Brett's average build thread

So I removed the flimsy arms and it wiggles a little more..
I'll put 'em back on after I weld some support to them. Should work out fine. If not I'll let it wiggle until it becomes a problem.
I'll post up pics when I get it done in the next few days.

 

Never did put the flimsy arms back on, i'm kind of lazy like that. Tire is still there, I'll just speak up if it falls of.

So Saturday I went up Green Ridge a bit to try out the new rubber.
The entrance, it's deep, see video a page or two back.


Starts like this


some of this


Lots of puddles, use caution, they do not have smooth bottoms, slow speeds are highly recommended. Some are as deep as the entrance.


This one is muddy, most are somewhat "clean"


Looks like this for about a mile until the next puddle deep enough to clean it off


Not really deep, but I'm pretty sure it was responsibly for my pinion seal leaking, Maybe.


Finally tore one boot, new shafts will be here tomorrow morning, I don't feel like messing with a re-boot. Notice how clean they are now, pic was taken in the parking lot while airing up. Lots of deep water on this trail.


Got some hail.


There, it's fixed.


It actually held just like that all day Sunday..

 

Long time Lurker, bought a 2002 Double Cab last year with 76K on the clock. Have wanted one for a while. Now I'm just over 100K and am fed up with the stock TRD suspension. It rolls in the corners and just feels like it handles terribly. Found this thread while researching the 882 kit for a refresh. (plan on adding a Winch Bumper.)

Anyway I enjoyed spending the last couple hours on your build. You do great work hope to pick your brain in the future.

Thanks,
Jeff
Colorado Springs.

 

Thanks Jeff, appreciate the compliment. Keep in mind the extra weight added with bumper and winch, my setup is very light and works very well with the 882's.

 

Old Brett sold me on the 882s and couldn't be happier! As far as I know, he's still the only one that's tried all 3 OME coils with good write ups on all.

 

Nice to see another "old" taco with manual hubs! Nice bumper!

 

Today I finished lining the rocker panels. I also removed and sprayed the flairs with the same stuff. Harbor Freight spray bedliner. Has a smoother texture than most I've seen and has held up well to foot traffic on the sliders. I'll have to wait and see how bad it fades, peels or flakes over time.

 

Rucas Built



I'll deal with the plate in a minute, just temporary to get around town..





Fit was great, really didn't take long to install, was more work to remove the old one. This was actually a bit lighter on the back scale than the stock one plus the receiver mount.

I'll get some better pics this weekend, ran out of light again...

 

Very nicely done.

 

So the license plate needed a home and it's own night light. I had thought about frenching it in.... but after consideration of my highly abused tail gate I decided on a simpler route.



Killed me to drill holes in it. And later removed the lettering


1/4"x 20 nut inserts were used to hold everything on, sheet metal just doesn't have what it takes to hold a thread.




The two top screws were replaced with these nifty LED units that Rucas had for me. They had a metric thread, so being the redneck I am, I re-threaded them 1/4"x 20 so they could be used a little easier. I was originally going to mount them on their own but thought this would be cleaner.


Then a friend came over for dinner and delayed me a bit.
I removed the lettering after they left with a heat gun, hand rubbed the shit out of it with rubbing compound then gave it a coat of wax. No pics naturally. I'll get it tomorrow.
So here's the wires as I pulled them through the bottom. this was just a staging for the wiring, the are now tucked all inside and come out on one corner only through a smaller hole.




Should keep me legal.

 

Thanks! Rucas built the bumper, I just wrestled it up there and slid the bolts in.

 

Looks good buddy. Glad I could help out some

 

I'm assuming...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EwVDDxoKBk4

 

Brett

That looks great. I'm not a fan of tube but that is really well done and ties in perfectly.

 

also glad those little LED lights could go towards a good cause.

 

Ya know, I bench tested them, and like you, was skeptical.
They seem to do the job just fine, lights up the ground a wee bit too.
The plate being somewhat reflective helps too I think.

 

You do awesome work! And thank you again for the lights, they look much better. I'll get a daylight pic tomorrow.

Double sided tape, it was just for a few hours.

Pics absolutely do not do it justice, Again, I'll get whole truck pics to show it off. I thought it looked great with the sliders and the hybrid front bumper.

 

Looking good in here

 

...says Young Brett to Old Brett.

 

Great truck and build thread! I've been lurking around TW for awhile now and figured it was time to actually engage. Lo and behold I'm just down the street from you (Drake and Overland). Starting the build on my 96 Sunday. Went full OME, 881's with top plate spacers and dakars. Enlisted my dad's help and tools (he's coming up from Greeley, I just have to provide the beer) but would love to pick your brain going forward with my truck!