Crashnburn80's 1st Gen TRD Double Cab Build

I'm curious to see what suspension system or components you're pondering for this build.

 

This thread makes me miss my 97 ext cab.

Edit to add photo. It's up in the Seattle area now. Had 275,000 on it and still going strong when I sold it.

 

Likely Bilstein 6112s and 5160s, which are used as the platform for the OEM Baja/Pro lifts on 2nd Gen. I really liked the Baja kit on my 2nd Gen. The 6112/5160s are a good middle ground that performs well without being unreasonably expensive and substantially better than the typical 5100s. Bilstein also seems appropriate for the era of the truck. Might opt for the SPC UCAs, it would be the right thing to do, but TBD since it isn't a daily driver. There are a few different rear leaf options I've looked at, but haven't narrowed it down to anything yet. I like a firm controlled but not harsh ride, and want zero float on rebound. I realize this truck isn't a sports car, but I still like crisp responsive suspension and handling. The basic goal will be to emulate the successes I've had in my 2nd Gen build.

 

Neat way to add OEM 4runner stalk based fog switch to a 1st Gen Tacoma:
https://forum.ih8mud.com/threads/1s...itch-on-column-headlight-switch-stalk.970686/

 

I've been wanting to try this. I saw someone on TW here also swapped IS 300 stalks into their Tacoma with plans to wire up the fog light switch, but never completed the wiring.

I've got a junkyard stalk in my parts bin. I think it's from a Celica. Maybe a Camry. I forget. I haven't actually tried it for fit yet... fingers crossed that it works.

Keep an eye on the angle of the stalk you buy. Some are straight and some have a slight bend to them. You might need to swap both your light and wiper controls to keep a consistent look on both sides of your steering wheel.

For wiring, Diode Dynamics has some harness kits that look perfect... they'll give factory-like controls (on with low-beams, off with high-beams) for aftermarket lights. https://www.diodedynamics.com/accessories/wiring-and-install.html

 

Yeah, if you follow the thread post all the way down they note the different angles and what to use to match the angle on the opposing side. The ones used in that post are angled up slightly more than the Tacoma using the 4runner units, but lists part numbers to match the angle up on the other side with another Toyota stalk.

On the DD wiring kit, the 1st Gen factory wiring is ground switched instead of the more common power switched like 2nd Gen+. It will depend on how the wiring is setup to make it work. If taping a circuit to see if the headlights have power for example to enable the on functionality, the headlights are always powered, but they are not always grounded. So if you use a battery negative or factory ground the lights will always be on.

Looking at the wiring diagram, the activation input wire will always be powered on 1st Gen and the harness has one ground. If you tap both power and the headlight ground wire on the headlight circuit, rather than the factory ground or negative battery, I think it should work. I'm less sure on how the high beam power works to switch between high and low without testing it or looking at a wiring diagram. The high beam would need to switch power from the low beam to the high beam circuit to allow functional use of the deactivation wire. I might give that a try. Current thought is to run 4 SSC1 Max fogs in the lower valence. Wish DD would make a SSC2 Max fog. Admittedly the Morimoto 2banger HXB is tempting for the purpose with the better packaging.

DD fog harness:

 

I thought 1st gen headlights could be either ground switched or power switched depending on whether they were equipped with daytime running lights? That was the impression I got from reading around on the forum here, but I wouldn't be surprised if I was reading bad info or misinterpreting things.

Regardless, mine is ground-switched--I had to confirm that when I bought my Headlight Services upgrade harness.

I hadn't looked at the Morimoto pods. The design is more aesthetically fitting for a 1st gen. Looks like they only come in cool white or yellow, though? I like the 4000k white from Diode Dynamics.

I don't see an SSC1 Max on DD's website... just Sport and Pro. What am I missing?

 

Correct, they could possibly be power switched if having DRLs. Ground/power switch test procedure (for others as you obviously checked) is specified in the 2nd Gen headlight thread. Same procedure for 1st and 2nd Gen.

My thought it to mount the fog here, ideally in 1 1x2 pod.


