Build, Beer, & B.S. - Ced's Thread

So I think it's time for me to start a thread. I want to use it to track my progress and see what other people think. The progress will be slow, but I will try as best I can to keep updates and review flowing. And pictures. I have none to show for right now but I will get there.

A little about the truck:

I bought him (yes, it's a him) about 2-1/2 months ago from the original owner out here in Illinois. The dude owned 2 cars and only drove the truck to work in the winter when it was snowing. Otherwise he never touched it. Had all the maintenance records, etc. Here's the sweet part: 2006 Base Model, Reg Cab, 5spd w/ 4x4, and only 8500 miles on it. 8500 miles. On a nine year old truck. I was floored that such a thing even existed, and that I was so lucky as to come across such a deal. The previous owner made sure to be religious about his oil changes every 6 months regardless of the mileage, and never touched a thing on it. Besides the roll up tonneau cover, bed rails, and bed mat, he didn't do a damn thing to it.

What this means to me (and whoever eventually follows this) is that I am started from scratch with a truck that has never been modded, played with, off-roaded, or abused. I think my adopted red-headed child feels left out. I'm glad I bought it, because I'm gonna treat it like any good Tacoma owner should. Like a truck.

Current Mods in Progress

- Northwestern Trail Innovations DIY front bumper:
I'm in the process of welding it together weekend by weekend when I have spare time off work. It's slow going because:
a) I suck ass at welding. It's like watching Stevie Wonder try and do a paint by numbers.
b) I work too much. And I'm fabbing it at my buddy's house, since I don't have all the welding equipment. Or a garage. Or really very many tools besides sockets and wrenches.
c) I want it done right. This takes time and lots of fucking grinding.

-LockRight Rear Locker Installation:
I just got this tonight in the mail! Super stoked about it, and can't wait to install it and make some clicking noises. I think it will work wonders for the traction capability, and it didn't necessarily break the bank either. Didn't have the time or money to go selectable, but I may consider one for the front in the future if I'm satisfied with the lockright.

Mods Down the Road:

(Note: This is just shit I wanna install/do. It's not necessarily in order, it's just that they all have crossed my to-do/to-buy wishlist and I wanna keep track of that too...)

-New Tires:
I have the stock Goodyear highway tires from the factory on still. They have plenty of tread and life left in them, and honestly aren't terrible to drive on. But they aren't rugged enough for what I have plans for, and I know they will need to be replaced. I may start to really hate them come winter. Who knows. But I've been thinking BFGs or Firestones. Not sure yet.

-OME Lift:
I definitely want to lift my truck. That's happening. But I want it done correctly, and I don't want money to be the issue here. Most likely gonna hold off on this one until I can go all in and buy the upper control arms, leaf packs, shocks, springs, spacers, bolts, and bits all at once. That's how it needs to get done in my mind; all at once or not at all.

-Winch:
Seeing as the NWTI bumper I'm fabbing has a mounting bracket built in, I should probably get one just in case. Besides, I'd love to be that dude that comes to rescue when there's people in their Jeep stuck.

-Sliders:
Not like white castle sliders, but those badass tubular frame sliders that I can use to skid firmly over rocks, trees, roots, or small children. Haven't made up my mind as to if I want to try and fab them myself or just buy a set. When I get time I'll try and work up an estimate for materials and personal labor cost (units in cases of Coor's Light) if I did it myself vs. how much I could buy them for.

-Front Diff:
Like I said, a selectable up front would be cool.

-Lights:
Lightbar up top, fogs and floods in the bumper. Maybe some bed lights. Those would be nifty.

-Intake:
I want a snorkel. There, I said it. I want an Aussie-style snorkel and I want to be able to forge through anything and everything. I've hydrolocked a motor before and that was the most terrible sound I've ever heard from an engine. Never again.

-Exhaust:
Don't really consider this a priority, but a nice exhaust would be cool.

Misc:
Shallow sub, aftermarket radio, tinted windows, etc.




That's all I have to say for now, will update later.

Cheers,

Ced

 

Best to start off with pictures. Welcome to your new thread!

 

First day when I bought it.






And when I went to the Badlands off road park like two weeks later...


That's all the pictures I have. Need to take some of the bumper process and the locker install.

 

Nice work, part of me really wanted a single cab. I feel like it would be much more manageable off road. But good looking truck.

 

It's definitely manageable off road, based on what I've done. The wheelbase is nice and short, and it's really light so it's easy to maneuver in the mud and sand.

