My Yoda's Taco

Jackel

Jackel

Bought an X
Location
Marianna, FL
Built the stand for the switch board (kind of) and a few pics. Need to wash it now. The box is rough, but it's the first thing I've ever built out of wood and I'm proud of it.



 

Attachments

  • image-93940107.jpg
    image-93940107.jpg
    54.2 KB · Views: 13
  • image-1128358336.jpg
    image-1128358336.jpg
    97.8 KB · Views: 13
  • image-2946973735.jpg
    image-2946973735.jpg
    83.9 KB · Views: 14
Last edited:
Jackel

Jackel

Bought an X
Location
Marianna, FL
My switches run 3x3. I have three across the top, which run (left to right) my driving lights mounted to the front bumper, the off-road lights on my roof, and my flood lights that are wired to my reverse lights. Middle row will be front locker, rear locker, and compressor. Bottom row will be my winch.
 
Jackel

Jackel

Bought an X
Location
Marianna, FL
A lot of people run all their lights to one switch, and just either run all on or all off. I prefer to have more control over what is on or off.
 
caseycamby

caseycamby

Suspension Lift
Location
Marion, NC
That's what's up man! I completely agree with you.. I like running each light, or set of lights, individually.

I need to brainstorm up an idea for a switchboard!
 
Jackel

Jackel

Bought an X
Location
Marianna, FL
For an Xterra, since they have the center console and bucket seats instead of a bench like my taco, it's a matter of where to place it. A good place I wanted to put one when I had my X was on the ceiling just in front of the map lights, or the rear view mirror if you don't. Mounting it could be difficult, but the thread that have me the idea to make a switchboard was on a jeep forum and that's where they placed their 1x6 switch board. If I can find the link, I'll send it to you but it's been years.
 
caseycamby

caseycamby

Suspension Lift
Location
Marion, NC
Yeah that's the concern for me... location. The ceilings not a bad idea but each time I wire something to it I'll have to go all the way up there and half way take apart the headliner.... I'll see what I can think up haha
 
Jackel

Jackel

Bought an X
Location
Marianna, FL
caseycamby said:
Yeah that's the concern for me... location. The ceilings not a bad idea but each time I wire something to it I'll have to go all the way up there and half way take apart the headliner.... I'll see what I can think up haha
Click to expand...

Go ahead and run a hot and ground up there and just tap off that when you add a switch.
 
Jackel

Jackel

Bought an X
Location
Marianna, FL
Update: I originally said I would be holding off the SAS for a few years or so and just do a conversion instead. After talking around, I've learned a few things about ifs. For one, putting an air locker on an ifs is apparently just begging to snap an axle every time you flip that switch. So, after looking into an SAS a little more, I have a few questions is like to run by some of the more experienced mechanical people currently subscribed to this thread.
(And I do realize this is an Xterra thread and I'm running a taco, but the underside components of a 4wd aren't apples and oranges on different vehicles. Kind of.)

1. Aside from the transmission, transfer case, and front drive shaft, what parts (if any) will I need from an ifs to do an SAS?

2. What are pros and cons between a leaf spring setup vs a coil over? Which is easier to build, setup, service? Which gives better handling on vs off road? I've looked a fair bit, and I don't see any how to's, most are just "then after I cut all the ifs off, I put the axle underneath and rolled some tires next to it to see how it looks. Then after I finished putting on the axle,..."

Thanks in advance for the help!
 
Jackel

Jackel

Bought an X
Location
Marianna, FL
Found an axle housing off an 84 Toyota pickup. $134 shipped, but it's only the housing. Step one down. Still need the transmission, transfer case, and driveshafts. Other parts are easier to find aftermarket.
 
Kuzmovka

Kuzmovka

Bought an X
Location
Colorado
Hey man your truck is passenger drop right? don't want you screwed. I have an 85 4runner. look seriously into the trailgear set up. I know it's a lot but you can see what you need from them. You have the 3.4L right? Check out marlin crawler for the transmission and t case, they may have an adapter for it and I know you can get a t case. Idk about the electrics but maybe a harness for the truck and an ecu if you run stock taco 4x4 setup.

I know you don't want to hear this, but, sell it and get a 4x4 it will save you like 60% probably. Toyotas are cheap but drive train swaps are not

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I317 using Tapatalk
 
Jackel

Jackel

Bought an X
Location
Marianna, FL
Kuzmovka said:
I know you don't want to hear this, but, sell it and get a 4x4 it will save you like 60% probably. Toyotas are cheap but drive train swaps are not
Click to expand...

You're right. But it's not about the four wheel drive, and it's not about saving money. Of course selling and getting 4x4 stock is cheaper than an SAS. But it's not about that. It's about the experience and what I can learn about what I love to do.

Besides, I got the truck cheap. Same year with same miles in 4x4 will cost about 5-6k more than what I spent on the truck.
 
