Chims Build

2008 Tacoma Double Cab TRD Sport
*Whats Done:
*Front End Swap (Refresh 12-15)
*US OFF-ROAD Low-pro Front Winch mount
*C4 Rear steel bumper (Color matched paint)
*OEM TRD PRO Headlights
*Cali Raised TRD Pro grill
*FOX TRD Suspension front and rear (1.5'' Spacer on front coils)
*AuxBeam 8 gang switch panel
*C4 Rear Bumper (Color matched, hidden hitch receiver, Extreme LED reverse lights)
*Hood mounted ditch lights
*17'' Ray 10s (Brushed Copper, 8.5)
*Current BFG KO2 (285/70/17) Great tire, not as good as my previous Wildpeaks in snow or wet but outstanding overall
*BPF trd stamped skidplate
*Dash Cam Hard wired install (Rexing V1)
*Second Hand Bed Rack




*Wanting to:
*Roof rack (OEM)
*Winch
*RTT



Picking the truck up off auction in Vallejo, Ca


Ordered OEM radiator support and replaced the old bent one. Drilled out the spot welds around the old support and welded the new one on with help from my pops. Had help jamming the new support red . Kept the original radiator and AC condenser. Got pretty lucky with that.


Door was bent from the accident. TIP! Be careful when opening your doors after an accident. You do not want to roll your door and fender into each other!


Im not a Huge fan of CAPA certified parts and other aftermarket panels. Sheet metal quality and gap lines get tough when you work with aftermarket panels. Wanted to keep as many panels OEM as i could but didn't want to break my budget. Found OEM Fenders used as well as a whole OEM 12-15(Bumper cover, Fogs, Crash Bar, Headlights) Clip from some dude on CL in Tahoe with a super white '15. Thanks brah. Hood, scoop insert and various clips came from the dealer new. Got new wheel liners cause i am a bit picky but you can retrofit the pre 2012 liners by trimming the bumper side and a few push clips.


Final wipe down before color. primer and sealer over the light bondo and exposed metal to promote future paint integrity and help color blend easier.


Had help spraying the color. Radiant red looking good on the refreshed front end! Installed CaliraisedLED TRD PRO Grill insert. Gapping and quality is very nice IMO

The original tires from 08(30k miles on them) did great in the snow. Truck ride quality felt great stock. BHLM was a bit messy but got it all done and no leaks after 6 months. Like other threads have stated, its doable if you set aside some time but be careful not to ruin your headlights or oven! HINT! Factory adhesive gets messy so wear latex gloves and work clothes!



Dogs loved the truck before the lift because it was easier to jump into.



SCS's RAY10s (Brushed Copper) Installed. They are a great looking wheel. Id recommend SCS. Some cool designs and Vin and Vuth are great guys. they took time to chat when i picked up my order. Soft spoken and polite! Thanks guys!

-***2 year update, I love the Ray 10s design. I blacked out my beadlock bolts for a more uniform look. Best wheel for the price honestly. I am not tired of the look of these wheels whatsoever. Great job SCS.

TRD FOX SUSPENSION
Bought takeoffs from a 2019 TRD pro. Leaps and bounds above the block lift and 5100s i had up front. Highly recommend. if you aren't loaded and smashing offroad all the time.

HEADSTRONG LEAF PACK (3 LEAF)
i replaced my mustached OEM leaf pack with 2017 take offs with a headstrong pack already installed. Teamed up with the TRD Pros Fox, Id recommend for anyone on a budget.



Found a trd skid plate in a pile of wrecked parts, little bent but it fit on great! Just got a BPF Steel Skidplate on CL. Ill throw that on next.

If you got any questions feel free to ask. I found myself using TacomaWorld quite abit during the front end swap. I wouldn't mind seeing anyone elses front end swaps too!







Rexing V1 dashcam installed with a hardwire kit off Amazon. Tapped into the interior fusebox and piggybacked off the wiper fuse port. Cant wait to get into an accident now!

