---SR TACOMA Build--- (Pic Heavy)

Welcome to the build up of my SR Tacoma. Trying not to go to crazy with this one. After all, this is supposed to be my Bay Area commuter from Santa Cruz to: San Jose, San Ramon or San Francisco.

Truck Specs: 16’ SR Access Cab 4x4, 2.7L 5-Speed Manual, Barcelona Red FTW!

Overall plan is to keep above 21mpg yet be able to have a functional weekend camp rig. I'd also love to use it to run trails down in the dessert. Currently I’m averaging 22.4mpg.

This thread will be an ongoing list of pictures and mods that I perform on the truck. Like most my projects, it will most likely snowball into something crazy. Down the road I'd like to add a cab high shell and custom build a sleeping platform and storage.

Pics first weekend I got her.




Added a rear hitch, Curt C13264. Lots of fun fishing the bolts through the frame. I went with the Curt because the hardware looked better than what was offered from Draw-Tite.







I also added some OE Side Steps. Got them off a member here. Now my daughter can get in. Down the road they'll be swapped to rock sliders.



Then got the windows Tinted. I went with Llumar over the 3M. 5% on rears, 40% on driver and passenger.



My other projects:

Ram 2500 (Tow Rig) Build thread here. www.cumminsforum.com


80 Proof Juggy - Build Thread Here. www.pirate4x4.com

 

Couldn't resist had to get her up in the air.

I did a lot of price shopping. Really didn't want to go to crazy with the truck with under 3,000 miles on it.

I figured I'd do a solid axle swap before I drop 2-3 grand on fancy suspension up front.

The parts and pieces:

2nd Gen 5100’s - $262 shipped from Jet.com.
OME 885’s and 1” rear block kit - $265.41 shipped from ToyTec (Looking now into Dakars)
Some take off 16’ OR wheels - $500 TW Classified
Two sets of 1.25” Spider Trax Wheel Spacers - $189.90 shipped from Morris 4x4
265 75r16 Hankook Dynapro ATM - Americas Tire, WTF, how did $125ea tires end up to be so much!



Rear end went so quick I only finished 1/2 a beer! Rear 5100's are the same length as stock, so I'm worried about limited travel. I will most likely be swapping the rears to Dakar's and B110 Tundra Shocks. I hauled a decent load of new tires, wheels and 31 cases of flooring and I put a nice negative arch in the springs, and was bouncing off the bump stops.





I probably should cut down the U-Bolts, but I'm going to wait for the Dakars.


Pretty bad rear squatting, I weighed the load 925lbs. 2.7L pulled it fine. I live in the Santa Cruz Mountains, and it handled the hill very well at 60mph (50 is the Speed Limit).



Nice negative arch!


On to the front...

 

Love me an SR! Have fun!

 

The front went amazingly fast as well, start to finish under an hour for both sides. Air Impact makes quick work of everything! I pulled the front skid plate and moved the Sway Bar out of the way to give more room to work. I didn't use a spring compressor, and did the coil and shock swap without removing the upper Coil Over Mount.

Front is 5100's set to 0 running OME 885 coils. I got exactly 2" of lift in the front. I left my marking tape on so I can recheck to see if they have settled any.

All blown apart.


Seeing that I was running the Factory OR wheels, I wanted a little wider stance. I went with 1.25" Spider Trax Spacers. I wish there were 3/4" spacers available. I've never had issues with spacers, and if you check torque regularly you shouldn't have any problems. I know many guys that wheel very hard with spacers, some even 3" or double stacked, that have never had issues. That includes lockers and 38" swampers. Just keep them torqued to spec .


All back together




Ball joint doesn't look too pissed.


Seeing that I have a mountain commute paired with a 4 banger, I didn't want to add to much rotational mass when selecting a tire. I chose the Hankook Dynapro ATM. They look nice, have a decent tread pattern and are P rated with good load carrying capacity and a 50k warranty.




I weighed the factory Steel Wheel and tire combo at 60.8lbs ~30.25" (245/75r16).
New set: OR aluminum Wheels 63.7lbs ~31.8" (265/75r16). Less than 3lbs per corner!

Old


New


Lifted pics coming...

 

I'm really happy with they way everything came out. Below are just some dirty pictures, I'll get better ones up soon.

The 5100's ride much better than stock. They are a bit more firm, but not jarring, and the front end bounce is completely gone. My alignment came out great, except driver castor is a bit out of spec. Also, no drive-line vibration or front CV or diff howling.

Down the road I think I'll be going with:

4:30 or 4.56 Gears
47lb D-Rated 255/85r16 Cooper S/T's (33.20 x 10.40 x 16)

Front:
SPC Upper Control Arms
1/2" Spacers or 887's.
Diff Drop

Rear:
OME Dakars
Carrier Bearing Drop
B110 Tundra 5100's
U-Bolt Flip
Wheeler's Super Bumps

^Oh man, that's a lot of stuff

 

Today I installed my custom decals from CBoy808 here on TW (https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/custom-made-vinyl-stickers-bedsides.281228/)

He was awesome to work with, and gave me exactly what I was looking for. I wanted the exact same look as the new Barcelona TRD's, but I wanted it to say SR, and they came out perfect!



I trimmed the top so it was straight and easy to line up on the truck. You can also see the purple spray bottle I used with water and a few drops of soap to help apply the decals.


I laid down a piece of 1" tape along the top of the bed so that I could get the spacing correct and even. The factory stickers are really close to the top of the bed, and I didn't really want that. I used the hinge method and a felt pad that is used for sliding furniture as a squeegee.


Came out perfect, with no air bubbles. Much easier than I expected!


I really like it.

 

Cool idea with the bedside graphic. I can't decide if I like it better with or without, but either way that looks sharp. Reppin' the SR like a boss.

 

Thanks. It's pretty funny, the SR's are quite a value for what you get.

I wasn't sure if I was going to like having the decals there but I think they look pretty good. If I ever change my mind they should come off without any problem.

 

They definitely are. Add keyless entry, intermittent wipers, tint, fog lights and you pretty much have an SR5 for 2-3k less. I'm almost there, then the fun begins with armor and gear.

 

sweet truck, i look forward to watching the build progress!

 

so bilstein up front and 1 inch block in the back? think u could post a pic of before and after side by side?

 

I'm 1/2 way there! Wiper mod done! I'm actually ok without keyless entry, however, I am looking into fog lights right now. I'll let the bank account recover for a bit, then I'll be back into it lol!

 

Yes, 5100's, set at 0 with 885's

Best I have so far. I'll get her cleaned up, and then take some more pics at the harbor!

 

why is your bumpers same color as the truck? mine came black plastic

 

Because you got the utility package with black plastic rear bumper, front bumper, and mirrors. I like the look of the utility package on the MGM colored SR.

 

I am really looking forward to my SR with the Utility Package to come in so I can do a few of the same things to it.
Thanks for all the pictures and info!

 

Is that painters tape above the wheel wells?

 

Let us know how you make out with the rear door window tinting issue. I've seen that same thing on other SR's with tint. It's definitely a concern for those of us looking at the SR.

 

Well do. If I would of known it would look like that I'm not sure if I would of tinted the windows. But I will say it is nice to have them tinted.

Yes, the tape marks my measuring point so that I measure the same place each time when I check to see if the springs settle. The fenders are sloped, so if you don't measure the same place it's easy to get your reading off. Probably a little over kill, lol! Many are throwing out different numbers of ride height, I wanted to get a solid answer.

 

Are you referring to the painted border around the edge of the glass?