Box Rocket '03 DC Tacoma Build

[Box Rocket]

Fed Ex delivered the new steering rack today. Saturday should be the day for the swap. Looking forward to giving feedback on it.

On a side note, I added an Ultragauge this week. I chose this over the Scangauge because of larger/clearer display which is MUCH easier to read at a glance. This is an inexpensive, and useful little tool to monitor the magical voodoo that makes my truck go. Very happy with it overall. Only complaint is the lack of a transmission temp gauge. Install is stupid simple and I chose to mount it on top of the steering column just in front of the cluster. Doesn't block anything but the OD/Off light on the cluster.


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lousy phone pic "in use"

 

[MtnClimber]

Damn, the tranny temp is one of the more useful info's I'd want too. What features does it have?

 

[Box Rocket]

Here ya go. Specs from the Ultragauge website.
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Supports most 1996 and newer OBDII compliant vehicles***
Supports more than 78 selectable Gauges*
Real time and long term mileage gauges
Distance-To-Empty and Time-to-Empty gauges
Auto-Page advance, cycles through gauge pages
Configurable low and high alarms for every gauge
Audible and Visual Alarms
Alarms may be individually suspended.
Displays both current and pending trouble codes
Clear Check Engine Light and Trouble Codes
Current and pending Trouble Code Alarms
Automatic fuel fill-up detection **
Oil change and Service Gauges
Trip Gauges
Speed calibration for wheel, tire, and/or differential changes
Health indicator
Internal temperature sensor that can be monitored and alarmed
Fuel mixture closed and open loop indicator.
Large LCD Display
Display Brightness adjusts automatically to ambient light
Lightweight easy to route OBD II cable
Compact and minimally intrusive.
Several mounting options offered
Low power
Retains configuration and accumulated data across power cycles
Automatically detects and turns off display when vehicle is off
Comprehensive menu system
Comprehensive detailed user manual
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Possible gauge options:
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% Engine Load
Engine Coolant Temperature (ºF)
Engine Coolant Temperature (ºC)
Short Term Fuel Trim Bank 1
Long Term Fuel Trim Bank 1
Short Term Fuel Trim Bank 2
Long Term Fuel Trim Bank 2
Fuel Pressure (PSI)
Fuel Pressure (kPa)
Intake Manifold Absolute Pressure (MAP)(PSI)
Intake Manifold Absolute Pressure (MAP)(kPa)
RPM
MPH
KPH
Timing Advance
Intake Air Temperature (ºF)
Intake Air Temperature (ºC)
Mass Air Flow Sensor 1 (g/s)
Absolute Throttle Position 1 %
Bank 1 0xygen Sensor 1 Voltage
Bank 1 0xygen Sensor 2 Voltage
Bank 2 0xygen Sensor 1 Voltage
Bank 2 0xygen Sensor 2 Voltage
Run time since last start (hours:mins)
Miles traveled with Check Engine Light On.
Kilometers traveled with Check Engine Light On.
Fuel Pressure (Diesel & Direct Injection) (PSI)
Fuel Pressure (Diesel & Direct Injection) (10kPa)
Bank 1 Wide 0xygen Sensor 1 Lambda
Bank 2 Wide 0xygen Sensor 1 Lambda
EGR Flow %
EGR Flow % Error
Evaporative Purge %
Fuel Level % of full
Number of Warm-ups since Check Engine Light Cleared
Miles traveled since Check Engine Light Cleared
Kilometers traveled since Check Engine Light Cleared
Evaporative System (PSI)
Evaporative System (Pa)
Barometric Pressure – Inches of Mercury (inHg)
Barometric Pressure – Inches of Mercury (kPa)
Catalytic Converter Bank 1 Sensor 1 Temperature (ºF)
Catalytic Converter Bank 1 Sensor 1 Temperature (ºC)
Catalytic Converter Bank 2 Sensor 1 Temperature (ºF)
Catalytic Converter Bank 2 Sensor 1 Temperature (ºC)
Catalytic Converter Bank 1 Sensor 2 Temperature (ºF)
Catalytic Converter Bank 1 Sensor 2 Temperature (ºC)
Catalytic Converter Bank 2 Sensor 2 Temperature (ºF)
Catalytic Converter Bank 2 Sensor 2 Temperature (ºC)
Battery Voltage (Measured by ECM)
UltraGauge Battery Voltage (Measured by UG)
Load absolute %
AFR Commanded Ratio
Relative Throttle Position %
Outside Ambient Air Temperature (ºF)
Outside Ambient Air Temperature (ºC)
Absolute Throttle Position 2 %
Accelerator Pedal Position 1 %
Accelerator Pedal Position 2 %
Command Throttle Position %
Boost Pressure, (Relative Pressure) (PSI)
Boost Pressure, (Relative Pressure) (kPa)
Brake Horsepower 1
Brake Kilowatts 1
Torque 1 (ft lbs)
Torque 1 (N.m)
Brake Horsepower 2
Brake Kilowatts 2
Torque 2 (ft lbs)
Torque 2 (N.m)
Mass Air Flow Sensor 2 (g/s)– Calculated
Instantaneous MPG
Instantaneous KPL
Instantaneous L/100Km
Average MPG – General
Average KPL – General
Average L/100Km – General
Average MPH – General
Average KPH – General
Run Time – General
Miles – General (miles)
Kilometers – General (miles)
Fuel Used – General (gallons)
Fuel Used – General (liters)
Average Gallons/Hour - General
Average Liters/Hour - General
Fuel Level (gallons)
Fuel Level (liters)
Instantaneous Gallons/hour
Instantaneous Liters/hour
Distance to Empty (miles)
Distance to Empty (kilometers)
Time to Empty
Volumetric Efficiency (MAP vehicles only)


