Gramp's Old Guy Build - Agnus the GX

So I have done a couple things to the truck lately. One was in preparation for HAM radio and the other was the result of the first.

So I learned from "TacomaOverland" on IG that them Aussies have made a cool roof center consule for the FJ'S and with a little "modding" they fit in our 2nd gen Taco. It's the perfect fit for the HAM radio so I had to try it out. We'll it's not as simple as I was told. I had to do a lot of trimming down on the console to get it to fit with multiple cut and test fit steps. Then the mounting brackets pretty much fit nothing at all. So I pounded them flat and re-bent them to fit where I needed them to fit. Then used self tapping screws to secure the mounts to the roof. Oh and the headliner had to be trimmed just a little bit to help the fit. After all that was figured out the wiring diagram was pretty useless. After about 20 mins of trial and error I had it figured and the end result was this.



The map lights work just like before and the valet lighting works perfectly. The light power is insanely bright which is nice and the front pocket opening will be awesome for the radio when I get it. After I finished this install I was looking at their website. It turns out there is another model number for the Hilux which from the picture would had contoured perfectly to our roof line and saved me a lot of work. But I couldn't find anywhere that I could order it from that would ship it to the US. So maybe the FJ one was the only one available here.

Well after install I was fine with the fact that I no longer had the overhead compass because I had a compass in my GPS. But I didn't realize I used the temp gauge as much as I did until it was gone. So I set out to see if I could retrofit a later model mirror that had temp and compass in the mirror into my truck. A little research led me to Bob Prim. He has a thread on TW here with all the information about these mirrors.

So you cannot retro fit anything from 2009 and newer into our trucks. In 2009 when they started the mirrors with the gauges everything went single wire digital. Prior to that, everything was a 2 wire analog system from what I was told. But never the less Bob had a solution with his own kit. So I ordered one up and installed it.

Got the temp, the compass, and auto dimming with a plug n play harness. Bad ass and simple. Even got an optional amber color change so it matches the rest of the interior. I am super impressed with that setup.

Now on to researching radios and getting my license for HAM.

 

Cool

 

Hey, let's try and keep it brief Phil.
Nobody has time to read your long, drawn-out diatribes.
Remember, less is more. OK?

 

Co!

 

Cool, I've also seen a guy make something like that for a 1st gen. It's a nice add.

 

Missing this already!

 

I just saw this

 

Holy mother of .....

 

You are up late. Big Friday night?

 

He was drunk I'm betting. giving me crap for staying up late making knife scales

 

^ you and ^^you

 

Just finish reading all 72 pages of your thread....
Love your build Gramps

 

Thanks man!

 

liking that mirror

you have any radios in mind yet?

 

Not yet. Still in research mode.

 

Well I just made it through every page of this build thread and now I can wipe the drool off my face and hit the Sub'd button! Damn @Gramps you have done some amazing stuff! Well documented and very much inspirational for a guy like me, new to doing a truck build and that is wanting to be off-road capable very much similar to this. Seeing the amount of stuff done and how long you have been adding, changing and modding things makes me want to hang on to my Tundra and garage the Taco until I have funds to actually start doing my own mods.

I'll be going back through some key pages that posed me with some questions and taking some notes....

 

So moving on into the HAM radio scene. With the help of a friend I am gonna start with this radio. Need to get some cable and connectors and an antenna still. And well... I need to program it and of course there is that whole test and licensing thing. But it's a start.

 

You should have got 2...........

 

Ironically the friend I was talking with at the time also ended up buying one. If you really want one shoot me a text.