TacoSTIG: PNW MT Build

//News:
- massaging firewall with a hammer


//2005 AC TRD OffRoad V6 : TacoSTIG

//Goals/Direction Etc:
After countless failed attempts at rock crawling with the WRX it was time to add a truck to the Stig family. Acquiring a Tacoma was the next logical step, months of searching later, I found what I was looking for, and the mod bug hit hard.

The build parameters were loose, I value function, and unashamed to admit I'm a sucker for form. This isn't a dedicated rock crawler, dune jumper, cross continental expedition rig, or a mall crawler. It's a mixed bag of tricks geared towards being dependable and across the board capable.

//Suspension:
- Front -
- FOX 2.5 extended travel coilovers with DSC reservoirs (install 8/11/15)
- King 700lb springs
- Total Chaos uniball upper control arms (install 8/11/15)
- Removed Swaybar
- Wheelers Superbumps
- Rear -
- FOX 2.0 12" RR
- FOX universal resi mounts
- ATO Shackle Flip kit (install 1/25/16)
- B.A.M.F Shock Relocation Kit
- All-Pro Expedition leaf pack
- All-Pro U-bolt flip kit
- Wheelers Superbumps (not installed)

//Drivetrain:
- 4.56 Nitro gears (ECGS built, big pinion 29 spline w/solid spacer) (install 1/12/16)
- ARB air locker (Front) (install 1/12/16)
- TRD Elocker (Rear)
- Rear Diff breather (install 6/27/16)

//Wheels & Tires:
- Wheels: Konig Countersteer Type X, Matte Black, 16x8 4.5BS
- Tires: Goodyear MTR 315/75/16
- Spacers: Motorsport-Tech 3/4" (front and rear)

//Armor:
- B.A.M.F 80" Sliders w/ kick out (install 8/23/15)
- B.A.M.F LCA skids (install 5/26/16)
- Pelfreybilt Steel Plate Bumper with custom full hoops
- Pelfreybilt Steel High Clearance Rear Bumper with Spare Swingout and flip down table. (install 5/28/16)
- Pelfreybilt Steel IFS skid (install 6/24/16)
- Pelfreybilt Aluminum mid skid (not installed)
- Pelfreybilt Aluminum trans skid (not installed)
- Pelfreybilt Aluminum gas tank skid (not installed)

//Brakes:
- Goodridge extended brake lines front + rear (not installed)
- EBC Stage 5 GD rotors (install 2/29/16)
- EBC YellowStuff Pads (install 2/29/16)

//Bed Accessories:
- Leer 180, needs TLC, black.
- Toyota Bed mat
- Relentless Fabrication Quickfist Axe/shovel mount (install 5/30/16)
- All-Pro Hi-Lift mount (not installed)

//Interior Mods:
- Kenwood DNX8120 GPS Navigation System
- Weathertech floor liners
- STIG security system
- Ram Mounts X-Grip (install 5/25/16)

//Exterior Mods Other
- Prinsu Design Accessrac (install Part1 5/28/16 , Part2 5/31/16)
- DIY Satoshi with custom grille (build/install 11/8/15)
- Weathertech in-channel window sills
- Trail toys EZView heated mirrors (not wired yet)

//Lighting:
- Morimoto xTorch 40" (not installed)
- Rigid SRQ2 backup lights (not installed)
- Rigid Dually 2x -amber- (not installed)
- Rigid SR Series 20" (not installed)
- BHLM with amber tinted signal lenses
- BHLM with FX-R HID conversion (retrofit in progress)
- Depo Black LED taillights

//Recovery Gear:
- Warn M8000-S (install 5/26/16)
- Factor55 1.5" fairlead (not installed)
- 48” Hi-Lift Jack
- Wheeler’s Wrap-It Straps x2 (link)
- Wheeler’s Recovery Strap 30'x3" (link)
- Wheeler’s Tree Strap 12'x3" (link)
- ARB 3/4" shackles x4 (12/12/15)
- ARB HD 20k Snatch Block x2 (link)

//Utility Gear:
- ARB Dual Air Compressor (Part1 , Part2)
- Slee Offroad ARB Compressor mount (link)
- ARB Air Locker Manifold (link)
- ARB Hose Kit (link)
- ARB EZ Deflator (link)
- ARB Speedy Seal Tire Repair Kit (link)
- Powertank HD Inflator TIG-8330 (link)

