cbechtold's Long Travel IFS Crawler Tacoma Build

[cbechtold]

On the drive back from Hammers, the last gas station stop made the truck feel like the transmission was on the way out. Lots of slipping and lots of not engagement in the gears. Needless to say, I wasn't wrong.

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PXL_20240206_050335540 by Cory Bechtold, on Flickr


PXL_20240206_050312410 by Cory Bechtold, on Flickr

Straight to the trailer and storage for awhile since I didn't want to look at this thing for a while. Too much work put into it for it have a major failure right after a trip. I was pissed.


PXL_20240211_224206569 by Cory Bechtold, on Flickr

Coming 3 months later, truck came back and I pulled the trans out and sent it off to get rebuild since Toyota no longer sells the parts for these transmissions. I'll run it until I break it and then it'll get something GM with a reverse manual valve body because racecar lol


PXL_20240507_034312843 by Cory Bechtold, on Flickr

Rebuilt the crawlbox and got a new transfer case install since the old one was on it's way out as well. Cleaned out a bunch of ATF off the crawlbox which was not fun.


PXL_20240630_205124987 by Cory Bechtold, on Flickr


PXL_20240630_231209207 by Cory Bechtold, on Flickr


PXL_20240701_010714394 by Cory Bechtold, on Flickr


PXL_20240701_045511714 by Cory Bechtold, on Flickr


PXL_20240701_050131123 by Cory Bechtold, on Flickr

6 months after the initial failure, the Tacoma came back for good so I could put her together, or so I thought.


PXL_20240703_031137168 by Cory Bechtold, on Flickr


PXL_20240705_003327152 by Cory Bechtold, on Flickr

This is why I can't have nice thing.


PXL_20240708_014224813 by Cory Bechtold, on Flickr


PXL_20240710_213516531 by Cory Bechtold, on Flickr


PXL_20240710_224128894 by Cory Bechtold, on Flickr

The following weekend, she finally felt the garage under her own power.


PXL_20240714_213004522 by Cory Bechtold, on Flickr

Transmission has held up great so far. Only like 750 miles on it right now, but I'm happy with it. Helps a ton it's no longer a daily driver.

 

[cbechtold]

Alright. The big one. Here's a teaser of the Martec Engineering Trailing Arm 3 Link setup with the new Spider 9 rear axle. I'm so stoked so far!

Pic are from of Nick @ Martec.


IMG_20241210_154450 by Cory Bechtold, on Flickr


IMG_20241210_155201 by Cory Bechtold, on Flickr


IMG_20241213_125440 by Cory Bechtold, on Flickr


IMG_20241213_125459 by Cory Bechtold, on Flickr


IMG_20241213_125441 by Cory Bechtold, on Flickr


IMG_20241213_125506 by Cory Bechtold, on Flickr

 

[Stairgod]

That rear is gorgeous

 

[thezentree]

That thing is gonna be rowdy. How long until the LS swap lol

What failed on your first transmission? Did you just lose a seal and pump all the fluid out?

 

[cbechtold]

That rear is gorgeous

Thanks! So stoked on it!

That thing is gonna be rowdy. How long until the LS swap lol

What failed on your first transmission? Did you just lose a seal and pump all the fluid out?

Indeed it will be! I'll get exact travel numbers soon, but Nick estimates 18 inch of total travel and between 8 and 10 inches up depending on ride height.

Lmao! I've told myself that if I'm adding more power, I'm caging this truck first. Waiting on TE Designs to build a kilt otherwise, I'm building it myself.

The builder I went to said a rear seal went. Likely just due to age and mileage on her transmission. It's the original one from 2001 with 275k on it. It's felt tired for awhile, but that was it's breaking point.

 

[Dezert4Runner]

The trailing arms with coilovers are something I’d love to do to the 4Runner one day but the shock intrusion in the cargo area is tricky to maintain interior functionality for my application. How far forward does the front trailing arm mount go and what length links are they?

 

[cbechtold]

The trailing arms with coilovers are something I’d love to do to the 4Runner one day but the shock intrusion in the cargo area is tricky to maintain interior functionality for my application. How far forward does the front trailing arm mount go and what length links are they?

I don't have great photos of where the trailing arms are mounted on her frame. I'll get some next week checking out progress on the truck. I believe Nick said they're 41.5 inches from eye to eye. I'll double check on that as well.

 

[thezentree]

Thanks! So stoked on it!



Indeed it will be! I'll get exact travel numbers soon, but Nick estimates 18 inch of total travel and between 8 and 10 inches up depending on ride height.

Lmao! I've told myself that if I'm adding more power, I'm caging this truck first. Waiting on TE Designs to build a kilt otherwise, I'm building it myself.

The builder I went to said a rear seal went. Likely just due to age and mileage on her transmission. It's the original one from 2001 with 275k on it. It's felt tired for awhile, but that was it's breaking point.

I can’t wait to see that thing in the dirt.

My 4Runner currently has the 291k mile transmission on a shop floor for an engine rear main seal, and that transmission is going back in tomorrow. Wanna take bets on whether it fails in the next 5000 miles? lol

 

[cbechtold]

I can’t wait to see that thing in the dirt.

My 4Runner currently has the 291k mile transmission on a shop floor for an engine rear main seal, and that transmission is going back in tomorrow. Wanna take bets on whether it fails in the next 5000 miles? lol

Ha! Every time I bet, I lose. I'll sit this one out

 

[Dukestaco]

The truck is looking sick. That rear is incredible. You are also lucky that those trees didn’t catch on fire with those lights.

