HackD's ongoing 5-lug armored-slug build.

Two incidental photos from earlier in this thread, showing the space available still, with the as-current 225/75R16's in lock to lock angles. I'm fairly confident that @Early B. is correct, in that they will go on with minimal fuss and mess involved.

 

looking forward to seeing the new tires on there and your impression of the 4.10 rear.

 

Yeah, me, too. Speaking on behalf of my wallet, I hope the 4.10 regear makes no difference whatsoever.

 

Mini-mod of the day - relocating the smart phone RAM mount to the A-pillar grab handle using a stud-mounted 1" ball. This is in prep to rework the radio stack.

 

Hey dude, I have 31's on my truck. Although a re-gear would be ideal, the truck is still very capable on stock gearing.

I rather consistently haul 470lbs+ and only need to downshift for some of the larger hills. At the end of the day, you have to remember it's not a sportscar anyways, so who cares how fast you get there.

Sidenote, it's pretty nice cruising 70mph and pulling 2,000rpm. Fuel economy has improved.

 

I've been running the current 29.3" diameter tires running on the manual 3.31 gearing for 2+ years now - it's time for the change, with the change-up of tires.

Similar to you, the beneficial side effect of running the stock gearing is improved MPG on the top end. The problem for me has always been that 2-3 seconds of inertial lag in acceleration from a stop, while the gerbils spool up under the hood. I've been spoiled by too many years of 2-wheeled saddle-time and instant throttle response, to continue letting that slide. The LCE header/exhaust work helped to a degree - but the full benefit of those mods won't be fully realized either, unless the gearing is corrected closer to OEM, or even mildly over-geared, as i am going.

The other aspect - by the end of this summer, i expect that this will be my end of project focus upon the truck in terms of making any more significant changes - once these mods are done it's a matter of living with the results, for as many years as possible in terms of this truck ownership. I expect that the next time i need to look at mods on a truck, electric/alternative fueled vehicles will have gone mainstream.

Now's that time to get everything that's remaining on the want list onto the truck, so that i can move onto other project priorities.

I should be able to drop my 4.10 3rd member off at the shop to be gone over for a good inspection and to have the Detroit Truetrac installed this week/next week. Once that is done, the truck will be booked in separately for the 3rd member install and tires. I've got a weeks vacation time this week in which i was planning on doing some truck work and get caught up on the interior parts-pile on my computer room floor - but i have no driveway to work in.. driveways were ripped out for re-paving

 

*boom* - Tires ordered. 4wheelparts have a sale on them, so i am going to be taking a chance on the Pro-Comp AT-Sport 235/85R16's.

Updated project list .. the original post has fallen more than a few pages back now, and i'm going to be cleaning the thread up some in the next little while, to reflect a project at completion, rather than being a running-build log.

• RTX Arsenic 16x7 +40 offset aftermarket rims - used - kijiji.ca
• 225/75R16 Goodyear Wrangler ST tires - used - kijiji.ca
• ARB Deluxe front bumper - new - 4wheelparts.ca
• Fab-Four's rear bumper - new - 4wheelparts.ca
• Weathertech in-channel window visors - new - 4wheelparts.ca
• Toyota OEM Intermittent windshield wiper module
• Kenwood DDX-470 with wired in switchable-on rear backup-camera mounted on Prinsu rack
• MicTuning Toyota pattern switches, additional USB dash ports, LED cabin lights, RAM accessories mounting system, Birddawg Industries Tech Deck, Mirror relocate mounting dash-cam, Tablet-based GPS/OBD2 Monitoring.
• Extang Trifold Solid Cover - used - kijiji.ca
• Toyota Accessories OEM cargo bed divider - used - kijiji.ca
• ReadyLift SST 2.75/1.75" spacer/AAL lift kit
• Bilstein 4600 front struts/5100 rear shocks
  • Passenger side 4600 - Part No. 24-185066
  • Drivers side 4600 - Part No. 24-185042
  • Rear 5100's - Part No. 24-186728
• Toyota Accessories OEM access cab running boards
• Labrak light insert replacements with Rigid style LED driving lights for ARB front bumper
• Prinsu Design Studios AccessRac roof rack system
• U-Haul Class 4 trailer hitch and wiring
• Rear Steelcraft tail light guards
• KC Hilites 6" Slimline Halogen driving lights
• Toyota Campaign replacement Catalytic converter and mid-pipe assembly.
• Magnaflow 22" 2.5" i/o muffler - p/n 12586
• LCE 'Street Performance' OEM-length Header
• Full exhaust replacement (except catalytic and mid-pipe assembly just replaced in October 2016, under Toyota Service Bulletin replacement program) done.
• 35% window tinting D&P front side, 20% 3 rear windows.
• CoverKing Black Tactical series seat-covers.
• T-Rex Grilles 20936B Horizontal Aluminum Black Finish Billet Grille Insert with '85-90 Land Cruiser 'Toyota' grille badging in Amazon-sourced aftermarket Grille Surround
• BAMF light-bar bracket to mount KC's inside of grille
• Prinsu replacement front air-dam with 40" Lightbar cutout
• Front wheel-well black-box and rear mudflap delete done
• Environmental control knob substitution with Ebay "cheap mod of the month" done
• Aluminium and Leather 5-speed shifter mod substitution, with aluminium shifter-shaft sleeving mod done
• Salvage 2014 Toyota Tacoma SR5 4x4 3rd member with 4.10 gearing
• Detroit Locker Toyota Tacoma 8 Inch Rear TrueTrac - 913A541
• Pro-Comp AT-Sport 235/85R16's
• REPLACEMENT for Kenwood, "Joying" Brand 10" Android head-unit.

