Clint's 1997 Reg Cab Build

I figured it was time to set this up. I am transforming the truck to make it off road worthy after being a commuter vehicle for 16 years. Here it goes:

Currently Equipped:
King Extended travel coilovers with 650# Icon springs
Front Diff Drop
Bilstein 5125 11" rear shocks
SPC LR UCA's
Stainless Brake Lines (front and rear)
RAT Skids (full length) (3-piece)
New 32 tooth speedo gear
Modified front turn signals
4.56 gears (front and rear of course), LSD in rear
BFG Mud Terrain 255/85/16 KM2
Mini header
199mm Tundra calipers/rotors/pads
Warn m8000 winch
Elite Offroad front bumper
Trail Gear rear bumper (modified by Bash-Fab with a Swing-out Tire Carrier)
Rigid D2's
Elite Offroad sliders
Dakar leaf springs
Daystar 1-1/4" shackles
CBI Ditch Light Brackets
Aussie Locker in front differential
Front Range Offroad Twin stick t-case shifter
Load Sensing Proportional Valve eliminated

 

Pictures of the truck pre-build

 

Suspension work. Installed lift, replaced bushings (steering rack, LCA bushings, sway bar bushings), replaced brake lines, replaced UCA's, replaced lower ball joints.

 

Some after shots.

 

Ordered a new speedo gear from Toyota, 32 tooth. Did the mod from the TTORA post and swapped the 28 tooth gear out. Well it wasn't the smoothest install. The new gear was about 1/16" larger in diameter. So after searching the forums a bit more, I found a post that said just tap it in with a dowel/hammer. I was leary, but it worked perfectly. The speedo is dead on again. First time since 1998 when I originally put 31's on it. The speedo was off by 13% after I regeared to 4.56 and put the 33's on it.

 

Cleaned the old Toyota decal off today. It looks much better than the ugly chipped orange sticker.

 

Spending too much time reading on this forum. But it is saving my truck. I found this last week.





So I ordered the mini header for it. I will post more after it arrives next week. I am also going to plasti-dip the grille tomorrow.

 

Forgot to put the pics of the RAT skids.









The paint job is streaky, but I used rustoleum etching primer (3 coats), then rustoleum flat black (2 coats).

 

Looking good man!

 

So this was my work from today. Plasti-Dip'd the grille and side marker lights. I preordered clips before I started so when I broke most of the originals, it was no big deal. I sanded the grille and edges of the marker lights with 220 grit, then sprayed them. I sanded the metal inserts with 180, re-primed and then painted with white paint. I like the improvement.

Before


After


In Process:








Good shot of the turn signal mod. I used a dremel to cut the holes, and run amber bulbs.

 

New exhaust manifold is in! No issues except I had to buy a set of inverted torx bits to deal with the studs. Painted the new mini header with high temperature primer and paint. Scrapped the heat shield.

Painted



Disassembled









Installed

 

Mmmm new (er used) tundra 199mm calipers. Going on next week.

 

So I got impatient and did the brake upgrade in between rain storms. No in progress pics. I got the calipers from eBay for $90 and heavy duty rotors and pads from rockauto.com for $110. 2001 tundra 199mm stuff.

 

Braking system is better than stock. A much needed upgrade after the 33's.

 

New rear bumper arrived today :sly:

 

Primer coats on. 1 coat satin black prior to the rain. Tomorrow I'll wetsand and recoat.

 

The pic

 

Sub'd brother

 

Looking good Clint!

 

Thanks. Hoping my sliders and front bumper will arrive in the next week or so. I ordered the wiring and stuff to mount my winch solenoid under the hood to so I'll post pics as it progresses.