Tacoma Upgrades

[Mike330R]

I picked up this Tacoma a while ago. My main goal was to have a daily driver as well as a weekend toy with AC ☺

After cleaning the hell out of it inside and out I added suspension since the stock stuff was completely shot! I was bottoming out on the freeway over some dips. I got a great deal on King front coils off of craigslist and splurged for Deaver springs and Bilsteins for the rear. It sits about an inch higher than I wanted (3? higher than stock) but I am going to run it as is for now.

Also added an Alpine stereo and new speakers. Still needs a small sub and amp. The head unit has 2 USB ports and I thought the front one would be able to control my Phone and use the rear for an iPod I?d leave in the glove box. I was sorely mistaken ☹

Tested the truck out last weekend and the truck did pretty well. However I will be adding a locker at some point ;) Would like an air locker but they are pricey. May do an auto type locker or maybe a stock Toyota E-locker. Just depends what I come across ;)

It was SO nice to have the AC on while out playing in the heat! Tunes didn?t hurt either ;)

Few pic?s from the 1st trail test:


2 tires at opposite corners are off the ground. I could teeter totter the truck by hand ;)

[Mike330R]

I added a tool box in the bed to mount my old compressor from a previous Chevy build and add a 2nd battery. I tried to use as least space as possible.
I plan to power all extra's from this 2nd battery (sound system, race radio, CB, lights, etc etc) and of course the compressor. I will run an 8G wire into the cab to a fuse panel to connect everything to. The compressor will go to the circuit breaker next to the 2nd battery.

I ran 1G wire from the main battery through a circuit breaker to a soliniod under the hood. The other end of the 1G cable goes to another circuit breaker then to the 2nd battery.

Just need a few more wires to finish everything as well as shorten the compressor cables and connect them. Also need to mount the under hood breaker and solenoid. The solenoid was going to be connected to a switch o I could turn it off or on to charge the 2nd battery but decided to wire it to ignition so it's always on. Only reason I used a solenoid and not a battery isolator was because I already had the PainLess Wiring 2nd battery kit with the solenoid and cables.


Few pic's:

The box. Ordered from Amazon and it was not the one pictured but it will do the job.


Test fit:


Breaker installed 1G power & ground cable run plus an 8G cable:






I drilled a hole next to the battery in the box to run the cabling out and another hole just below the tie down hook in the bed and ran the cable though there, with a grommet ;) Here's how it looks under the bed:






Will clean everything up and finish wiring once I get a few short jumper cables.

I also bought a switch that will open and close with the lid. I plan on adding some LED lights to the inside of the lid for box lighting ;) Just need to figure out how to mount them so they're aimed in the box.

[Mike330R]

Got the 2nd battery wired in. Here?s the solenoid and breaker near the main battery:


I rewired the radio power. Day to day use it will shut off via the ignition. When I want the radio on while the truck is off I wired in a relay and a switch mounted in the glove box. Here is the backside of the switch and the relay in the background:


The switch from inside the glove box:


Installed this fuse panel to connect all the accessories to the 2nd battery. This is mounted under the passenger seat. Its just Velcroed to the carpet so I can ?swing? it out when the seat is installed for easier access:


Also moved the CB from the floor to the ashtray and added a Panavise phone mount.


Got the Rigid LED light bar mounted to a clamp-on roof rack. Still need to run the cable to it:


I ran the CB antenna cable and LED power cable under the carpet to the rear cubby holes. When I use either cable I will run it out the rear slider window. Not worth running them permanently outside since I won?t use either very much. Plus the antenna fit?s in the cubby hole (beneath the rear seats) since it?s mostly all open under there.

Next is the tool box LED lighting then off to the desert to try everything :)
 

Finished up the wiring and added LED tubes lights to the tool box.

[Mike330R]

Took it to the dunes to try everything out. It did just OK and used a lot of fuel!
Aired down to 15psi.






LED mounted on a clamp-on roof rack:

[N8CJ5V8]

Hey Mike330R,

Nice Truck and nice upgrades, good job! 

I have almost the same exact truck, but mine is a '96 auto, same color, model, 4x4...  I have over 200k on mine and it's still running very strong and A/C still blowing cold.   

I noticed you said you got new leaf springs, If you are interested in getting rid of your old ones I'm very interested.  One of my old ones actually broke and I'm still driving around with it like that, just being cautious of big load in the bed.  Anyways please let me know if you are getting rid of them.  Also I have a throttle body spacer you can have if you want, I recently had to remove mine for smog, but it's in great shape and free if you want it, assuming you have the 6cyl?
thanks

[Mike330R]

I'd get rid of them if you want to trade a bottle of Jack Daniels Honey for them :)

I'm in West Santee.

Thanks for the spacer but I don't need it.

I could use a passenger front fender (in my color) and a few interior parts in light blue if you know of any.

[N8CJ5V8]

PM'd you.

[David K]

Very nice write up. Cool power system and LED lights, too! 

[Mike330R]

Added some dyno mat material in some area's (will finish later) and an amp I got dirt cheap and some cheap subs (for now)

[DavidWymore]

I'm wheelin' my wife's old '98 4runner V6 5 Speed (got her an '04). Ditch the front swaybar if you haven't already. Lock the back, not the front, don't abuse the front...I know.

[Mike330R]

I still have the sway bar as of now.

I'm looking for a TRD e-locker rear axle if anyone knows of one for sale.

[DavidWymore]

Ditch it, you'll like it. More comfortable if nothing else, doesn't whip your head side to side on angled or one side only bumps.