 

[cbechtold]

The truck is looking sick. That rear is incredible. You are also lucky that those trees didn’t catch on fire with those lights.

Thanks man! Super stoked on how the truck is coming together! I drive around with the Ambers on half the time because they're stupid bright with the whites on. Borderline need sunglasses at night sometimes

 

[cbechtold]

Here are some photos of the truck from when I went up to get it from Martec. I'm still so stoked on having it back. Truck drives better than it ever has on the street. Definitely helps having a swaybar on the truck now. I still have a few things to button up this weekend, and a few more thing to touch up on, but I'm ready to get into Hammers prep as well and get her down to the lake bed for a 10 days!


CMB17734 by Cory Bechtold, on Flickr


CMB17724 by Cory Bechtold, on Flickr


CMB17716 by Cory Bechtold, on Flickr


CMB17709 by Cory Bechtold, on Flickr


CMB17723 by Cory Bechtold, on Flickr


CMB17769 by Cory Bechtold, on Flickr


CMB17754 by Cory Bechtold, on Flickr


CMB17779 by Cory Bechtold, on Flickr


CMB17791 by Cory Bechtold, on Flickr


CMB17798 by Cory Bechtold, on Flickr


CMB17817 by Cory Bechtold, on Flickr


CMB17818 by Cory Bechtold, on Flickr


CMB17841 by Cory Bechtold, on Flickr


CMB17850 by Cory Bechtold, on Flickr


CMB17867 by Cory Bechtold, on Flickr

And for those who haven't seen the build video Nick put up, here's that. Definitely worth a view. Nick made it all look too easy.

 

[Blender]

Turned out real nice. Looks like the bed is all intact? Just cutouts where needed?

 

[cbechtold]

Turned out real nice. Looks like the bed is all intact? Just cutouts where needed?

Yep. That was the goal. Minimal cutting into the bed.

 

[HUG0]

Those Martec guys are magicians. Your IG stories showing the clearancing have been insane. Can't wait to see how it does on the lake bed!

 

[cbechtold]

Those Martec guys are magicians. Your IG stories showing the clearancing have been insane. Can't wait to see how it does on the lake bed!

You and me both! Got a list of stuff to do before Hammers, but I'm mentally ready! Continuing work on the new sliders and hopefully starting the rear bumper this weekend as well

 

[cbechtold]

Time to get this thread a little more up to date before I take off and spend 10 days in Hammertown. I've basically just been working on a list of things to do that needed to happen prior to Hammers! Still a few things to take care of before leaving as I'm writing this, but it's a manageable list of stuff at this point.

Starting from the beginning, new diff breather was needed badly. I originally used an OE Toyota breather, but I already knew that wasn't going to last.


PXL_20241229_233234546 by Cory Bechtold, on Flickr

Ended up putting some 3D printed caps on the cross support for the shock towers. They kept filling up with water, so this is an easy fix.


PXL_20241229_235026432 by Cory Bechtold, on Flickr

Trimmed the fenders even more. I'm at the point where I've taken 6 inches out of the bedsides. Full bump was basically just touching the fenders. Once articulated, it wasn't going to cut it anymore. Also tried a different fender cut that I'm liking a lot more than the standard round cut everyone does on these truck. I'll be doing the same cut on the front fenders once I get a new pair of front fenders.


PXL_20241230_032831994 by Cory Bechtold, on Flickr


PXL_20241230_035927805 by Cory Bechtold, on Flickr


PXL_20241230_172836692 by Cory Bechtold, on Flickr


PXL_20241230_180443657 by Cory Bechtold, on Flickr

Learned of a new issue I never thought I'd have, tires are getting into the wheel wells in the bed. I have an idea on how I'm going to tackle that, but that's something I'll have to do some cad work first before I cut the bed up.


PXL_20241230_180955615 by Cory Bechtold, on Flickr

Managed to keep the gas filler neck in the stock location for now. That'll change later and I'll finish the cut on the driver side later once I relocate that again.


PXL_20241230_181002484 by Cory Bechtold, on Flickr


PXL_20241230_181049940 by Cory Bechtold, on Flickr

Also cut the bedsides for a high clearance rear bumper. Clearance for days now!


PXL_20241230_235212946 by Cory Bechtold, on Flickr

Swapped the front wheel studs out to 1/2-20 studs to match the rear unit bearings. Easy swap. Got the tip from the guys at Sherpa Motorsports.


PXL_20241231_002323992 by Cory Bechtold, on Flickr

Lastly, swapped out the dying alternator for another Sukuzi alternator.


PXL_20250104_040549217 by Cory Bechtold, on Flickr

 

[cbechtold]

Spends the last 2 weekends building a new rear bumper. Super stoked on how this came out. Tried out a different approach compared to what is normally done with just the single piece of round tube the whole way around.


PXL_20250120_032505184 by Cory Bechtold, on Flickr


PXL_20250120_032558352 by Cory Bechtold, on Flickr


PXL_20250120_032716541 by Cory Bechtold, on Flickr


PXL_20250120_032737695 by Cory Bechtold, on Flickr


PXL_20250120_032751310 by Cory Bechtold, on Flickr

For those who want more detailed photos and the build of the rear bumper, here's the link to the Flickr album.

Custom Tube Rear Bumper

Explore this photo album by Cory Bechtold on Flickr!

flic.kr