PennSilverTaco's "Perfect 5-Lug Regular Cab" Build, Aspergers, and General BS MegaThread!

@Plain Jane Taco
@Jamesboy2233

You guys are going to be proud of me for frugality here...

For the first three and a half years I had my Tacoma, I made due with the lackluster factory system. After all, it had an AUX input whereas many of my friend's cars did not...

I had the money saved up for a stereo system, but the Tacoma still belonged to my dad back then so I had to get his permission. My dad was okay with it, but my mom had her doubts. Honestly, I just ignore my mom when it comes to anything related to the Tacoma, because to her a vehicle is just a means of getting from A to B. So, I spent $240 on a new Pioneer stereo system and as a birthday present, my dad paid my friend to install it. My old Pioneer served me faithfully for more than three years. I'd been tossing around the idea of getting a backup camera for a while by the time fall 2015 rolled around, but that would have meant getting a whole new head unit when my Pioneer was fine, and I was trying to save money. Then, a drunk driver hit my truck when I was driving to my primary job after getting off work at my second job. In May 2016, I found out I would be getting $500 in court-ordered restitution from Sir Drinks-A-Lot. My parents were worried I was going to blow it all on something stupid, and I was like "You know what? How about I buy the backup camera I've been talking about for months, and also buy a dashcam so we don't have repeat of the drunk driving incident?" My parents approved, and after doing careful research, I decided to get a Sony head unit. I would have gone with another Pioneer, but the Pioneer double-DIN units did not have front USB or AUX inputs. This would have meant running a USB cord from the back and having it stick out in some random place. Crutchfield did offer a kit that converted one of the DC outlets into a USB port, but I didn't want to give one of them up.

Sooo, I settled for the Sony since it was under $300 and had all the features I wanted. The Sony almost immediately started having annoying little problems. The most obvious problem was that it had trouble receiving my favorite radio station (I tuned in the same radio station in both parents' cars and my boss's car, and had no problem). Then, there were glitches with the USB interface. The sound quality and equalizer were great. However, it would actually "crash" my iPod at random and cause different playlists to be combined.

By the time May 2017 rolled around, the problems were becoming more and more serious. I'd also decided I wanted to get in-dash GPS. I considered exchanging the defective Sony for a slightly-more-expensive version of the same unit, with built-in navigation. I could easily afford the slight price difference, but space is tight behind the dashboard of a 2nd generation Taco and the Sony had an obnoxious external GPS module. At the same time, my friend replaced the Boss double-DIN unit in his 2005 Lincoln Town Car with a similar unit that had navigation. I did some research on the BV960N and realized it was exactly what I wanted. I got on the phone with Crutchfield in May 2017 and even the exchange period had run out, I asked nicely and got them to exchange the Sony for the Boss (which was $30 cheaper). So, to date I've had two double-DIN head units. The first one was indirectly funded by a scumbag alcoholic old man and the second one was basically given to me for free!

That brings us to the current problem...

I found out immediately that the Boss was not compatible with my iPod. I had to use the 3.5mm AUX input, which still provided great sound quality. I had to replace one of my dashcams under warranty, so while on the phone with customer support at Crutchfield, I asked about my Boss. Turns out none of the Boss units have Apple or Android software! So, I'm going to have get by with old-school iPod connectivity. If I ever hit the lottery, I'm going to put a ground-pounding sound system in my Tacoma, but for now I'm gonna stick with the one I got basically for free! FYI, I still have the Pioneer component speaker system from 2013, and I only paid $110 for that...

 

@Iamraiderpower
@Plain Jane Taco
@Jamesboy2233

Also, I recently pulled up in front of my work with the windows down (it was last month; about 60 degrees, which after the cold snap we had felt like a heat wave), blasting Meat Loaf. My boss happened to be walking up the front steps when I pulled up, and her response was something along the lines of "Seriously, Charlie?!?!" If my stereo is annoying my boss, then I know it is working just fine!

I call it the Boss-O-Meter rating system...

Also, I asked my boss why she allowed other employees to blast rap and hip-hog songs in which every other word was the N-word on the bar's outdoor Sonos system, but got mad me for blasting largely profanity-free classic rock. She got a bit annoyed at me for questioning her, but I think she understood the point I was trying to make. Also, one of the reasons my boss respects me so much is because I have the balls to stand up to her authority an question her on occasion...

I've also had customers compliment me on musical tastes when I roll up blasting classic rock or 80s music...

That said, I think my boss would think there was something wrong with me if didn't crank up the volume once in a while!

 

To hell with the rules. I wired mine to be on anytime. Livin on the edge baby!

 

I would bet if you look hard enough the wireing is there. You got OEM so if you got the whole kit switch harnesses and al you are wired from wire harness look for relay Toyota will not keep switching harnesses because they only want to add fog lights to 1500 trucks and leave the rest without. I have no outside temp. in my truck but all the wireing is there.
case and point.

 

@Plain Jane Taco

Bill, I forget...

Does your truck have rear drums or 4-wheel disc?

 

all tacos have rear drums unless converted.

 

That's actually been working in my favor...

I still have the original drum brakes!

I am going to repaint the actual outer drum part black though...

 

@Iamraiderpower
@Plain Jane Taco
@ChadsPride
@Jamesboy2233

These are the brake calipers that the parts department manager at the Toyota dealership recommended I get...

CLICK HERE

 

Maybe it’s because I’m a frugal cheapass, but I could buy a lot more useful things with that money. $5 paint can from local store will do exactly what those calipers do, be red in color. Your OEM calipers do a good enough job stopping your little taco.

 

Charlie, do you ever get to go off roading? Do they have trails where you live?

 

I'm just afraid the paint will wear off over time...

 

Yeah, but I have a 5-lug...

 

So will the paint on those other calipers

 

Not if it's like baked-on from the factory I thought...

 

Calipers are subjected to all kinds of shit, I promise you that coating will wear and fade

 

So just repaint them at every brake job?

 

Just repaint when you want to. But a proper paint and good prep will last a really long time.

 

I'm going to get an oil change in less than 5,000 miles, probably at the dealer since they provide a free loaner. They always inspect the brakes. My truck has never had the calipers replaced. If the calipers are showing signs of wear, I'll replace them, and since the the red ones are about the same price as the regular ones, I'll get those. If the calipers are fine, I'll paint them.

 

They'll get covered in brake dust and road grime and look no different than ones you paint yourself.

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Rust-Ole...75035&wl11=online&wl12=46862659&wl13=&veh=sem

 

Good point...