ARCHIVE Forge Specialties: What are we working on?

[35inchoverdrive]

We really don't want the fridge bouncing around and there is no way to do traditional tie downs for because space is so tight. So...

We start with a flat piece of aluminum:

...make it bendy:

...add some adjustable bump stops:

...and weld it to the underside of the toolbox lid:

 

[35inchoverdrive]

Linex the toolbox(not required):

Here's a shot of the fridge power outlet:

Is this the first ever toolbox wiring harness, complete with molex connector:

 

[35inchoverdrive]

...the finished product:

 

[OGBeno]

Beautiful work gents.

Have you guys thought about Anderson Power poles for the electrical side of what you guys do?

Just a suggestion. I am wiring everything in my 60 resto with Anderson PP's. Fridge, radio, lockers.

APP's pretty much are the bees knees!!



Great work.

 

[Skrewball]

We have used them for heavier circuits and they are very nice!

Thanks for the suggestion and all the kind words!!

 

[35inchoverdrive]

...and, I hope I don't lose everyone when I admit...we don't just do Toyotas.

We had a customer bring in a super-clean '70 Impala.

Although it ran and drove, that's about all you could say for it. Everything leaked, the compression was low, the brakes were unpredictable and you had to hope the transmission would cooperate.

A new longblock ended up being the most cost-effective solution.

 

[35inchoverdrive]

Out with the old and in with the new:

...and a picture to prove that we didn't ditch Toyotas entirely:

In addtion to the crate engine, the car got an overdrive automatic for better cruising. This required modification of the transmission crossmember.

 

[35inchoverdrive]

The new crossmember, before paint:

Installed:

...and because stopping is more important than going:

lots and lots of wiring cleanup:

 

[35inchoverdrive]

The body mounts were in need of replacement:

...fabbing up a thick-walled stainless Y-pipe:

...the finished product:

...aluminum driveshaft(exhaust turndown just a temporary solution):

 

[35inchoverdrive]

...tuning and test driving:

Overall, the car ended up being a really nice driver with subtle upgrades like the overdrive transmission, internally regulated alternator and the brakes...oh the brakes. This car stops so fast, it is ridiculous.

 

[35inchoverdrive]

Here's a handy tip for those running newer Warn winches in late model Tacoma ARB bumpers. We found that the ARB install instructions for clocking the winch, which show the old style freespool handle, are pretty difficult to get to with the bumper installed. The picture below shows the instructions in contrast to how we clocked the winch.

This does cause some interference with the freespool lever and the bumper, but it can be solved with a couple of simple .25" spacers.

The spacers go between the feet of the winch and the mounting face of the bumper.

...painted and installed.

 

[35inchoverdrive]

The end result is a freespool lever that you can actually reach and turn. You can see from the picture, that with the newer style lever, it would be a real bear to grab it if you used the clocking that ARB suggests.

 

[35inchoverdrive]

We've got an LS swap with some seriously tight clearances. The manifolds have to dump in a very specific spot and we didn't come across any production ones that fit the bill, so...

These one off manifolds will be built from schedule 40 stainless pipe and 3/8" thick flanges.

 

[35inchoverdrive]

...all tacked together on the engine. (The engine will get a cleanup and refresh before it goes in for the final install.)

 

[35inchoverdrive]

The need for one-off manifolds becomes clear when you see the tolerances that we're dealing with.

An LS in a little first gen Tacoma is a really tight fit:

 

[35inchoverdrive]

Not only can you stuff a 5.3L between the fenders of a Tacoma, you can even close the hood! This is a standard feature on all of our engine swaps.

 

[35inchoverdrive]

There...

...is...

...nothing...

 

[35inchoverdrive]

...glamorous...

...about...

...wiring.

 

[elkaholic]

Agreed .... But you make it look good!

 

[35inchoverdrive]

...making a fan shroud for the LS-powered Tacoma.

...a little mockup with the fans: