What Have You Done To Your 3rd Gen Today?

Gave mine a deep clean for the first time in over a year. Double wash, clay bar, wax. The hood was so bad the clay bar turned black after the first pass.

 

Haha. I have done very well for myself. Not my fault shit doesn't work right the first time.

 

Looking good brother!

 

Swapped back to the stock exhaust, installed a chrome tip, and will be selling the TRD. After many highway miles at 3000 rpm, I got tired of the extra noise. It did sound good around town though.

 

What do you mean if you keep yours?? It’s a Tacoma! Of course you should keep it! Haha

 

AVS matte black hood protector and some smoked led tail lights.

 

Been seriously thinking about doing the same. I know the TRD exhaust is coveted by some, but having had V8's with all manner of exhaust over the years, a V6 just doesn't compare, kind of like it's a pretender. Spoiled I guess. If it doesn't burble, rumble and roar when I jump on the skinny pedal I guess I'd rather have a little peace and quiet.

Did you notice any hit to performance and did you just replace the muffler or go with a new or used stock cat back? I couldn't see much difference with the actual pipes, so was just thinking about replacing the muffler. Kinda like the black chrome TRD exhaust tip. Is there a market for a used full TRD cat back?

Your rig still looks sharp BTW!

 

Yeah, I hear ya. The TRD is nice quality, and I don’t dislike the way it sounds down low, at least it doesn’t sound ricey. But that extra sound definitely causes drone at the high end. It’s no V8 for sure either.

I originally had the non-TRD assembly (muffler and tailpipe all-in-one - 17430-0P450 for short wheelbase V6). I bought the TRD. So I straight swapped back. You could change just the muffler, but I doubt you’re going to find any muffler to use that will be as quiet as stock.

The stock piece is not very expensive, like $400. You could probably trade with some cash on the other person’s end and come out ahead plus the quiet results you want.

Thanks! I know folks hate chrome but I think it can add a nice touch, in small quantities here and there

You’d definitely have a market for someone to buy your TRD and you can also get the black tip (just like my chrome one) to put on the stock tailpipe if you swap to the non-TRD stock kit.

 

Picked up her new older sister. Name pending

678 miles back home

 

I'm looking at various catbacks right now as an upgrade. Are you all saying catbacks are no bueno, or just the trd?
Thanks in advance

 

I’d choose the TRD over anything aftermarket. I just got tired of the added noise. Not saying it’s bad. I’m also regeared so I run higher rpm - aka extra noise.

I wouldn’t go aftermarket. They all make a bunch of noise. I’d do TRD if anything.

personally, I don’t think any exhausts are truly an “upgrade”. They’re just different.

 

I've got the TRD catback. I'm very happy with it. (Have stock gearing with auto trans) Borla S type is another decent mild version. Everything else imo is too obnoxious.

 

…..that is a pick-up

 

How hard was it to install those rigid lights in the bumper? I really like those. Do they come on when you go into reverse? Or do you have a switch and use them for something else?

 

Wasn’t too bad. I bought the template from Kaizen Inserts. He made a YT video on it. The template indexes off of the bumper and gives you a way to trace where the cutout should be. I did like he did and bolted it to the bumper to hold it for me while I cut.

I did not use the threaded inserts he supplied. I took the bumper caps off after cutting the light holes and clearanced the plastic behind until the light could fit properly and then also made sure I’d be able to access the nuts/bolts.

As for power, I currently have them wired to an aux output in my license plate disable in reverse harness from @daveeasa at FBC. That harness turns them on in reverse, when the running lights are on. Both conditions have to be met. That way they don’t come on in the middle of the day, only at night when they’re beneficial. I did buy a switch and will eventually do some rewiring to be able to manually turn them on as well but that will be in addition to the automatic reverse function. They are great lights. Love Rigid products, my favorite for sure.

 

Yeah, don’t get me wrong. I think for a cool V6 note our TRD exhaust sounds as good or better than anything else I’ve heard. Just not my favorite engine sound is all.

Might post ours and see if I can’t find someone with a stock exhaust locally with equal or less mileage/years on it and do the old switcheroo.

 

I saved my stock cat-back in case I decide to punt the 3rd gen for something else.

 

Good idea. Guess I could save the TRD for a while in case I want to go back.

I really like that it’s basically a bolt-on setup, no welding involved. Should be able to DIY it.

 

Paint correction is done, Did the actual install today. Used Rivnut's instead of Rivet's. I bought the damn tool and wanted to use it on something lol. I'm actually very impressed with how they hold up. M5 is the size if you guys want to go with them.

I only got 7" of lift. I was aiming for 7.5 (8 is max) but I guess I mis measured. Hard to measure when I don't have anybody to hold the hood open lol.