"Cherry Popper" eccracer104's Radiant Red DCSB PreRunner Build & BS

Hello Tacoma World!

I want to give a big thanks to everyone here. I've been a member for a long time and 99% of my time here has been spent lurking, reading in the shadows and learning. I bought my Tacoma new back in 2007 from Steven's Creek Toyota in San Jose, CA with my research mostly being "this truck looks awesome, it's a Toyota so it'll live forever, and a V6 will get me pretty good MPG." Found out only two of these facts are accurate and a year after buying it started to look into lifts. Thus joining TW and my money pit began its life.

As she sits now:







*Current specs*

2007 Tacoma TRD O/R DCSB PreRunner

Suspension:
Front-
MaxTrac spindles
Total Chaos UCAs (Thank you @3378jakesr5 group buy)
Icon 2.5 extended travel coilovers with CDC Valve (Thank you @signalbobby )
Extended brake lines

Rear-
All Pro standard leaf springs (Thank you @goblue82 with the install)
u bolt flip kit
Fox shocks
Extended brake lines

Wheels and Tires:
XD Series 796 Revolver wheels, 17"x9", 4.5" backspacing and -12mm offset.
Toyo R/T 295/70R-17
(Gears are stock)
Cab mount chop and pinch weld flattened

Interior:
Sliding window security bar courtesy of @mattgecko
Alpine CDA-105 head unit, JL Audio speakers,Rockford Fosgate Amplifier, 2 Kicker Comp CVR 10 subwoofers, Husky Liners X-Act Contour floor liners, CalTrend neosupreme seat covers.

Exterior:
BAMF Bolt on sliders (1st style, not the "true" bolt ons)
N-Fab light bar with 32" AVEC double row led bar (Thank you @mikevee )
Cali Raised LED ditch brackets, pods and dust light (Thank you @CaliRaisedLed & @goblue82 )
Grillcraft mesh grille insert
Tinted front windows (20%) to match the rears

Performance:
K&N Intake
Magnaflow muffler with exhaust cut and dumped over the axle

DIY Mods:
Fog Light Anytime
Diff Breather relocation ( Thank you for the union @goblue82 )
Trailer harness relocation (Thank you for the bracket @TommyG )
The miracle cure of plastidip to my emblems, factory grille shell, lower valence and B pillars
Black headlight mod
Painted my engine cover red

Future Mods:
2012+ front end conversion with 2012+ Retrofitted headlights
BAMF shock relocation

My adventure with my Tacoma started Summer of 2007 with just a few miles on it from the dealer. I made the small mistake of buying a PreRunner because there's no snow or real need for 4x4 out here in CA and really needed my truck to haul around my dirt bike. I was going to leave it as a stock street queen. Then about 8 months later my buddies decided (while I was out riding) that my truck would look much better without the mud flaps, so they so kindly removed them for me. I was pretty pissed at first, but a few minutes later realized they were right. Then came the research to lift it and this is when I found TW.

Next came my wheels, a set of 285/70-17 nitto terra grapplers and bilstein 5100s. I also added some Pro Comp 7" round lights behind the grille.


At this point in time I was in northern california (bay area) and having a great time reading and ventured out to my first meet in Hollister Hills. Since it was a place I had grown up dirt biking at for years seen some awesome rigs roll through, I thought it would be fun and sure enough it was a blast!






I moved to Santa Barbara a bit after this and really made no progress or changes to the Taco because I was satisfied with how to ran...ok really I was a poor broke kid with no money to throw at my truck since my bike was enough of a money pit. But some DIY was cheap fun and easy.




I met a few cool people in SB with Tacoma's and had a great time fooling around some local spots and Pismo. This is when I learned I need more than the bilsteins to go fast-ish.






I couldn't afford coilovers yet, but I had saved up enough for spindles, so hell why not beat up my billies more and lift the front a tad higher!
Also had worn out the Nittos, went through a set of BFG AT KOs and was now on a set of Mickey Thompson Baja MTZs.
The nittos were alright, but I wasn't educated and ran a P metric instead of an LT.
The BFGs I screwed up and didn't stay on rotations and killed those...
Then I scored a great deal on my Baja MTZs.




