North Of The Border
A Baja'd-out Toyota
Dave Dinsmore of San Marcos, California, has owned this '85 Toyota for seven years. In fact, it's his first vehicle and he threw his first weld beads on it. Year after year the modifications followed with bumpers, hoops, and bars being bent, rebent, and changed time and time again. It looks like it paid off. After all that time fabricating in the back of his home garage, Dave developed a reputation as a pretty killer fabricator. Although he's now part owner of JD Fabrications in San Marcos, the Toyota was built while he still maintained his amateur status.
Dave kept the interior somewhat close to stock, only replacing the seats with a pair of Beards so his spine didn't shoot out the top of his head after a big air jump. The springs and shocks were kept in somewhat stock configuration as well because, for a time, Dave raced the truck in the stock-modified 7S class of desert racing. The rear frame was boxed at the spring mounting points and the hangers were gusseted, but other than that, it's a dirt-simple suspension that works killer and actually rides really nice.
After 200,000 miles, the tired 22RE engine was shipped off to D.O.A. Racing for a refresh, and a Centerforce clutch was thrown in to keep the five-speed and stock transfer case turning the same rate as the engine.
If you ever get to Glamis, keep an eye out for Dave's Toyota. By then it should be sporting a new fiberglass Tacoma front clip to go along with the Tacoma bedsides. You'll be sure to know it. It'll be the one flying 10 feet off the ground.