Custom Billet Shift Knob BS

Time to make a build thread, things are adding up enough to justify it.

Minutes after parking it at home for the first time on 10/4/2016, after a long drive from Littleton, MA.

2017 2TR-FE 2.7L
7513A (SR 4x4 5MT AC) w/convenience package.
Rec'd with all weather floor mats, door/sil protectors, cleat tie downs (4) and D-rings (2).
16 x 7 steel wheels w/ 245/75R16 Hankook Dynapro tires.

Current Modifications List:

OEM:

- TRD Pro grille
- TRD-OR Fender flares (beautiful tutorial here)
- Factory bed mat
- Factory TPMS sensors (alloy)
- 2nd gen head rail
- Factory cargo divider
- Intermittent wiper stalk
- Head lamp stalk w/ fog light switch
- Fog light bezels
- Fog light wiring harness

Aftermarket:

- LCE header
- A.R.E. V-series shell w/ vented windoors
- 17×8 FN fx Pro wheels in high gloss gray
- SSO Slimline hybrid front bumper
- Mobtown OR Rock Sliders
- Cooper Discoverer AT3 tires 265/65R17-112T
- Plasticolor mud guards *removed as they were curling badly after a couple years.
- Rokblokz mud flaps. Original size, black on black.
- Scangauge II
- Baja Designs Squadron-R sport wide cornering/ amber fogs (with associated parts for install found here)
- Gentex 50-GENK45AM auto dimming rear view mirror w/ Homelink & hidden compass.
- Yakima Skyline Towers w/ Corebars
- Yakima Jaylow kayak rack
- Stallion Cargo Basket - 50 L X 39 W
- BAMF tie downs (Freebie from a friend)
- Hondo Un-Holey dash mount w/ RAM X-Grip
- Salex organizer and tray

Towing/Hauling:

- Draw-tite hitch
- Curt wiring harness
- Hopkins 40975 w/ 40985 wiring, 7/4 pin connector
- Firestone Ride-Rite Airbags kit #2407
- Tekonsha P3 brake controller w/ ESP mounting kit
- Wired for constant 12V power to the 7 pin to charge trailer battery while driving.
- 2LM PnP wiring harness.

Current Pic as of 9/29/2017

 

The reasons I purchased the truck.

Remus (Rhodesian Ridgeback)


Ruby (Aussie Shepherd)



2013 A-Liner Expedition

 

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In my spare time, I'm also designing a shift ball. I'll likely play around with the design for another year before it is actually made (which will only take a few hours).

Here's a post made on that, previously.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/manual-shift-knob.394605/page-4#post-15345685

 

Another shift ball design.

 

Haha, me too!

I'm really not compelled to make one just yet. A ball design seems lacking to me, if only in the challenge aspect. I may take some measurements of the white plastic locking part, and add that to it. Still one piece design, not an additional part or anything.

 

I switched from using Torque Pro to scangauge, and I have been going out of my mind not having a compass. So, I added this ...



See if you notice anything odd with the labels on this box ...



So yep, they sent me a much better mirror that I ordered (Amazon). They offered to give me a prepaid label to ship it back, but then said ... [paraphrasing] "Send it back if you want the other specific part, but there's nothing we can really do if this much better part satisfies your needs". So yeah, they let me keep it.

Props to moe2o4 for posting how to add this feature in his build thread. The only extra step was to add another fuse tap for constant power to homelink (I used hazards for that, and it seems okay).

Also, my flares came in. I'm a bit surprised they did not come with adhesive tape, but no big deal ... I need to make another amazon order for the mirror wire cover, as mine was not supplied with one.

 

Flares and mud guards installed today. Not crazy about the wave from the mounting screws, so I'll grab some spacers at some point.

Flares went on without a problem, props to Nitori again, for his excellent tutorial. These were desperately needed with the fx pro wheels (0 offset).

 

I went to install my Firestone air bags this weekend, and the wrong air fittings were supplied with the kit. Unfortunately, this was discovered AFTER I cut my jounce bumpers. Ugh ... so now I get to ride around all week (until the replacement arrives) with no bump stops.

On a brighter note, I should be able to get this on tonight ...

 

2 kits later, I finally got my air bags installed. 8-9lbs on driver side and 6lbs on passenger to restore factory rake that the cap robbed from me. I dropped from 1-1.25" rake to about .25". Also, lean compensation is the explanation of more psi on the driver side, of course.

Ride is a hair firmer, but that was to be expected.

These were a motherfucker to install, even with the spare out of the way. I did it without air or power tools, with the exception of my oscillating tool to cut the jounce bumpers.

Tightening all of those nuts and bolts was an exercise in patience, something I thought I had a lot of until last night. Ha!

Desired valve location. I used supplied bracket, so it should flex/push out of the way if it hits something. I may move them into a storage cubby in the future, but for now this works.


Hey look, my leafs aren't flat/frowning any more.

 

Got the bumper on today, love it! Easier install than I thought it would be.

 

Update on the shift ball ... pretty happy with this version. I was able to secure the network's 3D license to post process the code for the SR writing.

The internal/mounting features would have been much easier to machine on a lathe had they been on center with the main ball, but not a huge deal as it has to go into a milling machine anyway for various operations.

All 1pc of metal. I'll likely stick with aluminum, because all of the intricate milling that is required would be a nightmare with stainless or titanium.

https://imgur.com/a/g3KJh

 

Mobtown sliders arrived safely on Tuesday. Hope to get them on this weekend.

 

Liking the truck!

How much does your cap weigh and how much did the back come down when installed?

 

Thanks!

I figure the cap is about 180lbs, but I never checked it. Back end sank about 3/4", nearly leveled it out until i put the air bags on.

 

Thanks! I am looking at the same shell and looking at a mild lift.

 

How much did the shell run you and what are your thoughts on it?

What do you primarily use yours for?

 

(she gets carsick, so she has been in the access cab in a hammock for the most part).

What is this dog hammock you speak of?

 

My shell was just over 2k. It didn't leak for a very long time, but eventually it did start coming in from under the plastic bed rail caps.

I love it, honestly. I planned on taking it off and hanging it in my barn during the summer months ... but I feel naked without it.

I mainly got it for my dogs, because I have a friend who lets his inside the cab. Stinks like hell!

PetSafe Happy Ride Deluxe Car Seat Cover for Dogs - Fits Cars, Trucks and SUVs - Hammock, Standard

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B003F76Y6O/ref=oh_aui_i_sh_in_o0_img?ie=UTF8&psc=1

We use that in our civic now, because Ruby doesn't get so carsick anymore. We drove out to Colorado during fall time, and I think that really helped her. It was probably a nightmare at first, but she was pretty chill after several hours.