SeekingZero - Adventure Build

Glad to hear this! Mine are on the way. Which brake lines did you end up going with, and how was the install? Looks like the Wheelers kit, I think.

 

Yep went with the wheelers ss ones. The installation for me was kinda difficult but not that bad.

 

haha! slowly coming along. Looking clean

 

I got the ones here on the TW group buy.
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/amazing-deal-on-steel-braded-brake-lines-group-buy.97331/

 

did you get ones for the tacomas or tundras?

 

Tacoma. You simply let him know what truck you have with what lift and he makes them to whatever spec is correct. The calipers for Tacoma and Tundra have the same connector.

 

Ok cool, I just didn't know if it mattered with the banjo bolt issue if it would present problems

 

The only thing to make sure on the banjo connections is that you have a copper washer on either side of the banjo. Otherwise it will not properly compress to seal, so don't lose those when you take the old calipers off!

In other news, the truck has been put back together and has left MJ's driveway! Huzzah!

I just had the alignment done today and I still have to swap out the outer tie rod ends (trying not to mess up the alignment that was just done), adjust the steering column, and see if I need to re-bleed the brakes after I found my passenger side leaking at the connection to the hardline.

I would have had the shop do everything but they wanted $175 to replace the outer tie rods!!? ...and another $90 to check/bleed the brakes. No thanks, I'll do it myself. They did offer to recheck my alignment for free after I swapped the tie rod ends. Final update to come.

 

I picked the truck up today from the shop after getting it aligned. They did a great job on the alignment. After getting home, I proceeded to swap out the tie rods and put the skid plate back on. The nuts broke loose nicely and I counted the turns when taking off the old tie rods so that I could keep the alignment as true as possible.

The old tie rod boots were broken and with all the grease gone or broken down they were really loose. The new tie rods from O'Reilly's are much beefer. Anti-seize was used very liberally in the reinstall. This video is great to review before undertaking the process, especially if you do the inners as well, which I didn't. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AVQHgcXEhpE





Back on goes the skid plate and the truck drives nice and tight now.





Ready to hit the trails...on four wheels and two!

 

such a clean truck! Wish I could get mine like that

 

The pictures lie, that undercarriage is pretty fugly...lol!

 

It's better than mine I guarantee it!

 

Spray paint does wonders...

 

That's my plan this summer, hopefully....

 

I haven't done much to the truck lately, but I have done a few things I figured I might post up. The first of which is changing the hinge on my Indel-B fridge so that its easier to open. This was easy to do and took me about 30 minutes start to finish.





Last weekend I finally got around to putting in my axle relocation plates. I don't know why I took so long to do this but that was even easier and completed very quickly. Simply unbolt the U-bolts, jack the truck off the axle, insert plate, and reassemble (don't mind the rust).



I still have an awning to put on the truck somewhere and I have to figure out how I want to mount that. Otherwise, I'm just about all set for the next trip in a few weeks! https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...ackcountry-discovery-trails-adventure.431671/

 

Alright, I've been out with a broken collarbone lately, so not as much progress as I was planning on making by now, but I figured I'd post up what is in progress. After rolling around Plumas with MJ and Andy, I made a damn large list of upgrades and wants and needs...mostly wants. I bought quite a bit with gift cards on Amazon but the next big upgrade would be to my stealth camping setup.

Currently, I just load my gear up in my basket, blow up my air mattress, and sleep. But its not ideal. Enter bed box platform construction. I started at MJ's during a mini-mod day before the massive mod day he just had. Thanks as always for your gracious hosting of event @MJonaGS32!






I have been following @2012Taco's excellent build modified for a first gen since I have limited space up front and wanted my fridge in the back. Most folks put the fridge up on the platform, but I knew that would be too high to get into, let alone clear my shell. So this past weekend I was finally able to use both my arms to get started cutting and piecing together. I should have it complete this coming weekend!



When I'm finished, the top should be just over the wheel wells to maximize my headroom while still providing plenty of storage space and the whole platform should be able to slide straight out the back if I need to remove it for any reason. I also washed and waxed the truck and took a couple photos of it in rare shell-less form in the mountains...

 

Very nice! Get healed up so you can finish this project!

 

Really enjoyed your thread, I have the same truck. Got it bone stock a few months ago, and just ordered suspension. Hopefully i can get it looking as good as yours! Also in the Bay Area!

 

Thanks @Dan8906 Check the NorCal threads and come out to a mod day or a wheeling trip sometime! We need more first gens for sure!

While I still had my shell off, I had the damage from the first owner to my passenger bed corner repaired and I had @spieler help me come up with a sick TRD bedside decal design that I applied while I was at it.



And finally got the new rear door custom made with a single handle and fit into my shell as well as replacing the front glass with a slider so I can have through access to the cab.



Sometime during all this, It was time for me to rebuild the supercharger and while I was at it, replace the leaking valve cover gaskets.




Pretty dirty, but otherwise still mechanically sound. I ended up having to go down to my local motorcycle shop that I work at to use their press to make quick work of the bearings.


All finished with a new 2.2 inch drive pulley for an extra 1.5 lbs boost at the gauge!



And finally, after I said I would have my bed platform finished months ago, I wrapped it up this week with preliminary functionality! It's the most unsquare thing I've ever built but it fits and works!







I tested out it how it rode in the truck today with a little exploration session in the Santa Cruz Mountains. I had my friend Nick and @MJonaGS32 join me for a Lunar Mist party! What a great morning seeing the totally vanilla roads we have close by to us.

 

A whole lot of mods getting crossed off the list at once. Completion ETA: 2 weeks.

Overland Tacoma: Stage 4 is underway!