Chris(NJ); Slowly but surely, a build journal

How it sits as of right now:



I purchased my truck in January 2010, used, from Camelback Toyota in Phoenix. It had 32k miles on it when I purchased it.


Truck Specs:
2008 Indigo Ink Pearl Blue
Double Cab, TRD Offroad, 4x4
6 Speed Manual 4.0L V6

Front Suspension:
Fox 2.5 RR, 600lb Springs
Downsouth UCA's
Swaybar removed
Cab Mount Chop​

Rear Suspension:
Fox 2.0RR
Dakar Leaf Pack (CS047R)
3mm Axle Shims (currently off the truck for testing purposes)
Archive Garage Hammer Hangers
Archive Garage Cross Bar
Archive Garage U-Bolt Flip kit

Driveline:
TRD Short Throw Shifter
Tom Woods 1pc Driveshaft
Rear diff Breather Extended & Relocated​

Aesthetics:
15% Tint​

XPEL XR Blue 80 (Windshield)

Debadged
WeatherTech Digital Fit Mats
WeatherTech In-Channel Window Vents
Grillcraft Front Grille
Removed Front mudflaps
Plasti-Dipped Lower Front Valence​

Mountain Bed Decals
Redline Hood Struts

Lighting:
Morimoto HID Retro Fit w/ Philips 4300k Bulbs
Indigo Ink Matched Headlight Bezels
Yellow Lenses on Foglights
Oznium LED's under hood​

BDF Light Bar, behind grillcraft
Rigid Industries SM-R Flush Mount Auxiliary Reverse LEDs

Wheel/Tire:​

MT Classic IIs 16x8, 3.5/8, -22
Cooper Discoverer AT3 XLT - 285/75/16

Brakes:

Goodridge Front SS Brake Lines
Toytec Extended Rear SS Brake Lines​

Exhaust/Intake:
TRD Exhaust, chopped at downturn
XTP Intake Manifold Spacer
-3* Cam Gears cut by @mightytacoman
ECU Tune by @JustDSM

Sounds:
Pioneer 4660NEX Head Unit (Version 3.04)
iDataLink Maestro RR2
Focal 165AS Front Speakers
Focal 165 Rear Speakers
Damplifier Pro and Overkill Pro in Doors
Damplifier Pro and Luxury Liner Pro on Rear Wall and Floor
Damplifier Pro and Heat Wave Pro in Roof

Bed:
Total Chaos Bed Stiffeners
CBI Bed Bars
Army Surplus Additional D-Ring Tie downs
RoadShower

Misc:
Prinsu Cab Rack
ARB Snatch Strap ARB705US in the truck at all times
Factor 55 Hitchlink w/ Crosby 3/4" Shackle in case I need to hook it up

Still to do:
. . . . . . .





and Heres how it looked when I took ownership:




No mods were done for a few months. I drove the car back home to NJ in March.
A few things had to change. For one, the front tint wasnt even close to a match. From the dealer, it was more of a mirror tint vs charcoal. no bueno.
So, once back in NJ (04/2010), it needed a retint (15%) and a debadge.







10/2010, I ordered a GC mesh grille and painted the outer portion to match. Writeup here: http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2nd-gen-tacomas/116768-grill-finish.html?highlight=



11/2010: yellow fog mod, oznium under hood lights and ditched the front mud flaps.






12/2010: It was time for the Color Matched Headlight Mod. Indigo Ink Headlights, here I come! (Writeup is here: http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2nd-gen-tacomas/128360-headlight-removal-pics.html)







2/05/2011 - Fog Anytime Mod, New Wiper Blades, New Air Filter and New Cabin Filter. No pics necessary

3/9/2011 - Diff Breather Mod. Relocated the breather to the rear storage compartment.



3/14/2011: Plasti-Dip the lower valance.





Added some sockmonkey stickers on 4/14/2011:


and put this on, for somethin different:


HID Retro completed on 4/21/2011






Cargo locks added on May 9, 2011


6/25/2011 and 48,500 miles, I added the TRD exhaust.




7/10/2011: Redline Hood Struts and Rear lift was done. Rear height measures at 39 w/ stock tires, prior to any settling. Gonna remeasure eventually.

8/12/2011 and 50k miles: Front lift was completed using 5100s, eibach springs and 1/2" top place spacer. Also installed the MT Classic IIs and Duratracs in 285/75/16















Heres a combo pic. On 12/15/2011 and 53,780 miles, the BDF lightbar went in along w/ a new Die Hard Platinum Battery. I also painted the center section of the engine cover, which you can kind of see in the pic. (also relocated the horns)


Pictures of the Rigid Industries SMR flush mount reverse auxiliary light....





Here's how far they stick out...






And for reference, here's the same shot w/o the truck in reverse.



04/25/15: Yeti Bottle Opener. (Best mod yet?)


10/05/2015 @ 85,355 miles: Changed the Front Differential Fluid, Transfer Case Fluid, Power Steering Fluid and all U-Joints were greased again.

 

I'm not sure how many pics I can put in each post, so I might as well put this mod in a new one...reserving a space for future pics and mods

 

Damn that looks good. How do you like that grill craft

 

win! +1 for you!

 

Thanks guys

The GC is great! Fitment was tight, but overall, installation was easy. I was debating the lower piece, but w/ the ezpass and eventual installation of some fogs in that area, I thought it was best to leave it as-is for now.

 

Looks good man!

 

Looks good! I like the underhood lights. Which ones did you use and how do you turn 'em on and off???

 

They are the led floods (warm white) from Oznium. I installed a hood pin switch so they come on when you open the hood and turn off when you close it. Heres how the pin switch was mounted:

 

Gotta reserve some more room for pics

waiting on everything to arrive for the 3" lift, light bar, hood struts and still have to install the headers

 

Plasti-Dip on rear bumper and rear lift installed.

 

Good looking truck man. I'm loving that compass decal you put on your fender, good postion and def something different.

 

Thanks

 

oh, just from some random ass swb truck that was parked across the street one day

 

Sure did! Pics coming soon

 

Added the classic IIs. Fwiw, here is the weight, minus the center caps (obviously).

 

Great lookin truck! Can't wait to get going on mine. Curious, did you remove the front flaps cause they rubbed? or just cause you wanted to?

 

I removed those a while ago for no other reason other than I liked how it looked w/ just the rears on.

 

i see you went from 18 mpg to 14 mpg with your lift and tires...

 

Yea, that was a bad tank lol. I dont think it'll actually be 14. I'd say 15/16 is more likely the actual #.

^^^^.

And it is absolutely still on!!!!