This was a compromise made primarily for the Toyotas, but it does apply to all makes. Example, the 85 and 87 trucks are identical in every way except the IFS. There is no real way for Tech
to differentiate between the two unless we did something like requiring a current registration to validate the year, and I don’t think anyone wants to deal with that. So the solution was to let
all first gen Toy’s run in stock class regardless of front axle style.
The suspension type rule still applies (I.e. leafs). Since a Toyota was never offered with a linked solid axle, it can’t run in stock. I’ve never Tech’d a linked rig (other than Jeep)that qualified
for stock in all other ways, but we can address that if such a rig shows up at Tech.
The 10 point penalty comes into play with the second generation of trucks. They’re visibly a whole different truck that was only available with IFS. The SAS on these trucks is a very popular
mod, and I don’t think it’s fair to move the later models up a class for a simple solid axle change. I do however feel they have a better drivetrain in some cases, so a penalty helps keeps things
fair with the older trucks.
Anyway, I hope this clears up some confusion.