I was happy with how she looked but was severely lacking in the suspension category. At this point in time I had really been off of TW for a long time and started to hop back on a dive back into tacomaworld...for science!
Science led me to save up and continue planning and wanting to jump back into the scene I went to the Stone Brewing meet in December 2015 (little did I know but things were about to change)
The meet was awesome! So many trucks, and so many very well done. The people were great, everyone I've met on the forum (except a few) have been excellent people!
I didn't take any pictures because I was too busy checking everyones rigs out... oops.
But this is where I met @YotaGurlIAm ... turns out we hit it off! Thank you TW!
Her build thread

So now I am back into the forums and now with a badass Tacoma driving girlfriend who is setting up meets and far more active than me on the forums.

Not to mention she takes some awesome pictures




And her truck with spindles, coilovers, UCAs, deavers.... (Yeah I am jealous!)


Having the encouragement to start getting shit done and having four eyes on the forums pretty much 24/7, I came up on the TC UCA group buy and scored a deal on ICON coilvers from a member selling them on here.

But before I had the chance to put this on my tires decided they liked the idea of being racing slicks and I needed a new set. I chose to go with Toyo R/Ts this time and am very happy with them!






They had 700# springs, so I scored a set of 650# springs and had them swapped over. Then came the fun part, the installation!


Out with the old and in with the new!



There is still a lot more to be done, but this is my progress from day 1 up to today!
Next will be the rear suspension and maybe a few little odds and ends in between.

I wouldn't be here today without all the help from everyone here on Tacoma World!
@YotaGurlIAm for getting my ass in gear and really getting back into my truck and meets and offroading in general.
I can't forget @BLKTRUCK for the sweet nickname Cherry Popper!

I'll add more as I move forward.

I'd love to hear any comments, questions and advice!

-Mike


Update: 5/23/16
Idyllwild TW trip - This was a blast! Also the first trip with my new front suspension. I have to say, the Icon's worked better than I had expected! I can really feel how bad the rear end of my truck is now... Leaf springs and rear shocks are next up on the list. Still trying to decide between All Pro standard vs OME Dakar.



I almost turned into a submarine taco -


Idyllwild left its mark on my taco -

 

I'll be compliling my 2012+ conversion parts list here for my own sake and for whomever may use this in the future.


The big parts needed:
OEM Hood - Acquired (Thank you @glorifiedwelder )


Complete OEM front bumper with bumper support bar - Acquired (Thank you @lockwire24 )


OEM Grille - Acquired (Thank you @Lord Helmet )


OEM Headlights - Acquired (Thank you @LSC15 )



Courtesy of @11T4x4TRD on his thread - https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/2012-tacoma-front-end-conversion-rg11.293318/
All the little pieces with part numbers and pricing from a few years back. This will be updated as I move forward to these steps.

52503-04900 FILLER FR BUMPER LH 1 25.78
52502-04900 FILLER FR BUMPER RH 1 25.78
52531-04010 RETAINER, BUMPER FIL 2 8.17
52125-04020 EXTENSION, FR BUMPER 1 24.42
52126-04020 EXTENSION, FR BUMPER 1 24.42
52521-04050 RETAINER, FR BUMPER 1 34.37
53273-04030 BRACKET, FR BUMPER A 1 22.86
53274-04030 BRACKET, FR BUMPER A 1 22.86
53510-04040 LOCK ASSY, HOOD 1 36.33
53209-04020 BRACE SUB-ASSY, HOOD 1 25.94
90084-54011 CUSHION, HOOD 2 .89
90959-01136 HOOD CLAMP 3 5.33

$13 53271-0B010 53271-12060 for Toyota 4Runner Corolla Echo Highlander MR2 Spyder Prius Tacoma Tercel Lexus GX460 GX470 RX300 RX330 RX350 RX400h 1993-2014

53271-0B010 BRACKET, HEADLAMP 2 7.99



Once I have everything, I'm not sure if I will...
1. Paint it all myself
2. Pay someone to paint it all
3. Wrap the whole thing! (Color TBD)

 

@eccracer104 The Cherry Popper Looks awesome.
I had no idea you were form up north. I though you were born and raised in San Diego.

