@Socalexpeditions Vagabond Drifter Build Thread and Trip Reports

Parts are finally arriving! Time to get this truck built up during quarantine.

King 2.5 RR EXT with 650lb Springs



SPC Upper Control Arms



Not pictured but in these boxes:
-Wheelers U-Bolt Flip Kit
-Wheelers Superbumps Rear
-Bilstein B110 Rear Shocks
-Rockford Fosgate Front and Rear Speakers

 

Let me know how you like the king front and B110 rear. I'm seriously considering the 110 for the travel numbers it has with a good leaf pack and brake line replacement

 

I have ran them before - I am a fan of them. At high speeds they suffer, but are great at low speed crawling stuff.

 

QUARANTINE TACOMA MOD DAY

Got the Kings and SPC’s installed today!

Kings vs. OEM



Everything taken out and ready for the new parts!



Sway bar removed and everything installed! Adjusted preload and it’s good to go.



After install, I set the lowers in the proper positions and dialed camber in with the top adjustment on the UCA. I set the balljoint in position D, with the SPC logo facing outwards. If anyone can chime in if it should be in a different position, that’d be awesome! @Ripcord ?

 

Such a nice looking truck you have going!

SPCs on position D with the lower cams set to max caster will give you a F-ton of caster. I have mine set to F and alignment reports show that to give me around 2.7deg of caster. Which is really good for driveability. Adjusting the lower cams is where your tire clearance mainly comes from, so just go for driveability with the uppers. E or F would be my recommendation, and torque to spec!

 

Thank you man I appreciate the info! I'll switch it to E and see what difference it makes. On position D and no alignment I clear the cab mount quite well.

 

QUARANTINE TACOMA MOD DAY

Today I stopped at my local tire place and got the new tire + rim combo all mounted up. The last picture shows my front lift - I will be turning it back down a few threads. I forgot to take before measurements, so I had no baseline. Still waiting for the rear leafs to get here!

Kenda Klever RT's in a 35x10.50x17 on a 17x8.5 FN Five Star in Matte Bronze.



My clearance to the cab mount

 

Clearance was all good with the new tires?

 

Yes I only rub the flare in a weird spot. Need to cut and it’s good to go!

 

Nice. I’m glad. Figured it would be all good.

 

Yeah these tires being skinny help out a lot too. I was surprised to see they still are 34.6" mounted.

 

Truck looks good buddy!

 

Sitting nice

 

Digging the skinny side 35's

 

Thanks dude me too!

 

Thanks man! Hoping to have it all setup by the weekend

 

QUARANTINE TACOMA MOD DAY

Today I went ahead and lowered the truck to 22.75” center of hub to fender and spent time dialing in the camber from the UCA. Pretty much got it near perfect based on my level.

Front looks much better, and drives much better. On the first test drive, one of the clamp-on wheel weights on the inside of the rim that they used (which I’ve never seen used) launched itself into my wheel well and conviniently landed on my UCA. Will make a pit stop to get them fixed tomorrow.

Threw on a TRD Pro grille and got a message from Dustin @ FN Wheels that he has some other center caps I can have since these don’t fit my taste.



TRD PRO GRILLE W/ AFTERMARKET GARNISH

Not the biggest fan of the grill as OEM looks sleeker to me, but this helps move the sensor down.

 

QUARANTINE TACOMA MOD DAY

Went ahead and checked the cams, moved the SPC’s to E. Trimmed the fender liners and no more rubbing.

DS LOWER REAR



DS LOWER FRONT



Rubbing Front

 

QUARANTINE TACOMA MOD DAY

Today was simple and just removed some emblems and did a full paint correction, polish, and sealant. Truck looks better than when it came off the showroom floor.

Emblem Removal done with string, compound, and goo-gone.



Truck after sealant



Tomorrow I will finish up the rear as the leaf springs arrived. I will be installing OME Dakar EL096R. Going to first set it down with all the leafs in and see how it sits, then either complete install or remove a leaf. Saturday is alignment day, so hope to get it done by then! Will do a complete retorque of all bolts on Sunday to triple check everything is @ spec. Gusseted spindles should arrive next week and will be installed along with extended brake lines.

 

If your truck will be anything like mine, you'll wanna pull a leaf out unless you are loaded down back there. I run constant +250 or 300 in the back and its a kidney shot every time I go over a speed bump. Plus pre settling, I had like a 5 inch lift. It was ridiculous.