Juanitobunito build and bs

I’ve been meaning to write up a build page for quite some time. I’ve been asked to do it by a few people as well which also gave me motivation to finally do so. It’s pretty cool being known and acknowledged for my truck build as well as it being very appreciated. Also, knowing it may possibly be an inspiration to some as well. My inspiration was a member’s TX Pro, StillWill. His truck is just beautiful, clean and simple. That’s exactly what I set out to do. Something that is highly performance built yet reliable, clean, and tasteful.

Nice back story to my build. I had a nicely built 2013 Tacoma TRD Sport long bed that I was gonna trade in at an Indy Toyota dealer. I’m from just outside Chicago so I was gonna be traveling 3 hrs for this deal. It was February 2015 and I had made an online deal for a new 2015 TRD Pro 4runner in inferno orange. I was gonna get a great price for my truck and getting the 4runner at msrp, like 42,250 basically. I set this up on a Wednesday with plans to go to Indy on that Saturday to do this. Like an idiot, I started looking at more trucks that Friday because I was bored. I ended up finding my Tacoma in Cedar Rapids Iowa and was totally intrigued. Now I had to make a choice. I knew I had a stellar deal on that 4runner and was also so stoked to get that truck. I also knew I found a rare gem in this new found Tacoma. After debating in my head for a few hours and realizing I need a bed. I called the dealer in Indy and said I wasn’t coming. My choice was made.

This was the truck I traded. 2013 Tacoma Sport long bed. 3” lift with bilstien 5100’s and a Dakar leaf pack. When I traded this in, I had the dealer accept my offer to let me keep my wheel set up by swapping the TRD beadlocks and tires on the Baja for my Konig BFD’s on 295/95/18 Duratracs.

2014 Tacoma double cab BAJA Edition. 4.0 1GRFE 6 spd manual. This is how it was when I first got it. 11,664 miles bought on 2/25/15 (my wife’s birthday, bless her soul. She’s a saint.) I drove 4hrs in a snow storm to Iowa for it. It now has 49,650 miles. It is babied and maintained extremely well. My intention with this build was to have it highly modified but keep it simple and reliable. I can say without a doubt, I have accomplished just that.


Since then.......I’ve done a thing or 2.

I’ve made changes upon changes and more are coming. Everything from suspension to multiple wheel and tire combos. This is how it is right now.

• Suspension - TRD Pro 3rd gen Fox suspension.
• Fronts with a Westcott Designs TRD Pro lift added.
• CMC.
• *** NEW ***Nitrogear uca’s.
• Dirt King boxed lca’s with moog ball joints.
• ICON RXT leaf pack set at option 2.
• Archive Garage Hammer Hangers w/stabilizer bar.

• Wheels/Tires - **New***TRD Pro 2022 wheels with NEW 265/60/16 Goodyear Wrangler Territory AT with Kevlar.

• Gauges - mechanical boost gauge.
• AEM afr,volt, and temp electrical gauges.
• Secured with a Loteck pillar pod and a cravenspeed kit.

• Lighting - Baja designs amber sport squadrons.
• Interior led dome light - cool white.
• Nds4 reversible anytime fog mod.
• Amazon lighted control knobs.
• 2nd gen TRD Pro headlights.

• High Performance - TRD supercharger M90 made by Magnusson, dealer installed on 7/17/15 with 14,895 miles.
• HPtuners, tuned by JustDSM
• Cam gears to retard timing *3 degrees.
• Smoothflow 2.8 quick change pulley.
• URD throttle body adaptor with a 70mm throttle body from a 4runner.
• URD fuel filter upgrade kit.
• AFE CAI Pro dry S
• Walbro 255Lph fuel pump
• Hurst core quick shifter.
• ECGS regear - 4.30

• Cooling - CSF stainless large capacity radiator. I was one of the original few to do this. We used a fj shroud and overflow to make this work. CSF has since made a version that is Tacoma specific.
• URD 170* thermostat.
• FIGGS custom s/c intercooler resi.
• HPS silicone upper and lower radiator hoses.

• Exhaust - URD long tube headers, ARP bolts and o2 sims.
• JFR Racing custom y-pipe 3”.
• URD Mark lll cat back 3”, custom.
• Magnaflow XMOD muffler.
• 2, 18” vibrant high flow resonators.
• Entire exhaust from the headers back has also been ceramic coated in a beautiful shiny silver color to mimic chrome.
  
  
• Extras - Weathertech floor mats.
• Weathertech window visors.
• Stubby antenna.
• TRD stamped front skid from BPF Fabrications.
  
