My 1999 Taco TuRD Build - I sold it

Bought this 1999 Tacoma SR5 TRD on 10/26/18. Sold it 7/17/20.

Basically stock with Toytec lift springs in front and Bilstein 5100 shocks along with the 16" Method wheels and 285 tires. Just shy of 315,000 miles on it at time of purchase.

This is how she sits today.



Specs:
1999 SR5 4WD Extra Cab
5VZ-FE 3.4L V6
5 Speed Manual

Under the hood:
Airaid MIT intake tube
Relocated ABS sewer pipe washer bottle on fan shroud
Viair 480C Air Compressor
SiliconeIntakes silicone vacuum hoses

Drivetrain:
4xInnovations HD transmission mount
Rear diff breather extended to gas fill door
Redline MT-90 in trans & t-case
Redline 75w90 in both diffs
Marlin Crawler shifter bushings in trans (white) & t-case (blue)
Hayden power steering cooler
Magnafine power steering filter

Electrical:
Odyssey 25-PC1400 battery
Artec Industries battery mount
2/0 gauge welding wire for the starter and ground cables

Front Suspension:
ADS remote reservoir shocks
SPC Upper Control Arms (pending install)

Rear Suspension:
OME Dakar leaf springs
OME greasable shackles
Daystar front leaf hanger greasable bolts
Fox 2.0 IFP - 26.75" extended length
BAMF BPV relocation bracket
Wheeler's Superbumps

Wheels/Tires:
SpiderTrax 1.25" wheel spacers
Method NV 16x8 wheels
Toyo Open Country A/T 285/75/16
Full size spare tire

Recovery:
48" Hi-Lift jack
30' recovery strap

Exterior:
LineX'd bed
Relentless Fabrication Tailgate Protector
2004 manual adjust door mirrors
EBAY LED tail lights & 3rd brake light
Honda windshield washer nozzles
Self-fabbed bed rack
Wheel Every Weekend RTT
DIY black painted hood
Garage door seal fender extenders
Relocated front turn signals

Interior:
2001 Tacoma center console
Cheap faux leather covered transmission shift knob
Dual USB ports in place of the cigarette lighter and one of the power ports
Headwaters seat covers on front seats and console lid
Black heavy vinyl/rubber flooring from ACC
Gentex 177 auto-dimming rear view mirror with temp and compass
Shower curtain mod
1999 4Runner 4 spoke steering wheel
OMP aluminum pedal covers

Electronics:
ScanGauge
Kenwood KDC-X502 head unit
Kenwood KFC-X174 speakers
Uniden Pro520XL CB

Lighting:
20" light bar (currently not mounted)

Armor:
4xInnovation 1/4" thick IFS Skid Plate
4xInnovations 1/4" thick transmission skid plate
DIY 2" x 4" tube skid plate mount
1/4" plate front frame horn caps
1/4" plate frame horn reinforcement (underside)
LROR e-locker skid plate
Sky's Off Road Design leaf spring front hanger skid plates
Coastal Offroad Front DIY high clearance winch bumper
Coastal Offroad Rear DIY high clearance bumper with tire carrier
@JeepAndrew Keepers Fabrication custom sliders

Miscellaneous Stuff:
Welded steering column (tack weld+ mod)
Crown Performance extended brake lines front and rear

Parts I need to install:
U-bolt flip kit and shock mounting tabs from Relentless
Durobumps diff bracket bushings
Energy Suspension body mounts

Future Mods:
Winch
Crawler box
4.88 gearing
More as I think of it...

This is how it looked the day I bought it.

 

First order of business was to do some sorely needed repair work that was expected when I bought the truck.

Passenger side CV axle had to be replaced and the rack and pinion as well. Then I found out I needed to do the front brakes - rotors, pads and bleed, replace the original PCV valve and grommet (had to dig that out of the cover), replace the passenger side tie rod and the power steering pump since someone before me had put power steering fluid into the system instead of the proper ATF. This softened and completely ruined the seals on the rack and I didn't want to chance ruining the new one by reusing the old pump. Both the rack and pump were the original equipment with 315k miles on them too.

The old rack with 315k miles. Take close look at the passenger side boot. It was like that for a good long time I think.





New rack installed.



This was the fluid that drained out of the power steering system when I finally got it cracked open.



New tie rod and CV axle on the passenger side.

 

Now that the trucks running gear was in good shape again, I started updating some other items. Bought and installed an updated stereo system for the truck. The old Sony head unit worked fine but didn't have bluetooth and I pretty much only stream Pandora. Also had no hands-free phone capability and was running with the OEM speakers. Which when I removed the old unit, I found that they wired it so it was only using the front speakers on a 4 speaker setup...

Out with the old stuff.


