'03 Tacoma Build
- Thread starter 01tundra
- Start date
offthebeatenpath
Adventurer
Yeah, actually I meant something more like this:
http://www.amazon.com/Bosch-CO4029-Cobalt-Assortment-29-Piece/dp/B0000TZX3K
That's why I usually buy them one at a time per project from the local Ace Hardware. The 1/2 bit will set you back $12-15, but like the Amazon description says, they're good to super high temps, like over 1000 degrees. That depends on the percentage of cobalt in the steel in the bits- "most of the time" the more you pay, the more cobalt you're getting. Go buy one bit and try it. You won't go back.
http://www.amazon.com/Bosch-CO4029-Cobalt-Assortment-29-Piece/dp/B0000TZX3K
That's why I usually buy them one at a time per project from the local Ace Hardware. The 1/2 bit will set you back $12-15, but like the Amazon description says, they're good to super high temps, like over 1000 degrees. That depends on the percentage of cobalt in the steel in the bits- "most of the time" the more you pay, the more cobalt you're getting. Go buy one bit and try it. You won't go back.
I'm a step ahead of you....they're sitting on my bench already!
http://www.roarksupply.com/29pc-black-oxide-Drill-Bit-Set-MADE-IN-USA-p/blackoxide29pc.htm
01tundra
Explorer
Went ahead and changed the timing belt & water pump this weekend....good times .
Got Tango's mud flaps installed on Friday......still waiting for him to send me his front axle. I've found out the hard way that living on a muddy, gravel road makes mud flaps a necessary evil!
My bed rack should be here on Tuesday.
After three months of darkness....the sun finally came out so I could get some overall pictures taken. This is as close to stock looking as I can keep it, while still being a solid mildly built truck. I'm happy with how it's turned out.....mission accomplished.
.Got Tango's mud flaps installed on Friday......still waiting for him to send me his front axle
. I've found out the hard way that living on a muddy, gravel road makes mud flaps a necessary evil!My bed rack should be here on Tuesday.
After three months of darkness....the sun finally came out so I could get some overall pictures taken. This is as close to stock looking as I can keep it, while still being a solid mildly built truck. I'm happy with how it's turned out.....mission accomplished.
Last edited:
jim65wagon
Well-known member
This truck is built? Looks stock to me!
01tundra
Explorer
Ha! I've been cutting, welding, & wrenching on this thing for almost 3 months straight and every time I look at it I think to myself....."it still looks the same as it did the night I brought it home"
! Of course I have to hear Andrea's commits all the time too...."it looks pretty good, but it still needs bigger tires"......hush woman and get to wrenching on that pansy FJ is my response to that nonsense .
Rattler
Thornton Melon's Kid
Defintely post up pics of that. I have to redo mine at some point this spring and I can use all the ideas I can.
juicebox
Adventurer
Times a billion. I'm re-doing mine too, I almost bought the steel a few days ago but I wanted to plan it more.
Oh yeah, how many miles are on your truck now? Mine is just hit 78K and I'm considering just doing the T-belt and water pump now because the truck is 10 years old.
Last edited:
01tundra
Explorer
It was going to cost me about $125 for material to build it out of 1/8" steel tubing, but it is going to be easier for me to just throw the Thule on it and call it a day. I want all the locking capabilities since I'll have over $5k worth of kayaks and paddles sitting on the rack.......
01tundra
Explorer
Got the rack installed. Instead of using Thule's small screws & well nut inserts, I used 1/4" S.S. bolts with lock nuts on the underside.
I also have M6 security nuts (trident - http://www.tannerbolt.com/products/SECURITY PRODUCTS/04@@2e SECURITY NUTS.aspx) on the way to replace all the wing nuts that fasten the holders to the rack. I don't like the fact that the most expensive part of the rack can be removed by hand in a matter of minutes, so I'm going to make them have to work at it.
The cool part is there's no way to hold the bolts from turning if somebody tried to unbolt it from inside the bed. I can unlock the feet and lift each load bar off in seconds, the mounting bases have black plastic caps for when the rack isn't installed, looks pretty clean without the rack on it.
I mounted the edge of the rear feet about 5-7/8" from the end corner of the bed rail and mounted the front so there's a 36" spread center to center of the load bars. I bought 65" load bars, and then cut them down to where each end sticks out of the feet 1-1/8", that way they are not sticking out past the bed (in case I ever want to run a basket on it while off-road). The feet are Thule 430 Tracker 2 with TK14 sheet metal mount bases.
I can still roll the bed cover up, I just have to drag it under each of the load bars when I get to them.
And the best part is.....Thule even color-matched the kayak carriers to match my truck.
I also have M6 security nuts (trident - http://www.tannerbolt.com/products/SECURITY PRODUCTS/04@@2e SECURITY NUTS.aspx) on the way to replace all the wing nuts that fasten the holders to the rack. I don't like the fact that the most expensive part of the rack can be removed by hand in a matter of minutes, so I'm going to make them have to work at it
.The cool part is there's no way to hold the bolts from turning if somebody tried to unbolt it from inside the bed. I can unlock the feet and lift each load bar off in seconds, the mounting bases have black plastic caps for when the rack isn't installed, looks pretty clean without the rack on it.
I mounted the edge of the rear feet about 5-7/8" from the end corner of the bed rail and mounted the front so there's a 36" spread center to center of the load bars. I bought 65" load bars, and then cut them down to where each end sticks out of the feet 1-1/8", that way they are not sticking out past the bed (in case I ever want to run a basket on it while off-road). The feet are Thule 430 Tracker 2 with TK14 sheet metal mount bases.
I can still roll the bed cover up, I just have to drag it under each of the load bars when I get to them.
And the best part is.....Thule even color-matched the kayak carriers to match my truck
.
Last edited:
01tundra
Explorer
Hey.....I can't help that Thule has great taste and decided to use Toyota Lunar Mist as their base color
!Now I'm trying to figure out how to hack apart a receiver hitch cargo carrier to make a narrow center basket for the rack, thinking something along the lines of 20" W x 48" L. I could then fab up some quick-attach load bars on it to mount the center kayak carriers on, since we will typically only be hauling two boats, three on occassion.
I may just fab a basket from scratch. I'd also like it to serve as a platform to throw the Thule cargo bag on.....that's been sitting unused on my shelf for the past 3 yrs.