The Modest Taco

Summer '23

I decided to go ahead and make my dreams come true with my 2009 Access Cab, which came from the factory as a TRD Offroad with everything but the heated seats. I'm the second owner, and I got it with 89k miles on it - closing on 250k miles as of Jan 2022 (270k, May 2024).

My goal is to build a truck that can comfortably handle unmaintained roads, the occasional high speed dirt run, and some places that most people would never think to take anything but a side-by-side or quad, while still being reasonably polite on the road. It's also supposed to make me feel like a mecha pilot when I walk up and climb in it.

This thread will serve as build documentation for my own interest and that of others. I will detail specific portions of the build in the relevant subforums here on TW, with this thread serving as a clearinghouse for various links and commentary. Other stuff has been done to/with the truck than is listed here, but the details weren't necessarily worth sharing (routine maintenance, etc.).

Crash and Rebuild:
Jan 2021: She's dead, Jim. I've elected to take the payout, buy the wreck back, and go ahead with a rebuild. The insurance estimator was smoking crack on not just the work necessary but also the pricing.

Mar 2021: It's aliiiiiiive!

Mechanical/Drivetrain/Suspension:
July 2018 - Prop shaft rebuild

October 2020 - New OEM exhaust from cats back, painted with two coats of black VHT header paint before installation. Update July 2023 - absolutely trashed out beyond repair after 3 winters in Salt Hell. Sigh. Replaced with custom stainless from Lou's in Concord, NH.

November 2020 - Factory plugs changed @ 205k, is this a new record?

December 2020 @ 210k miles - Front End & Suspension Rebuild, UniBall vs Salt Belt long term experiment, All new idler pulleys and belt, new A/C blower fan

August 2021 @ 230k miles - 5100s, 885s, Dakar Mediums

November 2021 - SCUBA mod

May 2022 - Trashed my rack doing high speed dirt in AZ. Drove home to VT on a blown rack. New OEM rack/power steering pump, custom PS lines.

August 2022 - Driveshaft rebuild with poly CB, custom trans cooler lines, water pump and alt, CSF #7092 aluminum radiator, and Hayden trans cooler (Hayden 696)

Feb 2024 - SPC uppers replaced with Dirt King tubular/BJ uppers. Poor performance and multiple early failures of SPC product despite "improved design" and multiple RMAs.

May 2024 - Bilstein 6112/5160s, 650# Bilstein coils

June 2024 @ 270kmi - Complete timing rebuild

October 2024 - Archive Hammer Hangers / U-bolt flip and bumps

Tires/Wheels:
December 2020 - Refurbed FJ Steelies

March 2021 - Blizzaks @ 245x70R17 on the FJ steelies.

March 2022 - Cooper Discoverer AT/LT 235/85/16s. Initial reports here. Excellent in everything from winter squalls in the mountains right through high speed bombing on dirt tracks and volcanic scree. Update July 2023, these are excellent tires - long term comments here

November 2022 - New winter wheels to replace the steelies - custom powder on FJ 17" alloys

Summer 2023 - New summer wheels - FJ 16" alloys blasted/Rustoleum Hammered gold - process 1 2 3

Electrical/Lighting:
Mar 2021 (Ongoing) - Wiring upgrades (Custom Big 3 harness, headlight harness, custom winch runs w/ solenoid relocate, in-cab winch controls, and more)

Oct 2021 - DD smart flasher

Oct 2021 - DD Fogs in ARB Deluxe (DD/Slee Long Term Review) DD LED turn signals and corner markers

Frame/Armor:
April 2020: Details of frame drama here including restored work. Tl;dr Don't trust dealerships, don't trust Toyota's business arm.

Oct 2021 - Wire wheel, degrease, zinc etch, and POR-15 from front cab mounts to front shackle mounts

Dec 2021 - Frame plating and Cali Raised sliders

Feb 2022 - RCI skids to replace the smashed factory pie tins.

May 2022 - Warfab Phantom HC rear bumper

June 2022 - TC cam tab gussets

Interior:
2018 - Rear seat delete/dog deck, LED maplights, red LED dome

May 2021 - Joying head unit, Dual USB lower console insert

Oct 2021 - Sound Deadening (Ongoing, will intersect with Murdered Out, below)

April 2023 - Murdered Out (Ongoing)

Exterior:
Jan 2021 - new OEM headlights, Headlight Services harness. What a difference!

Mar 2021 - ARB front bumper as part of rebuild, Door seals, wind noise mitigation

May 2022 - New fakewhacker fenders after the bed chop for rear bumper

Camper Shell:
Camper Shell Project Thread

 

Photo Album

Summer 2020



October 2020



January 2021



March 2021


December 2021



March 2022



May 2022




Spring 2023


Spring 2024

 

Rear bumper? Did I miss where that was mentioned?

Nice truck.

 

Thanks. I should probably update this thread huh?

 

Seconded. Need info on that bumper please.

 

It's a Phantom from Warfab. I added some links to the painting process for mine, which are in the "WarFab Armor Dorks" thread. Lots of good browsing to be had there.