Below is the bumper from NWTI that I'm putting together. It's a beefy sonofabitch, probably weighs like 120lbs right now. Still gotta weld the tow eyes on and grind down all my welds. Then I think I'm gonna paint it with spray on bedliner. Haven't found any lights I like yet for the cutouts. I was thinking some yellow fogs.

 

Love single cab builds, take lots of pics! Bumper is looking good so far.

 

Badlands? You must be on the indiana side. Lol I have a regular cab base too, only I went with a relentless DIY bumper. Great product and Hella stout. 8 deer hits and not even a scratch.
Their rear bumper DIY with hugh clearance Reese hitch is next on my list.
Also I've been looking up sliders too. SOS offers the best price I've found, they're on this forum. If you have some time you can take the frame plate plans offered by "1 bored clerk" on here and modify them to fit a regular cab, and weld sliders to them to make a cheaper set of bolt ons.

 

Priming the bumper, just have a few spots to touch up and grind.


Painting that bad boy


I used the liquid version of the primer for the main base coat and spray primer for touch ups. Spray on bedliner for the final coats. Went through three cans with one left for touch ups.

 

Also, does anybody have any suggestions on how to fix this?

They are dented in about a 1/16" and are about the size of a dime. Chipped to the primer. Idk how it happened but my guess is some fucker hit me with a bike or something and left it.

 

Almost there...Just have to wire lights in tomorrow and put the grill on (obviously).

Note the hidden spot lights.


Need a winch now...





Loving the exposed tires. Should help in the ruts and rocks.


More to come tomorrow!

 

After much deliberation, I decided the bumper is not done. While yes, it is mounted and looks great, I decided to build some auxiliary supports to bolt to the frame that will relieve some stress from the stock bumper mounts when either winching or being pulled.

The stock bumper mounts are just mounted to a 1/8" plate welded to the frame. I imagine the first serious pull I have to do will rip the bumper clear off, as that 1/8" plate is really very weak. So back to fabricating...

The brackets will be made out of 3/16" plate and will bolt to both the frame and the swaybar mounts. I will elaborate more on this with more pictures once they are fully built. Right now you can see the basics idea though.

Here it is in the daylight with the grille back on.


Tasteful side shot.


Here's the brackets I'm building. The two holes on the bottom will mount between the sway bar and the frame. The upper holes bolt to the bumper.


This little "L" at the top will bolt to the bumper. There will also be a bolt that will cross the frame. It's hard to describe so you'll just have to wait until I'm done to see what the hell im rambling about. I will be reinforcing both of the 90 degree angles by boxing them to a C channel cross section.


Here's where they're going. That 3/4" hole in the lower part of the frame (above my thumb) is where I will bolt through the frame. There's basically going to be a hole in the bracket where my thumb is.


Will update later.

 

Went back to the Badlands in Attica, IN yesterday. Great day, fun trails. I highly recommend you check it out if you love somewhat in the area. (Only saw one other taco, 1st gen, and he was as surprised to see me as I was him!)

My buddy's Cherokee with ridiculous crawling capabilities.


Bumper saved me a few times. It's time for a rear and sliders too.


Banged the rear bumper on departure, but I was satisfied with what I was capable of descending with a stock suspension. It's steeper than it looks haha.


Still working on my bumper mounts. Hoping to get them done by next weekend. Also going to try and wire my lights up (just the switches) and install a locker this afternoon.

 

Got my lights wired finally!

Had to trim a bit of the plastic to make room for the switches.


And there they are.

Nothing crazy bright. But they will work well for what I need which will be heavy snow and maybe some night wheeling. No plans for a full led light bar yet.

 

So I got sidetracked from the stuff going on with the truck.

Even though it's about to be a cold grey hell called "winter" in Chicago, I decided to get myself a tinkering project to keep me busy during the upcoming colder months.

So I bought a used motorcycle, naturally.



It's a 2000 Suzuki SV650, not running, and just needs a little attention. The previous owner didn't really seem to have the time or interest to take care of it, so I'm gonna do my best to get everything up and running for the Spring.

It's my first motorcycle, so I'm excited for that hardcore bump of adrenaline once I finally get to ride it. I've dirtbiked a lot, have a license, but never have owned a streetbike. Should be fun, if I don't die.

Still lots to do on the Taco before the snow hits though. Gotta learn to manage my priorities haha.

Will post more later.