hirod build

Thinking only couple more projects/parts left for the suspension. Gotta get these control arms squared away and swap in the bilstein shocks in the front. Have to wait til I get new wheels to lower any more. Then bring down the rear. Anyone know of anything else I can do to get the chassis stiffer? Bolt on viagra? Short of a cage I think this part is nearly over with.

 

Ow what site and what's the part number! This is my next mod. Plus it bolts in in the 5lug

 

The part number is 51225-04040. Its the same piece for both sides. I ordered mine from toyotaofdallas.com. camelback should be able to order it too. Was 58.36 for one. Dunno what the shipping was cause I also ordered a color matched grille surround. Total shipping was 52.26 which isn't bad considering how large the box was. I'd try them again next time I need stuff. Its actually faster, more convenient, and cheaper to go online than servco.

 

K. Here's the switchback conversion. Well, pics with comments cause I outlined the process earlier.



Harness part number



Tear apart your donor harness. The plastic sleeve and all that tape. You're going to cut solid green by the base of the plug and green-red and white-black near the white-black junction (is that what its called?)



Here's your donor dual filament bulb holder. Notice solid green is longer. That's cause it needs to reach solid red for the reverse light.



Cut off the turn signal bulb holder on your primary harness. Colors should be green-yellow and white-black. Make sure its the correct white-black. Our donor bulb holder is next to it. Going to connect green-yellow to green-red and white-black to white-black. Don't forget to put the shrink tube before you solder.



Sorry bad pic. Supposed to show solid green tying into solid red.



This the turn signal opening. Confirm first but for me, the notch at three o clock in the picture was the one that needed to be enlarged. To the right I believe.



The bulb holder needs one of its tabs trimmed. Here's a trimmed and u trimmed one. I believe the lower left was trimmed.

After that just bolt it all back up. The harness plus switchbacks and shipping came out to close to $100 to Hawaii. Not sure how much a set of bolt on lights, hardware, and wiring would cost but I'm guessing its around there too. Plus I bet the bolt on lights would give better light and maybe more light if they're not LEDs. Both of those options would be over $100 just for lights though. But, this way, is in some ways easier I think. I just really like how its all tucked in and nothing more hanging off the back of my truck.

 

Headlights and reverse lights on



Reverse lights only



Reverse lights, headlights, and hazards



Camera view

 

Also made a new mount for my front license plate. Needs a few more spacers to bring it out and couple more screws to make it solid. Will take better pics later. Stupid glare off the plate hides the fact the plate was moved.




Still got the ugly holes in the bumper and ended up with a hole I my finger when the drill bit snapped. But, a lot happier now. The original location was bugging me every time I walked up to the truck.

Did I mention I changed out the grille surround? That was buggin the heck out of me too. Strongly dislike chrome. Especially plastic chrome.

 

Sweet i shall be checking this out

So what exactly is this modifying? Sorry lol

 

It converts the rear turn signal bulb into an additional reverse light but still retain the amber turn and hazard ability. So now, in reverse I have double the light without adding any additional lights. The offroad guys will just add another light under the truck. Wouldnt work so well when the truck is low right? Not sure if this as good as mounting another light but its a lot cleaner and you're modifying a system already in place as opposed to adding another system.

 

ok i get it! sorry kinda slow somtimes lol! so did it make a big difference while reversing. A lot more visibility?

 

More cross member brace shots. I like em even though I think they might not do anything. Damn, they look way cooler in pics than in person.

The correct ball joints for the light racing control arm came in today. If I had got them the first time, that would've been one of the easiest major components I've ever swapped out. Almost as easy as swapping out the rear shocks. And looks like we can get the camber and caster taken care of. Will take the truck in to get alignment and see where it stands. Fat bobs garage is pretty good about taking care of their customers. For us guys in Hawaii its a big deal when a company finds out if they can squeeze parts into flat rate boxes instead saying we only do fedex or ups. Plus the follow through on fixing a mix up from when the parts were packaged in china. A little stressful experience but not enough to piss me off. Gonna add a list of cool companies/people to my first post.