General Trip Gauges
Average MPG
Fuel Used
Average Gallons/hour
Average MPH
Distance (miles)
Run Time

Average KPH
Average KPL
Average L/100Km
Liters Used
Average Liters/Hour
Distance (kilometers)


Short Trip Gauges**
Average MPG
Fuel Used
Average Gallons/hour
Average MPH
Distance (miles)
Run Time

Average KPH
Average KPL
Average L/100Km
Liters Used
Average Liters/Hour
Distance (kilometers)

 

[Box Rocket]

On another topic. FedEx dropped off my Safari LTD steering rack yesterday. Looking forward to seeing how this works out.

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[soonenough]

I didn't realize Safari LTD made ~custom steering racks for the Tacoma. I looked on their website and it had a brief blurb about their racks, saying that they were re-engineered to last longer than the OEM rack. Did they give you any info about what's been upgraded? Just curious what they've done; I'm guessing it's the same housing but with some upgraded internals - bearings, seals, boots maybe? I'd be surprised if they actually changed the rack/pinion gears.

Was it significantly more expensive than an OEM replacement?

 

[MtnClimber]

Holy cow!! :Wow1:

Thanks Adam!!

 

[Box Rocket]

I didn't realize Safari LTD made ~custom steering racks for the Tacoma. I looked on their website and it had a brief blurb about their racks, saying that they were re-engineered to last longer than the OEM rack. Did they give you any info about what's been upgraded? Just curious what they've done; I'm guessing it's the same housing but with some upgraded internals - bearings, seals, boots maybe? I'd be surprised if they actually changed the rack/pinion gears.

Was it significantly more expensive than an OEM replacement?

From what I've been told, the housing is new also. I don't have anything to back this up other than what I was told, but I was told they use different alloys for the housing to make the housing itself stronger. Same thing with the gears and guides. The seals are supposed to be improved as well. Not sure about the boots, it's not common to tear boots so I don't know if an upgrade to the boots was necessary.

 

[ttora4runner]

From what I've been told, the housing is new also. I don't have anything to back this up other than what I was told, but I was told they use different alloys for the housing to make the housing itself stronger. Same thing with the gears and guides. The seals are supposed to be improved as well. Not sure about the boots, it's not common to tear boots so I don't know if an upgrade to the boots was necessary.

If you don't mind me asking how much did that rack run you?

Just wondering since I'm replacing some of the components instead of buying a whole new rack.

 

[penangtoy]

Can't wait to hear your reviews too!

 

[Kole]

If you don't mind me asking how much did that rack run you?

Ya, I hate asking money questions but there isn't any pricing on the website and I don't want to call them just for a price question. I may need this in the next few years. So far my steering is relatively tight for 170+k miles but when I do change it out I want to do it right.

 

[Box Rocket]

Yeah I ran into the same thing when I couldn't see a price on their website. The rack lists for $495. So it's a bit more than a reman rack, but not as bad as a new OEM one. I'm sure there are cheaper options out there, but price was not my primary concern when choosing this one.

 

[Kole]

That's not a terrible price. Thanks for the info. I'm anxious to see how you like it.

 

[toyotech]

I would pay the $500 since I couldn't get a reman unit for my tundra. There must be a shortage. $500
doesn't seem right if the internals isn't better. Could be wrong. I only see yota racks leak more than anything else so hope they have atleast better seals


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[RememberTheFallen]

Picked up two pairs of twist link snow chains yesterday.

Might have missed it but where did get your chains?

I searched but came up with all kinds of options. We don't usually have a need for chains around here and no one local sells them. After last weeks Snowmageddon I figure it would not hurt to keep at least one pair in the truck. I managed to slide the truck off the road and pop both tires off the bead.

 

[Box Rocket]

I got the chains at a local supplier called Interwest Supply.