Jahawkbills MGM Overland Ride to Freedom

UPDATED YET AGAIN (Some more Things were done)

UPDATE (Process below, but here's the final product)

Tires and wheels are in, suspension is ordered, and it's about time to get this show on the road.

Taco:
2015 DCSB MGM TRD OR
Bone Stock (Not for long)

Suspension (on order from HS Offroad):
Bilstein 6112 set on 5th snap ring location
Bilstein 5160 remote reservoir
LR UCAs
Now an ICON 3 leaf AAL (was HS 3 leaf AAL)

Tires and Wheels (IN THE GARAGE)
FJ Trail Team 16x8's (set o 5)
Cooper ST Maxx 255/85/16s (set o 5)

Pics of the entire build process will be uploaded.

Here's the truck now

 

Change to the ICON AAL for the rear pack.

Shipping confirmed recieved. Parts should start showing up this friday.....

 

ICON AAL's in the garage.

Waiting on the UPS guy and the USPS guy to deliver the remaining parts, then a Garage party is in order tonight.

Many pics forthcoming

 

How was the party?

 

The party took a little longer than expected. ......but suspension is installed. I'm taking it in at 11 today for tire swap out am alignment. Will upload the pictorial adventure once it's all done (probably tonight)

 

Well, today is the day where i had time to update from the build. With the pics. Started Monday, finished the rear end, got wrapped up with some stuff tuesday, installed the front end Wednesday, and got the tires mounted Thursday. I am pleased. So here we go:

Here's what she looked like at the start:

With a little inspiration from Tacomaworld, i decided that this look was unacceptable. Big influence on the look was from @ragincajun35 and his Turok build. Great stuff in there.

After much research, i decided to go with the following parts from @HeadStrong Off-Road awesome ordering and delivery:

Bilstein 6112 coilovers in the front (5th snap ring)
Bilstein 5160 reservoir in the back
SPC LR UCA's

And an ICON 3 leaf pack for the back as well

FJ Trail team wheels (16x8)
and Cooper ST MAXX in 255/85/16

At the start here's how she was sitting height wise in the back (36")

Get those tires off and take a look:

This little parking brake line bracket (unneeded in my opinion) and anyhow didn't have a place to mount it once the ICON's were on, so IT HAD TO GO. Cut that sucker off!!!

This one was more lucky lol, got to stay

Here's the comparison of the stock rear struts and the new hotness

New leafs on there:

Very easy to remove the factory overload leaf, just remove the retaining nut holding the leaf pack together, and boom, they're apart. Would suggest using a clamp to hold the new leaf pack together, but screw that, i'm a savage and i like my hands hurting. Just pop the new leafs on underneath the factory top two, tighten your new retaining nut, and lock down the other two retaining bolts that come with the ICON. Pretty simple. Cut off the excess on the center bolt (down to about 1/2") and you're done (sorry no picture of that, it was getting late, the damn UPS guy didn't show until 5 pm so late starting).

Next install those 5160's!!!!!!!

Pretty cut and dry process there, all you've got to do is install them like any struts (Bilstein's instructions were pretty solid). The only parts that get re-used are the bottom mount nut, bolt and washer.

The shitty part of installing these is the bracket to hold the reservoir in place. Unless you have baby hands that is. Two small bolts and a mounting plate go on the inside of the frame and need to be tightened down pretty well to hold those puppies in place. Doable, but not fun. Instructions are pretty good from Bilstein there as well. No holes cut, uses factory hole in the frame.

Gained about 2" of lift out of the back end:

It was around 11pm and i was getting loopy by the time i got the front tires off:

So i shut it down and re-attacked on Wednesday

Less pictures taken for the front end (I WANTED IT DONE!!!!!)

But here's a comparison shot of the stock and the 6112:

Installing the coilovers was plenty easy (ensure you disconnect the swaybar on both sides and swing it out of the way).

And as i'm sure everyone who has taken their stock UCA's off knows, Toyota is a bunch of assholes for installing a bolt that you need to bend the pinch weld at the front of the inside fender well to remove. Eyeball the path of said bolt, bend the fender well, and pull that sucker out through the engine bay. Passenger side you will need to unclip the headlight wiring and unmount the power steering fluid reservoir for ease of access. And curse......a lot. Drivers side, pull the same headlight wiring, and pull the battery/tray/wiring harness retaining mount. Slide the bolts out forward, and when you re-install go the same route. I used a 1/2" ratchet extension to hold the back side of the UCA's in place made so i could push the bolt through in the engine bay. SPC sends plenty of gusset/bearing grease, and use it liberally. Adjustments are really easy on the UCA and i like it A LOT.


Lifted it up a bit in the front lol:

But stock tires look stupid with a lift, so had to take a trip to get some rubber mounted, balanced, and aligned

Once that was done, here's how she sits!

Thanks for the inspiration all, and for the read, i think i might need some rocksiders next...........as soon as my credit cards are paid back off.

 

Awesome!!!

Great documentation

 

Thanks man, wish i had taken more pics, but it'll do

 

Subbage

 

Super Sexy I am a little bias though

What is your measurement form center of the hub to fender in the rear?

 

Thanks for the inspiration, and it's right at 23" center to fender

 

Looking good so far!

 

Your truck turned out awesome! Love the part about Toyota and the long bolt! It is a pita!

 

Thanks again HS OFFROAD!

 

Anytime!

 

What about your front?

 

Great looking truck!! Which springs do you have paired with the 6112s? I noticed you said they were set on the 5th setting.

 

subd

 

For sure the ride is a little more stiff, but i took it on a road trip two weeks ago from Rapid City, SD all the way to Phoenix, AZ (1245 miles) and it did great. I notice the stiffness when i leave my driveway everyday (instead of soft off the curb, it slams those front tires down), but that's more traction right?!?!?!?!?!?!?

Daily driver when i'm not riding my motorcycle:

Awesome ride overall though, and turns some heads when people see it coming.

 

Just chillin