NV529's 2006 Long Travel Tacoma

Hey, TW!

I just wanted to start a build thread on my 2006 Long travel truck. Some of you might have recognized it as @mjp2 old Score class 7s race truck, which has a lengthy history here on TW.

I purchased the truck to be used as a sand dune toy at silver lake sand dunes in Mears, Michigan along with weekend Cars & Coffee meet ups around Metro Detroit.

It has been in my possession since June 3, 2023. I've done a bunch upgrades and minor repairs which will be showcased in this thread.

A few bullet points on the truck.
Camburg 4wd +3.5 LT Race kit
Fox 2.5" coil over + fox 3.0" x 10" bypass shock up front
Giant motorsports "Link killer" 64" LT rear leaf pack
Fox 3.0" x 18" bypass shock in rear
SCORE certified chromoly roll cage front to rear.
Ford 9" with LSD in fabricated rear end housing
4.56 regear
Method MR304 wheels on Toyo AT3 35/11.5r17


The day I bought the truck, on my way back home to Michigan from New Jersey

 

Truck was on my lift getting fluids flushed the day I got home from the cross country trip

 

Random photos cycling/drooping suspension to check limit straps.

 

First mods were new wheels & tires. The truck had 33" BFG KM2 on 16" procomp wheels. I decided to modernize the look with 17" Method MR304 wheels in bronze along with a fresh set Toyo open country ATIII 35 x 11.5" tires

 

More random photos. Someone in a local Facebook car group spotted me the other day while running errands for the wife.

 

The Taco parked next to my FJ.

I have a soft spot for 2000s era Toyota Trucks.

 

Added a NRG hub and quick release with 320mm steering wheel because the stock wheel saw better days (blown air bag lol)

Plans to upgrade to a 360ish mm flat bottom MOMO or Sparco when hobby funds allow.

 

Since the race harness expired years ago, it's probably best to replace them. I run this same PRP 5 point harness on my RZR. Figured the race truck could use a set as well.




Also replaced the stock rear view mirror with an eBay special UTV curved mirror. Now I can see around the truck without having to look over

 

Picked up a Badlands 48" hi-lift trail jack from harbor freight to mount on the truck. Heres it is next to the Badlands off road floor jack (pro eagle knock off) which I've been very happy with for half the cost.

 

The hi-lift mounting isolator bushing needed to be replaced on the cage. However the replacement parts will not be delivered on time for this weekend's trip to the dunes. So I whipped up a bushing model in SOLIDWORKS CAD and then 3D printed out of ASA plastic on my Ender 3. This should hold up until the correct parts are delivered next week.

 

To add the finishing touch was mounting up Bunker Industries recovery boards (waiting on a second set to be delivered) and hidden shovel mount behind/below the cage.

 

Made the maiden voyage to Silver Lake Sand Dunes July 4th weekend. I didn't get many photos of truck. Was having too much fun chasing my wife around the dunes while she was driving our RZR. Overall, the truck performed really well for not knowing much about it. First area that needed attention was the bypass tuning. Both front and rear were set way too soft on dampening and too fast on rebound. They were set to factory settings; 6 turns out on short tubes, and 3 turns out on long tubes on the compression side. 6 turns out on rebound. After having one of the local shock tuners take a look over. We landed on 1 turn out on long tubes and 3 turns on short tubes on compression. He recommended a revalve to set the bypass tube springs near the middle of tuning range.

 

After the first trip out, a few other issues I need to address as well. After increasing caster to minimize cab mount rub while turning, and cycling the suspension to full compression it's very evident 35s do not fit the wheel well arcs at all. I also had to remove front bumper to reduce rubbing. Some time this winter I'll end up tubbing the front wheel wells to eliminate all rubbing at full lock and full compression.

 

https://youtube.com/shorts/dyuF_kT_XtA?feature=share

Before shock tuning (around 30ish mph)

 

After adjusting bypass. Same section from a slightly different camera angle.

https://youtu.be/sF5dJhkrm-Q

 

Sorry for IPotato video quality. YT really hammered down on the bitrate for some reason.
These are the only videos I have near the beach front.
We're going back out to the Dunes this weekend. I'll capture more footage from the larger dunes.

 

More thrashing at the dunes last weekend.

https://youtu.be/9UDnVeP6B3g

https://youtu.be/IishQCpQxJQ