What have you done to your Tacoma today? 1st Gen Edition

That is definitely another valid point

Also... how good are the spotters you have with you.

 

New center carrier bearing. New front brakes and a hot ass Florida wash job!

 

Appreciate the advice. Some of these trails are on my bucket list but I wasn't planning on going bigger than 255/85r16s. I'm perfectly fine w/body damage

Sounds like I need to build up some more driver experience if I want to avoid the big saw.

 

Trail gear spring hangers showed up today, they are pretty beefy. Finally going to get to mount my Deavers.

 

Were you able to get the bushings you needed? We went on our MO trip the day after I think you said you might need them and I totally forgot. Can still send them to you if needed

 

Damn it! I wish I had done those when I did my shock relocate last year. Those are beef. But I was still going back and forth about doing 63s or Deavers or Alcans.


I'm still going back and forth on that. But, now I'm leaning towards Custom Alcans… so DAMNIT. I wish I had done those when I did my shock relocate lol

 

I total forgot to let you know, I did get a set from a member down the street from me. Thanks for the offer.

 

what's wrong with the OEM hangers?

 

LMFAO... pretty much the same thing that's wrong with the rest of the frame.

 

Didn't wanna go full beef huh?

 

Thank you.

Down. Pretty sure my stock 19 should be fine.

 

I went with the Deaver J59s but I don't keep a lot of weight in the bed of the truck. Most of my trips are day trips. The thing that sux is the shorter leafs on the older frames. I have to move the mounting point forward 2 inches I figured good time to make it stronger.

 

Funny you say that. I was considering welding on gussets like the ones you made. Just to add a little more Beef. You can say I was inspired.

 

they are in the wrong spot. 97 and older frames have shorter leafs

 

That piece is actually all one bit that's brake bent in 4 spots to make it. They sell it as a builder part cause you have to weld it at the corners and weld in the plate at the bottom. They're so over stout cause you replace an inch of the bottom of your frame with them, they're for frenching the leafs. Makes it so you gain a bit less lift

 

I just can't get over how far back the shackles move. That can't be good for the departure angle. I'm still seriously considering it though. I even have a set of 63s sitting in the garage waiting for me to make up my mind.

 

It's not as big an issue if the vehicle is flexing appropriately, also the shackles I got are made out of 3/8 steel and mounted to spherical bearings, they'll be hard to hurt. The only real concern is that you make sure the portion of frame you weld your new shackle hanger to must have an internal gusset, the factory one could be cut and reused, but it's easier to extend it.

 

I was thinking more along the lines of the shackles/back of the leafs would catch coming down off an obstacle than about hurting the shackle or hanger.

Everything is a trade off. There are pluses to the 63s and definitely draw backs as well. They will use up travel on a 12 inch shock (one of their benefits) but I'm never going to run 12 inch shocks on this truck. I'm not cutting in to the bed, and I'm not running 2 inch spacers to outboard. So that plus is a wash for me. It's a bit cheaper to do than Alcan, but I'd rather have it more right than cheap. So that plus is also a wash for me.

I'd like to get more feedback from those who have 63s, but getting anyone who actually has 63s, on a 1st gen, is like pulling teeth around here.
That mod is more permanent than I want to do without actually picking someone's brain on it.
Unless you're running 12 inch (or more) shocks, I'm thinking it's more of a thing people do, so they can say they did it, than it actually being better.
If it was such a great alternative... More people would be willing to talk about how great it is.

We'll have to see... but I'm definitely leaning in the Alcan direction.

I can see where crawlers like it. If I were doing a SAS, (longer axles/and/or more room due to more lift) it would definitely be a much more likely option.