ThunderCookies and muscleMilk - Build

Guess I will finally get around to putting together a build thread .

Enjoy. Or Don't

Here she is roughly around the time I got it back in April' 2015. I bought it with 110k miles from Modern Toyota in Winston Salem, NC. I actually bought it 'sight unseen' as they drove it to me (in Raleigh, NC ~roughly 2 hours away) under the assumption I was keeping it.

2006 4x4 TRD Sport DCLB



It didn't take long for the mod bug to hit.

 

The first mod was stickers. Thanks to @CBoy808 I've been able to 'customize' the look and while I have added a lot, I don't think I am done yet

My dad had an old Mitsubishi truck when I was a kid and he passed away before I got my license and my mom sold the truck before I could take it for myself. The only thing I can remember about it is the MITSUBISHI across the tailgate. I wanted to do that to mine as soon as I owned it. So...here is that



Then I wanted to change up the TRD Sport and I am big NC State Wolfpack fan (and Alumni). My wife and I go to all the football games and spend most of the day tailgating. This truck is now our primary tailgate vehicle (it was a prius. Quite the upgrade)



I added this decal to the 3rd Brake light so it blacked out everything but WOLF when I hit the brakes. It actually took a few months for people to notice this one but recently I have gotten a lot of feedback on how cool it looks lit up. Since I am normally driving this, I haven't actually got to see it in action but I love it.



@tcBob hooked me up with a TW sticker and I customized it with another decal from @CBoy808 (on the windshield).



I also have the vintage 4WHEEL DRIVE decal on the tailgate but I don't have a shot of that, I think I might have it on some pics that will get posted for other mods.

 

Actually before I decal'd the truck up I put on spidertrax 1.25" spacers. I love the stance with the wheels out so this was one of the first things I did. Pretty easy install so it was nice to get a feel for the truck putting these on. Thanks @tacomgee for the hookup on the spacers

 

Next up was the lift. Anyone in my 'circle' will tell you I am the cheapest person they know . So knowing that, I went with a spacer lift. I did get an AAL for the rear instead of blocks. Give me some credit (Don't bash yet, it will get better). Thanks @Bandit for the hookup on the spacers and leafs.

Credit goes to @Sandman614 for helping with (doing most of) the install and for the pics of me in action.

 

Here is a good before/after of the lift. It was a little nose high, but not very noticeable

 

My love of Chrome then took over and I started to swap my 'color matched' grill and bumper for chrome ones.

Thanks @fatty ac1d for helping me achieve my shiny dreams



And thanks @Carrionman for the bumper and @voz for the PB Blaster to remove the old one.


(there is that 4 WHEEL DRIVE decal I was talking about earlier).

 

You may have noticed the Valence in that grille pic was Black. I discovered plast-dip around the time I did that grille swap. It actually was good timing because that grille came off an '09 and the middle wasn't black on those but 'gunmetal' so I had to dip that back to black to match my truck again. I also dipped the hood scoop insert, fog light 'sleeves', and the button pads in the door. So cheap and simple and it looks so good

The valence



The Scoop


I then stuck a Tacoma badge in it. Thanks @tacopaulo for the extra badges.


I debated on black or chrome and ultimately decided the chrome. The contrast looks great.

Lastly, I dipped the fogs. I think it really completes the front end black/silver look.

 

Here's my buddy, Jackson, riding shotgun. He loves the truck but it's a little high for him to jump in and out of.

 

I actually did some other stuff when I first got her - small mods but still mods.

Technically the 'first thing' I did was added the nerf bars, tinting the windows, adding weather tech rain guards and getting a new muffler. I went with a Magnaflow. Since the truck has 4 catalytic converters the mechanic talked me into a more aggressive muffler. I'm glad he did. I didn't love it at first. But now, 2000 miles later, I love it. It's the perfect sound for our size trucks.

I also added a bed mat and all-weather floor mats all around. I stuck a bolt and wing nut through the mat in the bed for 'anti theft' and I also stuck a hose ring around the tailgate release point so no one can take that either.

 

So back to the spacers - I rode on them for a few months. I really have nothing bad to say about them. I just knew I was riding around on spacers and that I didn't want to be. Thanks to @Ztextreme, I got a great deal on 5100s all around.

Another thanks to @Sandman614 for the install assist.

I've got them set at 2.5 and with the AALs in the rear it's level and rides great.

The truck really looks the same as when it was on spacers but the ride. Oh the ride. It's like going from riding a horse to riding on Aladdin's flying carpet.

 

I got the plasti dip back out and wanted to add some red since my decals have red and NC State is RED and White (and Silver and Black). I really want to either have red springs or red UCAs but I'm not ready to spend more money to upgrade those (I'm cheap remember). I'd have to take the springs out to dip them red and I tried dipping the UCAs but it is either too cold out or the dip just doesn't like the arm. It just runs when it hits it. I'll wait and figure that out this spring.

Since I bought the red dip, I sprayed up my Skid and after about a week or now of it being on I really like it. I've had a lot of neighbors ask me about and say how much they like it.

 

And here she sits as she is now. (I'm extending my driveway which explains the bricks in my yard)

 

I'm always happy to lend a hand, teach, and offer a level/dry space to work.

 

Nice truck

 

Trying to get like you, with a few less dents

 

Installed my lightbar today in the lower grille/bumper. Need to adjust the angle a tad but I really like how it turned out. Hard to see just how bright it really makes the road in the picture but it really brightens everything in view. I want more

Credit to @Sandman614 and @Bsheriff11 for some clutch wiring assistance.




I have a schweet Sasquatch switch that is currently just hanging out of my dash that I will get properly put in the switch hole tomorrow once I get my dremmel

 

looks good bromontana

 

In the daylight. Stealthmode. Jackson wasn't as enthused about this photo op as I was...