Clone Trooper Build

The sunroof is awesome!

 

Sub'd

 

Thank you!

I just spent a bunch more $$$ this week:
1) FabFours front steel bumper with grill guard to match the rear
2) Warn winch
3) Icon Stage 5 suspension

It will be a few weeks before all is installed.

 

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Picked up the bumper today from 4WheelParts in Columbiana, Ohio. Barely fit in the truck. Install will be on Monday.

FabFours powdercoated with the tubes to protect the headlights.

 

I can't even begin to say how awesome it looks to have the sunroof and supercharger and leather in there. Definitely thinking about doing these things to mine. (Already planned on the s/c and leather, but you just made me want that sunroof like nobody's business)
Also, great verse in your sig!!!!

 

The Fab Fours bumper and Warn VR8000 winch went on Friday. Just took a few pics - the weather is crappy. The lift shipment has been delayed waiting on the coil overs - looking forward to getting that put on soon. Need to get this thing back up in the air!

 

Well, after tons of research and waiting for nearly 6 weeks for parts, the Icon Stage 5 should be done on Monday. Here are a few progress pics:

 

I'll be doing a write up soon on the Icon Stage 5 lift, as soon as the project is complete. There have been issues with getting all the parts. I've detailed in the following thread:
http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/su...ll-help-question-pro-install.html#post8324883

Plus, when the weather breaks, I'll get some much better pics.

 

Finally, after at least a year of research, analysis and review, the Icon Stage 5 is finally installed. Well, it was done last month but I had to wait for a sunny day to clean it up and take some pictures. I did pay a professional shop to do the install and there were some bumps along the road - no pun intended.

All washed up:


Before lift (Day 1 long time ago):


I had ordered the kit in January and after being promised a week delivery, it turned into about 5 weeks. Install was supposed to be a day, but they had it 3 days. Let's just say in the end, I was happy, and they took quite a bit of the cost off because of the headache. The kit was about $3,500 and the install about $400. I debated forever whether or not to get the billet UCA's - $600 more for something I won't need, but look cool. I opted for tubular and happy with the choice:

Instead of getting the billet UCA's, upgraded to Stage 5 for the 2.5 shocks in the rear:


I also looked into getting CDC valving - at about $150 per shock. This would allow for adjusting the ride since I'm mostly on paved highway. In retrospect, I'm glad I didn't. The ride, especially after it has settled after a couple hundred miles, is extremely smooth. Of course, I did not spend $4,000 to keep it on the road, I'm looking forward to getting it dirty. With several hundred miles since the upgrade, there are absolutely no vibrations at any speed or any creaking noises anywhere. There was an issue with a loose body mount that was discovered but it was unrelated to the lift. The shop did have to adjust the reservoir location in the front because it was rubbing on the fender liner. The liner had been previously trimmed because of the Fab Fours bumper install. I did remove the front mud flaps, even though they could have stayed on.

Ride heights
Unfortunately, I did not get measurements before the bumper (160 lbs.) and winch (40 lbs.) was installed nor the S/C (about 30 lbs.?) So, these were my pre lift numbers (center of hub to bottom of fender lip):

Pre-lift
Drivers front: 19.25"
Passenger front: 19.75" (Taco lean)
Drivers rear 21.75"
Passenger rear: 21.75"

Post-lift
Front: 22" (Taco lean corrected)
Rear: 24.5" (has settled .25" already)

I did adjust the front coil overs because there was too much rake - I like some rake. Once the rears settle more, I'll have to adjust the front accordingly. I did buy the Icon wrench - not sure why they don't include the $25 wrench when you buy a kit like that.

Spidertrax
Until my new wheels get ordered (which will be another year of research)
and a set of 285's (current 265 65 18), new Spidertrax 1.25" adaptors were put on. I've already checked them 4 times and all are holding fine at 85 ft. lbs.

Alignment
The shop that did the lift did an alignment, but "their printer was broke" so I did not get before and after numbers. Tomorrow, I'm going to Firestone, which has a guy at the local shop that specializes in lifted applications, to get the lifetime alignment deal for like $179.

Rear 1.5" AAL
I've got a steel Fab Fours bumper on the back so I was concerned about sag. I've read some members take out the overload spring (?) when they add the AAL. I've got a Sport so it has the TSB. The shop did not remove mine, here are pics of both sides:


and the passenger side:


More pics from Picture Day:

 

Looks good! I myself, just have a cheapo Revtec 3". It's a hard ride when taking it 4wheeling.

 

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My stock TRD-Sport rims are turning to junk and my BFG-KO's (265/70/17) have 7/32nd's left on them so I will be in the market for a new set of shoes in a year or so. I love the look of your 265/65/18's... Rough to think that each tire is $40 more just for the skinnier side wall!

Good looking truck bud! Keep up the hard work

 

Thanks Lindsey.....your truck looks great too!

 

Here are my recent alignment numbers:

 

I've been searching for an MR2 for a long time - the car I was not able to afford in college nor soon thereafter. There were a few I looked at, but nothing like this one - color and everything. Absolutely gorgeous condition and extremely well maintained.

1994 MR2 Turbo with 96K. All the options except LSD, which is OK. Took an enclosed trailer 5 hours to Maryland Friday afternoon with a buddy and came back that night all loaded up. The grin has not left my face since...



"Oh what a feeling, Toyota!" circa 1994 obligatory leap....

 

A few more pics from the 1994 Toyota MR2 purchase...

 

Sub'ed

 

nice truck..

but I may be biased

your seats are basically what I've been wanting to do with mine.. and the sunroof.. its a nice preview of what it will look like. thanks! lol

 

All stuff that hopefully Toyota gives us as future Tacoma factory options....good luck with your upgrades!

 

The analyst in me has been hard at work debating the next new tire - not only waiting on the KO2 release in November, but recently the debate to get 275 65 18 or wait for the 275 70 18 to come out in Phase II in March/April 2015. I'll stick with the 65's so I can get them now ahead of winter.

I've got a 2012 DCSB TRD Sport Upgrade package - the upgrade is the 18" chrome clad wheels that many love to hate. The wheels are only 7.5" wide so I could only get the 275 (that is what the factory says, but others argue that you can still do it.) 285's would have been nice - but I'm not ready to get new wheels. The truck came from the factory with 265 60 18's which I upgraded to KO's soon after purchase - those were 265 65 18. After 3 years and 55K, it was time to replace them, though they still seem to have plenty of tread life left. I put them on Craigslist and hope to sell soon, unless a TWer from NE Ohio is interested.

The tires became available on TireRack yesterday so I got my local tire shop to price match. When I called the local shop, they called the warehouse to see if they even had any since no one had yet to inquire. The warehouse just got a shipment of these tires in only an hour before - perfect! Let's make a deal, I said. Had them delivered and installed early this evening. Tire rack price was $246 each. The pics I have are crappy - iPhone plus it is just a rainy and overcast day here in Ohio.

Though only 10 miles on them, they are great! Little if any road noise, very smooth. The tire size calculator says I gained about 0.4" on ride height. No fitment issues, I've got an Icon Stage 5 kit, no front flaps, steel bumper up front and 1.25" Spidertrax - plenty of clearance all around. I'll report back once the odometer gets further along. Here are some pics:

First, the old KO's:


Now the new:








KO vs. KO2






Thanks for the years of service KO:

 

Bout time they changed the design! Lol Looks good man!