cbechtold's Long Travel IFS Crawler Tacoma Build

[cbechtold]

IMG_7132 by Cory Bechtold, on Flickr

Picture from: 02/06/2023

Background:

Hi! I'm Cory and this is my 2001 Toyota Tacoma. When I first got the truck back in January of 2014, it was a total cream puff. Dealership maintenance records, everything working in perfect condition, fresh fluids, 222,266 miles, accident free and never seen the likes of a dirt road. It's kind of an accident that I even built my Tacoma. The Tacoma was meant to be a daily driver and a weekend camper if needed. Suspension was shot, so I planned to save and buy a nice lift kit. Around the same time, I got a deal on a set of Demello Offroad rock sliders, and it was pretty much a snowball effect ever since then. Now the old girl is a wheeler through and through. This is my first IFS vehicle that I've wheeled and coming from the world of solid front axles, I'm always blown away by what she can do on the trail. I'll enjoy the IFS for the time being, but I definitely see myself returning to the solid front axle world down the road.

Current Modifications List:
Engine/Drivetrain:
- Fully Rebuilt Long Block 3.4L 5VZ-FE V6 by Main Machine
- Automatic Transmission (A340F)
- Inchworm Gear Crawlbox, Adapters and Triple Sticks (Sumo 4.70 gears)
- J-shift transfer case out of a '97 Tacoma (modified to work with the triple sticks)
- Hayden 678 Auxiliary Transmission Cooler
- Evil Energy Oil Catch Can
- Flowmaster 40 Series Muffler
- K&N Cold Air Intake
- aFe Pro Dry S Air Filter w/ aFe Pre-Filter
- Wotefusi 167 Series Hilux Snorkel

Front Suspension:
- MCM Fab & Design +3.5" Long Travel Kit
- Fox 2.5x8" Short Body Coilovers
- Eibach 18" 500lb Springs
- Fox 2.0x2" Air Bumps
- PRP Limit Straps w/ Kartek Clevis Mount
- Eimkeith Strut Tower Reinforcement
- Total Chaos Coil Tower Gussets, Spindle Gussets & Cam Tab Gussets
- Total Chaos Lower Uniball Conversion for Heim Steering
- FK Rod Ends/Kartek Custom Chromoly Tie Rods
- Dirt King Fabrication Steering Clevis Kit
- 333 Fabrication HD Billet Rack Clamp

Front Axle:
- Toyota 7.5" Clamshell
- Non-ADD Diff Tube
- 5.29 Nitro Gears
- ARB RD-90 Air Locker
- RevTek Front Differential Drop Kit
- Modified Tundra CV Axles
- 13WL Tundra Brakes

Rear Suspension:
- Fox 2.0x12" Smooth Body Shocks w/ Piggyback Reservoir
- Fox 2.0x2" Air Bumps
- Old Man Emu Dakar Leaf Springs + D43XL AAL
- MaxTrac Shackles
- PRP Limit Straps w/ Kartek Clevis Mount
- Homemade Outboard Shock Mounts
- RuffStuff U-Bolt Kit/Lower Shock Mounts

Rear Axle:
- 2002 Sequoia Rear Axle w/ 8.4" Differential
- 5.29 Nitro Gears
- ARB RD-129 Air Locker
- Tacoma Pinion Flange

Tires/Wheels:
- Nitto Trail Grappler MTs (315/70R17)
- Trail Ready HD-17 Beadlocks (17x8.5 4" BS)
- Apex Designs Rapid Precision Valves (Standard Length)
- Full-size Spare
- Dorman Wheel Studs (610-463)

Armor/Protection:
- Relentless Fabrication Front Plate Bumper DIY Builder Kit
- Relentless Fabrication Wrap Around Rear Plate Bumper DIY Kit
- Demello Off-road Hybrid Rock Sliders
- Relentless Fabrication 3/16" IFS Skid Plate
- Homemade 1/4" Belly Skid

Interior:
- Nardi Gara 3/0 Steering Wheel (350mm)
- NRG SKR-120H Hub/SRK-200BK
- Sony MEX-BT3100P Bluetooth Receiver
- ScanGauge 2
- Paranoid Fabrications Din Switch Plate (6 switch holes)
- Homemade Clock Replacement Switch Plate (2 switch holes)
- OTRATTW Snap-In V-Series Switch Bracket, End, Set of 2
- OTRATTW V-Series Panel Plugs
- Homemade Electronics Mounting Tube
- Ram Mounts Large Phone X-Grip, Medium Length Arm, .75" - 1.25" Tube Mount
- PRP Enduro Reclining with Adjustable Headrest Seats
- WeatherTech All-Weather Floor Mats

