Stupid hurts.'s 5-Lugger Build

looks great steven.

 

Thanks Harrelsen! I'm keeping an eye on your build thread waiting for the ARB locker install. Btw, the bumper looks sick!

 

Now that it's the summer and since I'm currently out of a job (still looking for one at the moment ), I decided it was the perfect time to finish my colormatched Satoshi project.

It started its life as a base model grille.





I used Mark's (LBtaco) service that he was offering to cut and weld in the gaps with the leftover ABS plastic.





I then began wet sanding down the welds.





After a whole lot of wet sanding, I decided to use glazing and spotting putty to fill in any imperfections and then wet sanded to smooth it out to get ready for some adhesion promoter.





I sanded down the surround and gave everything a good cleaning with some grease cleaner and water. Masked off the triangles and then I sprayed the whole grille with adhesion promoter.







I then painted the inside of the grille with flat black, but it was getting dark so I decided to hold off until the next day to colormatch the grille surround. Before I began to paint, I wet sanded the whole grille and cleaned it once again. Then I sprayed a last coat of adhesion promoter. After about 10 minutes it was ready to paint.

I went to the local Napa Auto Parts over in Glendale and had Caesar mix up some Impulse Red Pearl (3P1) and then put it in an aerosol can because I unfortunately don't own a compressor and paint gun. I masked off the inside of the grille which was already painted flat black and began to paint the surround.









After letting the paint dry and cure, I clear coated it. After a few coats of clear coat, I wet sanded with 1500 grit and then 2000 grit to smooth out any imperfections. For extra measure, I sprayed it with one last top coat and again I wet sanded it with 2000 grit to smooth it out. I then hit it up with some rubbing compound and then a few coats of wax. I bought some zip ties and zip tie mounts and used epoxy for the mounts. I mounted a Grillcraft MX mesh grille and an old school Toyota emblem that I had purchased a while back. This was the end result.









Please excuse the leftover wax residue. I got a little too happy and wanted to take pics of the end result.

All in all, I was very happy with the result. I was skeptical as to how well the paint would match and how well it would come out rattle-canned, but it was dead-on and at only $11 for an aerosol can of it, I couldn't be anymore happier.

 

Nicely done sir! Lovin the korean newspaper! Truck looks great man!

 

Haha, thanks. It was only a matter of time before someone mentioned it. We no longer get the LA Times so I used whatever I had. Funny thing is I can read Korean, but I can't understand what I'm reading. I'm a terrible Korean.

Btw, HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

 

lol, no worries man! i'm half and lived a good portion of my life there and i still fail! ha, and thanks, sucks getting old!

 

Great work Steven! The grille looks amazing

 

Said it before and I'll say it again, sweet ass build Steven. Awesome attention to detail and one offs

 

Thanks guys!

 

looks so good man! i feel like the satoshi makes it look angry

lets see the whole truck with it now!

 

Haha, I agree. Proper pics will be up soon! My buddy wanted to take pics of my truck so the past couple of days we've been trying out different spots. He won't be able to get to them until tomorrow though.

 

nice

 

Thanks!

 

New photos taken by my buddy, Matt. Went up to Sand Canyon (Little Tujunga) and Angeles National Forest off of Big Tujunga. Unfortunately, the shots he took on Saturday were corrupted because his card was being weird, but he left me these shots.

 

Total Chaos UCAs and Sway-A-Way 2.5 coilovers are now installed thanks to the help of Noe (05PreRunner), Noe's dad, and Andre (whatthepho?)!

 

Congrats man! More pics!!
What height did you set them and how's the ride with those SAW's?

 

Looks great Steven.


Do you have anything plan for the rear suspension?

 

Sick man!

how much lift did that front setup give you and how much did it run? i'm jealous man!!!!

 

for us 5 lug guys,

if the stock trd shocks fit the rear, do you think the 5100s would work for the rear for some more lift?

 

Thanks! It's at about the same height I was at before with the ReadyLift SST Kit. Not sure on exact height, but I'm going to say around 3". I plan on going a little bit higher to level out with the rear. The ride is a lot stiffer, but I actually don't mind it. It's bearable. I will definitely get more proper pics within the next couple of days.

Thanks Harrelsen! I think I might get the Deaver 3 leaf add-a-pack (P/N F85) paired with Sway-A-Way rear shocks. It's on Total Chaos' site under accessories on the TC UCA kit page. I went ahead and checked out Deaver's website. It's listed as the Tundra/Tacoma ('96-'04) 1.5" 3-Leaf Rear and it runs about $230. Not 100% sure that this is the route I want to go with, but the guy who sold me the UCAs upgraded to the TC uniball long travel in the front, but has the same rear setup listed above. I'm going to ask him for details and see how he likes it.

It's currently set at about the same height I was at before with the ReadyLift SST Kit, but I'm going a bit higher. The coilovers with rebuild and powdercoating the coil springs, TC UCA kit, and cutting/welding plates (the instructions calls for this) came out to roughly $860. I bought everything used.

I am almost positive that they will work.