Build Thread "Michele" is her name

[kmiller93]

Here she is the day I got her. 198,000k - Sept 2nd 2010


This is what she looks like now. 216,000 - April 27th 2013


Current Mods

-Lights-
LED Dome Lights
LED Tail Lights

-Suspension-
3in Ultimate Lift Kit
1in diff drop
Camburg UCA

-Brakes-
Extended Front & Rear brake lines

-Engine-
Deckplate MOD
40 Series Flowmaster Muffler

-Wheels-
Procomp Rims 7005 17x8
Bfg All terrain 285x70x17

-Ext-
15% stock window tint
20% front window tint
Wade in-channel rain deflectors

-Wish List / To do-
Projector Retro fit
Custom bumpers
Light bars
Whitson Roof rack
Tundra Rotors
Adjustable Dom Panhard Bar

Here's a picture of her on a nice sunny day before any exterior changes took place. I think around this time I had put a Flowmaster 40 series.


I then went and plasti dipped the bumpers on March 5th 2012. I took the bumpers off and put them on stands in my garage and painted them. I think 6 coats.


I then painted the rims.



Here's Michele parked next to Natasha. My friends 99 limited 4runner. He copied me haha.


Heres one at work.

 

[kmiller93]

I then went on some quick trials to get some dirt on the tires. Nothing crazy at all since my mom kept telling me that ill break something.




Then I did the Satoshi Grill Mod. Used some mesh from Home Depot. Got a huge roll for 5 bucks. Cut a size roughly to fit. Then cut out all unwanted trim from the center of the grill. Zip tied the mesh in and zip tied the emblem on. painted with Black Bed liner.

 

[kmiller93]

Then I did the Deckplate mod and also repainted the skid plate with Bed liner.
Its a 6 inch deckplate.




BEFORE


AFTER


Went off road and hit a mud hole.



After I washed the mud off which was everywhere underneath the truck and ran my rents water bill through the roof I went and took some photos.

 

[kmiller93]

Added some Led License plate lights. The others looked old and dull.


This was the last thing I did until I spent some cash on the Lift.
New Rims - Procomp 7005 17x8 4.5BS


Then the 3in Ultimate lift kit came in from Toytec.com
600lb Coilovers
with 890 coils and procomp 9000 series
1in diff drop


Then the install. Front first. The front struts bushings were torn up.

 

[kmiller93]

Then I installed the 1in Diff drop. I really hate putting the skids back on. It always seems like I put one less bolt on the front.


Heres how she sat with just the front lifted.


Then did the back. I didn't have any coil compressors until my neighbor saw me suffering haha. Finally got them squeezed in. With the shocks there is some noise coming from them when I hit bumps. Sounds like the top bolt is moving but they're on nice and tight. Also heres a pic of the 40 series Flowmaster.




Here she is all put together after the lift. Next was to go pick up the tires and have them mated to the rims. For those of you who remember Natasha, thats not her in the road.

 

[kmiller93]

Here she is next to my mom's Armada.




Then I went out and got my wheels put on. Before I left I had to reset the rear brakes since they were locking up when i went from park to drive. Go in reverse then hit the brakes do this a few times with pace. Don't hit anything.

Now the lift is complete.

 

[kmiller93]

Drove her home and was very proud of how she looked and that sick feeling from spending so much was going away for now.

 

[kmiller93]

 

[kmiller93]

After the lift I would check up on her and see if anything was leaking. Much easier to get underneath since shes much higher. :naughty:
And there were some problems, the CV axle got lose and is leaking grease. Need to fix



Then I saw that my LBJ boot was cracked and leaking OH NO!



Plus this pissed me off to see that when I got my alignment they cocked the tie rod at this angle.

 

[kmiller93]

So heres where I am today april 8th 2013
I ordered new UCAs from Camburg, new bushings for the rack and pinion, new bushings for the LCA, new LBJ which I got today, extended brake lines and a new pre cat o2 sensor.

 

[spenedwrds]

looks really clean man!! great start.. where in GA are you located exactly? im up in gainesville.

 

[kmiller93]

looks really clean man!! great start.. where in GA are you located exactly? im up in gainesville.

Im in Paulding once I get my LBJs fixed this week I want to take her off road for the first time with the lift.

 

[spenedwrds]

Im in Paulding once I get my LBJs fixed this week I want to take her off road for the first time with the lift.

i hear ya! not to far.. i really want to go wheeling soon ive been waiting for some of this good weather to go

 

[BaseRunner]

Nice truck man, looks FRESH!!

 

[kmiller93]

Nice truck man, looks FRESH!!

Thanks man

 

[TRDteen]

Great progress so far! I'm very jealous of the Toytec lift!! That satoshi grille also looks great, but from a distance, it almost looks like there inst any mesh even there.

Just out of curiosity, why did you go with Camburg's UCA's? And where did you get the extended brake line?

Keep it up my man! Can't wait to see what you do to her in the future :laser:

 

[kmiller93]

Great progress so far! I'm very jealous of the Toytec lift!! That satoshi grille also looks great, but from a distance, it almost looks like there inst any mesh even there.

Just out of curiosity, why did you go with Camburg's UCA's? And where did you get the extended brake line?

Keep it up my man! Can't wait to see what you do to her in the future :laser:

It took a long time to save up for the Toytec lift. I like how the emblem looks like its floating on the mesh.

The moto for the the build was only the best (within reason) so when 4wheelparts told me uniball joints are the strongest I went with the Camburgs. The other option was Total chaos but those were too expensive for me. I couldn't find any reason to spend that much more on UCAs.

I got the Camburgs, front brake lines, rack and pinion bushings from Wheelersoffroad

The rear brake line and LCA bushings were from toytec

 

[Fishwerks]

Looking good! :yo:

 

[kmiller93]

Parked next to my friend's dad's F150. Stupid american truck.

 

[02_SE_Runner]

Can we get another pic of your truck and the Armada with your new tires? I wan't to see how big I will be next to my dad's X when I get bigger tires.
Are you running 33's?
Also nice rig!
Thanks in advance.