Exterior:
- Color Matched Grill
- Debadged
- Diaz Fabrication Devil Horn Emblem
- Custom Rack for 4 8-gallon Rubbermaid Action Packers

Lighting/Electronics:
- Dual Optima YellowTop Group 34/78 Batteries (relocated to the bed)
- ICT Billet Battery Trays
- KeyLine Dual Battery Isolator
- Switch Pros SP-9100 Unit
- Blue Sea Systems Fuse Panel, Terminal Block, Bus Bar, Circuit Breakers & Battery Cut Off Switches
- Fastronix Military Spec Battery Terminals, Remote Charging Posts & 3/8" Power and Ground Junctions
- ARB CKMA12 High Output Onboard Air Compressor
- BX Built Retrofit Headlights
- Baja Design Squadron Sport - Pair Amber LED Driving/Combo
- Baja Designs S1 - Pair Wide Cornering Amber
- Lux Lighting Systems MAX White LED Rock Lights
- Nilight 18w Cree LED 3" Flush Square Flood Lights

Recovery Gear:
- Warn M8000 Winch
- MasterPull 5/16" Superline Black Winch Line
- Factor 55 Flatlink, Rope Guard & Fairlead
- 48" Hi-Lift X-treme Jack

Miscellaneous:
- Trimmed Fenders 3 inches
- Tubbed for 35s
- Slider cut back to clear for wheels while turning
- Homemade Bedside Reinforcements
- Spiker Engineering Hood Struts
- Relentless Fabrication Tailgate Reinforcement
- Cruise Control Relocated to Steering Column

And this is where it all started. Completely stock, very clean and 222,266 miles on it.

Photo from January 5th, 2014.

 

[cbechtold]

Future Build Plan: (I'll update this as time goes on!)

For those interested, I'm currently steering my build in a very heavy performance benefiting and sort of end goal focused direction. Mods that you will see are either to help the truck perform better either on road or off road, or to help get the truck one step closer to my end goal: a daily driven rock crawler/overlander/race truck thing.

Do keep in mind that this isn't a finalized list in any capacity. Just because you see a project and/or product on this list doesn't mean I am 100% committed to seeing it on my truck eventually. If you see anything on this list that you either don't know anything about and are curious to why you'd maybe want it on your build, feel free to leave a comment.

Next on the List:
- New Front Fenders
- Gas Tank Skid Plate

Eventually:
- Linked Rear Suspension
- Rear Frame Boxing

Kinda Whenever:
- Sound Deadening
- Modified Hybrid High Clearance Front Bumper
- 1/4" IFS Skid Plate
- New Rear Bumper
- New Rock Sliders
- Rear Diff Skid

Future Plans:
- Atlas 4 Speed Transfer Case
- Built Fabricated Ford 9" Rear Axle
- Interior Roll Cage
- Magnuson Supercharger or LS Swap

 

[cbechtold]

Went down the "broverland" path not long ago with the truck, hense the dorkel. Still wheeled her hard.


IMG_3239 by Cory Bechtold, on Flickr


IMG_4159-2 by Cory Bechtold, on Flickr


IMG_2706 by Cory Bechtold, on Flickr


IMG_2003 by Cory Bechtold, on Flickr


IMG_0896 by Cory Bechtold, on Flickr

Only became more recent where I decided that I want the old girl to handle better on the trail. So I sold the RTT, bedrack and Maxtrax and went back to the basics with a bit of flare.


IMG_4530 by Cory Bechtold, on Flickr


IMG_4550 by Cory Bechtold, on Flickr

 

[cbechtold]

IMG_4339 by Cory Bechtold, on Flickr

The most recent project has been dual cases. I have yet to have gotten the crawler and new t-case installed, but I'm also waiting on my dad to give me time to use his garage for an extended period of time. I'm hoping before Summer wheeling I'm able to get it in, but I'm honestly okay if not. I'm really just hoping to get in before Rubicon in August or whenever it opens this year. Either way, a 4.7 crawler is going to be bitchen!

 

[HolyHandGrenade]

I didn’t save any extra spots in my build thread.

I’m taking this one.

 

[MyNewToy]

I don't have a build thread. I'm just gonna start one here

 

[MyNewToy]

Nice Truck OP. I like it better without the RTT too

 

[cbechtold]

I didn’t save any extra spots in my build thread.

I’m taking this one.

It's all yours!

I don't have a build thread. I'm just gonna start one here

Ha! I wouldn't mind.

Nice Truck OP

Thanks man!

 

[HolyHandGrenade]

It's all yours!



Ha! I wouldn't mind.



Thanks man!

Ha!

Sweet ride man.

 

[cbechtold]

Ha!

Sweet ride man.

Thanks man!

