The Dark Side & BS Build

Here is a link to the pond liner that I used. There were other options but this is the kind I ordered previously, has adhesive on the back, also not a ton of materials, which means it doesn't break the bank

Beckett Corporation Beckett LP1 EPDM/PVC Liner Patch Kit Used for Koi Ponds, Water Gardens, and Fountains, Black

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00827H7C2/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

Recently picked up a Nikon D3200 camera with a few lenses from a lady on OfferUp for $250. She bought it new for a class a while back and hasn't touched it since, I've been wanting a DSLR for a while now so I figured it would be a good starter to take pics of the wife, doggos, adventures, and the truck (obviously)

 

Patch collection as of 2/5/2018
Patches 2/5/18 by Mark Roberto, on Flickr


Better view of the RAM Phone/GPS/Whatever Mount
RAM Mount by Mark Roberto, on Flickr


TRD Decal and Side shot:
TRD Decal by Mark Roberto, on Flickr


Curb side parking at this house, can't wait for a legit garage I can park in
Front of House by Mark Roberto, on Flickr

 

Sweet build man. Subd!

 

Fixed it the post above... first time using Flickr

Thanks man, much appreciated! Gonna be posting more pics now obviously so sit back and relax!

 

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Some minor mods are gonna be in progress when the goodies arrive. Gonna go to Lowe’s and get some polycarbonate and fab a fuse box mount for under the hood, gonna re-do the switch wirin and go from 16-18 gauge to 10 gauge wiring... and then got the goodies in the Amazon cart below

 

Well... it's still too cold to do wiring that's not really needed since it was snowing yesterday and now colder than a witches tit in a brass bra

DSC_0049 by Mark Roberto, on Flickr


DSC_0050 by Mark Roberto, on Flickr


DSC_0051 by Mark Roberto, on Flickr


DSC_0053 by Mark Roberto, on Flickr




and of course, an obligatory dog photo-- 2/3 household pups
DSC_0046 by Mark Roberto, on Flickr

 

Lookin like freakin peanut butter when I took off my oil cap and looked in the plastic oil neck...
It makes sense moving to a colder environment (CA --> WA), plus my commute time is 8 minutes each way.
I just thought a little gunk is all that would be there, so when I removed the cap and saw this, it was alarming...



Luckily there's no sign of the gunk within the engine after removing the oil filler neck:

 

No progress that’s fun to show off anyway. The past few days I’m knockin off the 60k maintenance.
- Tired rotated
- Front/Rear differential oil changed
- Transfer case oil changed
- Motor oil/filter changed
- Engine & cabin air filters cleaned
- Cleaned the interior


Just have to change the spark plugs tomorrow. Maybe I’ll take pics and print out a how to for next time... and just so I can theow some new pics up in this build....

 

Been putting off changing the spark plugs for a few days but finally got them... there was some oil on one of the spark plugs but all wear looked good for 30k being on the plugs. Replaced with Denso plugs.

 

I was sick of how the factory USB slot in the Off Road didn’t charge my phone worth a damn, after some reading it’s mainly a data transfer slot.

So I got on Amazon and picked this USB cigarette lighter adapter. Each slot is 2.4 amps so it should charge my phone a lot faster... and its flush and better looking

It also bothered me because someone broke the cover so having one with and one without a cover has upset my OCD through time

 

This is gonna be a very anti-climactic post, but aside from making the final payment of $7,200- I'm now waiting on the Title Mod

I just received some Noico 80mil sound deadening material for the doors because a few years ago I did the cab, noticed little difference but it was a lot more insulated than my previous (1999) 1st Gen that I noticed a night & day difference with, the same with my Father's (2002) 1st Gen... I've heard where you make your money.. err silence is in the doors.
The link to the Noico Sound Deadening Material can be found

Noico 80 mil (2 mm) 36 sqft (3.4 sqm) car Sound deadening mat, Butyl Automotive Sound Deadener, Audio Noise Insulation and dampening

HERE


I ordered some heated seats, they aren't the ones off eBay that people have used, but I had a $450 Amazon gift card given to me by my work so these purchases were "free" in a sense... I couldn't resist taking the chance
The link to the Heated Seats can be found HERE


Lastly I bought some T-Slot Nuts because the local hardware store didn't carry them.... pricy as fck, but again practically for "free" so now I can mount an axe, shovel, and fire extinguisher and get my quick fists back in the truck instead of a shop shelf.
The link to the T-Slot Nuts can be found

$14 5-Pack of T-Slot Nuts - Ideal T Slot Nut for Toyota Tunda & Toyota Tacoma Pick-Up Truck Bed Deck Rails - Cleat/Cleats - by Mission Automotive

HERE



I finally started on the Blue Sea Fuse Box and Bussman Relay mount, so far I've made 6(?) different cardboard models, slowly whittling away and changing this or that to make it how I want it and to accommodate access to the OEM fuse/relay boxes and various wiring harnesses... below is the latest cardboard model.

I'm using Lexan I got from Lowe's, I cut it to size, I just need to fine tune the edges, and mark/match up the mounting locations. Should be sturdy enough to hold the fuse box and relay. It has 3-4 support screws and (2-3 up top and 1 down low)




I'll maybe give it a whirl to make a detailed write up for the Heated Seats since Amazon is everybody's best friend and I know there's guys on here who live in MUCH colder climates than Seattle, WA so at least someone might be appreciative to a "dummy proof" write up for some warmed winter butts in these Tacos

 

Alright I cut out and formed the Lexan Fuse Box and Relay mount to how I want it... now I just need to go to the hardware store and get some screws and nuts to secure the mount, and then of course the fuse box and relay to the lexan mount



Then I couldn't help but snap a quick pic

 

Blue Sea Fuse Block - $33
Bussman Relay - $28
Sheet of Lexan from Lowe's - $30 (only used half of it)

Went to the hardware store today and bought:
- 2' of 2 AWG red wiring ($6/ft -- $12 total)
- 4 copper 2 AWG eyelids ($3/each -- $12 total)
- Screws and Nuts for the Fuse Box and Relay to the Lexan ($5)

Total- $120

Could've bought a fuse box mount from a company but at least this one is custom and how I want it since I'll be mounting my light bar and fog light relays on it as well


For future reference
The 2 threaded holes in the inside of the driver side fender are M8, 1.25 pitch screws

 

Sound deadening the doors (did the cab a few years back) soooo the cab was surprisingly deadened from the OEM vs the 1st Gens.... but then I started doing the doors and saw this pitiful attempt at sound deadening the flat metal of the door (the lone, 4"x6" white patch)

 

Alright... finally installed the sound deadening material in all 4 doors, thank goodness that's done. My forearms are done being cut up reaching into depths of the door panel

 

Got around to mounting the under the steering wheel kydex holster for my Glock 19. The quoted post above shows the issue with the holster and how it bends with the weight.
Nothing a little bit of hardware couldn't fix... stand by for a picture dump...

This is the holster with the hardware, next post will be with the pistol & mounted




***I ended up shaving the excess threading off of the screw so it's flush with the nut when tightened down***

 

Close up of the screw's head ensuring it doesn't come in contact with the trigger guard - don't want it to mess it up through repeated use:




I cut the extra screw threads off so they sit flush with the nut otherwise it'd scratch the holy hell out of the dash where it's mounted


Just the holster mounted to the dash



There's 2 ways you can have it mounted, straight on or angled... personally I like it angled from the little bit I was messing around with it:

 

View from the driver side:


Passenger Side:


This is how much leg room I have with it mounted:


Drawing:


Pulling it out:


Out of the holster: