cbechtold's Long Travel IFS Crawler Tacoma Build

Joined
Apr 17, 2019
Messages
261
Age
28
Location
Pleasanton, CA
54027915959_da92e07cba_b.jpg


Picture from: 09/22/2024


Background:

Hello! My name is Cory and this is my 2001 Toyota Tacoma. I picked up my Tacoma back in early January 2014. Initially, I wanted to keep things tame. Small lift, some nice tires and wheels, and some sliders for some mild protection. Needless to say that went out the window real quick. At this point, I'm basically building a rig that does it all. I'm actually not trying build the Swiss Army Knife of Tacomas, but at this rate, it'll probably happen. So in the meantime, I'm just enjoying the build process, fixing problem and repairing things as it comes along. Feel free to tag along and say "Hi" on the trail if you see me.

Current Modifications List:
Engine/Drivetrain:
- Fully Rebuilt Long Block 3.4L 5VZ-FE V6 by Main Machine
- Fully Rebuilt A340F Automatic Transmission by Bob's Almaden Transmission
- 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 (shorted to 1" stroke)
- 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
- Total Chaos Long Travel Heim Joint Steering Upgrade
- Sankei 555 Inner Tie Rods
- 333 Fabrication HD Billet Rack Clamp

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

Rear Suspension:
- Martec Engineering Trailing Arm 3 Link Kit (prototype)
- Fox 2.5x14" Internal Bypass Coilovers w/ Piggyback Reservoir
- Fox 2.0x2" Air Bumps
- TK1 Racing KoH -Ultra4 Swaybar

Rear Axle:
- Spidertrax Spider 9 3.5" DOM Housing (67" WMS to WMS)
- Spidertrax Ultimate Floater Ends
- Branik Motorsports 99-04 Dana 60 Unit Bearings (drilled and machined to 6-5.5 bolt pattern)
- Branik Motorsports Dana 60 Drive Flanges
- Branik Motorsports Legacy Brake Hats and Rotors
- Spidertrax Double Shear Rear Caliper Brackets
- Wilwood Dynalite 4 Piston Calipers
- Wilwood High Performance Brake Pads
- Spidertrax Inboard and Outboard Seals
- Dutchman Motorsports Custom 35 Spline Axle Shafts

Rear Differential:
- Yukon Ford 9" 3.250" Nodular Iron Case w/ Load Bolt
- Yukon Ford 9" Daytona Style Nodular Iron Pinon Support
- ARB RD-99 Air Locker (machined for load bolt clearance by Kelse Heck)
- Yukon Ford 9" High Performance 5.29 Ring and Pinion
- Nitro Ford 9" Toyota Pinion Flange
- RuffStuff Ford 9" Pinion Guard

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:
- Homemade DOM Tube Front Bumper
- Homemade DOM Tube Rear Bumper
- RuffStuff DIY 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 V-Series Rocker Switches
- OTRATTW Snap-In V-Series Switch Bracket, End, Set of 2
- OTRATTW V-Series Panel Plugs
- TEQ Modular Accessories Mount
- Ram Mounts Quick Grip XL, Double Socket Swivel & Ratchet Arm, & Ball Adapter
- PRP Enduro Reclining with Adjustable Headrest Seats
- PRP Tacoma Sliding Seat Mounts
- WeatherTech All-Weather Floor Mats
- Homemade Rear Seat Delete Platform

Exterior:
- Color Matched Grill
- Debadged
- Diaz Fabrication Devil Horn Emblem

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 Designs XL80 - Pair Driving/Combo Amber
- Baja Designs XL80 - Pair Driving/Combo White
- Baja Designs XL Racer Edition
- Baja Designs Squadron Sport - Pair Driving/Combo Amber
- Baja Designs S1 - Pair Wide Cornering Amber
- Lux Lighting Systems MAX White LED Rock Lights
- MESO Customs HitchPod w/ Baja Designs S1

Recovery Gear:
- Warn M8000 Winch
- MasterPull 5/16" Superline Black Winch Line
- Factor 55 UltraLink and Rope Guard
- Brennan's Garage "HOSS" Hawse Fairlead
- Pittsburgh 1.5 Ton Race 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
- Solo Motorsports Tacoma Frame Boxing Kit

And this is where it all started. One owner, super clean, all the bells and whistles, no off road miles, detailed dealership maintenance records, and 222,266 miles.

25811664034_b7cc9ab147_o.jpg
 
Last edited:
Joined
Apr 17, 2019
Messages
261
Age
28
Location
Pleasanton, CA
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
 
Last edited:
Joined
Apr 17, 2019
Messages
261
Age
28
Location
Pleasanton, CA
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
 
Last edited:
Joined
Apr 17, 2019
Messages
261
Age
28
Location
Pleasanton, CA

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!
 
Last edited:

AssBurns

will wheel for beer
Staff member
Joined
Oct 1, 2018
Messages
7,959
Age
32
Location
Yucaipa, CA
Yasssssss


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

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.
 
Joined
Apr 17, 2019
Messages
261
Age
28
Location
Pleasanton, CA
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

Build It Beat It Break It. Repeat
Fredo Baggins
Joined
Oct 3, 2018
Messages
3,494
Location
Bishop, CA
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".

mX8T1dr.jpg
 
Joined
Apr 17, 2019
Messages
261
Age
28
Location
Pleasanton, CA
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".

mX8T1dr.jpg

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
 
Last edited:

theesotericone

Build It Beat It Break It. Repeat
Fredo Baggins
Joined
Oct 3, 2018
Messages
3,494
Location
Bishop, CA
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.
 
Joined
Apr 17, 2019
Messages
261
Age
28
Location
Pleasanton, CA
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.
 
Top Bottom