Project DD moonlighting as trail rig

[Senor_Taylor]

Measured my muffler and it is, indeed, the 18 inch. Not sure what model, but that's good. Looks like I'll be moving up to a 14 inch with .5" bigger piping. I'll dump it after the axle.

Also, a pic of me on the RTI ramp at the car show. I can't wait until I can get more suspension travel. The locker let me get higher than most on the ramp, but I don't think it counts because my tire isn't on the ground like it should be.

[Senor_Taylor]

When changing my oil, I noticed a huge hole the width of a quarter and a dent the size of a baseball in my main skid. Looks like I need to upgrade soon. My frame and crossmembers are real scratched too. Guess it's good that they're there. Might need to take it easier until I can get more armor.

[Senor_Taylor]

Called up Toytec and ordered my parts today! Had them shipped home, so hopefully they'll go on as soon as I get home in May.


Also. I'll copy paste my Facebook status from earlier.

Never a dull moment with my truck. Trying to plastidip my badges in the parking lot. First coat, done. I decide to touch up the huge rust spots on my sliders from them scraping on the trails. Spraying the bottom and accidentally spray my SILVER passenger door with BLACK spray paint. In a panic, I grab some WD 40, a rag, and scrub like battery acid was just thrown on my newborn baby. Second coat of Plastidip. I clean my throttle body during. Start truck to clear the cleaner out. No start. Battery is shooting sparks from positive terminal. Take off terminal lead and clean it, put it back on. Terminal breaks. Somehow manage to get it back on and tight, but it's now dark and I have to finish these coats before work in the morning.

The best badge. I peeled 3 of them. Kept 3 of them. 2 turned out "okay" enough to keep.

Plasti-dip is hard. You'll also notice that I removed the Ranger badge, which means I only have one "extra" badge left, which isn't even noticeable.

[Sully]

It just takes a little practice. Plasti dip can be your friend. Use a wooden toothpick to scrape up an edge for in between the letters like A if you're worried about it and if they aren't black underneath there anyway. Also, number of coats is key to make peeling easier. Tape off a box leaving about an inch on each side of the logo. Spray a good 4 coats minimum. Wait a little bit and peel tape off. Then if your not as comfortable with dip, wait an hour or two and peel what's left around the emblem. Toothpick also comes in handy if the "fingers" on letters like the m tear away. You can usually get the toothpick under the edge and use it to peel the rest away.

Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk

[Senor_Taylor]

I only got 3 coats on there before it got dark and I was impatient. I used toothpicks and it helped a little. I just need a day where I can take my time.

[Senor_Taylor]

Almost 3 weeks after purchase of my parts from Toytec and no word of them shipping, so I'm assuming my leaves are still on backorder... Sad day.

Good news is I'll probably have the money for the new wheels by then, so hopefully I can pick up some tires on the cheap to wrap the wheels with so I can jump straight to 33s with the lift.

[Senor_Taylor]

The next event took place in my truck, so I guess it's appropriate.

I'll just copy-paste my Facebook status for this.

"I get out to my truck this morning at 6:30 to go to work. I decide to look at my bike (which I left in the bed overnight) and I notice something odd. Someone had taken a $70 Harley Davidson bike lock and locked both of my wheels together, making it impossible to ride. I look high and low and can't find any keys. I'm screwed right? Nope. I drive to work and get some bolt cutters from the office, grab my dremel from my toolbox and get to cutting. 10 minutes later and one destroyed bike lock and my bike is free. Screw whoever did this."

Turns out it was Jack and Sam who did it last night. Whoops. It was Jack's lock.

[Senor_Taylor]

LOOK AT WHAT WAS ON MY PORCH WHEN I GOT HOME.



SO EXCITE. MUCH LIFT. VERY OFFROAD. WOW

[Goodspeed]

OME, bizawllin'!

[Senor_Taylor]

Apparently I got lucky and they gave me two sets that are "above spec" so I get more lift than I planned on.

[Jake]

Is mo' lift mo' better?

[Senor_Taylor]

Whoa, whoa, whoa. Let's take baby steps. I know this concept is hard for car people to understand. Would you like a glass of water?

Short answer: Yes. Mo' lift is mo' betta

[Kaan]

are you missing stuff for the front?

Id argue more lift isnt always more better... but you drive a toyota so you need all the "help" you can get

[Sully]

Wait, two sets like you stack them on top of each other for more lift? Am I missing something here?

Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk

[Kaan]

looks like rear leaf packs complete, new U bolts, bilsteins, and some bushings/bumpstops(?)

are the bilsteins going to handle the "extra" lift?

[Senor_Taylor]

Bilsteins in the front actually have an adjustable spring seat. So you can choose what amount of lift you want from 0 -3", so the front is handled. The ones in the rear are longer than stock so I can have increased down travel. I'm using my stock springs in the front. Later upgrading to Eibach lift springs.

The rear are complete leaf packs. Just a straight swap. I also go polyurethane bushings and an extended brake line.

BPV bracket is on order.

[Senor_Taylor]

:evil:
Id argue more lift isnt always more better... but you drive a toyota so you need all the "help" you can get

This was originally not to lift it, it's just a better option than stock for replacing my leaves, which I think are cracked.

Now that I'm way more serious about offroading, this is a good thing. I need the ground clearance that this and tires will give me. The bottom of my frame is scratched all to hell, I knocked a HUGE hole in my skid plate because I couldn't clear a rock last trip, and I have dents on my cross members.

Need. More. Ground Clearance.

[V1GiLaNtE]

Bilsteins in the front actually have an adjustable spring seat. So you can choose what amount of lift you want from 0 -3", so the front is handled...Later upgrading to Eibach lift springs

Wait wait wait... What's this deal about lifting with shocks.. but you're going to use stock springs? :dunno:

[Senor_Taylor]

Is there a problem with this? It's a very common setup on Tacomas.

[Kaan]

Need. More. Ground Clearance.

you need to find a better skid plate (one that can take the weight of the truck on the plate). i've seen where you wheel, i've looked at your pictures... and you shouldnt have that type of damage.

I'm concerned you are wheeling with guys that arent spotting well or at all. without a lift or bigger tires... your lines are key. learning how they get you through something and then being able to do it without a spot is key. if you are in a group with big rigs, you cannot just drive ... you have to pick lines all day.... they just drive around.

this doesnt look like much, but look at the front passenger tire... thats a 31 basically half covered... the holes are deep.


cabell, also on 31s avoids the first hole.


when you are running a small set up, even when you get your tires and some lift... you have to pick a line that favors your rig. you can always go over things, some times you need to go between or around.