hoverlover’s “there are many like it, but this one is mine” extra long title bs thread and build too

Yesterday I finally got around to replacing my worn out brake pads. I was getting a pretty annoying vibration when breaking so I replaced the worn pads and rotors with the Power Stop Z36 kit. I wanted slotted but not drilled rotors but didn't find what I wanted for the truck for what I was willing to pay so these will do just fine. Plus the holes will help out when it's wet and none of the holes go through any of the vanes so overall I'm happy. That's what matters most, right?







Before



After


Holes and vanes


Now that I think about it, I really wish I had cleaned up the calipers and painted them. Rainy day project I guess.


I also pulled my back seat out to measure for the sub another hundred times.




That picture is without one seat bracket installed. I could raise the sub up a few inches to clear them but then the seat back couldn't lock in the upright position.

I don't know how some others have made the damn thing fit but I'm not willing to tamper with my seat brackets or cut apart my interior for a little more bass. I'll sell this sub and box or maybe give it to my wife is she wants it and order a standalone sub and a fitted box. Next week I'm going to install the brake shoes in the rear and wire up the 5 channel amp.

I'm sure there will be more to do along the way. I've got some LED strips floating around the garage I'd like to install for cockpit-style lighting. Nothing obnoxious or ostentatious, but I'd like to light up the floor in the front and rear when the doors open or on command.

I'm also looking into ditch lights, lights for the bed, and rock lights. What? I'm afraid of the dark.



Cheers

 

I've got those exact brakes on my truck and Christa's T4R, they work great.

 

Nice! They were impressing me when I was breaking them in, they're pretty grippy! Noticably shorter doing distance and it felt much more controlled over stock.

Granted, my old pads were fairly worn.

 

Cars and Coffee this morning was great! Awesome turnout from the San Antonio and surrounding areas TW. I'm not so good at remembering to take pictures, so I am stealing pictures from other people

I counted 18, but I think we had a few late arrivals. Definitely 20+ good looking Tacos - and in every color except speedway blue!





I think that's the cleanest my truck has and ever will be.



Afterwards,



Ordered some Cali Raised low-profile ditch light brackets and some ditch lights with side shooters as well.

 

Ever thought about just modifying the back seat plastic case to cut/ fiberglass molding to fit around your sub? Truck looked good at the event.

 

​

 

That's what I'll end up doing I think. But since I don't the box I'll sell it and use the same sub with a custom box I think.

Thanks!

 

Almost broken in





I got some ditch lights with side shooters and some low profile mounts to celebrate the occasion. I had planned on not getting ditch lights but saw some pictures of these lights on action and it's a world of difference left and right. I'll have to remember to get some pictures of the output.



I don't get to fly around the Capitol very often or find myself in a position where I can actually take pictures (passengers don't really want to see their pilot on his phone and there is no chance in hell I could do it while instructing a student) so when I can I do.









The morning started off kind of blah but by the time I got to the location there was only this one cloud to keep me company. Traffic surveys can be a bitch but when everything is going right, it's really peaceful up there.

 

Nice purchase am seeing that view just made me realize I picked the wrong side of the aviation machine.

 

Lol yea, I couldn't do anything else. I have a desk job but my desk has unbelievable views.

 

Touché.. I get good naps an tans

 

@MattCowsmasher if it's any consolation, you don't have to worry about things like this everyday



And I'll wager balloons and birds aren't an irrational (totally rational!) fear

 

To a degree it does. You got the harder end of it but I deal everyday with students an IP who were just students all 18 were planes an 4 helos with air tractors, T-1s an a c-130 all day doing pattern work an opposite direction approaches with the uhhhhsss an ummmmmsss probably why I drink a lot

 

Lol I hate that! Cleared... Cleared.... Ummmmmmmmmmmmm... Cleared for the.... Uhhhhhhhhmmmmmmm... Cleared for the option.

Yea man, we drink because we have crazy responsibilities. Each job has its own unique challenges to adapt to, improvise to, and overcome. Honestly though, couldn't do what we do without you guys and it's much appreciated, I know we don't say it enough.

