*Update* 2/12/2015, please see Post #2
+ Icon Stage II coilovers
+ Coachbuilder +2 shackles
+ 1.5" Bora wheel spacers
+ 295/70 R18 Nitto Trail Grapplers
*Update* 2/18/2016, end of Post #2
+ SDHQ Hidden Winch front bumper system
+ Warn Platinum Zeon 10-s
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
What's up Tundratalk! I'm happy to be starting my own build thread now. Suppose I could've started one awhile ago, but I wanted to make a decent amount of progress before I started posting up pictures. I have pictures in a couple other places on the forums but figure it's time to consolidate.
So here it is, yet another aspiring Stormtrooper. Bought this beauty back in Oct 2013 after trading in my '13 Tacoma 4x4 TRD Off-Road. Glad I did too, because the Tacoma doesn't hold a candle to my Tundra in any way. At first I wasn't thrilled about the olive green interior, but it's definitely grown on me and now I like it a lot. Can't imagine buying any other truck and getting this much comfort/performance/reliability for the money.
Quick spot for the Tacoma
The day I bought it, Oct '13
Threw a Snugtop Rebel shell on the back, loaded the dogs up, and drove from Phoenix to Missouri just a couple short months later. We ALL froze our butts off. It rained like hell the first night we arrived then dropped to freezing temperatures the following morning.
After very careful consideration (and ample searching on the forums), my next mod was to install some steps. Decided on Iron Cross HD's.
They fit great and are sturdy as hell. I occasionally have some hefty passengers but they stand up to the added weight handily. The only thing I didn't like about them was the brushed metal treadplates, so I had them powdercoated flat black.
Couple random pictures of my truck towing my old 1982 Datsun 720 4x4 king cab. Had to tow it from Phoenix up in the Payson mountain country to where I live now. Could barely tell anything was back there
Tread plates are missing because they were out for powdercoat
Next on the list: GET RID OF THE CHROME. I love the shape of the '14 redesign, but not the excess chrome plastered all over the front. Way too much bling for my taste.
So I disassembled the front end, and...
Sent the bumper ends off to powdercoat
Picked up an OEM platinum grill from local Toyota dealer, but replaced the platinum insert with my SR5 factory piece. Call me crazy but I like the SR5 grill better. The clips attaching the insert to the surround were so much of a PITA I ended up snapping them all off to separate the two. As it turns out, they didn't make a difference in sturdiness when remounting the setup on the truck, there were plenty of attachment points left to make a sound assembly.
At the same time all this is going on, I sent my headlights out to our very own Marco Pazorell out in Louisiana to get my BHLM/retrofit done. I have nothing but good things to say about his work, communication, and commitment to providing the product that YOU want. After a couple conversations with him and several texts back and forth, I settled on G37 shrouds with amber halos and a 5k HID projector setup.
A photo of my headlights with all the parts ready to go in, courtesy of Marco
A few progress pictures as he worked on them
Here's a shot of the halos next to the factory halogen turns.
But I opted for some LED replacements that would have a more consistent amber color of the adjacent halos
Because my color match pieces were ready faster then the headlights, I couldn't help but mock them up just to see for myself how it was going to look
Looked a little sloppy, but I was pretty excited to finally see it without all the chrome
And finally, FINALLY, after a couple tortuous return trips back to Marco due to repairs needed after sustaining shipping damage (f@$king UPS), my headlights are back!
Under panel not clipped in all the way, I know
Night shot
Shop dogs are exhausted
I'm very happy with my setup for now, but am waiting patiently on Bilstein to start shipping out 5100's again so I can mount up my Method Mesh 20x9 +18 offset wheels wrapped with some humble 305/55 Toyo AT II's. I'll post em back up as soon as I get em! It's been two months, but from what I hear it's probably gonna be another 3-4 weeks :banghead:
I started out with some lofty ambitions for the truck but have decided to restrain my spending after the wheels/tires/Bilsteins are installed. But after awhile I'd like to install a remote start, 46 gal Transfer Flow fuel tank, and maybe a train horn>
Feedback is welcome! Thanks for looking! Updates to follow.
