Virginia Build

Finally getting around to this after a few months. Going to keep this first post as a brief "before" for comparison and then where she is at currently (I'll try to update this as additions are made), plus the long term plank/wish list of what I'm thinking about doing.

Oct 2018:
Made the switch to a truck. Traded in the Mazda 3 for a 2017 Tacoma MGM TRD-OR AT. Miss driving a manual and the MPG from the Mazda, but I wont go back, love the Tacoma too much.



Before:


Current: (as of June 2019)


As she stands currently....

Suspension:
Bilstein 5100 shocks (front)
OME NitroSport shocks (rear)
OME 887 coilsprings
OME Dakar Leaf Pack
HS 1/4" spacer for taco lean

Tires/Wheels:
265/75/16 Duratracs (C-load)
Spidertrax wheel spacers
Vinyl blackout OEM wheels
Blue vinyl TRD center caps

Exterior:
True bolt-on Bushwacker pocket fender flares
Ultimate turn signals
TRDPro Black grille
Custom TRD OR decals
3rd Brake and license plate lights swapped for LEDs
Plastidipped chrome badges

Interior:
Huskey mat floor liners
Interior lights swapped for LEDs (red and white)
Front dash cigarette lighter swapped for voltmeter/USB quick charge port
Console organizers
Meso's TRD cointray

Engine:
K&N air filter

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Mods on deck:
Power folding side mirrors (we will see if this works out or not... parts on order)

Backlog/Too poor to do yet list:
Bed stiffiners
Rocksliders (haven't settled on which yet, open to suggestions)
Bed rack/gear
Interior switch project (relocate switches, add additional for leds)
OEMassive smoke sequential turn signal headlights
HoneyBadger front bumper
HC rear bumper
Odyssey deep cycle battery
Onboard compressor
Anytime rear and front cameras
Front skid plate
Tint windows
Driver side holster
Install the HAM (on the fence if I want to cut a hole for the antenna or do something else... maybe Meso's 3rd brake light with the antenna mount)
"De-chrome" interior (paint or replace the steering wheel badge, vinyl for the other parts probably)

 

@Andromedus

Do you have any photos showing where the tire sits in relation to the fender? So, from the front. I’m looking at options, and am thinking of doing what you have done here, blacking out the stock OR wheel and going 265/75. And adding the spacer for a better stance.

Truck looks great as well!

Thanks

 

Where you at in Va?

 

You bet, happy to. I will say, took the truck for a spin right after spacers (before the lift and tires). I was surprised how noticeable the change in handling was. Took corners so much better in my opinion. Been meaning to get some more details about the lift up, added some of the pics at the bottom. Unfortunately my OEM OR fender flares are off at the moment, but it should still give you an idea.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I'm all about saving money where I can, so I decided to to the lift myself. As DIY project go, it took way longer than I expected. I started around 8PM and finished around 7:30 AM the next morning. That's how it goes when you just have a floor jack instead of a lift, and trying to lift those leaf packs in while laying on the ground was a fun challenge, ha. But what really racked up the time was getting those OME rear shocks in. I don't know if it was just my truck... but dang, took me a good hour and a half to get one in. The bottom mount was just too tight. Even with WD40 and a hammer it took forever to get it to line up. Kept pinching the bushing. If anyone out there has some advice or insight into why this was such an issue, I'd love to learn what I could have done differently.

Partlist:
Bilstein 5100 shocks (front)
OME NitroSport shocks (rear)
OME 887 coilsprings
OME Dakar Leaf Pack (medium duty)
Spidertrax wheelspacers
1/4" Headstrong spacer for taco lean
Bushings (spacing on the brand, but I know it wasn't the OME bushing kit because they were on back order for 2 weeks so I finally took 4WP up on their suggested replacement)




Before measurements:
35.25 pf 34.75 df 36.75 pb 37 db

After measurements: (still on stock tires)
37 pf 36.75 df 38.75 pb 39 db





Tried to get the same angles on these pics, but they don't line up perfectly.

No spacers/lift:


Spacers/lift/new tires: (forgot to get a pic before I took the fenders off)


Test fitting the Bushwacker pocket flares:




Overall, glad I did this first lift myself. Learned a lot and saved some cash that I can put right back towards the truck. But man did it take longer than I thought.

 

I was wondering if that question would come up. So I am actually in UT. Ever since high school with a couple of friends, I have been naming my vehicles. Finally settled on Virginia for the Tacoma.

Figured I could have another of the many "<insert username or tacoma model> build thread" titles, or use a name.

 

Well caught my attention anyway

 

Looks great. Thanks for the additional photos and info!

How are the vinyl cover isn’t holding up? I think I’m going to paint, as I really like the black look of the stock wheels.

Thanks again.

 

So far so good on the vinyl. Honestly, they were pretty cheap compared to new wheels, so even if they make it a year or so I'd be happy to redo them. Only had them on for a few weeks, but so far so good. Been impressed they handled the mud without issue. If you are interested, here is the thread where I got mine. https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...cap-inlays-and-tacoma-decals-for-sale.537257/

 

Got the fender flares on!

I'll be honest, I don't think it is ever going to feel comfortable drilling holes in my vehicle. However, it paid off.

Partlist:
Bushwacker pocket style fender flares
120 grit sandpaper
Krylon spray on bedliner
x34 1-1/4" long 5/16"-18 thread black-oxide alloy steel (this was a mistake on my part, I would suggest stainless steal, I will probably go over the heads with bed liner or something to better seal and protect the bolts from rust)
x192 Black nylon plastic washers 5/16" screw size
x68 Stainless steal washers for 5/16" screw size
x34 Stainless steal locknuts 5/16"-18 thread

I have seen a few other forum members turn the Bushwackers into actual bolt-ons, I just followed their processes.

After test fitting the Bushwackers and deciding to move forward, I sanded them down with 120 grit sand paper. After sanding, I cleaned them off, wiped them down, and started painting them puppies with bedliner. I did an initial light coat, and then two heavier ones giving it about 20 minutes to dry between coats.

Showing the finish before sanding and after the bedliner.



After removing the OR fender flares and clips, I installed the Bushwackers the way they were meant to be by bolting them inside the wheel well. Then, I made marks where all holes would need to be drilled.



*NOTE* Something that would have been useful info when I did this... On the front fender flares, the second bolt hole from the front of the vehicle, don't drill each of those holes. The way the Bushwakers line up with the front bumper, your hole will drill into the middle of an enclosed bracket on the backside of the bumper. Short of disassembling a lot more for the effort of one bolt, you aren't going to reach it. After drilling one whole and realizing the problem, I just dremelled off most of the bolt and installed it like the fake bolts that come with the Bushwackers.

Measure a couple of times and confidently drill the holes. Not something you want to get wrong. Drilled my small pilot holes then worked up to a 5/16" drill bit. Another thing I forgot to do was to put tape down for a cleaner hole. Mentioning in hopes of reminding someone else. Either way, it worked out and the holes will be hidden behind the fender flares.




I don't know how helpful this is, but I did go over each of the holes with some paint. Driving the bolts through the holes in the fender was pretty tight and likely took most of it off.



This was another piece of info I didn't find on the forum before hand but I thought was useful. I ended up using 6 nylon washer between the fender and fender flare. Fit nice and snug, didn't hear any loose.



From hear it was just a matter of getting back behind the fenders and bolting the bushwackers down. Took some time, but they turned out well. Was on the fence as to whether or not I'd like the bushwackers, but by toning down the gloss with bedliner, I really liked the end result. Let me know what you think.