Wile E. Coyote Prerunner Build

So this is a build I've been wanting to do for years, but finances and time kept me from committing to it. A year ago yesterday I started my side business Phoenix Speed Shop, so if I'm not fixing someone's vehicle then I'm usually building crazy things like drift trikes that run nitrous. I finally decided that I had been building and fixing vehicles for other people for too long, it was time I committed to building something for myself.

I've owned my Taco since 2013 and bought it used with about 50k mileage on it. As he sits now, he is at 177k; so my first priority was to make this truck mechanically perfect. The last thing I wanted was to be stuck in the dunes or up in the mountains with a busted vehicle. I do realize this engine is approaching 200k and after this build is finished my goal will be to slap in a Tundra 5.7L engine and transmission into this Tacoma when this one dies, but that's a headache for another day.

So first things first, no pictures on these since we all know how to do these things. Amsoil rear differential, new transmission filter and gasket, flushed the transmission fluid, cleaned the throttle body and MAF sensor, Amsoil engine flush and new injectors. I do have a 2 liter oil catch can coming to keep the gunk out of my engine.

Ok, so now that the boring stuff is out of the way let's get to the build. I wanted to break this build into 2 parts, I didn't want to one of those people that starts a build and 4 years later it's still sitting in my garage. So I went all out on the front suspension and will back half the rear in a year or 2.

Front suspension:
King 2.5 coilovers with adjustable resevoir
Total Chaos +3.5 long travel kit
Total Chaos weld in spindle gussets
Total Chaos lower gussets
Total Chaos front cab chop
Total Chaos upper control arm gussets
Spidertrax +1.25" front and rear spacers



Rear suspension:
BAMF rear shackle and shackle mount
BAMF rear shock relocation
King 2.0 bump stops
King 2.0 +2" smoothie /W adjustable resevoir
AllPro +3" rear leaf springs
Kartek custom assembled limit strap kit

Armor:
Allpro front skid plate
RCI rear differential skid plate
Allpro high clearance rear bumper

Electrical:
52" roof mounted LED bar
30" bumper mounted LED bar, yellow tint
Ultraguage to monitor temps
Derale transmission cooler
Iggyswitch panel
Custom rocker switches and wire harness


I will upload pictures and update this post later tonight, so much to go through right now with this build.

 

There are a few, organize and upload more when I can get a chance. Even a glamour shot of the trike.

 

Trike looks nasty

 

Got a bit done, not as much as I was hoping for but with an 8 day old baby it was at least something.

Redid the speaker wiring I did 7 years ago and cleaned up the engine bay wiring. I got the wiring for the transmission fan done while I was at it and now just waiting on the Iggy switch panel to finish up the electrical.

I'm having a custom decal made for my skid plate, should be a good laugh the first time I jump it and make people look!

I also can't decide if I want to add the Toyota letters or leave it alone. My main goal is to increase air flow to the cooling fans, I might wait until I take it out a few times and see how it handles the operating temps.

 

Got the front suspension installed. Unfortunately dad duties called and I wasn't able to fab up the rear shock tower or do anything other than install the rear bump stops.

Oil catch can, Ultraguage mount and pedal commander are ready to go this week when I can sneak them in. I decided to hold off on the gusseting of the components until life calms down a little. Having a 2 week old baby is making this build harder to schedule time for, my most productive time is usually my lunch break now.







The last pic is actually the suspension on its own weight, my stock tires look like they came off of a Miata now!

 

I didn't get as much done this weekend as I was hoping for. Rear suspension is ready for me to take my time and tack in the shock mounts and cycle it for next weekend. In the mean time the Pedal Commander was put in, overpriced but definitely needed. Since this isn't the Fast and the Furious and we are adults, in order to monitor my temps the only route is an Ultraguage

 

Got the rear shocks in and 5 new tires from a fellow AZ member this week. Grinding the stock shock mounts were a nightmare! Hopefully tomorrow I can find a local shop that can do an alignment with my long travel and get the tires mounted as well.

 

So I finally got the rear end strapped, so now its safe enough to start offroad testing this rig anytime now. BAMF sent out the bumper a week after ordering it and I had it on my truck less than 13 days; for running a skeleton crew they are insanely fast!

I have my fuel cell mounted and will plumbing the lines to tap into the filler neck, doubling my gas mileage and adding an extra 200 pounds to the rear end never hurts. 34 inch-ish tires mount and balanced, I want to redo how my spare is mounted in the bed and I will be adding a Tonneau cover to keep my things from walking away.

At this point its just a few odds and ends, mainly electrical wiring and painting the front and rear bumpers. I can officially say phase 1 of the build is nearly complete, now I can start planning out the back half of the frame or going SUA route and all the components for that. I should start sometime in September for that portion of the build, hopefully I can find some cheap Sparco seats and 5 point harnesses in the next couple of weeks and hit the cold Arizona desert ASAP.