4WDTO Spotlight

[Moranton]

Hi everyone,
I am looking for a truck to shoot for a spotlight to be published in 4WD Toyota Owner Magazine. I am looking for a very well built or rare or different Toyota. IFS rigs would be best but if you have built something cool I want to see it. In Washington I am looking for someone available any day between July 12-20 and/or in Northern California any day between now and July 11th. Please post a pic and quick specs on your truck if you would like to be in a spotlight.

If you are not available on those date please post if you would like to be in a spotlight just tell me that you are not available. We are always looking for more trucks.

Because of the deadline please email me if you have any question moranton@ gmail.com

-Joel Moranton

[NorcalPR]

Probably won't make it but my rig and specs are listed on the main page at www.ttora.com

[Moranton]

What part of that truck is Toyota? other then the letters on the grill.

Can I see some pics of the other rigs you are talking about?

[NorcalPR]

Hm. Here's a couple pictures from the last outing:





Here's the specs:
Rig Specs

2001 Toyota Tacoma SR5 with TRD Package

Front Axle

83 Toy Axle; chopped, flipped, knuckles rotated, balls gusseted, axle gusseted, 1/4" plate for the cover, plated under the 3rd.
ARP Knuckle Studs
V6 3rd with 4.10's and Lockrite Locker (will be 4.56's or so later)
30 Spline Chromo Longs
Allens from the inside out to replace the studs on the 3rd
Marlin Seals
TG High Steer kit w/FJ ends
RuffStuff Specialties Land Cruiser Spring Perches
IFS hubs
IFS calipers
Sky IFS widening kit
ARP hub studs
Longfields chromo hub gears
FJ rotors
TG rock rings
4X4Labs Frombe steer arms
Marlin 25mm trunion bearing upgrades


Front Suspension

4" Marlin Springs
5/16" Spring Crossmember with 3/8" thick perches
5/16" shackle perches with 5" shackles
Greasable bolts
Panhard setup with 5/8" heims
12" Bilstien 5150's
Ballistic Shock Towers
Timbren Bumpstops

Rear Suspension

12" Bilstien 5150's
6" Shackles
63" 2wd Chevies with OL and AAL
Ballistic Spring Perches

Tires/Wheels

315/75 16 (35"X12.5") BFG Mud Terrain KM2
Weld Mountain Crusher 16X8 Rims, 4.5" Backspacing
1" Wheel spacers on the rear
2" Wheel spacers on the front

Armor and Protection

2" OD Rock sliders out of Sch40, In-House made
1.5" OD Bentup rear bumper, rewelded, reworked and retrofitted for no body lift
Legthened Breathers
Front Bumper "Plate style" with fog lights and behind the bumper winch

Interior/Electonics

Clarion Double-Din In dash DVD/FM/iPod headunit
JL Audio system throughout (except mids/tweets)
Scangauge II mounted where ashtray used to be
AC/Defrost Mod
Grey Wire Mod
2Lo Mod
6 LED foglights wired for rocklights, only a .75 Amp draw

Engine

Outlaw X intake with Neveroil filter
18" Cen/Offset Magnaflow exhaust turned down
URD Racing crank pully (chipped stock one on timing belt change)
Moroso Power steering cooler mounted behind bumper
O-Gasket Mod

Drivetrain


Inchworm Crawler with Marlin's 4.7 Gearset
Sealed shifter on the crawl box
Shifters all worked to come through stock location
CV Front drivesahft with 8" slip and tubed with Sch40 piping
Custom Polyurethane mount on tranny
Rear shaft shortened 7.5" instead of 8.5" to have more spline engagement (bolted carrier bearing back 1")
4.88 US gears front and rear

Misc.

FROR Steering Block off plate
Borgeson Steering Shaft
Aeroquip hoses and PSC Hi pressure fitting
TG Rebuilt steering box
Frame plated from cab mount forward with 3/16"
Line-X bed
Clearanced fenders 1" for larger tires
"Brushed Aluminum" look on front grille
Clear Corners with "Chrome Coated" bulbs that illuminate orange, signals in side markers
Billet shift knobs

Future Mods to come:

Hi-Pinion Front 3rd member with e-lock
Hydro Assist

[NorcalPR]

Originally Posted by NorCalBorn

IMHO, why not get an article on "Yellow" (Toy Connection's Stout) or Zsasbo's Taco DC or their yet to be finished Tundra?* All of us at some point have to goto jeff and the guys and they always help out with the Rubithon/etc. Maybe throw some of that goodwill back at them?

