Burnett's Stella Green build

Figured I'd start a build thread to document the work I've done on my truck. (Stella)
Questions, comments & ideas always welcome...
OP will be updated as build progresses

1998 Tacoma xtra cab v6 4x4 auto

As she sits today...(April 2016)





Here's the pic from the online ad when I found her... (November 2015)


A little background

I've always wanted a green 1st gen Tacoma.
I started out with an 04 F-150, I traded that for an 01' double cab Tacoma. Sold it, bought a 4runner, sold it, and found this truck after a couple months of searching.
I lucked out big time on this one with only 84k miles and a brand new lift, wheels & tires.

Suspension

Bilstein 5100's up front set to third notch
Bilstein 5125's in the back
OME Dakar leaf packs

Wheels & tires

ProComp 7069 15x8
Mickey Thompson Baja MTZ's
31x10.50 15's

CB Radio

Uniden pro 510 ashtray install
4' firestik mounted to bedrack

Bedrack

Homemade bedrack - built by me
Here's a link to the build...

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/burnetts-bed-rack-build.409845/#post-11603646

Armor

Trailgear 78" sliders welded on
ARB Deluxe winch bumper

Misc. Mods

CVT Mt. Rainier RTT
01-04 fender flares
Bed liner front & back bumpers
Aux lights on bedrack
Backup lights/tow hook hitch step (homemade)
Custom toolbox w/ fire extinguisher
Kenwood head unit & speakers
Cabelas trail gear seat covers

Future mods

Rear multi carrier swing out bumper (homemade)
Rear frame reinforcement (sitting in the garage waiting for install)
Ultra gauge scan tool
Roof rack (maybe) (also homemade)
More to come I'm sure...

Now for some pics!




Custom toolbox I cut down to fit the truck build link below:
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/cheap-free-mods.4838/page-97


Christmas tree shopping 2015








Bed liner front and rear bumpers


The reverse lights suck on these trucks so I added these to my hitch step/tow hook

Here they are in action...
The reverse lights are wired in to come on when backing up, the bedrack lights are optional and wired to a switch in the cab.
It's really bright when they're all turned on!
The bedrack lights are great for setting up camp and for people that like to follow too close at night with their brights on lol


The bedrack I built.. (See bedrack build link for full build details)



My uniden CB install - fits perfect in the ashtray slot


Picked up my sliders and some rear frame reinforcement plates from a nearby TW member for $125!

Mocking up the sliders...

Had to add some plates to make the sliders fit the way I wanted.

All welded up! It's nice living a few hundred yards from my work, free after hours shop access!


North GA wheeling trip with @BYJOSHCOOK and some of the other local guys



Test fitting my new to me faded fender flares...

Plastidipped the flares...

And installed...

Messed around on the farm today, flexed the truck a little bit..



Headed to do some fishing! Spring is almost here!


Finally picked up a hi-lift today...
Hi-lift mounts for the bed rack going on the mod list...


Tested out the sliders and hi-lift today...
Everything held up..



Got a couple things knocked out today...
Fresh coat of paint on the sliders, they needed it!

Before...

And after... Shizam brand new!
Gotta love some rattle can black!

Got the hi-lift mounted up to the bed rack...


Easy install, drilled a couple holes, slid some pieces of fuel line over the bolt to cushion the hi-lift and give it a little room to flex.


Then I used some foam grips off a pull up bar for a cushion between the hi-lift and bed rack. They'd both be down to bare metal in no time with nothing between. IH8RUST!




With the new RTT, I decided to add a roof top basket over the cab for storage and to help get the wind drag off the tent.
I'll be tying the platform for the basket into the bed rack so that I won't have to drill into the cab.
This way I can easily remove the basket when I need to.
Here's the truck with the basket set in place...

Looks pretty sharp...
Here's the mounting frame I fabbed up to hold the basket. I'll weld it to the bed rack and put some rubber bumpers on the front so it can rest on the cab.

Back to work, I'll update as it progresses...

 

ARB Bumper showed up today!


Got the new ARB installed, this thing is a beast! Weighed in at 78 lbs. which is surprisingly light for how beefy it is...

I took a few pics to show the install, but just said f*%k it after a minute.

Stock bumper gone

Crush cans unbolted, I sanded and painted the frame ends to take care of the surface rust...

And bam! New bumper installed, yes it's that easy!
Nah, it was overall pretty straight forward, no modification to the truck just a bolt on install. The worst part is aligning the bumper. If anyone does this, my suggestion is do not tighten any bolts until the bumper is in place, it makes it alot easier to install. It has very tight tolerances.
A couple more pics of the bumper installed...



Really happy with the bumper, I'll be installing some long range lights soon!
Thanks for looking!

 

A very large expensive looking box showed up today... What could it be?

CVT Mt Rainier w/ stargazer & LED lighting!

Got the RTT on and tested it out, very well made tent!
Me and the family are excited to head to the woods!

Here it is set up in the yard without the annex...



My little man checking out the new digs...

LED lights all hooked up... High tech red neck lol
I just finished writing a 12v outlet and dual USB ports in the bed of the truck so we'll have power to the RTT.
This baby is sweeeet!
Camping pics coming soon...

 

Saved for build...

 

Sub'd. Looks great man.

 

Cool truck! Subbed for more

 

Awesome thanks bud

 

Thanks!

 

Hey that's me! looking good! We gotta get some more wheeling pics next time out

 

Ya I know! I only got three on that trip. Should get some better pics when I get the RTT on there! Waiting till April for the group buy sucks but saving about $500 is well worth it

 

Usually we get a few more ha. When we hit trails that require spotting a lot more shots getting taken!

Oh if you wanna hit Bell we should do it soon because they may actually be fixing it...

 

Ya I heard about that, might have to hit it sometime. Can we camp up top?

 

I've done it, it's awesome. Great view to wake up to

 

Ya I bet! Once the RTT is on, we'll do it

 

Sub'd!

 

hey man im thinking of doing the mod day on a Saturday, youre usually free on the weekends right?

 

Correct! But I'm about booked till after April 9th

 

No prob I'll shoot for sometime after that

 

what was involved in making the 01-04 flairs work?