ThatguyJZ's Build Thread

Thank you all for your help and inspiration. I got her done today and it is perfect. Next up TRD Pro Grill, Black badges and if I can get the courage BHLM. How easy or hard is the grill insert? I am thinking that a may plan to do both the BHLM and that at the same time.

 

Looks awesome!!

The grill insert isn't hard, just takes patience and some clever use of tools for the clips.

 

Not to sound childish but I did beat a stock 4 door automatic v6 jeep wrangler unlimited with my 6 speed taco last spring, so I think the tacoma still edges it out on the speed factor ... maybe lol.. looks good though, needs to be leveled out a bit though, the rake on it looks outrageous, must be the short wheelbase playing tricks on my eyes

 

Depends if it was the older v6 of the new pentastar. Those have some pep.

I wish my wife would drive something other then her Corolla. She's scared of bigger vehicles.. even says my Tacoma is too big and I keep telling her its a lifted Corolla lol. The Jeep's are bouncy, but I think they ride better then the Tacoma as well.


On another side... how's your bed bounce? I dont know if my rear end is getting choppier or if its just starting to bother me more, but I feel like my rear end is just bouncing non stop. Always looking in my side mirror and seeing my bed bouncing around. I thought the expensive Baja shocks would have helped that some. I need to install my Wheelers 3 leaf AAL still. Undecided if I should remove the +1 on my factory packs or not.

 

It's the driveway, it slopes down to the garage. The Jeep sits pretty level ;-) . I did score some factory 4 door Rubicon springs off CL that should be good for about a 1-1.5 inch lift for now while she's running the stock wheels and tires.

 

This one is the better 3.6. Something like 280hp/260tq. With the solid axles front and rear it obviously doesn't handle as well as the Tacoma, but the short wheelbase sure is nice.


As for bed bounce, I've never noticed it. Even before my AAL it was never something that noticed. Not sure about that one.

 

Truck looks good! Have fun with the jeep! We had to trade in our 08 Rubicon last April for a family car right before our daughter was born since they aren't exactly the safest or child friendly, lol. We had a 3.5" rock crawler lift on it, 35's, customs built front bumper, and a few other things. Use to take it rock crawling almost every other weekend when we were in Phoenix. It only got around 17 mpg's on road trips and 9-11 mpg around town. Felt every little crack in the road with that thing but we miss it. I think when our daughter is older we may look into getting another jeep.

 

very cool. cant wait to see it with the springs

 

I think I am going to have to take that plunge. Did you sell your stock grill? If so what can you get for one? Trying to talk wife into me buying this pro one. Same with the headlights did you sell those?

On another note I have taken a measurement on my lift now that it has settled and I am not happy with the rake. The front is coming in around 22 from center hub to fender the rear is 24. I am debating o having them add the 1/2 spacer to my driver side and put the 1/4 on passenger side in hopes of getting the extra 1/2 inch or getting a 1 inch block for the rear.

 

Give it all some more time to settle out.

You did the AAL in the rear right? Did you remove your overload leaf? If so, you can add that back into the leaf pack for some extra height. Being a long bed you have a little more weight back there than I do.

 

What are your measurements upfront , center hub to fender?

 

Im from spruce pine area and i go to school at UNCC how have I not seen you?! lol

 

I am 22 inch center hub to fender in the front. The rear is a 1 1/2 block and measures 24 inch center hub to fender. I don't think blocks settle out. I sure hope the front does not settle down much more.

 

Haha not sure man but you're right in my neighborhood.

 

I just quickly measured mine. Front center of hub to fender is about 22 inches, with the drivers side maybe 1/8 inch lower than passenger.

Rear measures about 22.5 inches center hub to fender on drivers side and about 22.75 on passenger with a mostly full tank of gas.

 

Thanks for the measurements. Now I need to decide what to do to adjust this rake a bit. They are offering to make the adjustments. I think I may put 1/4 inch spacer on both sides to net extra 1/2 and change 1 1/2 inch block to 1 inch. This morning I had my original tires/wheels in the bed and it sat down 1 inch and it did look much better at 23 inches. What other options is there just to net 1 inch up from stock in the rear besides blocks?

 

You can do an AAL like I did, which settles a little over time

 

ThatguyJZ,

I just installed my grill insert and that went very easy. I am thinking I am not going to be patient and get the smoked headlights. How were they to install? I have seen a few threads but I believe they are 2011. Any pointers?

 

Go slow and pay attention to how you take them out if doing so with the bumper on. Be careful not to scratch them. Seeing how you get them out will greatly help to get the new ones back in since it's tight.

Glad the grill went smooth!

 

Did you leave your bumper on? Would it be easier to remove bumper or is that worse to reinstall in itself?