4 door Tacoma family wheeler

hurt4x4

Well-Known Member
Joined
Sep 12, 2012
Location
Greensboro
Starting a build thread for this one, to track progress and get some ideas from the great minds on here.

I have an 87 extra cab pickup right now that I’ve been building and wheeling, but with our daughter growing up fast I’ve been thinking about building something that’s more comfortable and inclusive for the family.

I had been looking at 4 door 1st gen tacomas for a while and the right one popped up, so I made a trip up to Eden and got it. It’s an 03 double cab prerunner v6.

The plan right now is, superduty 60 front 3-link/ coilovers, 14 bolt or sterling rear (open to opinions) On leafs, 40’s , stock t-case for now and a cage. I’ll probably chop the front frame section to keep everything low. Planning to keep everything as clean as possible and keep good street manners.

This is going to be a slow build. The truck is in decent shape so I plan to DD it for a bit until I have most of the parts I need. My turbo truck will probably get sold at some point to fund this as the build gets going. I have a clean trussed SD60, wheels and a tcase already. Not much but it’s a start. Next big item will probably be an A340f trans.

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Sterling got them e lockers as an option. Much longer pinion though. I do think they will be the future as 14 bolts are almost obsolete.
Longer pinion may not be a bad thing, the rear driveline is already going to be pretty long.

You still have a hookup on superdutys?
 
I like where this is headed. Looking forward to seeing progress pics when you get started on it!

FYI I have an A340H I pulled out of my 1st gen 4Runner. I have no idea what the difference is between the H and the F. But if you think it would work for you, holler at me.
 
I’ve always thought these would be an awesome platform for a wheeler. Looking forward to seeing this come together!
x2. Keep my eyes open hoping that one of these days they will be cheap. This build is almost exactly how I would put one together, so I will be living vicariously.
 
Dig it. You'll definitely want to chop the front off and raise those frame rails to get some more up travel and not have it be a skyscraper. Just a normal thing with Tacoma's and 4runner's of that era.

Ctrl+C -> Ctrl+P
 
Dig it. You'll definitely want to chop the front off and raise those frame rails to get some more up travel and not have it be a skyscraper. Just a normal thing with Tacoma's and 4runner's of that era.

Ctrl+C -> Ctrl+P
There is a lot of inspiration coming from that build, hopefully the end result will be half as nice haha.

I did the frame chop on my old ext cab Tacoma. Assuming things will need to be a little different this time since I’ll be using a steering box.

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Best gen Tacoma, but I'm also biased. Following!

Also 3rd or 4th on the 14bolt, blasphemy
 
I’ve always wanted one of these (had an ‘02 ex cab & regret selling it to this day!). Following to live vicariously as well.

If I scoop up another, wanna build a twin? 😬
 
Picked up a trans and tcase Friday and got it cleaned up. It’s from a 96’ so it looks like I will have to swap valve bodies and torque converter to make it work. Need to do a little more research on that.
Still keeping an eye out for an 03-04 trans but they are more difficult to come by.
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Where are you gonna take your daughter that full widths and 40s are needed?

Wouldn't a leaf sprung 85 Toy axle, 35s, and a rear locker get you most everywhere on the east Coast? For a fraction of the time and money and research.. You could already be on the trails!! And then it would be so much more pleasant on the road too.
 
Where are you gonna take your daughter that full widths and 40s are needed?

Wouldn't a leaf sprung 85 Toy axle, 35s, and a rear locker get you most everywhere on the east Coast? For a fraction of the time and money and research.. You could already be on the trails!! And then it would be so much more pleasant on the road too.

More than likely nowhere, but not every trip out is a family trip.
I’ve had leaf spring Toyotas, I may have another one one day. This is what I decided I wanted to build. It’s fun.
 
Where are you gonna take your daughter that full widths and 40s are needed?

Wouldn't a leaf sprung 85 Toy axle, 35s, and a rear locker get you most everywhere on the east Coast? For a fraction of the time and money and research.. You could already be on the trails!! And then it would be so much more pleasant on the road too.
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ha. a locked taco on 35s (without needing a Ferd rear axle) would walk a hoe'd out ZJ on used 33s

So I’ll see you at the G2G and we can test this theory?


-asking for a friend.

I got a $300 XJ on 31's that I can bring to that party. And it still has the stock XJ axles.
 
ha. a locked taco on 35s (without needing a Ferd rear axle) would walk a hoe'd out ZJ on used 33s
Having had both I would agree. The used zj would probably be more fun though for the not give a shit factor.
 
Make her nice and I’ll let you do my extended cab next. :flipoff2:
 
So there’s no updates I’ll dust off my chassis and drop it off…
 
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