Replaced it all with Kenwood Excelon stuff. Sounds much better with 4 of these 6.5" speakers actually working now. And it has bluetooth and hands-free capability for calls.


The head unit installed. It's a KDC-X502. I forgot to wipe everything down so it's covered in fingerprints and dirt from the install. I also got a Mod Armor Modnetic Stick 90 to hold my phone that you can see in the pic. Works good so far.


While I was doing the stereo install, I replaced the cigarette lighter and one of the power ports with USB ports I found on ebay. I have these in my 2004 Dodge Ram as well and they are awesome.

 

Installed a 4xInnovations HD trans mount to replace the broken OEM mount. Easy install with a floor jack. The new mount is awesome. Thicker steel and uses spring bushings to damp vibes but they really aren't that effective. Way more felt vibration from the motor now at idle. Driving you don't notice other that I can tell that the drivetrain isn't lashing around like it was before.

Comparison of the broken mount and HD unit.


The old one was completely shot.




New one installed.

 

Pending install of an Artec battery box and 25-PC1400 battery. Going to use rivnuts to anchor it to the fender with large fender washers added for strength, if possible. This pic shows how I plan on cutting the top to allow more clearance around the battery terminals.



Replaced the stock center console with a 2001 center console I got off ebay. Huge improvement over the earlier console. Only had to drill 2 holes to get it mounted.



Side by side view of both consoles. The later model is definitely taller and has more storage.The rubber cup holder things are in good shape too so I don;t need to worry about making new ones yet.

 

Did a little light exploring this morning. I never tested 4wd when I was buying the truck and finally had the chance to make sure everything was working right. Happy to say that the rear e-locker works as does 4-hi and 4-low.

I most definitely need new rear leafs tho. The stock leafs just don't provide the clearance at full stuff for the 285/75 tires nor enough flex.

 

OME Dakar leaf springs and required accessories just order from Headstrong Offroad. Should resolve most of the rear suspension issues for now. I also have a u-bolt flip kit on order from Relentless Fabrication.

 

Started working on doing the Big 3 upgrade and installing the Artec battery tray for the new PC1400 battery. Waiting on parts to arrive tomorrow to hopefully complete it all.

Using stainless steel rivnuts to hold the new tray in place. I ended up having to redo them because I used M6 inserts the first time and should have used M8 inserts. Those are in there now.



Got all the factory battery and ground cables removed.



Going to be using 2/0 AWG cables for the main ground and power cable to the starter. 4 AWG for the ground to the body. Ordered everything I need from Amazon for delivery tomorrow since that was easier than finding a place locally. I just moved to Tucson and am still trying to find everything.

Painted the tray area with POR15 once I had the correct M8 rivnut inserts in place.



Also painted the base of the Artec tray with POR15.





I forgot to order the mounting bolt kit for the tray so still need to find some.

I was think about where I could mount a second battery in the engine compartment. I'd like to get it in the passenger side somehow but the ideal place is taken up by the airbox. Has anyone relocated the airbox somehow to accommodate a second battery in that location?

 

Cut the Artec top plate this morning and then painted it, still need to put on a coat or 2 of bedliner. Went and found the mounting bolts I needed, M8 stainless flush mount socket head. Then I lined the tray with thin foam that I get with my motorcycle batteries. With that in there, the battery mounted and top screwed on, it's not moving AT ALL. Now I just need my cables and military clamps to arrive so I can get it all finished.

 

Finished the battery and Big 3 install finally. Yes, I got a battery with posts flopped around, didn't notice until I was home and starting to set things up. I didn't want to wait for another one so just worked with what I had for now. I'll get another battery with the terminals in the correct place later and redo things. That will give me an excuse to run dual batteries then too.

 

Airaid MIT, leafs and associated parts all arrives today. Guess I have some work to do.

 

Dakar leafs and accessories installed this morning. Much better ride now, at least in the rear. Still need new shocks. The Bilstein 5100s that came with the truck are too short and don't allow full droop so I have a couple of Fox 2.0 IFPs at 26.85" fully extended to hopefully resolve that issue. I'll have to address the front suspension later as it's still a little harsh. I gained about 4" of lift in the rear but the leafs still need to settle some and I don't have anything in the bed, nor a spare tire for that matter. That will change in time. Either way, the truck looks way better now and should do much better offroad too.

 

Finally got some pics of the whole truck after installing the Dakars. Still has a bit of that stinkbug look but then I have no weight in the back to help. The ride is a million times better both on the road and off-road now. New Fox 2.0 IFP shocks for the rear are coming soon as well as Wheelers Superbumps. No tire rubbing issues now in the rear any longer. Some gratuitous poser pics.