Imminent, or future maintenance-based mods/changes in works:

• Blue Sea 6-circuit fuse block - Received 18 January 2017
• Material to re-wrap interior door arm-rests - Received 24 January 2017
• Outback Accessories Roof Console for Toyota Hilux 2005-2015 - Received 28 January 2017 - mods ongoing, including a built in PA system.
• Morimoto 40" LED Lightbar with yellow fog inserts - Received 30 January 2017
• Uxcell sound deadener insulation ordered 29 June 2017 - to do truck roof.

 

So, I've only owned the truck for 6.5 years, and i only got around to this now.

Consuming approximately a whole 20 minutes of time, the fender-well black-box delete and removal of rear mud guards was done, in prep for future work and tire-upsizing. The Rocker panels of both fenders were absolutely stuffed by rotting vegetative matter (see first photo of debris on ground) - prime conditions to induce corrosion in that little hidey-hole. I need to get some tin yet, and bash up a few patch plates to cover up those voids.

 

Oooooh, the smell of new rubber in the morning...."smells like victory"!

 

Dude -- what are you waiting for? Install that Joying 10" Android head unit and let us know how you like it.

Also, have you considered adding a second battery?

 

I did take the Joying out of it's box last week, and bench-tested it on the electronics table - seems to be a neat bit of kit. I almost decided to get started on the interior today... but the shop work is going to be coming first, so needed the prep-work done.

I'm stuck on indecision - I have to pull the full interior apart, this time top to bottom, one more round. It's a matter of deciding what to do. I have a spare amplifier sitting in the basement that i need to look at, and decide whether to proceed with it, buy new, or don't bother. The last time it was in a vehicle, was briefly in my sidecar rig, pumping a subwoofer for the enclosed sidecar cabin..

There are miscellaneous bits and pieces still coming in, for the electrical and sound abatement stuff.. and i have to decide on speaker replacements as well.

I'm not using a whole lot of amps in powering my setup .. audio wise, i am a believer of quality, vs volume.. as long as the OEM battery is in good shape, it should suffice .. it was just replaced recently with another OEM (good quality, good reputation) battery, no need to change up there.

I figure that the interior will fully come together in August, once the tire upgrade and re-gear has been taken care of.

 

I changed out my speakers to ct sound 6.5 pros. They require 60w continous but sound great with a little 200 watt amp. The magnet difference between oem and these was pitaful. I do have a second battery thatll be put in sooner or later.

 

Lolz at the black box removal. Good times, good times.

I ran 32" MTs on 4.3s, Auto. Was my baby, but got pretty sluggy. It hated any kind of incline. Incline with cruise on? Race truck! Uphill. Ugh.

 

The pile of stuff needing to be acted on, has attained epic proportions on my computer room floor - obviously the truck isn't the only project going on, in this household. Big arse bubble-wrapped package of sound insulation from China - how could that cost all of $15.00 to ship to me?!? I pulled a couple of well grimed-up components out of the basement - including that Rockfort Fosgate 600w amp that was in the sidecar for a brief period of time. 2 channel Amp rated for 200RMS... i guess that will take care of the door speakers, one way or the other!

I also pulled up my 1990 era Trash-Shack CB Radio in order to pull some components off of it. I'm gathering parts for a custom electronics package that involves an exterior PA system, as well as a multiple-option electronic 'horn' - all of this is to be stuffed into the ARB HiLux overhead console, sooner or later. As can be seen, the OEM overhead console is out, and i'm starting to work on that in terms of adding structure to the roof, in order to support additional weight of the ARB console.

- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lv8wqnk_TsA -

Haven't heard back from 4wheelparts yet.. but it's only been a few days since the 'differential guy' returned from vacation. I'll drop by on Friday, and rattle their cage... we're now fully into the third week of July.

 

A little non-update update of sorts.

The new differential replacement has had the Eaton Trutrac LSD installed into it, along with new carrier bearings, and is good to go.

All other bits - Spidertrax 1.5" spacers, tires, new tuner lugs all ready to install, also.

Murphy's Law struck hard in the past two weeks, however - what can go wrong will go wrong - but not with the truck. Having slept-walked off a balcony and breaking arm/shoulder (more like smashing them), i can't drive for the next bit, nor can i continue work on the interior.. so last project work that was to be done to this truck, is now on hold for at least a few weeks, perhaps months.

Bummer.

 

Damn! Hope you heal up quickly.

 

Was able to resume limited driver duties in the past few days.. keeping very local. Shoulder is still a mess, and in a sling, so you know how that manual transmission and steering thing goes. I've got enough flexibility in my shoulder to grip the bottom of the wheel and keep in position when shifting, so that's progress.

Pre-upgrade service done at Redhill Toyota today, to make sure wheel bearings, and other components of the truck are in good shape, before it goes to 4wheelparts for the upgraded differential and tire change. Redhill Toyota tells me the truck is in excellent shape, except that it needs tires ... no shit.

Truck is booked in for September 11th..

 

Cool! Look forward to hearing all about your review of the difference the differential makes.

 

That will certainly be forthcoming. With the new wheel/tire diameter combination, on paper it'll be slightly over-geared - optimal would be 3.91 .. at 4.10, it'll make first gear more or less optional in most level standing start situations, limiting highway top-end to a small degree.

I will be interested to see how the re-gear plays with the LCE header/reworked exhaust, which already has a net benefit on overall torque output, in terms of moving the torque curve downward on the rev-range.

 

Fresh out of 4wheelparts ... 235/85r16 (31.7") with the 4.10 differential re-gear and Eaton Detroit TruTrac LSD on the 2010 5-lug.. no spacers, no rubbing. My 1.5" spacers and fender flares will go unused.

After starting into this project as a stock truck in Winter 2014 .. i'm now fully done on this truck's mechanicals and external changes. Well and truly happy with the end-results. Just the interior/wiring to finish off.