Last edited:
Kuzmovka

Kuzmovka

Bought an X
Location
Colorado
Not saying dont SAS. Do absolutely do that. But get the transmission and transfer case from the 4x4. That's what I was saying. If it's 5-6k yea just swap the drivetrain in. That will be a sick setup. For sure. Make sure you have all the parts first like crossmember tranny/tcase and any wiring you need to do. Although the factory harness may have all the wiring. Toyota is extremely lazy and tends to just kinda leave the harness as a full spec unit and only use some stuff

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I317 using Tapatalk
 
Jackel

Jackel

Bought an X
Location
Marianna, FL
Kuzmovka said:
Not saying dont SAS. Do absolutely do that. But get the transmission and transfer case from the 4x4. That's what I was saying. If it's 5-6k yea just swap the drivetrain in. That will be a sick setup. For sure. Make sure you have all the parts first like crossmember tranny/tcase and any wiring you need to do. Although the factory harness may have all the wiring. Toyota is extremely lazy and tends to just kinda leave the harness as a full spec unit and only use some stuff Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I317 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

I understand now. And yes, that's the plan. Already found the guts to my axle and a t-case and driveshafts. Still need a tranny and the wires that go with it as well as a slave drive, clutch pedal and brake pedal, everything that goes with the manual transmission. I could get a new ecu as well, but going auto to manual, it's not as important as getting one for switching from manual to auto.

Still trying to decide if I'm going to put a locker in the front before I SAS or if I wait. Guess it will depend on when exactly I do the conversion.
 
Kuzmovka

Kuzmovka

Bought an X
Location
Colorado
If you lock it now you're spending the money on gears once. On the flip side not locking it now will save you a grand to fine tune the set up if there are incidentals. Nice housing btw. Don't forget springs for the rear!

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I317 using Tapatalk
 
Jackel

Jackel

Bought an X
Location
Marianna, FL
Kuzmovka said:
If you lock it now you're spending the money on gears once. On the flip side not locking it now will save you a grand to fine tune the set up if there are incidentals. Nice housing btw. Don't forget springs for the rear! Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I317 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

Already got gears, it came with it separately. It'll be several months to maybe a year and a half before I put it under my truck. In that time, if I save enough, I may choose to lock it and keep the open diff handy as a spare if the locked one were to give out for any reason on the trail. Same goes for the rear.

Rear springs and new shocks are definitely on the list to buy! Not gonna have the front raised higher than the rear.
 
Kuzmovka

Kuzmovka

Bought an X
Location
Colorado
I'm currently buying springs for mine. All 800 bucks worth. Atleast it's everything really. Not looking forward to an axle rebuild though at all.

In other news. Save faster damn it!

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I317 using Tapatalk
 
Jackel

Jackel

Bought an X
Location
Marianna, FL


Got a few parts in. Axle shafts, third member, brake rotors, calipers, hubs, locking hubs, pretty much everything off a 1987 Toyota 4x4 pickup minus the knuckles and suspension. About half of this stuff I won't even need because I'm gonna get some of this new.
 
Jackel

Jackel

Bought an X
Location
Marianna, FL
All the parts came straight off the truck pretty much. So the old gaskets are still on it, which means I have a lot of cleaning ahead of me. Going to need to buy all new gaskets all the way through as well, and I'm going to need to get nuts for The entire axle. When he shipped it to me, he took it apart and forgot to send along the nuts that hold it all together. I'd message him and complain, but with the price being as low as it was for everything, I think I'll just go to Lowe's and buy more.
 
Jackel

Jackel

Bought an X
Location
Marianna, FL
All in good time. I ordered the roof rack and it's going to take about a week to come in since it's shipping directly from the manufacturer
 
Jackel

Jackel

Bought an X
Location
Marianna, FL
Muadeeb said:
Load assist for the roof rack?
Click to expand...

youre actually very close. My plan is to mount the roof rack over the bed (flush with the top of the bed) sort of like one of those plastic covers. Then take the winch and use it to lift the rack higher so i can still use my truck bed. Its hard to explain, and i imagine you can't really picture it based on how i explained it, but once i get it on there, i'll post some pics and vids so you can see it!
 
Muadeeb

Muadeeb

Nissan al Gaib
Admin
Location
Dallas
No, I think I follow. It'll hinge at the cab so you can get better access to the bed, and still have a 2nd tier storage shelf. Cool idea.
 
M

metzican

Suspension Lift
Location
Lafaytte, la
So your either going to hinge it like Muadeed said. What I think your going to do is do a lifted rack by the winch kinda of like a pop up camper. Where the rack can be lifted so there is more room underneath.
 
Jackel

Jackel

Bought an X
Location
Marianna, FL
Got the basket in, threw it together and placed it on the bed of my truck. It's a prefect fit. Didn't have time to mount it today due to work, but I'll start the process of mounting it soon.

 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top