What Have You Done To Your 2nd Gen Tacoma Today?

Good point. Initially I was thinking about the extra steel weight and thought the alu would be better. I got OME 885s up front.

 

If you don't run a winch you'd be in good shape. Most of the steel bumpers out there are about 110 with no hoops. add 15-20 with hoops. With the extra 60lbs of a winch is where you loose some height up front.

 

Installed new lower control arms, 5100's, OME 884 coil, Wheeler add-a-leaf with TSB leafs, OME carrier bearing drop kit, yellow fog light bulbs, TRD skid plate and gave it a full detail. So this was more like a month than just today lol...

 

Mgmhlm
Before
After

 

Flipped my spare tire to make it easier to check its pressure.

 

Obtained more schwag to put in the glovebox:



Also removed the 7-pin trailer connector and harness section to get a bit more clearance.

 

Rigid flush mounts

 

Ok! So, I almost did this today. I had the lights out and everything.
How hard was it? How certain are you you got a solid seal? Any other details you have would be greatly appreciated.
I totally chickened out.

 

Trimmed fenders

 

Wasn't all done today but I intalled a K&N air intake, a Smittybilt bull bar, and a 22" LED light bar.

 

Ha! Ha! Good job!

 

Baja Rack

 

put 2000 miles on it over memorial weekend.

 

@McFlywannabe

The hardest part for me, was getting the lights out of the truck. The grill was no problem, plus those little trim pieces under the headlights. Installed them back on Saturday, and checking for condensation every morning, none yet. Will continue to monitor.

I baked the lights, per the writeup. I did 210 degree preheat, insert light in oven on cardboard, and shut off oven, for 10 minutes. I was a little hesitant with the first one, and it cooled off before I got it apart. Stuck it in again, and got it apart after second baking. I used two smallish flathead screwdrivers to pry them apart. One to get in and through and pry, and then a second about an inch or 2 down the line, same procedure, just kept leapfrogging them around. Once you get 3 sides pried with the screwdrivers, you can pry them open with your hands. No pics of this process, had my hands full That OEM sealant is tough stuff. I did not clean it out, left it in place for reuse.

I did not remove the weather stripping on top of headlight, nor the headlight bulb, nor any of the black bulb holder plastic things, i figured they should hold up to 200 degrees, they did.

From there, they come apart with ease, prep, paint, let cure, and reassemble.

I cleaned the bezels with 50/50 alcohol and water solution, about 3 times. I did not use sandpaper.

I used duplicolor perfect match adhesion promoter, 3 light coats. I followed instructions on recoating per the can, about 10 minutes between coats, and 30 minutes before topcoat.

Then sprayed about 4 coats of duplicolor perfect match 1G3, MGM. Again followed recoat instructions, 10 mins between coats, 30 mins before clear coat.

I sprayed 3 light coats of duplicolor clear, and let them cure overnight. Humidity was perfect for this, it was 30-40% for entire process. Left in garage overnight with fan on low.

Reassemble and put back in oven. Same degrees and time. after i took it out of oven I clamped in 5 places with quick spring clamps, and moved it to the garage, and put all the screws back in. I then ran a bead of home depots finest GE clear silicone, interior / exterior 10 year crap. Filled in all the areas that looked a bit suspect, and then some.

One issue I had was getting the small upper corner light back in the headlight assembly. It has 4 tabs and 1 is smaller than the rest, needs to go in just the right way. During my in and out and twisting of it, that tiny amber bulb popped out of the harness and fell into the headlight assembly. I thought I was screwed ! I got lucky and was able to turn the light upside down, and jiggle it around, and the bulb fell out on to my shoulder and stayed there. Could have hit the floor and broke lol.

Total time spent
Friday afternoon, about 4 pm till 10 PM. Most of the last 3 hours was waiting for paint to dry.
Saturday morning, about 2 hours, bake them back together and get them back in truck.

 

Not today, but installed Billy 5100's on Sunday, with the front set to 1.75" and Gray TRD PRO replica wheels yesterday.

 

Been kinda busy detailing it inside and out and doing some maintenance items.... Oil change and filter, New Air Filter, and put some Seafoam in the gas tank for good measure.









I also ordered a new center console cover from Redline and a new OEM cupholder for the front of my center console....

 

What's the best way to do this? Been thinking about this.

 

With them where they are I can move them up/down/left/right if I need them pointing in a ditch, rock lights etc. In the lower valance they are just stuck at forward.

 

So listening closely after rerouting the exhaust, there is a faint noise coming when put on drive or reverse when the truck is still cold.

 

Thanks for the write-up. I was wondering what the process was and it seems like a little more than I am comfortable doing with a 2015. Someday though....