 

Thanks man I appreciate it.To be honest our helo guys are the best out there an balliest.

 

Aww nice bromance, very coo

 

Last flight of the day.


No effects, no filters, just crappy cell phone pics.

 

Well tonight I got my ditch lights mounted but I broke my phone so no new pictures today. Tomorrow. Probably. I also got in my switches from OTRATTW. I plan on moving the ATRAC switch left of the steering wheel and the factory fog and locker switches to the new panel. I’ll add a factory looking camera switch and then rewire the video feed to my stereo from the mirror. I’ll add the 6 gang to the storage slot above the shifter. I’d like to use one of the switch panels Iggy makes but he’s not responding to me and there are none for manuals on his site. I might end up making one, can’t be too hard. The panel will be set up like this:

(Spoiler alert for upcoming mods.)




So the front locker switch should be an indicator for upcoming work. Once I crack the clamshell open I’m also going to re-gear while I’m in there. I think 4.88’s will do the trick.

The night lights will be interior cockpit-style lighting - rock lights are pretty self explanatory. I’m also going to get some lights from Matt gecko for the camper and wire the switch into the bed for those. I’d like two settings; 20-35% brightness for “romance lighting” and then 100% for utility so another 3 position switch seems in order. While I’m there I’m also planning on wiring up some aux power plugs.

On a different note, I’m debating whether or not I want to keep the pizza cutters or move to a 285/295/305. I’ll have to think more on that one.

 

Figured out the solution to the subwoofer problem. Bought a box from Taco Tunes (@tacotunesJosh)! Fun fact, they're a local (to me, obviously) business. I didn't realize Taco Tunes was here in San Antonio until I was cruising their website and kept seeing customers from SA. I pulled up their contact us page and sure enough, Bulverde! Looking forward to getting the box installed.

Along with everything else, I have a lot to do with the truck right now. I've actually got boxes of parts waiting to be installed stacking up. Nothing major like lockers and winches or anything but the parts I do have will be tedious and time consuming nonetheless.

Awaiting install-

• Fabricate switch panel for the pocket above the shifter
• Build wire harnesses for both of the new switch panels and install
• Build a mounting plate for the amp to fit under a front seat and install
• Install 5 channel amp
• Run all the wires for the amp, speakers and sub
• Install the sub box and sub
• Hook up the ditch lights
• Install CB
• Replace the tail lights with smoked lights
• Install auxillary interior lighting
• Install rock lights
• Install bed lights
• Weld on cam tab gussets
• Weld on spindle gussets

Looks like I'm going to be taking the dash apart a lot in the near future.

I also sold the Rockford Fosgate speakers and the Kicker sub I bought previously and ordered a single Kicker sub for the box. It's the same one Taco Tunes uses so there should not be any fitment issues.

Still waiting on the fourth SCS SR8 to arrive and the sliders from Pelfreybilt.

Today SHOULD be an early day for me at work, I'll see what I can get done this afternoon.

https://youtu.be/qN-_cZNDy0w

Have a good one guys

 

The solution to all my subwoofer problems has arrived!



Got my sub box from Taco Tunes!

My sub from Crutchfield arrived as well! I got say, I am really impressed with the quality of construction on these Kicker subs. They are really nice. Can't wait to hear it.







The stitching is all perfect and I love that it has two of each terminal on the back side to facilitate pretty much any mounting setup you can imagine.

I packed the Taco Tunes box with stuffing and installed the sub, ran the wires for the sub and installed ran the wiring from the sub to the amp as well. It took some measuring and a bit of modification but I made the amp fit nicely under the driver's seat. It's mounted to half inch ABS plastic.



This is with the seat all the forward from the rear...



And this is with the seat all the way back from the front...



Out of the way and no rubbing.

I'll run the rest of the wires tonight or tomorrow after work and complete the amp install.

This whole time I thought my wife was annoyed about the whole audio upgrade. Then she gives me this!



I'll install that while I have the dash ripped apart (again...), hopefully for the last time over the weekend.

Last night I also threw on the smoked tail lights and put the light guards back on. They're not super heavy duty or anything but they might do some good one day even if they only save the tail lights from a crazy ex.