08 V8 4x4 - El Camaleon Azul

[zidaro]

Here we go again!
I am completely obsessed with Toyotas.
My wife would in no way argue with me when i tell her its a DISEASE! I like to think of it like being a Nympho- not necessarily a horrible disease, but a disease none the less arty:

New to me 4th gen. Its an 08 V8 Limited 4x4 has high miles (205K once i got it home) but is otherwise in exceptional condition. Maintenance is done. Flew upgrades. Some minor flaws. Some mild MO surface rust. Amazing price. PERFECT starter.
Left Kansas City with a fresh alignment and oil change
Thanks [MENTION=107314]Cisco Kid[/MENTION] You Rock!!

Obligatory starter photos along the way home.

cruises very nicely :car: down the hwy

Home sweet home! in the Sierra Nevadas

miles once home. She's up there, and still strong as an ox. +1500mi drive home and burned NO oil and gave me no issue.

the family meeting, minus the 87crawler that is stranded in the garage with no engine right now. Told you i was addicted :crybaby:

Been dreaming of the V8 ever since my wife bought the 5th gen. with the V6. Plz don't tell her, no need for hurt feelings.
Full-time 4WD don't hurt that handling either

Has the Camburg UCA with BJ and a BJ cover- MUY IMPORTANTE!!

Suspension is a combo of FJ and TACO springs/struts/and spacers. Rides AMAZING on the road. Rails corners like a racer. However, got it out on some basic washboard and the ride is a bit harsh for my liking, has trouble holding a line cuz it is skipping all over the place.
Provides a small lift from stock.
Great for today, but rest assured, more exciting things are coming in the near future.
:lightsaber:

a sunroof that does not leak or rattle

driver seat has some small cracks/tears. Need to halt the progress- who's got tips? Im thinking Shoe Goo. It works on moto seat tears nicely.
But the seats are HEATED!!!! Sierra Winters never so tame as when you've got a heated seat.

stereo deck with a bluetooth and usb. all dash lighting was converted to blue and all interior lighting is LED. Thx [MENTION=107314]Cisco Kid[/MENTION] ! i woulda never went there, but it sure is sweet.

There ya have it. Vehicle intro.
Plan is to build a very capable yet streetable rig.
-One that is able to bomb down washboard rutted roads, bounce over some smaller rocks and whoops that one encounters in the desert regularly.
-Crawl over some decent rocks- i would like to be able to cruise the Rubicon, yet have no intentions of taking the hard lines.
-Speed on the highway, and take paved corners without feeling like I'm lifting a tire.
-Take my kid and her friends to school
-Handle the Winters of the Eastern Sierras, where we get +20' snow a year easily


Hence - EL CAMALEON AZUL!
able to adapt to any environment without hesitation


Let the build commence.

Now all i need is $$, time, more $$, more time, and ideas!!

BUT- First i should get it smogged and registered!!!!

always feel free to flame, hope you guys enjoy my journey.

 

[CAMELPRO]

100% awesomeness

 

[S p a r k y]

LED cluster swap and needles done as well. Nice

 

[zidaro]

LED cluster swap and needles done as well. Nice

Def. Jeff did a great job on it. and it is a touch i would never have even considered doing. Looks great.

 

[zidaro]

Heres the REAL love of my life! (In my avatar)

Not including my Wife, Kid, and Puppy

 

[zidaro]

First upgrade on.

Picked up a very nice, nearly brand new with no abuse RCI Aluminum Skid Powdercoated blk.

Installed it without issue. Simple 4bolt. This is the older version without the bolthead protection. Seems like a very nice skid, but i will tell you, considering we have the Budbuilt skids on my Tundra, these RCI skids in alum. or steel are not built with the same attention to detail or durability in mind. It has no support at the lowest portion of the skid in front, a hit to it will result in a bent skid. Budbuilt skids have HD support to the frame at this point. It will be the spot that this RCI skid fails, sooner or later. Way more durable than the TIN OEM skids Toyota sells our toys with though, don't get me wrong
Price was very right! thank you Neil. [MENTION=55129]Flyer[/MENTION] Great to meet you and can't wait to run the trails in Colo. with ya! BlackBear and more....

 

[Flyer]

Looking good, Aaron. Very nice meeting you. I had no idea you had a Tundra as well. I have been seriously toying with the idea of a truck and slide-in camper, and been researching the heck out of all that. Come up to CO anytime. We will be in Ouray early August (Jeeps, but a Toyota is always welcome) to explore a few trails. Probably will be hitting Moab in October. Hope to catch up in the near future.

 

[CXS]

Nice, looking good. I'm not a fan of aluminun skids but RCI's steel skids are great. I just put my beat up RCI's back on which wasn't the easiest but they are strong and certainly have saved me more than a few times.

 

[zidaro]

Looking good, Aaron. Very nice meeting you. I had no idea you had a Tundra as well. I have been seriously toying with the idea of a truck and slide-in camper, and been researching the heck out of all that. Come up to CO anytime. We will be in Ouray early August (Jeeps, but a Toyota is always welcome) to explore a few trails. Probably will be hitting Moab in October. Hope to catch up in the near future.

just for you :humble:

NorthstarTC650-n-Tundra - Expedition Portal

plz feel free to hit me up anytime for some ?s. we use the heck outta ours and LOVE it

 

[zidaro]

Some teaser shots of the goodies piling up in the garage.

