A year later, after some trail running, he decided to add a 3-inch IFS spacer lift and a 3-inch body lift. The truck was shod with 33-inch Goodyear MT/Rs on aluminum rims. The truck was then wheeled fairly hard, causing the body-lift pucks to push through the cab floor in places. These areas were repaired with 1/4-inch custom steel plates that were welded in place. One problem solved.
A couple of years after that, Mike was lucky enough to win an All-Pro Off-Road suspension package consisting of adjustable coilovers, upper uniball A-arms, and rear lift leaf springs. The wheeling continued as the capabilities of the Tacoma grew along with Mike's driving skills.
Jump forward to 2005 and 35-inch General Grabber Mud Terrains were installed, but soon after Mike set his eyes on gathering swap parts for the truck's largest evolution yet.
The tie rods, ball joints, and steering rack were all in a state of rapid decline. So rather than patch it back together with new parts, out came the plasma cutter. With help from friend Josh Boerner, the entire IFS drivetrain hit the garage floor in May 2006. When the grinder sparks stopped, the front framerails were stripped of all the old suspension bracketry, and over the next few weeks all-new front hardware was installed.
They started by building a front crossmember and spring hangers from 1/4-inch square tubing and plate steel. All-Pro 5-inch leaf packs were strung between there and some 3/8-inch plate shackles in the rear.
A '79 Ford Bronco high-pinion Dana 44 with disc brakes was mounted up under the front end. The nearly 30-year-old innards were replaced with 5.13 Yukon gears spinning an OX Locker and splined to Alloy USA chrome-moly shafts and U-joints. Other axle upgrades included Crane knuckles, Sky-Manufacturing high steering arms, and Warn Premium hubs.
Steering for the rig comes by way of a Scout II power-steering box that's been rebuilt and tapped for hydro assist thanks to PSC. The ram assist is on hold at the moment for a future project, but we'll see how long Mike lasts turning the big Michelin tires.
Tie rod and drag link were built to be beefy using 1-ton ends and 0.250-inch-wall DOM tubing. A modified Wagoneer pitman arm adds the final link to piece it all together.
Out back, a Ford 9-inch axle was used from the same Bronco donor. Performance upgrades include disc brakes, 5.13 Yukon gears, a Detroit Locker, and 31-spline Alloy USA 1541-H steel axle shafts.
 With a frame height of 26...  With a frame height of 26 inches and an 81-inch-wide tire stance, the truck stays stable on the trail. The Michelin XZL 11.00R16 tires are about 38 inches tall and come from military light-troop carriers. These are mounted on Cragar Series 397 Soft 8 steel wheels. Size is 16x8 with 2-inch backspacing with a gray Hammerite finish. |  The entire Tacoma IFS was...  The entire Tacoma IFS was cut off the frame and replaced with a solid-axle swap. Josh Boerner fabricated the sturdy front spring hangers from 1/4-inch plate and 0.250-inch-wall square tubing from which hang 5-inch All-Pro leaf springs. |  A high-pinion Ox Locker-equipped...  A high-pinion Ox Locker-equipped Dana 44 provides a stronger front axle to support Mike's wheeling habits. Blue Torch Fab spring perches were welded to the axletubes, and custom-made U-bolts were provided by Dunbar Spring in Phoenix. |