 

[Rapier46]

Yasssssss


Haha another guy on IFS planning to SAS his shit. @AssBurns is so fuckin trigg’d

 

[cbechtold]

Yasssssss


Haha another guy on IFS planning to SAS his shit. @AssBurns is so fuckin trigg’d

Ha! Yeah, can't fit 40s on the stock IFS, even with ARBs and RCV shafts. Won tons and links are definitely in my future!

 

[AssBurns]

Yasssssss


Haha another guy on IFS planning to SAS his shit. @AssBurns is so fuckin trigg’d

For real though, as long as someone is actually wheeling their rig, i don't care what they drive. I actually really like solid axle rigs. I just like IFS better. I'm also a big fan of Jeeps too. That might trigger some people too.

BTW, I'm digging your build. I like the storage box rack you got. That would be perfect for me (If I had a Tacoma). I just have a big ass box for tools and spare parts. The rest is just piled in the best I can get.

 

[cbechtold]

View attachment 6287

For real though, as long as someone is actually wheeling their rig, i don't care what they drive. I actually really like solid axle rigs. I just like IFS better. I'm also a big fan of Jeeps too. That might trigger some people too.

BTW, I'm digging your build. I like the storage box rack you got. That would be perfect for me (If I had a Tacoma). I just have a big ass box for tools and spare parts. The rest is just piled in the best I can get.

Ha! That's what I'm talking about. I can't give anyone shit who wheels hard. Truth be told, if I was more into the desert, go fast, stuff, I'd totally build my own LT and run 37s. You can blame my dad for infecting me with the SAS fever. His 07 FJC is where it started for me and it's pretty much gotten out of control since. On the plus side, first gen tacos slammed on tons and 40s look bitchen!

Thanks. I put it together in CAD one day and just ran with it. It's simple and lightweight, which is what I wanted. I also have my battery under the Action Packers so it all worked out all to well. Even with all the stuff in the back, I'm down almost 350lbs from how much the truck use to weigh on the trail with the old broverland set up.

 

[theesotericone]

Either way, a 4.7 crawler is going to be bitchen!

Your planning on 4.7's with an auto? Damn, that's gonna be a very low crawl ratio if you take the torque converter into account.

If you've already got it built on the bench you won't need that much garage time. I installed mine, including the shifter work in less then 8 hours. It not that bad of a job. The hardest part is getting the t-case to clear the rear cross member mount. This is the angle you will want to go in at. You'll clear by about a 1/8".

 

[cbechtold]

Your planning on 4.7's with an auto? Damn, that's gonna be a very low crawl ratio if you take the torque converter into account.

If you've already got it built on the bench you won't need that much garage time. I installed mine, including the shifter work in less then 8 hours. It not that bad of a job. The hardest part is getting the t-case to clear the rear cross member mount. This is the angle you will want to go in at. You'll clear by about a 1/8".

Yep. That's the plan. I'll be using the 4.7 gear probably 99% of the time while out wheeling. Only when a fun line comes up I'll probably throw the t-case in low. I think my gearing should be fine. With just the crawler engaged, I'll be at a 53.9:1 and in double low I'll be at 138.7.

The driveline shouldn't be that hard to figure out. I already have a 10* clock on the transmission adapter and 5* clock on the t-case adapter. If nothing I'll notching the cross member or BFH can fix. The hardest part for me is that the crawler came out of my dad's FJC and I'm trying to reuse the old Inchworm triple sticks that we're built for his FJC. I'm pretty sure I'm going to have to cut them off and make new ones since I doubt they'll fit in this tiny whole.


IMG_20190120_131234 by Cory Bechtold, on Flickr

 

[theesotericone]

With just the crawler engaged, I'll be at a 53.9:1 and in double low I'll be at 138.7.

You'll be twice as low as that when you take the torque converter into account. A torque converter effectively doubles the gearing. I have an auto with 2.28 in the crawler and it's plenty low.

My crawl ratio in lo/lo is 87 when you math it out. Then you times that by two to get your effective crawl ratio for an auto. That puts my effective crawl ratio at 175.

 

[cbechtold]

You'll be twice as low as that when you take the torque converter into account. A torque converter effectively doubles the gearing. I have an auto with 2.28 in the crawler and it's plenty low.

My crawl ratio in lo/lo is 87 when you math it out. Then you times that by two to get your effective crawl ratio for an auto. That puts my effective crawl ratio at 175.

Good to know! I still have the old 2.26 gears that were in it, more as backup gears for in the case I break the 4.7, but I guess I could also swap out the gears if I feel like it's too slow. I'd probably start saving for a 3.8 Atlas in that event as well.

 

[cbechtold]

My weekend project


IMG_20190810_154934 by Cory Bechtold, on Flickr

 

[4runner DOA]

Man everyone's getting crawl boxes.