97 Taco project SAS

[Tacomaguy]

i just started the fun process of doing a solid axle swap on my 97 Tacoma.
i will post pic alone the full build.
To start off on the front i will be running a dana44 out of a 79 grand wagoneer with 4:88 gears and a lockright. 4" trail gear springs, skys manufacturing frenched shackes. in the back i will be running 63" chevy springs with the stock toyota 8.4 with 4:88 and also lockright for street ability.


beginning

spent 2hours with a cutting disk/ sawzall cutting all the ifs off.

new t100 oilpan painted CAT yellow

still need to grind the crap out of the left over brackets

rolled the dana44 under the front to see what it should look like but alot taller

 

[NOTATOY]

Nice Clint! it'll be sick when its done. you really like the yellow

 

[choptopbII]

Looks good.

Did you get your notches cut in your frame yet?

 

[Tacomaguy]

Yep took only 1 hour

 

[Tacomaguy]

Yep but i only painted two things CAT yellow cause i think anymore and it would look to retarded.




cut the inner fender to clear the steering shaft

also cut to fit the steering box

 

[193kyle]

Nice job Clint, it's looking good. Where did you get the shackle mounts from? I haven't seen those yet.

 

[lewis]

I did mine exactly a year ago. Looks like fun.

 

[Tacomaguy]

yeah those frenched shackles are from Skys-manufacturing.com

 

[Tacomaguy]

yeah i learned alot from your build lewis its a good build i like it

 

[NOTATOY]

Clint those frenched shackle hangers are sick!! I was just giving you crap on the yellow

 

[Bart]

Really like the build. That yellow oil pan looks like it's just calling out to rocks.

 

[Tacomaguy]

got the front hanger setup ready and working on tacking the shackles in place

also to day i went a got 5 35/12.50/r15 mickytompson baja mtz 1 new 4 used for $110

 

[chans]

yeah those frenched shackles are from Skys-manufacturing.com

What are the benefits of the frenched shackles? To keep the truck lower? I was checking out their website and the complete conversion kit looks good for 1950.00. Did you piece your parts out to save money? You sure are working fast, can't wait to see pictures of it done.

 

[Tacomaguy]

the frenched shackles will allow the spring to be more level instead of the front being higher than the back plus the frenched shackles ad strength
an i peaced my kit together and saved a ton of money ive only spent 1500 so far and the only things i need is a drag link, 2 front brakelines, pitment arm, and a home made driveshaft. and my rear 8.4 gears and lockright

 

[choptopbII]

are we going to weld this baby up this weeekend or what???

 

[Tacomaguy]

Yep i took work off Saturday so i hope we get this thing on all 4 again . After welding the hanger and getting the shackle angle good everything else is cake to me. the shackle angle is all ive been stressed about

 

[choptopbII]

Yep i took work off Saturday so i hope we get this thing on all 4 again . After welding the hanger and getting the shackle angle good everything else is cake to me. the shackle angle is all ive been stressed about

do you still need a .750 drill bit? ive got one.

 

[Goose]

lookin good!

 

[lewis]

Yep i took work off Saturday so i hope we get this thing on all 4 again . After welding the hanger and getting the shackle angle good everything else is cake to me. the shackle angle is all ive been stressed about

When setting the shackle angle make sure you take into account that your springs will settle and kick back your shackle even more. I didn't do that and it made mine lay too far back, luckily though I had to switch to smaller springs which were shorter.

 

[Tacomaguy]

thanks for the advice lewis what angle should my shackle angle be before the springs break in?