SearArtist, Build and BS thread

Finally getting around to making a build thread...feel free to comment/BS/flame/whatever..

How it sits currently/most recent:




Vehicle: 2016 Tacoma Off Road 4wd AT - w/Premium and Tech package
Purchased: January 06, 2016 with 4mi on the ODO


Enjoy!


Mods

Interior:

• Weather Tech floor liners, front and rear
• Suntek CXP 15% tint front windows, 35% rear, 50% windshield (CIR)
• German Shepherd Dog endless and permanent dog hair mod
• Blackvue DR750S-2ch dash cams
• MESO Ultimate Map and Dome Lights
• Clazzio Leather Seat Covers - custom 2 tone and stitching
• Replacement Radio Knobs, Knurled Black Anodized Aluminum
  
• Gentex homelink rear view mirror
• Front seat risers
• MESO Lower Chrome Delete Kit (MGM)
• MESO Black Vent Rings
• MESO red TRD Start/Stop, small, push button
• MESO steering wheel emblem cover in MGM
• 400w anytime mod

Exterior:

• Faux eBay TRD Pro Grill
• TRD Sport Hood
• Plasti-derped hood scoop
• @CBoy808 TRD Pro Hood Decal
• OEM TRD Pro tail lights
• Debadged tailgate and door emblems
• Tailgate inserts - matte black
• MESO Customs Gasshole
• Dobinsons snorkel

Stuff in the Bed:

• OEM bed mat
• Total Chaos bed stiffeners
• Tailgate seal

Lighting:

• BLHM w/RX350 bi-xenon projectors
• Custom tuned clear Sti-R lens
• OSRAM D2S Xenarc 66240 CBH bulbs - 6000k
• Morimoto 55w ballast
• Retrofit Source harness w/relays
• Quad high beam mod
• MESO Customs V4 Ultimate LED mirror turn signals

Wheels/Tires:

• 16x8” Konig Countersteer Type X, dark blue
• 315/75/16 Milestar Patagonia M/T
• Spidertrax 1.25" spacers
• Hypertech speedo calibrator

Drivetrain/Engine:

• OEM 4.30 gears front and rear - thanks to @Trident904 for swapping diffs with me
• ECGS clamshell bushing
• Exhaust reroute
• OVTune 2.0

Suspension:

• Eibach Pro-Truck lift kit
• Wheeler's front SuperBumps
• Wheeler's 3/8" front SuperBump spacers
• Wheeler’s 3 leaf AAL
• Wheeler’s u-bolt flip kit w/SuperBumps
• OME carrier bearing drop kit
• Front swaybar delete
• JBA UCA’s
• Energy Suspension radiator support mounts

Armor:

• SOS Offroad Concepts bolt-on sliders w/kickout
• SOS Offroad Concepts front bumper w/custom full hoops
• SOS Offroad Concepts skid trio: IFS, trans, t-case
• SOS Offroad Concepts rear high clearance bumper w/side protection and single swingout w/single jerry can holder and spare tire mount

 

It beings....

Circa early December 2015, made a deal with the local dealer on a '16 TRD OR in Barcelona Red...went to pick it up that following weekend and I was informed they had "dealer swapped" it, and was SOL since no paperwork had been signed yet...

Since the deal went south, they allocated another one for me with everything I wanted minus JBL.

Traded in a 2015 Subaru Crosstrek Limited for it.

The Crosstrek, before I put it back to stock and trading it:

Loved the car, but it lacked serious power and room. Also not a big fan of CVT transmissions. It took me to some pretty remote areas of Pisgah National Forest though.

January 07, 2016 - Day 2 of ownership - got window tint installed that morning with only 25mi on the ODO


Pretty much remained stock through the next year.

Only mod was a plasti-derped grill and Morimoto HID kit and LED fogs.

 

January 11, 2017 - twas not a good day. Had just moved into our new house 12 days prior to this, was not a good start to living in a new part of town.



TW let me have it that night
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/add-me-to-the-wrecked-3rd-gen-club.469546/

There goes the trade-in value...time to build.

