This mind-blowing 2016 Toyota Tacoma packs a savage Hellcat HEMI V8, a fortified drivetrain, and a staggering list of functional upgrades. The result is a one-of-a-kind machine that started life as a simple shop truck.
This beast belongs to Stewart Gibbs, owner of MESO Customs in Yuba City, California. He says, “My company revolves around custom Toyota accessories, and the Tacoma was the shop truck for R&D. It evolved into the current state.” Its current state is controlled chaos in the best possible way.
Hellcat HEMI V8, Upgrades Galore
Stewart goes on to say, “It started as a standard bolt-on mod truck. It needed more power, so I twin-turbo’d the stock engine. Well, it blew up, so I was leaning toward an LS, but they are too common. Then I found a turn-key Hellcat crate. It included the engine, transmission, computers, gauges, and everything to swap over.” He sourced the complete setup from Cleveland Power and Performance, using one of the company’s Turn Key Pallets.
Not content to leave the 6.2-liter supercharged Hellcat HEMI V8 stock, Stewart made several key modifications. The upgrades include a Forced Induction Interchillers supercharger pump, an Aeromotive fuel pressure regulator, and a custom titanium intake with a K&N filter. The engine also carries billet valve covers and a custom exhaust system with headers, a Formula Z Performance Z-Pipe, and Cookcraft Fabrication & Design mufflers. Fuel comes from a Fuel Safe Systems 60-gallon cell feeding a Radium Engineering MPFST Multi-Pump Fuel Surge Tank. A pair of Odyssey batteries deliver the amperage the truck demands, and a REDARC dual battery charger keeps them topped off. Cooling is handled by a CBR Performance Products radiator, one of four CBR coolers on the truck. The others keep the power steering, transmission, and engine oil temperatures in check.
Eight-Speed Transmission, Billet-Case NP205
Power is routed through a stout ZF 8HP90 eight-speed automatic transmission. It is managed by a Powertrain Control Solutions TCM2600 controller. A Behemoth Drivetrain NP205 Colossus transfer case sends power to the axles.
Dana 44 TTB Up Front, 9-Inch With Four-Link Out Back
The Tacoma’s chassis from the firewall forward is from a full-size Ford Bronco. It runs a Solo Motorsports Dana 44 long-travel Twin-Traction Beam setup with Mile Marker manual locking hubs and 4.88:1 gears. The suspension features Solo Motorsports radius arms, King 2.5 14-inch-travel remote-reservoir coilovers, King 3.0 14-inch-travel bypass shocks, King 2.0 bump stops, and Kartek Offroad limit straps. Wilwood brakes with four-piston calipers help rein in forward velocity.
Out back is a Currie 9-inch full-float axle packed with a spool differential, 4.88:1 gears, 40-spline axleshafts, and Wilwood brakes with four-piston calipers. The truck is also fitted with a separate lever-operated rear hydro braking system with four-piston calipers. The four-link rear suspension runs King 2.5 16-inch-travel remote-reservoir coilovers, King 3.5 18-inch-travel bypass shocks, King 2.5 bump stops, and Kartek limit straps. Solo Motorsports 60-inch trailing arms and an Eversen Performance Products sway bar round out the setup.
Massive 40×12.50R17LT Toyo Open Country R/T Pro tires mount to 9-inch-wide custom Lock Off-Road beadlock wheels.
Four-Passenger Accommodations, Hellcat OE Gauges, More
Inside, the Tacoma is outfitted with everything Stewart needs. It features a custom carbon fiber molded dash, custom billet dash bezels, and the OE Hellcat gauge cluster and touchscreen. Front passengers ride in PRP Comp Elite MultiCam bucket seats, while rear passengers sit on a PRP Elite high back MultiCam bench seat. Passenger protection comes from PRP five-point harnesses and a custom rollcage with intrusion bars. Other interior highlights include a PRP/TerraCrew steering wheel with a Sweet Manufacturing quick release hub and JQ Werks Madtrace Clubsport magnetic paddle shifters. Additional gear includes a Vintage Air Gen 5 Magnum Evaporator Kit, a custom Starlight headliner, a PCI intercom system, a Kenwood race radio, a Garmin Tread XL navigation system, and a Wolfbox LCD rear view mirror. A Switch-Pros SP9100 switch panel power system offers control of lights and other accessories.
Fiberglass Body Bits, Dual Spares, An Array Of Lighting
The custom bedsides and one-piece tilting front clip, both modeled after a third-generation Tundra, are molded fiberglass pieces built by MESO Customs. A custom tube bumper caps each end of the truck, and the front carries a MESO-made skidplate. The back half is custom built by Stellar Built and ties together the rollcage, twin spare tire cradles, the upper mounts for the coilovers and reservoirs, custom ammo can storage, and more. The lighting package includes Baja Designs LEDs, Blue Line four-foot LED whips, FORM Lighting LED taillights, and OE LED headlights. And if you are wondering about the truck’s color, it is factory Lunar Rock.
The Bottom Line
In all, the truck took about three years to evolve from a shop truck into this machine. The result is spectacular.
Photos by Ken Brubaker and jd.mediarunner
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