NetMonkey's build

whoot... i have finally done enough to my truck to make a build thread


















so, here is what i have now:

• Toytec Ultimate kit with coils set at about 3", silver springs, 2" add a leaf, 5100's on rear, axle shims, front diff drop, sway bar relocator
• Total Chaos upper control arms
• Moto Metal 955b, 16x8, 0 offset, 4.5 backspace
• Mickey Thompson MTZ's, 285/75/16
• Marlin Crawler rock sliders
• Body mount chop
• Misc
  • CB -Uniden 520XL with firestick NGP antenna
  • Front and rear facing dash cams.
  • Tinted windows at 30%
  • Scangauge
  • Illuminated 4x4 switch
  • Lighted cup holders
  • Hi-Lift jack
  • Diff breather mod
  • CV boot mod
  • Shorty antenna by AntennaX
  • Tailgate "lock"
  • Tacoma World sticker (its super aerodynamic and adds 20 mpg )

i had the lift work done by a local shop and i have to give the owner a major plug:
Darren Castine at Twizted Engineering did a fantastic job on my truck. he runs a small shop in broomfield and can do ANY work you desire, from custom fabrication, to bolt on lifts, engine rebuilds, or fully custom rock crawlers. anything that you desire, he can build. if you are in the denver/boulder area, i highly recommend him. you can find him at:
555 Alter St Unit 15-B
Broomfield, CO 80020
303 410 0804
DarrenC@TwiztedEngineering.com


sooo... on to the pics...

here is the stock truck before the lift


here it is now








the tires dont stick out too far from the fenders. i chose the 16x8 rims to keep the tires in more than the 17x9's would.


the sliders stick out to be almost flush with the fenders.


i chose the mickey thompson MTZ's because i wanted an agressive tire, but that also have some siping for the winters here. also, these 285's are a D load range so they are lighter than many other 285's which are typically an E load range.


weld on sliders


i chose the toytec ultimate kit because it was just easy to have everything i needed included in 1 kit. also, because darren is an authorized dealer and installer for Toytec.


this is a before pic of the body mount and the plastic inner fender well.


this is the after pic of the body mount chop and trimming on the inner fender well. you can also see that the inside of the fender was trimmed too.


this is how the front of the inner fender well was trimmed. darren didnt actually cut it away, he instead folded the access up and strapped it all together with zip ties. this kept the plastic ridged so it wont flop around.


here is the underside of the front inner fender well. you can see how the access is folded up and tied together. its a good idea, but i hope that over time, the holes and zip ties dont tear or brake.


here is a pic of the CV joints/boots before the lift


here is the CV joint/boot after the lift. the angle isnt too bad. it looks like some of the fins are touching, so i hope they dont wear too bad.


this is the clearance at the body mount at full lock


looking up from underneath of the body mount with the tire at full lock. the tire probably wouldnt have rubbed under normal driving, but trimming it guarantees that no rubbing will happen while off road.


front inner fender well at full lock.


another view of how the front fender well is strapped up


tire at full lock.


yay




miscellaneous mods:
CB
Build thread:
http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2nd-gen-tacomas/134082-my-cb-installation-detail.html


Dash cam build thread:
http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/au...am-genius-dvr-fhd590-installation-review.html





scan gauge



Rocky Mounts bicycle mount





illuminated 4x4 switch
build thread:
http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/lighting/78339-4x4-illuminated-switch-cup-holder-light-mods.html



lighted cup holders
build thread
http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/lighting/78339-4x4-illuminated-switch-cup-holder-light-mods.html




Hi-Lift.
build thread:
http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2n...my-hi-lift-install-other-fun.html#post3178179


diff breather mod
build thread:
http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2nd-gen-tacomas/157168-my-hi-lift-install-other-fun.html#post3178179


CV boot mod
Build thread:
http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2nd-gen-tacomas/190669-my-cv-boot-mod.html#post4117432


Shorty antenna by AntennaX


Tacoma World sticker















comments about the lift and tires:

• i am very pleased with the lift and tires. i am so glad that i did it. its a completely different truck.
• the ride feels so much more solid. on the stock tires and suspension, the back end would jitter and hop over bumps, railroad tracks, etc, but now, it just rolls over eveything without extra movement.
• the truck also feels heavier... if that makes sence. i guess its from the added weight of the rims and tires. the truck feels planted to the ground.
• i do feel a difference in the gas and brake pedal. it does take a bit more to get rolling and a bit more to stop. i matched the scanguage with my gps and it looks like i might cut 50 miles off a tank of gas (400 miles to 350 miles), but its worth it
• the tires arent too loud on the street either. interestingly, the loudest they get is between 45 and 55 mph. above 60 and 70 mph, the wind noise seems louder than the tires.
• darren was able to get the alignment perfect. there is no wandering. the truck tracks straight. i do feel more response (than stock) in the stereing wheel, but i think thats more from the size of the tires rather than from any bump steer.
• i do have an ever so slight vibration at 5mph when talking off from a stop. and i mean very slight. sometimes i dont feel it. other than that, there are absolutely NO vibrations. not under acceleration, deceleration, or at any other speed. the 5mph vibration is carrier bearing, but i dont even think its worth it to mess with a drop for it.
• with the truck at stock, i was starting to get some axle wrap, but with the 2" ALL, the axle wrap is totally gone.

thanks for looking

 

Looks great!

 

Very nice and clean!

 

very nice rig

 

Nice truck i like what you have done so far

 

looks great and i like all the detailed pics. the body mount chop looks factory nice job!

 

Looks great! I like you wheel/tire combo!

 

This is a strange request but could you possibly post a picture of you standing next to your truck and list your height. I have never seen a lifted taco in person and am having a hard time gauging the relative difference. Or could you just tell us how it is getting in and out. Did you notice if you have to jump up to the seat now? I know it is strange questions. Thanks

Truck looks awesome by the way. Nice job

 

hehe... sure. i can get my wife to take some pictures
having the sliders helps getting into the truck. i grab the steering wheel with my right hand and place my left foot on the slider and then slide my right leg and hip over the seat. without the sliders or a step, you really have to reach to get into the truck. i am 5'8". i will post pics later today.

 

thanks for the compliments, everyone

 

here are some pics of getting in the truck.

i am 5'8" so the truck is probably around 6'.

my thigh is horizontal when stepping on the slider, so trying to step directly into the cab would be difficult (for my short legs anyway).


so, i step up on the slider and then swing my right leg into the cab and around the seat. ya, its "harder" than at stock height, but its really no big deal

 

Sweet thanks man. Thats what I was hoping for. I want to have to gain a little elevation when getting into my truck, rather than sitting down into it.

 

so my wife and i did a little road trip and some mild off roading last weekend. and... wow...those tires are super grippy off road. it is amazing what it will crawl over without slipping at all. i dont have to worry about anything off road; just point the truck and go.

however, i pay the price for all that grip with reduced gas mileage. going from 31's to 33's dropped the mileage by about 2mpg.
also, the top speed (that i feel comfortable driving anyway) is less too. 75mph feels really fast so i find myself slowing down alot. and going up the winding mountain roads is slower and more work on the engine.

still, its all worth it

 

Nice build man. I was trying to remember if you were at the last MOD day. After seeing your pic of you hoppin into the cab I remember who you were haha.

 

yup



i signed up for the 2nd mod day as well.

 

nice

 

Hell yea!! Looks right man!

 

Monkey,

so how much would this cost? Lift only/wheels/rims? Trying to get a budget idea here....Thanks.

 

Very Nice outcome! Looks really great!