 

Down the rabbit hole we go...

First mod after the wreck was to replace the shitty Morimoto HID kit. It's decent for a plug and play kit, but there is much to be desired.

Sourced out some RX350 EU projectors and Sti-R clear lenses. Sent them to user Nuvolari over on HID Planet for tuning.

Results were phenomenal, he said some of the best one's he has tuned yet.



Fast forward a couple months, I get enough time to get the BHLM done...complete pain in the ass, and took two whole days to do it. Results were worth it.





Next, I found the URE thread, which is probably the worst thing that would happen to my wallet. Took the truck and dog out one Saturday this past summer to see what the fuss is all about. Stuck to Wolf Den, Rocky Mtn Loop and Falls Dam.

Truck did great being completely stock, I was hooked.




A bit later came a simple cosmetic mod, debadged the tailgate and doors and added matte black tailgate inserts.

 

The real modding beings...

After the first trip to URE, it was time to get some new tires.

Saw a couple people running 33's on stock suspension, not too much information was out there, so I gave it a try.

Just before Labor Day 2017, I bought a set of TRD Pro wheels and 285/75/16 S/T Maxx's and headed to URE the next day...I had to do very little trimming. Most of what had to be done was to use a heat gun on the plastic inner fender wells, by massaging them a bit to make room.



Happy to report it only slightly rubs because there are two spots that I'm too lazy to heat up and mold out of the way (have pics of where it does rub for those interested). Doesn't rub the UCA or cab mount and the tires are amazing off road.

Early September group ride with a bunch of T4R's




Made it up the back side of Daniel



Went back a few weekends later with an all Taco group.

@JimboAnz in the background


Dog was not impressed with the flex


Got my first bit of trail damage on Dutch John



October rolled around and our daughter, Savannah, was born on October 23rd...5 weeks premature. 4lb 14oz, which quickly dropped to 4lbs 0oz...life was on hold for a bit and pretty much haven't done too much since other than order a bunch or parts.




Bought a eBay $140 TRD Pro knock off grill, derped the hood scoop and installed the Pro Hood decal...which gets us to where we are today.

 

In before reserved 5!!


Nice ride! I may copy some of your lighting.

 

In to support some local trucks

 

Glad the gears worked out for you Matt. Hopefully You can make it to Windrock in April.

 

Truck is lookin good Matt! get that suspension on there

 

Soon, Just waiting on warmer weather.

 

It was 74 degrees 2 days ago. lmao

 

It was a total pain in the ass, not sure that I would do it again to be honest...took the better part of a weekend to do it.

 

True, but I was in Raleigh swappin diffs

 

I was at the dealership replacing my fried catylitc converter on my 2017 with 3400 miles.

 

You have been busy since I met/last saw the you at URE.

Looking good.

 

Turd Gen strikes again!

Luckily, in 38k miles, I really haven't had any of the "common" issues. When I first got it, the tranny would slip on the 2-3 shift on REAL cold days, but once the first version of the TSB was applied it pretty much stopped, plus I have an insulated garage now which stays around 50*F even when it's in the teens. The only other real issue I had was the whistling from the front lower control arms, but the $0.50 plugs from Lowes fixed that.

No leaky or noisy rear diff, no erratic shifting, no shaking, no vibrations, etc...maybe I got lucky and got one that was built on a Wednesday instead of a Monday or Friday.

 

Yes sir! I have a small utility building full of parts. Gotta keep them out of the garage so my fiancee doesn't have a fit.

I'm pretty much done buying stuff...for now...

 

If you don't want to go full on bumper I got a first hand look at the SOSconcepts slimline version and man it looked good!

Side note hope you'll be able to make the Windrock trip

 

Well, mine is under warranty obviously so they fixed it. I threw a TRD Pro exhaust on while they had it off.

 

It'll be a CBI or Victory 4x4 if I ever do a full steel bumper, not really interested in the "slim" bumpers since they don't offer any more clearance than stock.

I should be able to make it to Windrock, just gotta figure out the babysitting thing, since my fiancee works weekends.