I'm calling this one Black Smoke thanks to the Southern California wildfires this past week. All hell broke loose here with evacuation notices, houses burning down, and 9 fires burning at the same time all within a 20 mile radius where I live.
While others were packing up and leaving, panicking, wearing masks, dealing with falling ash, I was lowering this Taco so the owner could come get it before it was too late.
A one day job turned into two because all the roads into my town were shut down. Wally was totally cool about it and the outcome was worth it. I was able to dodge a bullet and the area where I live got very lucky, others not so much.
2/4 DROP
He bought tires and wheels before he decided to drop it, and I'm sure the shop looked in their computer and picked out a size. As most of you probably know by now, this means I was going to have to fight large, tall tires and wheels that stick out past the fenders.
REAR
We agreed on a 3/4 and I did the rear first. A 4" block & ubolt kit with low pro bump stops. My test drive revealed that a rear fender trim was in order. I did my standard trim and reduced the tire-fender contact by 99%.
FRONT
Onto the front. Knowing that the b/j flip would have the tall 27" tires kissing the inner fenders way too much, especially since the truck is a extra cab, I chose to not do the flip and just cut 1-1/2 rings off his stock coils. I really didn't want him to have to downsize at least the front tires if I was to do the b/j flip, so I decided to work with this tire & wheel setup. The outcome was great with his large tires but during my test drive I realized the front was sitting on the stock rubber bump stops. This is not a bad ride, and it does keep tire rubbing away, but it's not an ideal setup, I happen to like suspension. I also wanted to see if it was going to drop more once I got it off the bump stops. I installed some Energy low profile bump stops.
The second test drive revealed a front end that wasn't as firm but had suspension, and only rubbed the tires on hard hits, about 1% of the time. He needs to get some good shocks in there his are stock junk. Stock shocks are pretty much useless, and his are 10 years old.
WHAT I FOUGHT
Just a couple things...
When the wheel shop was buzzing his new lug nuts on with air at a blinding light speed, a bur got into one and when I was loosening it with my breaker bar by hand it turned 1/2 turn and froze. I tried to save it but the stud broke. I keep studs here and replaced the stud but he needs to get a new lug nut.
I was happy to see that someone had installed rear KYB Gas A Just shocks, but his front ones were stock and had never been removed. The top nut on the left one was frozen and I had to cut the shock off and replace it with a stock one I happened to have here.
All in all the truck didn't fight much and Wally is really happy with it. I think the stance is nice, it was kind of fun doing a simple drop for a change, and the ride is excellent. But as most of you know, the rear does bottom out on large bumps with no c-notch. 98% of the time it's riding real smooth. :waytogo:
SPECS
FRONT
1-1/2 rings cut off stock coils
Energy Low Profile Bump Stops
Shocks / stock / KYB Monomax coming soon
Plastic liner trimmed in inner fender
REAR
4" Block Kit
Low Profile Bolt on Bump Stops
Rear fender lips and plastic liners trimmed
Carrier Bearing on drive shaft rotated 180 degrees
TIRES
205/75-15
While others were packing up and leaving, panicking, wearing masks, dealing with falling ash, I was lowering this Taco so the owner could come get it before it was too late.
A one day job turned into two because all the roads into my town were shut down. Wally was totally cool about it and the outcome was worth it. I was able to dodge a bullet and the area where I live got very lucky, others not so much.
2/4 DROP
He bought tires and wheels before he decided to drop it, and I'm sure the shop looked in their computer and picked out a size. As most of you probably know by now, this means I was going to have to fight large, tall tires and wheels that stick out past the fenders.
REAR
We agreed on a 3/4 and I did the rear first. A 4" block & ubolt kit with low pro bump stops. My test drive revealed that a rear fender trim was in order. I did my standard trim and reduced the tire-fender contact by 99%.
FRONT
Onto the front. Knowing that the b/j flip would have the tall 27" tires kissing the inner fenders way too much, especially since the truck is a extra cab, I chose to not do the flip and just cut 1-1/2 rings off his stock coils. I really didn't want him to have to downsize at least the front tires if I was to do the b/j flip, so I decided to work with this tire & wheel setup. The outcome was great with his large tires but during my test drive I realized the front was sitting on the stock rubber bump stops. This is not a bad ride, and it does keep tire rubbing away, but it's not an ideal setup, I happen to like suspension. I also wanted to see if it was going to drop more once I got it off the bump stops. I installed some Energy low profile bump stops.
The second test drive revealed a front end that wasn't as firm but had suspension, and only rubbed the tires on hard hits, about 1% of the time. He needs to get some good shocks in there his are stock junk. Stock shocks are pretty much useless, and his are 10 years old.
WHAT I FOUGHT
Just a couple things...
When the wheel shop was buzzing his new lug nuts on with air at a blinding light speed, a bur got into one and when I was loosening it with my breaker bar by hand it turned 1/2 turn and froze. I tried to save it but the stud broke. I keep studs here and replaced the stud but he needs to get a new lug nut.
I was happy to see that someone had installed rear KYB Gas A Just shocks, but his front ones were stock and had never been removed. The top nut on the left one was frozen and I had to cut the shock off and replace it with a stock one I happened to have here.
All in all the truck didn't fight much and Wally is really happy with it. I think the stance is nice, it was kind of fun doing a simple drop for a change, and the ride is excellent. But as most of you know, the rear does bottom out on large bumps with no c-notch. 98% of the time it's riding real smooth. :waytogo:
SPECS
FRONT
1-1/2 rings cut off stock coils
Energy Low Profile Bump Stops
Shocks / stock / KYB Monomax coming soon
Plastic liner trimmed in inner fender
REAR
4" Block Kit
Low Profile Bolt on Bump Stops
Rear fender lips and plastic liners trimmed
Carrier Bearing on drive shaft rotated 180 degrees
TIRES
205/75-15