 

LOOKING GOOD!!!!!!!!!!!!! now I'm sad. I wanna be installing stuff on my truck too lol. She's coming along VERY nicely though!! Have you decided on rims?

 

"For us guys in Hawaii its a big deal when a company finds out if they can squeeze parts into flat rate boxes instead saying we only do fedex or ups."

imo, that shows A LOT for a company. You always usually hear about them trying to "save" or do as less as they can. Hate that and it shows their true character overall. And happy you got the caster and camber taken care of ... I still haven't delt with mine

 

Yes and no. I've decided what size and what color. Have couple ideas but id like to adress the front shocks/springs.

The factory ones don't dampen enough and I think the springs are a little too soft right now. Don't want piss in blood stiff but going through certain turns, especially if there's a dip in it, you can feel the springs oscillating a little in the front. Stiffer sidewalls might help but dunno.

Was looking at the TRD bilsteins and noticed there's a 2-1/2" extension on the bottom. The xrunner doesn't have that. Trying to get in touch with buck and amy at XII performance to see if their stock height performance springs will fit ID and profile wise. If the compressed spring length is the same and the shock length is different by 2-1/2"'s maybe I can figure out a way to get that firmer ride by throwing those on the TRD shocks.


Front


Front


Rear


Rear


Camber. At the inner most position on the upper control arm so there's a lot more adjustability available for the alignment shop to work with.

All in all, almost there. Over budget but getting better handling and ride than I initially expected. Think my wheels will have to wait til next year. Plus gotta find money for a camper. Been putting that off til I get my front height set. Then the camper and then set the rake in the back (maybe helper bags). Then suspensions done.

 

glad the lights worked out for ya!

I like that switchback, might look into it later on

 

I like it. Got the cluster leds in the mail today and installed them. Was running the two led projector before. Can't say the cluster gives me more useful light but it does give me a general diffused flood effect. Unfortunately that useless most places here cause of all the ambient/street lights. Didn't achieve the goal of getting a spotlight effect but ended up more of a gimmicks show mod. Not necessarily disappointed but didn't achieve initial goal.

 

Anyone know if the spring dimensions for the xrunner/5 lugs are the same as the pre runners? Looking for street performance oriented springs and it seems they only make them for xrunners. The TRD shocks have a 2-1/2" extension on the bottom but aside from that they appear ( in pics) to be the same. Can anyone confirm this or does anyone with a 5 lug happen to have a spring lying around? The most critical dimensions would be the inside dimension of the top and bottom of the springs. Also, would anyone happen to know the length of a stock compressed (on the vehicle) spring? Plus any other dimensions. Dunno if anyone happened to measure before cutting their springs. Thanks. I really hope I can run those XII perf springs.

 

Did u try emailing xii guys and asking them? They are pretty helpful

 

Yeah. No response. (Edit: they got back to me. Confirmed no go.). They're normally pretty good with customer service. Either got forgotten our they're still trying to find out. No biggie. Going try what I got sitting outside. The trd shocks with the sport springs on the tundra racing perch. Might as well since I already got it. Plan b will be a little different. But hopefully plan a works out.

Got new used wheels today from Conor the sticker guy. 18" factory alloys. Chrome. Don't normally care for chrome but I liked the design. Unfortunately/fortunately they were filled and ready to go. He even have me the alloy lug nuts. So, while I was planning to do all sorts of sanding and painting I ended up putting em in tonight untounched. On my neighbors cement slab with a battery lantern. But they're on. Well see what they look like tomorrow. Great deal and great guy to deal with.

 

A little bright. Previous owner took good care of em. Too good, doesn't match the rest of the truck. Would be a waste to paint em so I'll try leave em chrome as long as I can. Think I'm doing a good job confusing people. Truck has TRD sport grille surround, early second gen brake lights, limited wheels, and lowered.

Stuck my head in the front wheel well and found out I don't got much more room before my upper control arm hits the inner fender. Was going to add a half inch spacer to my spindle mod but I'll be banging the fender. So, don't think I'm going any lower except for smaller tires. There's no way to catch up to you 5 luggers ... without taking drastic measures. Anyone cut and weld a spindle before?

 

looks good man! Yea if you wanna go lower gonna have to go lower profile tires hehe.