//Kitchen:
- Camp Chef Everest Stove (link)
- 6lb Worthington Aluminum LP Tank (link)
- Powertank Cylinder Mount (modded for LP tank) (link)
- REI Table / Kitchen Organizer

//Storage:
- 4x 20 gallon Action Packers
- 1x 5 gallon Action Packer
- Rotopax 3 gallon (gasoline)
- Rotopax 1 gallon (gasoline)
- Rotopax 1 gallon (water)

//Mod Wishlist:
- Marlin Crawler Taco Box
- RST FJ twin stick
- Maxtrax or similar recovery ramps
- Factor55 flatlink pro
- TRD SuperCharger

 

The last 4x4 project started around 2002 with a hacked up 1991 YJ. Ran D44/D60 axles plus some 38.5's. So many memories with this beast, decided to get serious in life and sold it, then moved away for college.

//The Build

- Day 1 Picked up in Coulee Dam, WA 5/3/14


- RIP Chrome... Removed grille and nerf bars.


- Headlights came off next... (still day 1)


- BHLM with amber tinted DTRL/Blinker lenses



- Came out okay, iffy on the ambers, will swap to clear for the FX-R retrofit.



- Goodbye chrome grille, ordered honeycomb, but got this... didn't want to hassle with the return so I'm keeping it for now. (who wants a chrome grille?)


- Breaktime @Duthie Hill BikePark



- Morning view of Lost Lake, WA




- TIP: Relocate before you do this.


- Garage Sale goods from The Traveler


- LED tails and Spidertrax spacers came in


- Picked these up over Christmas, thanks again Kelvin! (The foxs are overkill for my immediate needs but should future proof the setup)



- New wheels from OldSven and fresh KO2's from DiscountTire. 2/11/15


- All-Pro flip kit, extended brake lines, and FOX 2.0 fj smoothies. (sold fox 2.0's for 12" RR's) 2/23/15


- Fullsize spare from FNwheels. Killer customer service, thanks again Dustin! 2/28/15


- AllPro Expos 3/2/15


- Pelfrey teaser 4/16/15


- Leer 100XQ upgrade 4/29/15


- 700# Kings 5/1/15


- 12" Fox RR's 5/1/15


- Pelfreybilt Armor 7/18/15

...the domino effect continues.

 

Nice truck man, I have the exact same one. Cant wait to see how your build will turn out

 

Got some nice parts there sitting around ready for a home!!

 

Some nice stuff you have there

 

Thanks guys! cant wait to start wrenching.

 

Going to be a badass build for sure

subd

 

Nice truck, looking forward to seeing the mods progress. I want your "hit bump go bouncy thingys".

 

haha thanks man! I'm just as curious how they'll perform. Your wheels look great with the trd center caps. What's the diameter on those? I've been looking at alternatives.

 

Thanks! The center caps are 4". You can get them at any Toyota dealer.

 

Just measured the diameter of mine and they're a bit over 4". Do they taper much? Hmm they might just work out with a few rounds of tape, thanks for the info!

 

They dont taper at all IIRC, they fit perfectly in my MK6's.

 

Looks like I'm in luck, just found a nice writeup by BeePee. I'd probably paint them black just not looking forward to masking off the trd logos.

http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/wheels-tires/278294-how-custom-flush-mount-trd-center-caps.html

 

^^^ Sweet!

 

Other options I've been considering,

 

Oh how I envy those who live in states that don't require front license plates! Great looking truck, I absolutely love that color!

 

We are supposed to actually in Washington... I think

 

Someones a rebel then haha, one of my buddies up here got a light bar in the opening in his bumper on his 1st gen tacoma, he had his license plate blocking it before he installed it so he just threw it up on the front of his dash. I guess it's legal in AK to do that but he's still gotten pulled over a few times about it when the po pos couldnt see it. The cops just tell him that he should move it back down but it's not illegal to keep there I guess. Still though, I hate the holes that you can still see after removing it.

 

Thanks Caleb! Man, I wish it was legal in WA to run without a front plate. I risk getting a cheap yet annoying fix it ticket, it just looks so much better without it.

 

Have you gotten one yet? And yeah it really does, it especially sucks because some states have ugly plate colors! Like Alaska has these nasty orange colored plates that look horrible on most vehicles!