Containerized: Retromod Global Tacoma
- Thread starter Containerized
- Start date
Containerized
Adventurer
Just thought I'd post a bit of an update.
Truck is running really well, just drove it from Chicago to Denver and it's being packed up soon for a return to Mombasa.
A few changes... the truck now sits on 36" Michelin XZLs (brand new, made December 2012, don't let anyone tell you these tires are out of production or that all the ones available are old stock). With the supercharger and 4.88 gears, it has no trouble at all and nothing's broken yet.
Some pics, since I know that's what you tuned in for:
Truck is running really well, just drove it from Chicago to Denver and it's being packed up soon for a return to Mombasa.
A few changes... the truck now sits on 36" Michelin XZLs (brand new, made December 2012, don't let anyone tell you these tires are out of production or that all the ones available are old stock). With the supercharger and 4.88 gears, it has no trouble at all and nothing's broken yet.
Some pics, since I know that's what you tuned in for:
Containerized
Adventurer
Some surgery was needed to accommodate the 36's in the rear, even though the rear wheelwell openings were already quite large.
In the front, more serious bodywork was needed and the body mounts were even further strengthened and modified.
It isn't apparent from the photos, but the rear edge of both wheelwell openings (front and rear) was moved back 1.5" or so.
The body mounts and surrounding steel was substantially altered already, but was pared back even further and strengthened with fresh plates.
Then everything was put through prime, undercoat, paint, etc. to make it all look as "factory" as possible.
If people are interested, I can post underside shots to give a sense of this... the vehicle's wheel wells are *very* different from stock, however.
In the front, more serious bodywork was needed and the body mounts were even further strengthened and modified.
It isn't apparent from the photos, but the rear edge of both wheelwell openings (front and rear) was moved back 1.5" or so.
The body mounts and surrounding steel was substantially altered already, but was pared back even further and strengthened with fresh plates.
Then everything was put through prime, undercoat, paint, etc. to make it all look as "factory" as possible.
If people are interested, I can post underside shots to give a sense of this... the vehicle's wheel wells are *very* different from stock, however.
Last edited:
Containerized
Adventurer
So, 36s will definitely rub with anything like a stock wheelwell. Even with the modified wheelwells I had (larger than stock), 36s would rub.
My goal was to be able to run the 36" XZL (9.00R16) with no rubbing, even at full steering lock with the front suspension compressed.
To do that meant substantial modification, including taking the body mounts back and bringing the edge of the wheelwell (and rock slider) back to match.
The result was a truck with substantially more space for large tires that looks like it hasn't even been modified (awesome).
Here's the truck with the usual "body mount chop" and a 36" tire mounted. As you can see, this would have been a problem:
Just how much had to be cut and reinforced to fit these tires? A lot. This picture should give you an idea.
Surgery:
Test fit of heavy fill plate:
All stitched up:
As you can see here, contact with the rearward edge of the wheelwell (and mud flap, etc.) would have been inevitable with any degree of articulation in the rear:
Obviously, something had to be done... and the answer was to carefully trim and move the leading edge of the rear side of the rear wheelwell backward.
That looks like this:
Huge difference, but most people wouldn't spot it.
My goal was to be able to run the 36" XZL (9.00R16) with no rubbing, even at full steering lock with the front suspension compressed.
To do that meant substantial modification, including taking the body mounts back and bringing the edge of the wheelwell (and rock slider) back to match.
The result was a truck with substantially more space for large tires that looks like it hasn't even been modified (awesome).
Here's the truck with the usual "body mount chop" and a 36" tire mounted. As you can see, this would have been a problem:
Just how much had to be cut and reinforced to fit these tires? A lot. This picture should give you an idea.
Surgery:
Test fit of heavy fill plate:
All stitched up:
As you can see here, contact with the rearward edge of the wheelwell (and mud flap, etc.) would have been inevitable with any degree of articulation in the rear:
Obviously, something had to be done... and the answer was to carefully trim and move the leading edge of the rear side of the rear wheelwell backward.
That looks like this:
Huge difference, but most people wouldn't spot it.
ReadyForAdventure
Observer
Truck still looks great! How long will you be in Denver for?
Containerized
Adventurer
Not sure, but probably not too long; truck is headed back to Mombasa as soon as I get a few business things wrapped up.
Great work as always Containerized.
I love how the team doing your work makes it all sound so easy ("and the answer was to carefully trim and move the leading edge of the rear side of the rear wheelwell backward.") as well as look so seamless when complete.
Did you need to have your tonneau cover adjusted to suit the larger spare tyre, or had you already accounted for it?
I always love seeing update notifications for this thread in my inbox.
Cheers,
Matt
I love how the team doing your work makes it all sound so easy ("and the answer was to carefully trim and move the leading edge of the rear side of the rear wheelwell backward.") as well as look so seamless when complete.
Did you need to have your tonneau cover adjusted to suit the larger spare tyre, or had you already accounted for it?
I always love seeing update notifications for this thread in my inbox.
Cheers,
Matt
Containerized
Adventurer
Yes, a new pouch needed to be created for the spare, but we re-used the rest of the tonneau.
The 36"+ Michelin XZL is quite a bit larger than the 255/85R16 KM2 it replaced.
Currently, the truck is running a supercharged 4.0L 1GR-FE with 4.88 gears, which we find more than enough power to turn the 36" tires.
The truck's performance was much better than I expected, actually, from Chicago to Denver on I-80.
The 36"+ Michelin XZL is quite a bit larger than the 255/85R16 KM2 it replaced.
Currently, the truck is running a supercharged 4.0L 1GR-FE with 4.88 gears, which we find more than enough power to turn the 36" tires.
The truck's performance was much better than I expected, actually, from Chicago to Denver on I-80.
washington taco
Explorer
How and where were you able to find/purchase the Michelin XZL?!?!?!