(*Well, Phill, you beat me to putting your name in too! ) **OOHHH, OOOHHH!! Here's an idea, what about either an article or back to back articles (double feature..I have mentioned this to 4WDTO before) called "Double Taco's" with Phill's and John's rigs?? Maybe not, hope that didn't sound too stupid/goofy..


Borrowed Pic..

That thing looks pretty sweet!

I second Zsasbo's rig, or even a back to back feature would be pretty bitchin

[NorcalPR]

Originally Posted by NorCalBorn

Thanks Phill..I like the idea, originally I was putting an idea to Dave Zartman and thinking Charlie (guy with the 3.4'd/modded 95 black 4Runner) would like to put a back to back up with mine and call the article a "Black and White Affair" and use it to focus on our projects and then that would serve as a lead in for an article on Toy Connection as a shop and crew and their work, rigs, etc. Never got a positive or active reply on it though. I would love to see someone else local get an article, they already did one on Sol's FJ, so why not some other locals, right?

Mine..

Yeah, I just don't know what they'd call it.

Even Hytenor's rig too

[slosurfer]

Originally Posted by Moranton

What part of that truck is Toyota? other then the letters on the grill.

Can I see some pics of the other rigs you are talking about?

That whole frame and cab is a Toyota Stout. I was looking at one for a project, but someone had already started on it and it was too far gone.

[Moranton]

Zsasbo's rig is getting more upgrades.

I would love to get a story and spotlight going on the Toy Connection rigs.

I didn't know Toyota made a "Stout" a quick google search make me want to know more about your Stout. When I looked at the pic it almost looks like an international scout so I thought it was some odd hybrid thing.

The "Black and White Affair" story sounds good to.

Sounds like I am going to have enough work for a long time after this deadline.

[Killer Red Taco]

This is my favorite pic for Phil.

[slosurfer]

^^^^That is a sweet pic!



I only found out about the Stout when I came across an ad for one. I've been jones'n for one ever since. I've seen a really cool one that was bagged and sitting on the ground. Probably the only truck I would really want to do that to. Would make a cool rig to take to the car shows.

[Moranton]

Ok guys,
Dave is thinking about me going to shoot the FJ Summit in CO. This means I will not be able to get to WA to shoot a 4Runner up there, so I need another truck to shoot down here before the 14th.

I am shooting Larry (yodaman) this Sunday at Cow Mountain. If one of the Toy Connection's trucks can make it out that would be great. Or any day before the 14th at a location you pick.

Saturday(tomorrow) will also work for any of these trucks.

Please let me know who is available when

[Moranton]

I am going to try to get out to the Swap meet but I am going to be shooting a baseball tournament in Vacaville that weekend. A week day shoot would be best for me but I am sure most of you have day jobs

If we can plan something for sure next weekend I should be able to get out of one day of the tournament. We could meet at the swap meet and head to Cow mountain.

[Moranton]

I really want to shoot the Yellow one after the swap meet, So I will give him a call.

But I would also like to talk to both you and the other 4runner about your rigs and see if we can get the ball rolling on the story. If we could get all the rigs together at the swapmeet that would be great because the more pics the better. I will only be able to do it saturday or sunday not both so we will need to plan it out. I want to the rigs wheeling not just sitting at the swapmeet.

[Moranton]

Wow thank you for the bump!

Anyways I will call Jeff on monday his number is already in my phone.

I think I passed Greg on the Rubicon a few weekends ago he was rolling with Marlin and Crew. His truck looks really clean is "Green Truck" his name on Pirate?

[Moranton]

I would not have it any other way! I feel sorry for the people who give me rides when its wet out. I get their trucks really muddy lol. I have gone into some crazy places and weather with my camera. My poor camera has been covered in mud, dirt, water and snow. Shooting Chris woods FJ60 was a lot of fun and that truck was way to clean there was not a spot of dirt on that truck before the shoot.

[hytenor]

my rig:
http://www.ttora.com/forum/showthread.php?t=52196
not that unusual anymore
the first attempt at using the Allpro SAS kit with a Diamond axle
4cyl prototype Inchworm crawler

some mods since the swap:
http://www.ttora.com/forum/showthread.php?t=103078
http://www.ttora.com/forum/showthread.php?t=119038
http://www.ttora.com/forum/showthread.php?t=129150
http://www.ttora.com/forum/showthread.php?t=76676
http://www.tacomaterritory.com/~ccor.../xmemberskids/
http://www.tacomaterritory.com/~ccor.../xmember31407/