 

Rear Fox shocks finally came in so I got them installed this evening. Gained about 5" on the overall length so should be good to go for getting the full travel of the Dakar leafs now.





Also received my Relentless Fabrication u-bolt flip kit and aluminum tailgate protector. I'm going to have it coated when I get the bed LineX'd. Not sure when I will get the flip kit done yet.





Also received the Wheeler's Superbumps which I will get installed tomorrow probably.

 

Also received and installed my Headwaters seat covers the other day. Only did the front seats. I went with the multi-cam black and am really happy with how they turned out.

Before.





After.





Vinyl to replace the crappy carpet is on order as well as a couple black ABS plastic sheets to replace the original door panels like @allenfab did.

 

I tore my dash apart today to figure out why I couldn't change the temp on the heater controls. Turns out to be the cable running to the valve thing under the hood that opens and closes flow to the heater core. The cable is stiff and tight as shit, even after my best attempts to lubricate it and get it freed up. Time to see if I can order another one and tear the dash apart again once I have one. No so fun. I also replaced the missing vent direction thingy on the passenger side while I was in there. Got one off ebay from a 4Runner but it seems that the ends that allow it to tilt are slightly too small and it just flops around in there. Oh well, at least it isn't an empty hole any more and now I know how to take the dash apart. Fun times.

 

Changed spark plugs this morning and properly routed the plug wires. They were all messed up from the previous owner. Seems a little smoother now. At least they had the correct plugs in there. Then my spare tire/wheel were finally ready for pickup at 4Wheel Parts here in Tucson. Went and got that and picked up a HighLift jack while I was there. I think I can use the stock rear bumper with the jack but only if I'm changing a tire on a flat surface. I won't trust it for much more. The front will be a different matter. I really need to get some sliders so I can use those instead. Also welded a socket to my Gorilla keyed socket and painted it so it's easy to find if dropped. Welds are shit but they will work for this.

Tire and jack get to sit locked up in the bed for now. Have an appointment next Tuesday to have the bed LineX'd and then I can start deciding how I'm going to mount everything. Oh, and this was the cheapest rim they could get. $5 cheaper than the cheapest steel rim in a 16x8 size. It's a spare so I really don't care that much.

 

Went exploring again today, mainly to check the travel on the new rear Fox shocks. They have plenty of travel in both directions but I will probably move the lower shock mount down 1/2" to 1" from the stock location when I do the u-bolt flip, just because it IS a little close at stuff. And I still need to figure out how I'm going to attach my Superbumps.



Aslo found this cool windmill that is used as a water pump.



And I picked up this little air compressor from Home Depot on the way home so I could air back up. Very quiet induction motor with a 1 gallon tank, light weight too. Works well enough for airing up tires. I'm thinking about getting a power inverter now for the truck and start carrying the compressor in the cab.



Some more pics from today.







Same spot as a previous pic, just a slightly different angle. Shows the massive improvement in travel the Dakars have over the stock springs with Bilsteins.



Here's the previous pic for comparison.



More pics from today...









And I found a cow. Or bull in this case I think.



I keep seeing threads about the "grey wire mod" to allow you to use the rear e-locker in 2wd. Well, I haven't done the mod myself and I have no idea if the previous owner did either but I am able to lock the rear e-locker while in 2wd. Here is the pic to prove it. The light in NOT flashing either so I know it was engaged.

 

interested to know if the power inverter will handle the compressor.
I wheel with a nitrogen tank. I had a mini 12v air compressor but it died in the Nevada heat.
I am considering

$113 DEWALT 20V MAX Tire Inflator, Compact and Portable, Automatic Shut Off, LED Light, Bare Tool Only (DCC020IB)

https://www.amazon.com/DEWALT-DCC02...ds=20V+MAX+Corded/Cordless+Inflator+Bare+Tool or

DEWALT FLEXVOLT 60V MAX* Air Compressor Kit, Cordless, 2.5 Gallon (DCC2560T1)

https://www.amazon.com/DEWALT-DCC25...d=1542663170&sr=8-1&keywords=DEWALT+DCC2560T1
or
https://www.amazon.com/Ridgid-ZRR02...eywords=RIDGID+Air+Compressor+1+Gallon+18volt
If the inverter carries the load I would like to go your rout

 

The Senco compressor is 115vx4amps, so only 460 watts. Shouldn't be a problem for a 750 to 1000 watt inverter.

The only thing that I want to change on it is the 1 gallon tank, it's too small and I can only get 5 to 8 psi into a tire before having to wait for the compressor to catch up. I'm actually thinking about returning it and getting a Vair on-board system or Harbor Freight has a dual pump, 1.2hp induction motor compressor with a 2 gallon tank that might work better. And it's rated at 120vx2.8amps so only 336 watts.