• TRD Pro grill.
• TRD stamped battery tie down made by Coupe.
• TRD stamped cover for the AFE CAI by Coupe.
• Tech deck with ram mount iPhone holder.
• Wet okole seat covers, in rear.
• Tonneau soft cover.
• 4xinnovations steel rear bumper, rhino lined.
• Front windows tinted to match the rears and windshield tinted to 35%.
• Redline hood struts.
• Corbeau front seats
• Uni filter mod.
• Tacomaforce heavy duty splash guards for front wheel wells.
• Scangauge custom mounted in upper compartment for sunglasses with custom 3d printed mold.

• Future mods
• -Spec stage 2 clutch with a URD heavy duty flywheel with ARP bolts and the URD upgraded throw out bearing.
• -Outgear Solutions rear high clearance tube bumper.
• HPS red heater hoses.

So here is where I am. I’m sure I’ve missed some stuff and I will tweak as needed. My goal was a strong reliable high performance truck that is clean and simple. It is an absolute blast to drive. It just never gets old. I’ve tossed around the idea to seriously sell it a couple times. In the end though I just find myself not being able to do it. If you have any questions.......shoot. I’ve helped quite a few people over the years with advice with their suspension setups and a bit more. I’ve learned a ton here. I was a guy without knowledge asking the same ol newbie questions just like many others here. I’ve bought and sold quite a few items and made a ton of friends from all over.

Im a union career firefighter and hold the rank of Lieutenant by trade. I’m in my 26th year. I also help head up our investigation team and new candidate backgrounds. In addition to my firefighting duties and responsibilities I also hold a police badge due to being an Arson Investigator. I’ve seen a lot in my career, both good and bad. My job has humbled me and molded me into a person that can react very calmly in stressful situations. What I’ve accomplished and had the pleasure to be part of is simply indescribable. Back to my Baja.

How it is now.

 

It’s about time

 

Thanks man. I’ve been planning on this for a while. Just had to get some specifics down and then just do it.

 

Well it’s definitely one of my favorites.

 

Thank you. That means a lot....it really does. It gives me a great sense of joy hearing that from people.

 

Sick truck! Seriously jealous of how clean she is, Canada just makes it next to impossible to keep a truck in that condition.

 

Thanks man. If you really want my results. It can be done. My Midwest winters here are salty and harsh. Not as hard as a Canadian winter but at times I gotta say somewhat comparable. Religiously slapping on fluid film (3-4 cans) every fall around October or November is a must. Everything but the brakes and exhaust. I also always take the time to wipe everything in the engine bay every wash.

 

How the hell do I add my dam build page to the bottom of my thread replies......edit....got it.

 

Copy the web address for the build to your signature in your profile section.

 

Awesome build. It's about time I see someone who is on activity here and mention they're on the 3rd gen's fox setup.

- How do they ride?
- How do they compare to the oem baja setup?

I'm on the fence between 3rd gen pro's or 6112's since they're around the same price range.

 

X2

 

Thank you. I believe I was the first one, at least first that mentioned it that they were in a 2nd gen with a 3rd gen Fox Pro setup.
They ride absolutely awesome. I could tell an instant difference from my Bilstien Baja set up. They feel very plush. The 2012-2014 Bilstien setup compared to the 2015 Pro Bilstien set up are nearly identical. The spring seats and coil spring rating were the only difference. Oh, also the braided line going to the rear resi was rubber jacketed on the Pro’s, because they recognized that as an issue. The Pro’s were softer if I remember correctly.......like 650 to 600 or 600 to 550, I don’t quite remember. The 3rd gen Fox set up feel nice and soft ....but not too soft. I like all 3 setups personally because there were tuned specially for Toyota Tacomas by each manufacturer. I wanted the Fox set up because of the attached rear resi and no hose to go bad.

 

Sub’d!

 

I’m about to install some suspension components that I bought for my 2nd Gen. I got 6112/5160 with a 1.5” AAL and a pair of Wheelers Superbumps. I sure hope it rides well

 

It will. That combo was modeled after the Baja/Pro setup

 

My brother had a 2019 TRD Pro that he traded in April of 2020. We thought about being dicks and removing the Fox suspension to install on mine but we realized that’d be a dick move so we refrained. The guy at the Ford dealership made sure it had the Fox suspension before he handed over the keys and paperwork for my brothers new car

 

I probably would’ve been tempted too. Good thing ya didn’t though....

 

The ride quality from those Foxes was amazing. I’m trying to recreate it on my truck but I doubt the 6112’s will be as good or better than the Fox. They’ll definitely be better than my stock suspension though