*Rickashay's 04' Tundra* - A build of Compromises

rickashay

rickashay

Explorer
Update - Dec. 27, 2014

As mentioned, I've been away for the holidays. It just so happens that my Dad has a fairly large and heated garage so I was able to do some tinkering in my spare time while I was back home in BC.

I had some 3M carbon fibre wrap that I acquired in a trade a while ago and wanted to wrap the faux-wood to try and update the interior a little. First of all, the wrapping was quite painful as the center dash surround and cup holder area simply had too many curves to get the finished product to look half decent. I ended up doing the whole thing and then just thought it looked too "ricey" for my taste. So I pulled the vinyl wrap and just decided to paint the wood grain in the center section. I did it in a high gloss black and then followed with 3 coats of clear. I ended up leaving the carbon wrap on the window switches just for a bit of contrast and I think it came out pretty good, IMO.


20131226-IMG_4153.jpg by RickaShay24, on Flickr

While I was at it I replaced my dash lights with white LED's from SuperbrightLEDs.com but unfortunately lost one of the small bulb retainers in the back of my cluster (doh!). The white looks nice but being OCD, I think the colors are too inconsistent having to run multiple bulbs/sizes. I'm going to order new LED's and do everything in red and be done with it. Fairly straight forward procedure though and I can now have the whole dash apart and cluster out in about 5 minutes. I'm actually quite happy how easy it is to pull the Tundra console/dash apart compared with my LX which was more of a PITA.

Painted console and LED's... and notice the new Weathertech floor mats I got for Christmas?! Awesome.

20131226-IMG_4160.jpg by RickaShay24, on Flickr

Also got around to mounting my Scan Guage on the steering column. Used 3M foam tape to hold it down:

20131226-IMG_4158.jpg by RickaShay24, on Flickr

Before I headed back to BC, I finally got the Borla catback exhaust installed that has been sitting in my garage for months. It's quite quiet and sounds stock until your driving and the truck is under load. I left the factory resonator in place but will probably pull it to extract a little more sound.

20131218-IMG_4085.jpg by RickaShay24, on Flickr

Some of the goodies waiting to be installed:

20131218-IMG_4075.jpg by RickaShay24, on Flickr

Going to order my RD-90 front air locker next week!
 
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seanpistol

seanpistol

Explorer
rickashay said:
Yah I don't know if that seems reasonable to me. I guess the Tundras might have a sightly longer upper arm than the early Tacomas, which might equate to more travel with just an UCA, but I recall the 3rd Gen 4Runners/1st Gen Taco's only gaining ~2" of travel overall with ext. travel coilovers and UCA's. I would assume the Tundra to be close to that in numbers but havent researched it enough yet.
Click to expand...

Well, you still have stock upper arms at this point don't ya? Only one way to get the cold hard facts!

25_powerlock.jpg


I'd like to believe the 4" in droop Camburg claimed to me on the phone is accurate although it does seem like a large number. The stock arms are not too much smaller, but I think the removal of the swaybar as the limiting factor in downtravel adds an inch or two in itself, and then the increased ability to pivot downwards the uniball has over the balljoint is significant. Your Total Chaos arms should have just about the same geometry, so brand shouldn't be a factor.

I'd love for you to measure this so we can have some gee-wiz info if you don't mind! I should have done it when I swapped mine!
 
seanpistol

seanpistol

Explorer
Do you have a master install kit to go along with the ring and pinion? RD-90 will be killer in the snow, but I'd be afraid to use it in the rocks. The beauty of being selectable!

Another thing you'd probably know the answer to- think it'd be possible to tub for 37s at 2.5" of lift? Might get too close to the door? Glass fenders necessary? Some trimming in the rear wheel wells? Just curious.
 
rickashay

rickashay

Explorer
seanpistol said:
Well, you still have stock upper arms at this point don't ya? Only one way to get the cold hard facts!

25_powerlock.jpg


I'd like to believe the 4" in droop Camburg claimed to me on the phone is accurate although it does seem like a large number. The stock arms are not too much smaller, but I think the removal of the swaybar as the limiting factor in downtravel adds an inch or two in itself, and then the increased ability to pivot downwards the uniball has over the balljoint is significant. Your Total Chaos arms should have just about the same geometry, so brand shouldn't be a factor.

I'd love for you to measure this so we can have some gee-wiz info if you don't mind! I should have done it when I swapped mine!
Click to expand...

seanpistol said:
Do you have a master install kit to go along with the ring and pinion? RD-90 will be killer in the snow, but I'd be afraid to use it in the rocks. The beauty of being selectable!

Another thing you'd probably know the answer to- think it'd be possible to tub for 37s at 2.5" of lift? Might get too close to the door? Glass fenders necessary? Some trimming in the rear wheel wells? Just curious.
Click to expand...

I'll see what I can do and measure some travel numbers before the sway bar comes off and the UCA's/Coilovers go on. Should be interesting for sure.

I have a master install kit from Yukon for the rear with Koyo bearings and the shop that will be setting up the diffs supplies their own install packages using OEM shims and bearings. Yah the RD-90 will be VERY selective in anything but the snow... but your right, the main purpose will be for deep pow days :)

Well keep in mind the "lift" amount has nothing to do with the tire clearing at full stuff. It just makes it seem like you fit as your static height is higher and you would rub less-often. BUT I would say that if I pulled my flares, the fender liners, and trimmed the actual fender a bit farther back I could run 37's now with only minor rub at FULL stuff and lock. They would rub the frame like crazy though and kill the turning radius though.... but yes, it can be done I'm sure. I debated it but I think the 7.5" front diff is already at its limits with the 35's.
 