+ Icon Stage II coilovers
+ Coachbuilder +2 shackles
+ 1.5" Bora wheel spacers
+ 295/70 R18 Nitto Trail Grapplers
*Update* 2/18/2016, end of Post #2
+ SDHQ Hidden Winch front bumper system
+ Warn Platinum Zeon 10-s
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
What's up Tundratalk! I'm happy to be starting my own build thread now. Suppose I could've started one awhile ago, but I wanted to make a decent amount of progress before I started posting up pictures. I have pictures in a couple other places on the forums but figure it's time to consolidate.
So here it is, yet another aspiring Stormtrooper. Bought this beauty back in Oct 2013 after trading in my '13 Tacoma 4x4 TRD Off-Road. Glad I did too, because the Tacoma doesn't hold a candle to my Tundra in any way. At first I wasn't thrilled about the olive green interior, but it's definitely grown on me and now I like it a lot. Can't imagine buying any other truck and getting this much comfort/performance/reliability for the money.
Quick spot for the Tacoma
The day I bought it, Oct '13
Threw a Snugtop Rebel shell on the back, loaded the dogs up, and drove from Phoenix to Missouri just a couple short months later. We ALL froze our butts off. It rained like hell the first night we arrived then dropped to freezing temperatures the following morning.
After very careful consideration (and ample searching on the forums), my next mod was to install some steps. Decided on Iron Cross HD's.
They fit great and are sturdy as hell. I occasionally have some hefty passengers but they stand up to the added weight handily. The only thing I didn't like about them was the brushed metal treadplates, so I had them powdercoated flat black.
Couple random pictures of my truck towing my old 1982 Datsun 720 4x4 king cab. Had to tow it from Phoenix up in the Payson mountain country to where I live now. Could barely tell anything was back there
Tread plates are missing because they were out for powdercoat
Next on the list: GET RID OF THE CHROME. I love the shape of the '14 redesign, but not the excess chrome plastered all over the front. Way too much bling for my taste.
So I disassembled the front end, and...
Sent the bumper ends off to powdercoat
Picked up an OEM platinum grill from local Toyota dealer, but replaced the platinum insert with my SR5 factory piece. Call me crazy but I like the SR5 grill better. The clips attaching the insert to the surround were so much of a PITA I ended up snapping them all off to separate the two. As it turns out, they didn't make a difference in sturdiness when remounting the setup on the truck, there were plenty of attachment points left to make a sound assembly.
At the same time all this is going on, I sent my headlights out to our very own Marco Pazorell out in Louisiana to get my BHLM/retrofit done. I have nothing but good things to say about his work, communication, and commitment to providing the product that YOU want. After a couple conversations with him and several texts back and forth, I settled on G37 shrouds with amber halos and a 5k HID projector setup.
A photo of my headlights with all the parts ready to go in, courtesy of Marco
A few progress pictures as he worked on them
Here's a shot of the halos next to the factory halogen turns.
But I opted for some LED replacements that would have a more consistent amber color of the adjacent halos
Because my color match pieces were ready faster then the headlights, I couldn't help but mock them up just to see for myself how it was going to look
Looked a little sloppy, but I was pretty excited to finally see it without all the chrome
And finally, FINALLY, after a couple tortuous return trips back to Marco due to repairs needed after sustaining shipping damage (f@$king UPS), my headlights are back!
Under panel not clipped in all the way, I know
Night shot
Shop dogs are exhausted
I'm very happy with my setup for now, but am waiting patiently on Bilstein to start shipping out 5100's again so I can mount up my Method Mesh 20x9 +18 offset wheels wrapped with some humble 305/55 Toyo AT II's. I'll post em back up as soon as I get em! It's been two months, but from what I hear it's probably gonna be another 3-4 weeks :banghead:
I started out with some lofty ambitions for the truck but have decided to restrain my spending after the wheels/tires/Bilsteins are installed. But after awhile I'd like to install a remote start, 46 gal Transfer Flow fuel tank, and maybe a train horn>
Feedback is welcome! Thanks for looking! Updates to follow.