The Great White Buffalo (Goat632's Build Thread)

Hey guys, I actually have been wanting to make a build thread for a while now, I love working on my truck and I love getting ya'll's input and sharing my work so here's my build thread. Now a quick disclaimer, I am a broke ass college student, living between paychecks and federal loans. I may not be able to do a lot to my truck and I may not be able to do mods very frequently, but I do have a lot of ideas for my truck and I would still love to share them with you. If this turns out to be the most inactive build thread of all time I apologize but I do hope to be able to work on my truck when I can, especially during the breaks (Winter and Summer).



The Great White Buffalo doesn't have a lot done to it right now. Most of the work has been done on the interior. But this summer, I'm wanting to do as much as I can to it. (Definitely a lift, or a lift/level kit, still deliberating on that.) But anyways it's a 2011 Double Cab, 4x4, Short bed, and I'm not 100% sure on this but I do believe it has the TRD sport package. It was my father's before it was mine, and he gave it to me a couple years ago.

What came with it:
(This is what was on the truck when it was given to me. Most of this is just part of the TRD Sport package. I like to tell people what's on my truck from the perspective of a TOTALLY stock base V6 model, it makes it sound better)

• Color-Matched TRD Sport grill
• Color-Matched front and rear bumpers, door handles, and mirrors
• AVS front wind deflector
• Running boards (not sure what brand but I believe he bought it from the dealership)
• 4x4 front and rear mudflaps
• Auto-dimming rear-view mirror with backup camera
• 17" Alloy Rims
• Bilstein shocks/struts
• TRD hood with scoop
• A/C inverter in the bed
• Bed rails with cleats
• Stainless steel exhaust tip
• TRD towing package, oil and transmission coolers
• Heavy-duty high output alternator
• Aluminum skid plate.
• Automatic limited slip rear differential
  
• Windows tint (I have no idea what percentage or any other details, my father took it to "his guy")

Mods I've already done:
(My truck is dirty and the forecast for the next week is rain all week, please don't judge me..)

Exterior:

• Blacked out emblems
• Plastidipped Rims
• Larger tires (don't remember what size, Ill get it soon)
• TRD 3rd brake light cover
• TRD Aluminum valve stem caps
• TRD Stubby Antenna
• Also if you notice my headlights are slightly darker than stock. My dealership said they were on recall when I took them in for servicing and they gave me some new ones for free with slightly darker housing. Not technically a mod, but worth a mention

Interior:

• Dome light Red LED swap
• Map lights White LED swap
• Color matched tweeter rings
• Gear shift Swap
• Magnetic Cell Phone
• Blacked out gauge cluster rings

• Blacked out AC control panel trim
• Blacked out AC middle vent trim
• Installed Pioneer AVH-X2700BS Reciever
• Kicker 6" speakers all the way around. (I left the stock tweeters)

• CB Radio Install (most basic mounting of all time lol)

• Paracord wrapped grab handles (sorry about the poor lighting)

• LED glow interior lights under dash (nighttime pictures to come)

Mods I plan on doing this summer:

• Lift or Lift/Level kit
• Color LEDs in grill
• Reapply Plastidip on emblems (possible whiteout???)
• Reapply Plastidip on rims
• Install switch panel on overhead console
• Clean up wiring and switches to accessories (need lead on relay/fuse box)
• Clean up and finish CB install
• Further Blackout Center Stack
• Gun holster (most likely under steering wheel)
• Redo paracord grab bars
• Replace front windscreen (Massive heat crack in it currently)
• Also, I need to take it in this summer because my rear frame assembly has been recalled. Again, not a mod, but add it to the list of what I have to do

Mods I really really really want to do but time is scarce and money is tight:
Most likely I will be coming back to this to edit as I find more mods I want to do...

• MotoMetal Wheels (anyone know what type these are???)

• Volant cold air intake, probably with ram scoop
• Exhaust system (haven't done a lot of research on this)
• White LED's in center console
• White LED's in glove box
• Paint Engine Cover
• Molle Panels on backs of front seats
• Dual sub woofer install

In the not so distant future I will be coming back to this page to add links to write ups, add pictures, give progress reports, and generally track my progress, so if you please, feel free to watch or to sub. Also, I love hearing what others have to say, so feel free to leave your comments or questions and I will try to be as diligent as I can in regards to responding to them!

 

Looking good. I really like the way the wheels look being black. I've only had my Taco since September and have been trying to pay off credit card debt before doing any upgrades. I'm getting lots of ideas though.

AutoAnything has a good deal on the Volant CAI with ram hood scoop right now. Less than $100 for the scoop when you buy the CAI at the same time. http://www.autoanything.com/air-intakes/61A1817A0A0.aspx

 

Thanks! The dipped wheels are real easy to do, and I used a can per wheel, so as long as you don't mess up, you can do it under 25$

And that's a great deal! thanks! I may look into it!

 

Also, they look alot better when you can see the white walls. It's just really dirty right now....

 

Ok, so this summer has been a lot busier than I anticipate. I've been to Florida once, Oklahoma twice, Missouri twice, and Texas three times. I work all week and have traveled most weekends. I'm most likely not gonna get to be able to do all the stuff I wanted yet.

BUT

I have done a few things

Update 8/1/16:

In addition to a well needed detailing, I went ahead and tackled the easy stuff:
I reported to the dealership to have my frame replaced in accordance to the recall, they ran the VIN again and I'm glad they did! Turns out my VIN is not included in the models under recal, saved me two days of driving around moms SUV! So that's done!
Also, as I mentioned in the original post, the plastid-dip on the emblems was due for a refresher, so I peeled it off and redipped it.... in white.....
At first I wasn't sold, but now I'm pretty stoked on them. Most everyone I've met has said they love them as well, so as long as I can keep em clean, the white is there to stay, but let me know what you think! I wanted to do something different than the typical blackout or debadging.


Then came some experimental stuff:
I never mentioned it but I did use white plastidip on my grill a couple years back and loved it.... for a while..... then it got really dirty, and the fact that I did a very poor job in spraying it only added to the growing downfall of it. So this past spring I took it off. But since then, I've longed for it to be white again. Most people who look at my truck now after seeing it then say they like it black better, but I'm not sure, let me know what you think! Anyways back on topic. I decided to meet somewhere in the middle and do a vinyl wrap on the main bar going across my grill in white. It looked ok, until I stepped back and looked at it. It was hideous. My dad looked at it, hated it, my mom, hated it, my friends, all hated it. So i took it off. But while I had it i did plastidip my emblem Black, so that's new.

Also, in the experimental category, is one I was hoping to surprise people with. I saw some adds online about a chameleon headlight tint and fell in love with the look on cars, and I figured "why wouldn't that look good on my truck?". So I ordered a transparent film, which lightly reflected a slight purple, green, and blue color. I attempted to put the first one on and absolutely destroyed it in the process. the film was way to thick, it folded over on itself and I could not get it to conform the the curves of the headlight. The second one I got on enough to step back and look at it, and think, "God I hate purple...." and I took it off. It wasn't working to well anyways. I think the problem was I got cheap Amazon vinyl from china, not namebrand stuff that cost a bit more. So i may try again in a lighter looking color like light blue or green. If you don't know what I'm talking about, look em up, let me know what you think.

 

What ever happened with the shift knob with wires?

 

Lol I just realized there was not going to be any clean way to do it without some serious modifications I didn't feel comfortable enough to do. It would of been cool to do but not THAT cool....

Gotta know your limits in this game, ya know?

 

Absolutely mam, good looking truck!