 

This guy pulled up while I was leaving Sportsmans Warehouse the other day. Nice King setup with glass fenders.

 

over the past few months.

Welded a new front end into my buddies 3rd gen runner rig project. $30 from pickn pull(side note) Love these things! Miss my 99!
Jimmy-rigged a flag setup over summer. Got some better ideas for this next 4th.
Went camping with the lady and friends. Made a tent setup in the bed with EMT pipe and some scrap 2x4s from a shed renovation
Probably my best work to date. Moved to San Diego from Sac for school. Broke my back and had to load everything back up and move back home for treatment this past year. Wont be the last time i trust Harbor Freight with tie-downs, bungies and tarps! Used paper plates as a strap buffer on the paint. All cost me about a pack of Newports and a shoelace.

 

Beautiful truck. Great job.

Spacers don't make a truck ride any different, it's the lack of UCA down travel that makes it ride like crap, but people keep writing spacers ride like chit. ???. Mine has spacers (3" lift) and aftermarket UCA's and the ride is outstanding.

Again nice job on your Tacoma.

 

ill trade ya my beadlocks ahah

 

Sweet deal if you can meet me halfway in 4 hours in Nebraska!

 

I was Really Close to getting some UCAs a few months back but went with 5100s and took it down to 2.5inch. Front runs better but now the blocks in the back are cheeks. Once im out of school ill set aside for some UCAs and hopefully a better suspension setup! Thanks Brah!

 

It's your truck and you're the boss with it. It looks great and as long as you're happy with it that's all that counts.

I love driving my truck and that's probably why eventually damn near everything will be changed on it. Wait a minute... lol.

 

Man, really like your setup. Because of your truck (found pics on the Radiant Red thread), I decided to keep my truck and do the 12+ front end conversion rather buying a new truck.

 

I wish I would have found your thread (and TacomaWorld) before I let my old truck go! Very inspiring...

 

Nice looking truck. How much did you buy it for at auction?

 

Also do you live around Vallejo?

 

Hell yea! you wont regret the money saved! As long as theres no body damage, its plug and play. If you got questions when youre doing it, send me a pm. I wanna see what you got going on when its all done! If I had a chance to swap the front end again and save money, or buy a newer truck, id swap the front end again. Like i said, you shouldn't regret it!

 

What did you have before? Do it to the 5lug! Those things are sweet, would look even sweeter with a refreshed face

 

Thanks brah, You can expect to win a truck with similar milage and setup for about 9k on copart. Not Vallejo, Sac. But I take trips to the bay with the truck semi-often.

 

Awesome. Thanks dude. I’ll keep you posted.

 

Great looking truck. So you are currently running 5100s set at 2.5 up front and blocks out back? What size blocks? Are you still able to run your 285/70/17s without rubbing?

 

Thanks my guy
5100s set on last ring and im still clearing my 285/75/17s. Only run into issues when im in reverse with the wheel about 3/4 torqued. Rubbing on the flares just a tad but i have trimmed them back abit. Very minimal trimming but i could go more and im sure it would stop it. Ive got about 13k on my tires now but they don't rub any different compared to day one. The block in the back is supposed to be for 3 inches of lift but the block is about 2.5 inch if i remember right. Have not measured it exactly.

 

Been a while since Ive been on here. Relocated to SD for school. Dont get any time to work on the truck but spring break is here so Im doing a couple little things. Anyone know of a Vinyl guy in North County San Diego?!

-Blacked out faux Beadlock nuts
-B Pillar door wrap
-tri-color TRD grill badge

Keeping everything cheap these days.

Gotta Wrap the roof cause the sun is really starting to kill my clear. Too big of a job for me to do correctly. Where are my Vinyl guys at?

 

Looking for a Vinyl guy in the north SD county area! I got the material, just need the labor before i decide to wreck it myself.