Picked up a very nice set of Coilovers. Much nicer than i had intended, but too good to pass up.

5th gen Fox DSC 2.5 extended travel coils. Lightly used.

Spidertax Hubcentric 1.25" spacers. So i can run the OEM backspaced rims with my setup- to be announced shortly.

better stop there, don't want to give too much away before I'm ready to start wrenching.
Gotta get past my daughters Spring Break before i get some me time.

 

[Flyer]

Man, you're going all out! Looking forward to when you start the modification process. I'm also curious to know how you like those coil overs when you put them on. My 2005 haas around 121,000 miles now and at some point, I may start to make some changes...enough to put small 35s on (KO2s maybe).

 

[Brokeazzlos]

Man, you're going all out! Looking forward to when you start the modification process. I'm also curious to know how you like those coil overs when you put them on. My 2005 haas around 121,000 miles now and at some point, I may start to make some changes...enough to put small 35s on (KO2s maybe).

I don't have the reservoir coilover but just the regular 2.5 is extremely smooth ride. Everyone that gets in my Runner can't believe how smooth it is.

Highly recommend

 

[BioHAzard050]

My 'Yank says hi! Looks good. Watch those exhaust manifolds. Love the 1st gen as well.

 

[zidaro]

Alright. Getting excited!! and my wallet is smoldering in the aftermath

In preparation for the upcoming changes. Some stats. as it sits.

Ride Ht. as purchased- need to measure
Front frame Ht. at body mount behind wheel-
Rear frame Ht. just in front of LCA frame mount-

Current Equipment-
Front-tacomaTRD struts/springs/.5"spacer/Camburg BJ UCA's Rear-FJsprings/Daystar1.5"spacers/TacoTRDshocks
Tire size- 265/70R17 or ~ 31.5"x10.5 although worn well beyond fresh

 

[LOSTR4]

Well you indeed have the disease...nice rig and nice arrangement in the stables! I look forward to seeing what else you're going to do here soon...any armor on this one (besides the skids)?

 

[Cisco Kid]

Feel free to spend some $ on mine while you are at it. I'll get you a list of parts.

Alright. Getting excited!! and my wallet is smoldering in the aftermath

In preparation for the upcoming changes. Some stats. as it sits.

Ride Ht. as purchased- need to measure
Front frame Ht. at body mount behind wheel-
Rear frame Ht. just in front of LCA frame mount-

Current Equipment-
Front-tacomaTRD struts/springs/.5"spacer/Camburg BJ UCA's Rear-FJsprings/Daystar1.5"spacers/TacoTRDshocks
Tire size- 265/70R17 or ~ 31.5"x10.5 although worn well beyond fresh

 

[zidaro]

Feel free to spend some $ on mine while you are at it. I'll get you a list of parts.

technically... i am spending $$ on yours

 

[zidaro]

Well you indeed have the disease...nice rig and nice arrangement in the stables! I look forward to seeing what else you're going to do here soon...any armor on this one (besides the skids)?

Oh Yeah!

Im still figuring this one out.
I may fab up a HD prerunner style winch mount front tube bumper, or if i find one i like i may just buy.
Same with rear. Not stoked on what I'm seeing, but some things interest me
Sliders for sure, still looking around, may make my own. C4Fabrication may get my business if they come out with a 4th gen. slider. Their stuff is VERY sexy looking and well thought out.
Underbelly- there is no question that BudBuilt makes the best (there may be one company besides him) skids available. I have them on both my other Toyotas and they are bomber. C4Fabrication makes a gas tank skid for the 5th gens. It is SWEET, but no 4th gen. gear yet.
Likely i will be fabbing a full interior cage for this at some point way down the line. This is entirely dependent on Suspension.
A very hush hush super trick front IFS suspension is in the works by a VERY badass company.
Another highly reputable and capable company has an interest in designing a very nice coilover 3link rear suspension.
If/when it happens things get crazy after that. Gotta have an interior cage when things get fast and big. This is all down the line a ways. Back to reality

 

[EdmundGTP]

Some teaser shots of the goodies piling up in the garage.

Picked up a very nice set of Coilovers. Much nicer than i had intended, but too good to pass up.

5th gen Fox DSC 2.5 extended travel coils. Lightly used.

Spidertax Hubcentric 1.25" spacers. So i can run the OEM backspaced rims with my setup- to be announced shortly.

better stop there, don't want to give too much away before I'm ready to start wrenching.
Gotta get past my daughters Spring Break before i get some me time.

I just installed those same front coilovers recently. Install was a bit "tricky" I'll say. Be glad to offer some tips/insights when you get around to bolting everything up.

 

[zidaro]

I just installed those same front coilovers recently. Install was a bit "tricky" I'll say. Be glad to offer some tips/insights when you get around to bolting everything up.

lets hear it! Always ready for the insight.

Ill be pulling the front sway bar. Took it off both my other rigs and never thought twice about it.

did you install the 5th gen. Fox kit on the 4th gen? Im understanding that the reservoir bracket will require some modding. Aside from that, should be the same for the fronts.
please- feel free to post up some pics of what you encountered.