Stone_Blue

Stone_Blue

Adventurer
^^There was a thread/posts on exactly the ATF codes for the SGII just a week or two ago...lol

Since the search on TS sucks b@lls and is essentially non-existent, and everyone over there refuses to acknowledge this fact, i dont have a link...but someone did post a link to the SGII usermanual that has them:

http://www.scangauge.com/support/x-gauge/toyota-specific/

I think someone posted that the codes should work for the '05's on, so you SHOULD be good, but there has been mixed success with '04 and older....
 
rickashay

rickashay

Explorer
Stone_Blue said:
^^There was a thread/posts on exactly the ATF codes for the SGII just a week or two ago...lol

Since the search on TS sucks b@lls and is essentially non-existent, and everyone over there refuses to acknowledge this fact, i dont have a link...but someone did post a link to the SGII usermanual that has them:

http://www.scangauge.com/support/x-gauge/toyota-specific/

I think someone posted that the codes should work for the '05's on, so you SHOULD be good, but there has been mixed success with '04 and older....
Click to expand...

Thanks for the info! I've done some digging as well, I should be able to get it working. Appreciate it.
 
MCObray

MCObray

Explorer
Your pictures make me want to move to Canada.

And the SG II... I felt like I watched that thing more than I drove. Good stuff though when you can live monitor the diagnostics of the engine.
 
B

BrianTN

Adventurer
I had my ScanGauge in that location, but didn't like how it blocked the view of some of the instrument cluster. Ended up getting a Blend Mount and like it a lot more. Maybe you will be successful with extra codes since yours is newer, but I never could on my 2001. I mostly use it monitor average and instantaneous MPG, with a random code rear now and then.

Were you planning on changing any bushings while you install the CO and UCA? I'm getting together a parts list and plan refreshing the front end when installing mine. At this point I think I will install my TC UCA with some CO after making room for 35s. Then some more maintenance type of things at that time, like treating any rust or changing any parts that are nearly worn out.
 
I

IS-RIDER

Observer
MCObray said:
Your pictures make me want to move to Canada.

And the SG II... I felt like I watched that thing more than I drove. Good stuff though when you can live monitor the diagnostics of the engine.
Click to expand...

Same here! It's always been a dream to make it to Whistler and do some boarding....

Honey!..road trip???


Ride it like you stole it!
 
rickashay

rickashay

Explorer
MCObray said:
Your pictures make me want to move to Canada.

And the SG II... I felt like I watched that thing more than I drove. Good stuff though when you can live monitor the diagnostics of the engine.
Click to expand...

Haha I know what you mean. Had it on my Lexus and was watching coolant temp like a hawk. Canada kicks ***! Although you wouldn't like the length of our boating season. haha

BrianTN said:
I had my ScanGauge in that location, but didn't like how it blocked the view of some of the instrument cluster. Ended up getting a Blend Mount and like it a lot more. Maybe you will be successful with extra codes since yours is newer, but I never could on my 2001. I mostly use it monitor average and instantaneous MPG, with a random code rear now and then.

Were you planning on changing any bushings while you install the CO and UCA? I'm getting together a parts list and plan refreshing the front end when installing mine. At this point I think I will install my TC UCA with some CO after making room for 35s. Then some more maintenance type of things at that time, like treating any rust or changing any parts that are nearly worn out.
Click to expand...

It really only blocks my tripmeter. I am pretty tall though so maybe my viewing angle of the cluster helps a bit there.... I can't even figure out how to enter the codes into the damn thing!

My parts pile for the front end in my garage looks like this:

- Poly steering rack bushings
- TC UCA's with new poly bushings there
- Fox C/O's - well they SHOULD be in my parts pile by now... lol
- TC Spindle gussets
- TC coilover tower gussets
- Wheelers Stainless brake lines
- OEM outer TRE's
- OEM LBJ's
- Wheelers "superbumps"

I have to press the bearings out of the spindle to weld on the spindle gussets, so I'm told. If thats the case, I'll be replacing the bearings at that time before re-installing everything. I would say with that, the front end is pretty much getting a complete overhaul. Especially with the diffs going under for the gears in the next month, the only old thing under there will be the LCA bushings. I'm not touching those though until I'm certain they need replacement, and the front end of my tundra feels pretty tight right now excluding all the above new parts. I also will be cleaning up the frame once the UCA's, spindle, C/O's are out.

IS-RIDER said:
Same here! It's always been a dream to make it to Whistler and do some boarding....

Honey!..road trip???


Ride it like you stole it!
Click to expand...

Do it! Then stop in Revelstoke, Nelson, Rossland, Fernie, Banff, Invermere..... lol you get the point!

Actually while I was home Ken Block was up at Baldface Lodge boarding with his family. Pretty awesome spot if you ever saw ABC's coverage of Travis Rice's board competition up there in 2013 and Ken Blocks Ford Raptor video up there recently. Damn I love BC!
 
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soonenough

soonenough

Explorer
rickashay said:
My parts pile for the front end in my garage looks like this:

- Poly steering rack bushings
- TC UCA's with new poly bushings there
- Fox C/O's - well they SHOULD be in my parts pile by now... lol
- TC Spindle gussets
- TC coilover tower gussets
- Wheelers Stainless brake lines
- OEM outer TRE's
- OEM LBJ's
- Wheelers "superbumps"

I have to press the bearings out of the spindle to weld on the spindle gussets, so I'm told. If thats the case, I'll be replacing the bearings at that time before re-installing everything. I would say with that, the front end is pretty much getting a complete overhaul. Especially with the diffs going under for the gears in the next month, the only old thing under there will be the LCA bushings. I'm not touching those though until I'm certain they need replacement, and the front end of my tundra feels pretty tight right now excluding all the above new parts. I also will be cleaning up the frame once the UCA's, spindle, C/O's are out.
Click to expand...
That's quite the list of work you've got coming up! What are your plans for cleaning up the frame?
 
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