How To Make A Spicy Taco? (1 Viewer)

[OICUR12]

O.K. just got me a 97 ext. cab Taco. I am planning on this thing being my DD/ MODERATE TRAIL RIDE TOY. right now I am getting approximately 20mpg. whatever I do to this thing, I want to still get at least 20mpg. What would be, in yall's opinion to put on a moderate trail rider/ daily rider to get through some of the tough stuff. I was thinking 31" m/t to a max size of a 33" m/t? I definetly am going to get a winch bumper like a TJM OR ARB and a winch? Will a M8000 be big enough for a taco? Thought about trowing on a topper for over night fishing trips or out of town deer/duck hunting to trips. I will just sleep back there. I want a roof rack on the topper for storage.

I am also playing with the idea of getting some kind of heavy duty rear bumper to match the front, but I thought I might get one that had a swing out tire carrier/gas can carrier.

Lockers? I don't know if this thing has a limited slip or not, but I am thinking about putting in either ARB'S or just some lunch box lockers like lock rites. Will the rear end and front end hold up to a lunch box locker if the tires aren't to crazy? On the road, the front should not be affected by the locker due to it having lockout hubs right? I like the idea of the ARB's so I will have OBA.

Would a 3" body liht be sufficient enough just to fit up to a 33" tire? I meen, I am not going to moab in this thing! Just some good mix of trails like logging roads. Might have to ease over a fallen tree, ride up some creeks and go up a few small rock water falls, mud, hills with loose softball size rocks, etc. You know just a mix of moderate stuff. Some times baby it over something a little rougher.

I also thought about a new skid plate system to tuck the t-case a little further up under the truck to get it out of the way. Maybe a snorkel......mostly because they just look freaking cool in my opinion on toy's!

Give up some advise if you can. Just in the planning stag right now. I have however FINNALLY found a vehicle that I love! It ain't going anywhere!

Thanks in advance,

Danny.

 

[calamaridog]

You can run 33's with around 3" (suspension or body lift) but you may rub some. Also, figure out what gear ratios your axles have because 33's will affect your gearing significantly.

I ran 32's without regearing and it was ok.

I'm going to recommend searching at www.tacomaterritory.com.

You get the 4cyl or 6cyl? Auto or manual?

Here are some links of some reliable parts sources for your Tacoma:

http://www.demello-offroad.com/
http://www.frontrangeoffroadfab.com/index.html
http://www.offroadsolutions.com/

I have personally used all of those vendors and have only good things to say about them.

Regards, Bryan

 

[foxfab]

www.budbuilt.com also.

 

[calamaridog]

www.budbuilt.com also.

Wow! $200 for a skid? What a great price. Nice to see him making stuff for the newer vehicles now.

 

[OICUR12]

I got the 2.7 4cyl, 5 speed. The check engine light is on but she runs out pretty much perfect. It does have a slight jerkyness to it when you accellorate too hard. Mybe a sensor or something. It also sounds like the exhaust manifold is leaking a bit. From the back side of the rear leaf spring hangers, the frame is rusted pretty bad on both sides. Don't understand that unless they launched a lot of boats or something. The rest of the frame is perfect. I am going to have to grind it down and add to it before I can do a rear bumper and receiver. The frame is mostly boxed, except for the last piece past the rear hanger and out to the end where the bumper bracket bolts to. I am thinking I will just grind the piss out of it and then box it all the way out so I have some thing strong for the new bumper hangers to mount to. That is one thing I didn't see when I was looking her over. OH well, can't go back now. Just move forward.

 

[calamaridog]

I would pull the code and see what it is. Seems like those exhaust manifolds leak frequently on that motor. You can throw on some headers

http://www.lcengineering.com/

As far as the frame goes, clean it up and put some inhibitor on there first thing. Check out this reinforcement here for one idea. I know others have boxed it out but I didn't have a link.

http://www.expeditionswest.com/equipment/tacoma/bumper/frame/index.htm

Enjoy the new to you truck!

 

[vtcruiser60]

I have a 96 taco ext cab with the 2.7. I threw a set of engine check lights last year. One time it amounted to blown gaskets at either end of the cat. The second time it was a rusty joint at the o2 sensor. Stumbling at acceleration was moderately improved.

What has happened now is a cracked exhaust manifold. AS I understand it, this is not uncommon for these rigs. I bought a new OEM manifold from toyotaworld for $165 and plan on installing it soon.

The crack was visible through the heat shield and I assume is causing some of the stumbling. I'll be doing a total tune up at the same time i replace the manifold and gaskets.

HTH

 

[expeditionswest]

If it were me, I would do the following (with the gas mileage requirement in mind)

Suspension:
Donahoe and Deaver suspension. Dont go up more than 1.5" or so in the front. (taller is not neccessarily better) The ride of this combo is fantastic.

Tires:
Install 235/85 R16's. They are 32" tall, and will give you just as good of gas mileage as you have now (maybe better)

Sliders: A requirement, and Demello Off-road makes a nice bolt on set.

Rear bumper: Good idea, but keep it lite, like a tube/prerunner unit

Engine: Open things up with a good header and cat-back. An open element intake filter. These will all give you better fuel economy.

Weight: Don't add much else, or the weight will kill the gas mileage.

Just my thoughts...

 

[89s rule]

get enough info btwn here and tennesseoffroad? Good luck with your truck we have a 97 4runner w/ the 3.4 and love it, but I would love to get 20mpg!! post up some pics of that rig. B/F I bought my cruiser I lookedat Tacomas and about bought a 95 3.4 ext cab. But laid of b/c of $. I love those things, especially when lifted. There are 2 95 body style in town with liek 40" tires on them. But I havent gotten a chance to see if they are still IFS. I certainly hope not.

 

[calamaridog]

Taco skid plates on sale by bubbuilt for $200 right now!

http://www.tacomaterritory.com/forum/showthread.php?t=15616

 

[Grouseman]

Danny,

Boy now that you own a Toy your on all the boards. If you want to make that Taco spicy, just put some hot sauce on it, dang man, what are you thinking? Sauce is cheap.

Grouseman

 

[ken_79-fj40]

You can get 20mpg on 33's but not without regearing. My last tacoma 3.4 5 speed with 33's and 4.10's got 17 mpg on the highway. I once owned a 91 reg cab (not a tacoma I know) with 33's 4.88 gears, a downey header, rancho exhaust (they don't make it any more) and a drop in K&N filter. Consistantly got 24mpg with it. I wish I still had that truck. My stock 05 tacoma 4x4 gets 24mpg, I don't see why with a header and the right gears you couldn't get 20. Stock they are supposed to get 21.