For the SSC1 Max, DD just refers to it as the SSC1 SAE Fog. It is the Max architecture and uses the HXB LED.
https://www.diodedynamics.com/stage-series-c1-yellow-sae-dot-fog-standard-led-pod-pair.html

I reviewed them in the SAE thread in post #6468, determining that I'll need 2 sets of them to get the output I'd like.

I wouldn't call the 1x2 Morimoto pods much better looking than Diodes when the'll be recessed in the lower valence where you'll just see the face.


Vs Morimoto 2banger


Yes, the banger pods are only available in 6000k white or selective yellow. For fogs, selective yellow is a better performing option in cold weather and the lenses run hotter. I'd want yellow for fog so lack of 4000k is a non-issue. The DD 4000k is quite nice, I'd definitely use it for a driving light color. As covered in the Morimoto 4banger HXB review, the Morimoto's pattern isn't nearly as wide as the Diode Dynamics fogs.

What I do like about the 2bangers is they are available with the powerful HXB boost LEDs in the 1x2 format, whereas currently in the SSC2 only come in Sport or Pro in 1x2 and the Pros have a lot more light spill than the Max which isn't ideal.

 

Have you considered using a pair of 6" DD SAE Fog light bars tucked into that same spot in the valance? Is that too much of a deviation from OEM-look for you?

 

Larger than I'd like. The original stage series bars are getting a bit dated. The fog bars are an amber fog rather than selective yellow which is really not ideal and will incur heavier output losses while also providing reduced visibility contrast vs selective yellow. 2 SSC1 Max pods outperform the 6" LED bar while providing the more ideal color. Being that the 1x6 emitter bar is rated at 26 watts, and the 1x1 SSC1 is rated at 20w, I'd doubt the 6" bar runs hot enough to melt snow.

If looking at 6" fogs, the Rigid selective yellow fogs put down better intensity specs than Diode Dynamics, though narrower pattern:
DD: https://www.diodedynamics.com/stage-series-6-sae-amber-light-bar-one.html
Rigid: https://www.rigidindustries.com/sr-...lective-yellow-surface-mount-pair-906704.html

 

I put one in mine, even wired it with a trigger wire, but still haven't connected it to anything. I was going to try to put some SAE fogs in the turn signal spots (98-00) and use that switch. I measured and the standard square ones would fit if I made a way to mount them with a trim piece to cover gaps.

 

You'd obviously need to come up with something else for signals in the front. The lower valence sounds easier.

 

Could always do the corner lights, but I was thinking about just doing some square led rings on the fronts of the fogs. Already have halos and mirrors that flash with the signals as well.

 

On my T100 I rewired my marker lights to be the turn signals so I could do this. I never did bother with filler plates.

 

Drove across the cascade passes last night. Best winter pass crossing I’ve had in recent memory, well below freezing but otherwise dry conditions, clear roads and low traffic. The headlight upgrade was great in remote areas, though not up to par with the 2nd Gen assemblies. But so help me those running their LED high beams full time, or that F150 with LED high beams plus quad light bars into oncoming traffic on super dark remote highways obliterating everyone’s night vision. As typical I’m disappointed in the general population intelligence. Sigh. Great to be back in this beautiful scenery though.

 

I've got a set of never used 5165s in my garage right now if you are looking for some. I installed one of them and thought it was too short for the All-Pro leafs and went with 5125's

 

This size is what I was considering putting in that lower valence because I will eventually run a hidden winch behind there too.

Thank you for posting these links and info.

 

Truck looks great. Perfect stance.

I live in Colorado and there are "those guys" driving around town at night with scattered LED headlights, LED pods and light bars on also... friggen brutal.

It's why one of the first "de-bro'ing of the previous owner" things I did on my 04 DC was to get rid of the HIDs in a non HID assembly/reflector because I could tell I was killing oncoming traffic.

Just need to get OEM assemblies now (or research what your non OEM alternative suggestion is), install the headlight upgrade harness and get better bulbs.

 

I got the harness and bulbs Headlight Services https://www.headlightservices.com/. It was an easy-peasy install. Supports a Colorado business, too.

 

Jason gave sold me his out of his 1st gen after he bought @crashnburn80 's 2nd gen.

Don't know the manufacturer.