I'm very happy you and @YotaGurlIAm met on TW. I know its kinda weird/scary the first time you meet some people you chat online with. I can honestly say I've met so many friends here. I enjoy hanging out with @ODNAREM , @TXpro4X4 ,all the guys from RCRC, OC meet ups & The old 626 & 909 threads. I'm very Happy for both of you.

@tcBob do you have any other couples that meet on TW? 12/12/15 is the day these two met at the TW Stone Brewery Meet. Both of them are very cool with awesome trucks.


Long Live The Cherry Popper!!

 

Haha I hadn't even talked to him on the forums before we met. He didn't even think I had a truck!

 

He knows you have one now. He French Fried when he should have French Fried. Very happy for both of you.

 

#Thanks bud

 

Thanks "Brew Bro Mango" (@BLKTRUCK) for tagging me!Love ya brotha!

Mike!Now i realize what the poppin"Cherry Popper"is all about!

Madison (@YotaGurlIAm) TW Angel and yourself are terrific souls!From chillin in the past to chillin in the future i sure look foward to it!

PreCummer's FTMFW!

 

Yep, born and raised up in Los Gatos CA!
I didn't know she existed until she introduced herself to me, still pretty shocked how everything worked out but couldn't be happier!

Thank you Oscar!

@tcBob This would be interesting to know, TW brought us together!

Nope, I didn't even see you roll in

I pizza'd lol

Thank you Ron!
PreCummer's FTMFW

 

Updated the original post.

I have to say, I love these ICON coilovers! The ride is incredible on road and off. It's hard to describe how much better they are than the factory front end because everything is better. It feels more planted and stable. Uneven terrain is smoothed out and it reacts soft when needed and firm when needed.
I cant wait to fix up the rear end and really get the suspension dialed in.

 

Great to hear Mike!

 

Thanks Ron!
When are we having a mod day on your pre-cummer? Pick up a few parts or ideas out at the off road expo? I too drool over defconbrix's build

 

Hopefully soon!My bank account still just doesn't permit at this time!I want to do my sliders so badly when i get back to SoCal with @Shmellmopwho !@madsand and i definitely got ideas from the expo!Really was appreciative of Tyler from @Pelfreybilt being able to answer my questions in regards to needing a spacer/bracket to connect my front skid to the mid skid!I just need to continue to be patient with the excitement of the mod bug!

 

I know that feeling... my bank account is shaking its head as I look at thing I need...errr..... want. Haha.
Good call going with armor first, but the front will be saggy and in need of some improvement after the extra weight

 

Yup! the sag is real, when you have armor.
@ODNAREM your going to need to get stiffer springs.

 

Yep i hear ya Brew Bro Mango!Appreciate you all in learning and helping me out! @eccracer104

 

Hi @ODNAREM
Since you're here I'll share the good news, I ordered leaf springs per All Pro 10-14 business days for them to ship so couple weeks and my precummer will be changing

 

Congrats Mike!I'm now considering the All Pro "heavy duty"sliders instead of going with Ryan's!We'll see!Apparently i may be potentially getting a deal that can't be passed upon if it follows through/works out!

 

Thanks Ron! I'm excited, these are the springs I have wanted for YEARS. I hope I like them as much as I think I will.
Nice! Sliders are a smart move. I like Ryan's, they look great on Madison's truck, All Pro makes some great stuff! Aside from catching logs I know Chan really likes his All Pro sliders. I like my BAMF sliders, can't really go wrong as long as they're strong and fit
Are you looking at a set with kick outs or with fill plates or the smooth style?