In order to begin any project, it's important to find a builder who can see your vision right from the start. So, "Lowlife" Mike Venegas hooked up with Max Fish from Bio Kustumz to create a one-of-a-kind rear setup that would leave others in awe. When it comes to suspensions, Max has always been one for simple and fully functional. A master of design and suspension geometry, Max tends to shy away from crazy setups with tubing just for the sake of tubing. But, Lowlife Mike did want a suspension setup that not only functioned correctly but also looked good doing it.
And away they went, the two teamed up with TIG welder in hand, working side-by-side to come up with what you see here. We followed along with our camera to capture the good times, the bad times, and of course, the random model times. For more information, contact the companies listed in the Sources box.
1. To begin building the back...
1. To begin building the back half, the most important measurement was the tire size (overall diameter OD). This is to determine where the lowest portion of the notch would be placed. Once calculated where the notch is placed, the back half is drawn.
2. The way Max drew out the...
2. The way Max drew out the frame and link setup on the ground let him calculate the suspension travel all the way through, so as to avoid typical minitrucker "trial and error." Once everything was all setup and measured, Max began to cut out the soon-to-be frame sections.
3. Next, the frame was lined...
3. Next, the frame was lined up in the configuration of the drawing, so as to ensure both sides would match.
4. The frame sections were...
4. The frame sections were clamped to the welding table so they won't move, and then everything was tacked into place.
5. After it was tacked into...
5. After it was tacked into place, the rail was matched to the drawing. This ensured accuracy before it was all fully welded up.
6. With both rails built and...
6. With both rails built and matched, they were fully TIG-welded.
7. In true Max fashion, the...
7. In true Max fashion, the frame was built into a useable air storage space, so using air tanks was a thing of the past.
8. It's important to ensure...
8. It's important to ensure the welds are solid when using the frame as an air tank. The frame section was pressure-tested, and any pinholes were filled.
9. The back half was ready...
9. The back half was ready to be attached to the factory Tacoma frame. Max took extra care to gusset both sides, which ensured the integrity and strength of the frame.
10. After all of the hard...
10. After all of the hard work building the frame, it was time for the boys to take a little break.
11. Back to work again. With...
11. Back to work again. With the back half built and attached, it was time to move onto the lower link bars. Following Max's drawing and calculations for the bars, "Lowlife" Mike got his hands dirty and began to cut out all of the sheetmetal for the bars, link tabs, and mounts.
12a. Here's a good look at...
12a. Here's a good look at what the lower link bars began life as-along with a shot of all the link tabs and mounts.
12b.
13. After all of the pieces...
13. After all of the pieces were cut out, the edges were then smoothed and deburred.
14. Once all of the link pieces...
14. Once all of the link pieces had been clamped together, Max began to slowly tack each piece and slide them into place.
15. Here's a look at what...
15. Here's a look at what the lower link bars would look like.
16. After both bars had been...
16. After both bars had been tacked together, Max fully TIG-welded everything to perfection.
17. When the bars were finished,...
17. When the bars were finished, they were set inside the framerails for a little mock-up, so as to see how the suspension setup would look.
18. After the links and mounts...
18. After the links and mounts were built, Max measured out the lower bar-tab placement and tacked them into place. Once both bars were tacked into place, the travel was simulated to make sure everything was correct, then the tabs were fully welded.
What's this? Another break...
What's this? Another break already, Max? Come on, back to work!
20. In order to tie everything...
20. In order to tie everything together, a crossmember was built to run the upper link bars to and to make certain everything had stayed below the notch height.
21. The crossmembers serve...
21. The crossmembers serve more than one purpose, as the bell crank shock mechanisms are also mounted to it. Here you can see the tricky shock setup and 'bag placement for this one-of-a-kind setup.
22. Here's a quick example,...
22. Here's a quick example, for those of you with a little imagination, of what the truck would look like after it had been laid out.
23. While the work was almost...
23. While the work was almost done on the back-half, Nate from Defiant Customs gave a helping hand on the body-drop to help get the truck to the Forbidden show.
24. And there you have it....
24. And there you have it. A team effort and Project Lowlife was on the ground with a one-of-a-kind Bio Kustumz back-half.
25. While simple in nature...
25. While simple in nature and function, this unique back half looks as good as it performs.