Bruce988jl's first and last build thread

nice build thread - looks like u do it all - I'm in the process of painting the grill and upgrading shocks - just working on the grill now

 

For the most part I try to do my own work - sometimes I need the guidance of fellow tacoma owners or my coworkers to help - this forum has been a bible of knowledge and help.

 

Where's the BEEF???

 

Haven't updated this in a while...

 

We've got ya.

 

Get to work... we have a lot of stuff to break this spring

 

Oh I'm already ordering spares for this summer...
Just re-upped on the following:
- 2 Front Wheel Bearing assemblies
- 2 sets of spark plugs
- more oil filters
- spare gaskets and hardware for the drain/fill plugs on the drivetrain
- Just mounted/balanced my 285's on 16" steelies with the spare
- Spare Driveshaft just incase I ef' up again parking on a rock...

I'll be ordering a set of spare inner/outter tie rods soon, along with a whole new rebuild set for the LCA's using a different lower ball joint (Thanks to @DrFunker for the heads up on the bootless Moog).

I do need to add more L-Track for the bed slide for better mounting points along with replacing the crappy OEM accessory mounts with C-track. I will need to come up with a new way to mount the Tred's - I might do a mounting on the side of the exterior of the cap over the windows. It'll double as protection for the window and a quick-grab mount.

Also need to flush the t-case and front diff at some point... Possibly pull off the skids and inspect the underside after the winter.

My most recent acquired goods:
- Tepui Autana RTT (used)
- Front Runner Cab Rack
- Front Runner RTT Lockable Quick Release
- Expedition Essentials Bedside Air Compressor Mount (I need to modify it to completely seal it off from being exposed though)
- Ram Mounts for everything electronic inside... still need to make custom legs but that's a quick minute on the lathe
- Warn Zeon 10s Winch / Wireless Winch Controller / Solenoid Long Relocation Kit

Also might be fabbing or trying to fab some random custom stuff.

 

Awesome! Look forward to seeing your progress. For me, I am doing 35s, gears and lockers this spring. I need to get on bringing spares parts too. I plan on upping my game this year...I want to do all the hard trails in the area.

 

How r the cmaburg ucas holding up?

 

They're doing good - I'm not a fan of their cap/cover holding method to access the zerks fitting so I rigged up a combination of zip ties to hold them down instead of gluing them down with silicone each time.

As for the kings - they held up okay for the winter - the salt definitely did a number on the aluminum finish for sure. Typical expose aluminum (despite them being fluid flimed) didn't last a month in the winter up here.... I had to touch up some of the front bumper and LCA's with Duplicolor Bed Coating since the salt/sand started to show some surface rust from the high impact areas.

 

Ah yes, don't you love watching the dollars rust away!??!

I am having some trouble with SPC UCAs I have. Ball joints go quick on them. I would love uniball, but I am thinking the salt would do the in ASAP.

I did a Krown rust proofing this winter and I gotta say, it did its job. There are a ton of spots I could touch up. Maybe I'll get to it by the end of the summer...dreams.

 

The ball joints I have on my camburgs were moog - they tore almost instantly so I put a bit of silicone on both holes and the driverside managed to hold up. The passengerside didn't. Camburg sent me "new" boots which are just slip in place of the old ones and really don't do much to keep everything sealed when the truck is at max droop but I just keep pumping grease into them and hope it holds up. I heard Moog built a bootless ball joint setup which I plan on trying on the lca's so if they make a comparable one for the uca's I might give those a try.

 

Thanks for the info, that is exactly the kind of thing I am trying to avoid. Its funny, the OEM control arms are well built at the ball joint. Too bad Toyota doesn't make one for lifted applications lol

 

Jason @Bruce988jl you've done so much to the truck but still no updates!!! Must get on that man!

 

So sad...we had such high hopes for this build...now no love?

 

I know.. it's been tough with travel lately that I haven't had a chance to update this. On top of that I've completely forgotten about what I have done in the last 10 months with the truck... besides the tent and roof rack.

Over the next few weekends I'll be redoing the bedslide platform and adding some mounts for my Snomaster Fridge and then a cooler mount for the RTIC Cooler. Also need to mount the cap-rack and make custom mounts for it.

 

It's been a solid minute since I put thought to updating this thread. Over the last month or so I have been slowly ordering all the stuff for this "waterfall extravaganza" a few of the local New Englanders are going on later this month. As for the truck a quick update:

Replaced the axle and had to use a sledge hammer to the pry bar (after bending one pry bar) to get it to pop out of the front diff....

Installed the Front Runner slimline rack along with the Roof Top Tent quick releases. Setup and prep are key for this as I had the rack assembled and off the truck to size it up to the tent. I feel like trying to size it up to the tent with the rack on the truck without a hoist or lift to hold the tent up would have been miserable. Did a top speed of 80mph to make sure the tent stayed on.. so far so good

Installed the Prinsu used cap rack I bought on here along with Rhino branded cap mounts as seen in the photos. It was a lot of measuring and remeasuring then I finally said f' it and drilled the holes. Bolted a Plano all weather rifle case on top to hold some of the lesser used tools that I don't want to haul around the back of the bed. I also mounted a set of Tred Pro Mounts to it and a few loop/hooks to strap things to.

I'm still trying to figure out my options for backup gas - I have two knockoff military style gas tanks but I don't have any mounts or holders to bolt it to the rack. If I have time I'll have to make something otherwise I'll have to strap it in the bed of the truck and leave a window open to vent.

Sorry for the lack of photos.. I keep forgetting to take them - they're in no particular order. The table is a new camp table that breaks down and rolls up to about the same size of a camping chair.

 

Wow Jason that's a ton of work. Looks awesome!