Yum... Tacos

So I got the crossmember for the shocks and brake line routing/tab done and everything painted.

I had planned on having the rear almost done today but it ends up they sent us a v6 instead of the taco v6.

PORTER said:

Nice work as always Mike. Your attention to detail from start to finish is worth everypenny.:awesomework:

Click to expand...

I try :awesomework:

So the vacuum canister was located on drivers side front inner fender well. A portion of the mounting was removed for the steering box. So I looked over how the system was and its there for a vacuum supply for the front diff. Since thats all gone now it can be removed. To seal the vacuum system I just turned the one way check valve around...

Got the new firewall seal (TG) and its the right one. You can see the new one is much larger and fits the new firewall plate.

Firewall plate and steering shaft all in now. The joint at the base of the steering column has no splines but a set screw. I flattened a spot on the shaft to lock the joint and then welded the joint to the column. The rest of the shaft I drilled shallow holes for the double set screws to bite into and then locked the screw with a nut. Should hold up nicely...

We got the new fan shroud. I found it was actually an inch long but very workable. I just had to notch the very bottom and would have been less had it been a manual tranny. I actually found it was wrong after cutting one of the ears off so I figured I would just make it work--and it will :awesomework:

With everything else in place it was time to do the fluid lines from the pump to the steering box. That was simple and straight forward.

Got the fuel tank and rear wiring harness/tail lamps all back in.

Rear housing painted. Just waiting for the correct 3rd to get it assembled

Good stuff! That rear housing looks great! :corn:

crash said:

Firewall plate and steering shaft all in now. The joint at the base of the steering column has no splines but a set screw. I flattened a spot on the shaft to lock the joint and then welded the joint to the column. The rest of the shaft I drilled shallow holes for the double set screws to bite into and then locked the screw with a nut. Should hold up nicely...

Click to expand...

Very clean!

Axle shafts ready.

I was hoping to have the 3rd member in before but I needed to get the rear in and the truck lowered so I can get the arb stuff setup.

:corn:

I got the tabs made for the brake lines at the knuckle. I simply used the knuckle removal hole--worked like a champ.

So the stock lower radiator hose would no longer work due to the different neck location. I gave Jason some homework to find the right hose and he nailed it. Once I trimmed the hose it fits perfectly.

So jason wanted the arb compressor mounted in the tool box in the bed of the truck. In order to mount it where it needed I had to make a stud plate since there was no access to the back side to get the bolts thru the box. But got the compressor mounted.

Time to get the arb system wired up. Since the ABS system is no longer I went and dove into the underhood electrical center and re-routed the voltage off the ABS fuse for the arb compressor--keep it super clean. Got the relay mounted and and a portion of the system wired to the firewall.

The little units show no relay needed per instructions but I always prefer to switch the voltage by a relay plus doing it this way gives the option to upgrade the compressor down the road if need be.

Front to rear and compressor wired up.

Air line ran to the compressor.

I have been doing this a long time and I can say 90% of arb failures are due to poor line installation. Also NEVER run the line tight--always leave a loop near the front for "just in case" because the line is most vulnerable at the front diff and having some extra near there will make a trail repair or any repair much simpler and cheaper (than replacing the line).