we'll see. I think I may buy a few more little things for the tacoma to get it wheelable this year then focus on eliminating some debt this year so the bender may come later.