Ravic's Very Slow Build

This is my first Taco and I absolutely love it! I am really looking forward to watching her transform into a rig worthy of recognition here at TW. Thanks for looking, and hope you enjoy! Criticism appreciated

Current status: Lift Complete

They day got her. "Birthday present to myself" Removed antenna and mudflaps in dealership parking lot and went home.


Thought I would tackle the BHLM and Color match grille at the same time.







Paint matched up really well. I wish I would have spent a little more time on the clear coat. I can tell a slight difference up close but anyone else I've asked say it looks factory.


After install


Update- Wife backed into my truck and destroyed the stock bumper. I looked into purchasing a plate bumper for a replacement but $$$$

So I decided to build on myself.

Layout with cardboard


Reinforced winch plate for future use


Mid way through test fit.


More welding and ready for access holes and such.


Holes cut and ready for paint.


And done.


Total time spent on project - 32 hours

Materials- (1) 4' x 8' x 3/16" steel plate $94
(2) Shackle mounts $24
(1) Welding Wire and tools had on hand $0
(2) Packs of cutting wheels $20

Total Cost $138

Lift, UCA's, Procomp 7031's and tires are ready to install.


Ready to get to work.


Current height with bumper and 75 additional pounds to compensate for winch.


Height after lift install


Bad photo, but new TSB leaf pack with Rough Country 2 inch ALL installed


Stock UCA and Coilover removed.


LR UCA installed, pinch weld was a bitch on passenger side..


Bilsteins installed.. look very closely.. I made a mistake.


Bilsteins set at 2.5 ended up giving me 5 inches of lift!!


Here you can see the culprit, I installed the coil seat upside down.... Thanks to the boys on SC BS thread for helping me out with that.


Now to remove the coils again..


Fixed my booboo and re installed coilovers.. time for a short road test.


Bilsteins ended up giving me right at 3.0" up front. I was looking to keep a little rake, and the AAL did just that @ 1" higher than the front. Bro Lean was not an option!!! Did a rough alignment using conventional tools, and previous markings on cams.

Alignment and wheels done.

 

Reserved for stuff.

 

Awesome work on that bumper. Excited to see the UCA's and such go on. What paint and clear did you use to color match your grill?

 

Hey man sweet bumper and grill!
Two questions for you, the grey grill prior before being painted was that purchased or did you modify the chrome one in prepping it for paint?
And secondly, what color paint did you use? I have spent ages trying to color match my truck and yours is by far the closest I have found!

Once again great looking ride man

 

Looking good so far!

DCSBMGMFTMFW!!

 

Nice work!! Always good to see people fabricating their own parts.

 

Thanks guys!! Plan to install wheels and lift next week. Stay Tuned!!

It is the original chrome grill off the truck. Followed standard painting procedure and used Duplicolor color match paint from local autoparts place. It matched perfectly. Clear coated with duplicolor clear coat. Haven't had any problems with it holding up.

 

Thanks man! Plan on fabbing new square tubing sliders next!

 

that color match is sweet! and the bumper is a beast! good looking stuff

 

Thanks dude! I was worried tt would sag in the front at 120lbs with stock suspension. But no issues as of yet.

 

did you not get a new suspension set-up?

 

Not yet, all stock in the picture. I did the bumper out of necessity (wife backed into me) Total front end drop was only 3/16"

 

Correction, I have the parts for new suspension, just not the time to install. Hope that clears it up.

Thanks yo!

 

once you do, 120 ain't nothing

 

Hope so, still another 75 worth of winch to that.

 

ohh big plans haha
if it can't, time to upgrade again

 

Hahaha Wife would if i told her that. Maybe if i just sneak a new set of coils into the stack of parts waiting in the garage, she'll never know...

5100 Billies
LR UCA's
7031 Procomp wheels
OME 886 coils
285 Duratracs
9000lb Winch

Nope pretty obvious..

 

Bump. Wheels added to "to be installed" list

 

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