Had a good time today. It works, plain and simple.
I wouldn't say it's so much better than before but I'm not worrying about the front end as much as before.

 

I'm finally back from a weekend on the rocks out at Katemcy 2 Off-Road Park.

Initial impressions of the truck: Everything works great. I hardly lifted a tire and when I did it was the rear because the 10" bilsteins are too short and I need 12's.

I only had 2 small issues with the truck: A loose TRE on the pitman arm as well as possibly having the pitman arm skip a tooth on the gear box. I tightened the TRE and the pitman arm nut and went on my way making sure not to force the steering into a rock. Will have to look into that issue later.

It was VERY awesome not having to worry about breaking something constantly.
I'm really happy to finally have some beefy parts up front. Being able to spin the tires at 3K RPM in first gear low while attempting to make it up a huge ledge was.. fun. Before with IFS I would have thrown the clutch to the floor the second I had any wheel hop. Not anymore.

For this run being a "shakedown" run, I definitely pushed it. I tested the hell out of the new approach angle. LOVE IT!
The wheelbase is great, too. Pretty perfect in my opinion. Not too long, not too short.
The full width axles give me lots of extra stability.

I definitely need new tires ASAP. 2 of mine are pretty bald and that showed. Especially after the rain hit.
I'm looking into 37x12.5R17 MTR's within the next few months. I'd go 40's but I don't get an employee discount at work yet so I'm going with what I can afford more easily.
I'll most likely be sticking with the same AE alloy series 101's except I'll need new 17x9's. They'll end up silver like my current ones.

Anyway, enough talking, here are some more pics!









Side note: ever since I fist went to K2 back in February I was watching my friends on an obstacle called "smoking butt hole." I said to myself "once I get my truck done, I'm trying that!" I knew I couldn't make the full line after seeing Jason struggle (picture 1) (and his is more built than mine) so I figured I'd settle for the line on the right (picture 2)
Well, after we finally made it to that obstacle on Sunday, I really began having second thoughts. So, I nosed up to it and just sat there for a few minutes thinking about it (picture 3 and 4). I eventually said screw it, I'm here and I might as well go for it. I ended up making it ALMOST all the way up. I had to smoke the tires a little, then gave up. Before my recovery vehicle got there I tried again and came within inches of making it.. Had to take a winch to get all the way up. Oh well, that's life. I need new tires!













Waiting for a tow..


2nd try.. ALMOST!



That's about all the pics I've got from this past weekend. More should be surfacing soon after everyone gets all theirs uploaded.

 

Well look whose popular. Guess Ill check back!

Glad the shakedown was good!

 

pic links are all dead, can't see what wheels you have, so just a heads-up.

i have 37x17 mtr's, they are about the lightest 37" tire out there, but they are really thick in the bead area.

if you are running bead locks with the external ring, you may have to get those spacers that allow the ring to sit on something as it gets tight... that prevents excessive ring coning, and it makes for repeatable torque specs.

some people have rings that float, just supported by the bead, but that's not the way to go.

lets see some pics! :-)

 

Pics are back, for now.
I need to renew my Photobucket paid account but am kind of strapped for cash at the moment.
Sorry about that guys!

 

I'm torn between 37's and 40's in the GY MTR flavor. Thoughts, opinions?

 

40s if you can swing them, But they may be reaching the limits of the 30 splines. But hey, guaranteed for lifeeee

You know you want the 40s, just do it. Haha

I see the pics now, looks great!

 

I've decided on 40's. No use going with 37's if I'm already wanting 40's.

On that note: since my SAS is done, I'd say its about time to revert back to my build thread in the build up section.

https://www.yotatech.com/forums/f200...thread-188434/

 

I bet this SAS swap has transformed your Taco real good. Brilliant write-up, even better craftsmanship.

Looking through your pictures, it would appear your a Taco has a ton in common with a UK-spec Hilux KDN165. Underneath, the doors and dash are pure Hilux. Nice to know your mods will work on my own truck.

Once more, awesome work!

 

 

Wow!!Great pics!!

 

Any updates, Scuba?

 

Any updates?

 

Check it..

792