HackD's ongoing 5-lug armored-slug build.

Thanks.
Did you hardwire it?

I go through the QEW there in the HOV lanes whenever I can.

 

I've run the power wiring through the interior headliner and a-pillar trim, through the dash and running off accessory power. That is all that is necessary, IMHO.

Good luck with the HOV lanes at this time .. construction on the 403 portion of the split entering into Waterdown has traffic fubared right back to Trafalgar Rd, for all lanes including HOV, during peak travel times. I ordinary try not to 'cheat' the HOV system.. but some days when it is flowing better, it is tempting.

 

I haven't cheated yet in the HOV lane. But Pan AM games was a nightmare.
Always have a passenger - even if passenger is along just for a HOV ride. A quick trip to Ancaster and back to Toronto.

Did you take any photos of your dashcam install?
I have the same base 5 speed truck. 2009. Love it.

 

Unfortunately, the Stoney Creek - Oakville/Mississauga border trip is a daily commute/slog.. now taking around an hour 1 way with summer construction season having a lot of street and highway congestion between here and there going on. Not fun.

I snapped a photo of the dash-cam before it got too dark to do so. It's hanging off of a mirror relocation bracket. http://www.birddawgindustries.com/mirror-riser.html

 

Another week burning off some banked vacation time... buuuut, i've been as sick as a dog. I took on some 'light duties', ripping into the dashboard to lay in some USB charging ports into the center console, install and final-wire the running light switch in, and try to lay in the cabling for a rear view dash camera. I also want to lay in some extra wiring to take account for possible future upgrades while i've got things apart.

The left hand switch blank grouping proved to be disappointing when the blanks were lifted. All but the top-right most switch blank concealed nothing. The remote mirrors large blank has a wire header close to it, as does the top-right most switch blank. I need to look further into finding out what that one switch blank is for in a better featured 2010 Tacoma.

 

www.datelmeters.com they have volt and amp meter for your mirror blank. You have to file plastic to make fit. But just the blank piece. And www.aironboard.com has switches for the left dash and the center under radio but need relays only 3amps. Blueseas.com is a good place for electrical shit. Nice stuff. Good quality.

 

^^^ Thats a lot of $$$ for a volt and amp meter Id check out dx.com, ebay, or Amazon. They usually run less than $10 and theres even models that plug into the cigarette outlet

 

That's what I used. There made really well. And I have some that been running none stop for like 8 years. The switches are kinda cheap but work.

 

I picked up a few switches from Mictuning on Amazon. Running them in conjunction with relays. Perfect fit for the Tacoma dash. I also picked up a few of the Tacoma center console size-specific USB ports from aironboard (I think). I've had these switches sitting in a shoe-box for quite some time now, awaiting inspiration and perspiration.

 

Thanks

 

Still in the process of wiring - i actually soldered up a harness on the bench before putting in the dash, so all connections are there now, and ready to take the Smoke Test.

On the way from work, i dropped by 4wheelparts and picked up a set of 6"slimline KC driving lights for absolutely no reason other than that i had an extra switch to make use of. That, and i've always wanted a set, just because. It's an 80's thing.

Wiring continues over the weekend.

 

It's shaping up to be in the spirit of, but not actual. I ain't trying to put an anorexic 5-lug version that skipped leg-day together, LOL .. and if i add more lights to the damn thing, it'll be getting dangerously close.

Just sort of an homage to my roots, with my sister and her Toyota, and myself with my Nissan, as Tweens back then. That, and because.

 

i get it.

This is why i got a Tacoma

 

After about 3 weeks of a project going at a ridiculous plodding pace - I'm done for this round. In the end, some of the rediculousness came down to a MicTuning wiring harness connector - the slave labor in China putting them together, crimped a vital connection at the insulation, not the wiring ..

This resulted in me making a total hash of my own pre-soldered wiring harness, thinking that it was my faulty wiring capabilities (wiring is admittedly the weakest of my shade-tree mechanic credentials).. calming down, and taking trouble shooting steps, produced the faulty connection.. eventually.

That all said, I wish that i had a camera that was capable of capturing the light output of the setup, as it is now. One word. AWESOME. I apologize in advance for the CCD-searing potato-cam qualities of the following images.

Running lights, only.



Running lights only with 4x4 Rigid type Cree LCD driving lights in bumper.



Low beams, LCD driving, KC driving.

 

I've been meaning to get around to this for a while - i installed the rack itself in early February, and was immediately somewhat irritated by the degree of wind-noise. A bit of experimentation with a pool noodle, indicated to me that the noise producer was at the in-cut corners of the air-dam. The only thing to do to test that theory, is get even more experimental. It's also a reinforcing lesson in the maxim of "never throw nothing out".

A couple hours with a hacksaw, a file, and some scrap 1/16" stainless steel with an appropriate pre-bend that's been kicking around for the past decade or so has produced "winglets". The passenger side obviously also blanks out the Prinsu laser-cut logo - I suspect that's also a source of noise. I reinstalled and took a few photos in the dying light.. no road test yet.

 

Have you reduced the wind noise, now?

 

I would say that the wind noise/turbulence effect has been reduced substantially - in the order of 80%. Pretty much unnoticeable with the radio at normal listening volume. A touch of burbling still hearable at speed, with radio off. Certainly a lot more tolerable.

I brush painted up the 'winglets' this afternoon - not even bothering to pop-rivet them in place, at this time. They are being held firmly in place, just being tightened up in the air dam/mount bar in an interference fit.

 

That's a pretty big difference. Looks good, glad the mod is a success!