Matt's 07 - Build to the perfect Daily Driven wheeler

[theoutbackdream]

Having some fun wheelin. Videos from [MENTION=175666]-joshua[/MENTION] :thumb3:.

 

[theoutbackdream]

Mammoth!

A few weeks back, Super last minute trip with my buddies from Utah and LA. Literally got called Saturday morning at 10am, and was asked if I wanted to join on the fun at Mammoth Lakes. Met up with them at the Laurel Lake Trailhead... To bad the snow drifts were still crazy... At least 4ft high, if not more... Kinda crazy since it's already summer... 6 rigs, a group of about 15 people = good times.

And I think I wheeled too hard...

Spent Sunday at Tuolumne Climbing, Fishing and chilling at Tenaya Lake. Caught the sunset before we made our way home.

 

[theoutbackdream]

Went over to Corral Hollow with the norcal guys, and did Sourgrass solo. Good times.

Serial Killers cabin :rofl:

And yea... I had no problems following them...

After we parted ways, I went to Sourgrass...

Got to use my sliders a good amount. :heh:

 

[theoutbackdream]

Hmm... Something showed up at my door today... Not what I expected... But I'll take it...

Too bad I don't drive a Tundra... Maybe they're telling me to do a V8 swap?

 

[falkon240]

SUBBED. Love your descriptions and pics. Will go through the whole build later!

 

[theoutbackdream]

SUBBED. Love your descriptions and pics. Will go through the whole build later!

Glad you like my build! Hope I don't bore ya!

 

[theoutbackdream]

Went out to Eagle Lakes and very small part of Fordyce... Was a good day, until the inevitable... 2 flats. Unrepairable... So I needed to fork out on my dreams of 35's and have that come another day.. Maybe it's a sign? The day was good nonetheless... Except running into a group who ran the trail EXTREMELY slow and wouldn't pull off to let me pass. A snail could've ran the trail faster... And the obvious... getting 2 flats and getting towed and loosing some monies.

This tire was FUBAR. I needed to run the spare just long enough to get off the trail and hit asphalt. Not idea since they don't match... but I figure since it's dirt, I won't risk blowing the diff... At least the rear tire could hold SOME air. Held long enough to make it out.. Had to stop a few times though to keep air in it though.

Awaiting new tires... Ended up getting Nitto Terra Grappler 285/70/17. Not ideal, but I can't complain. At least I have more time to prep for 35's. :sad:

 

[YetiX]

What got the tires? Are you running E load rating tires? Sorry to hear it.

 

[Hitech R3dneck]

Where did you order your steering wheel cover? It looks pretty sweet.

 

[theoutbackdream]

What got the tires? Are you running E load rating tires? Sorry to hear it.

Honestly, I'm not sure. One tire was cut right at lip of the tire, and the other was slashed on the sidewall.. My guess is just a sharp rock...

I'm fairly certain those were E load tires..

Oh well.. Could've been MUCH worse... Just sad that I'll need to wear these down to get 35's... Funny part is the previous night, I was looking at buying 35's from ebay, with the use of the 15% off coupon, and then go back to my parents place this weekend to prep the truck for 35's, with a lot of hammering, and cutting, etc.. Maybe it's a sign not to do it..

 

[theoutbackdream]

Where did you order your steering wheel cover? It looks pretty sweet.

I ordered it from aliexpress... It's like ebay, but only from China.. IIRC, it was about $3 shipped to my door, after waiting 2 weeks. I'll try to find the link once I get home.

Edit:

I love this steering wheel cover. It makes the steering wheel just a bit bulker, as it's super slim. Compared to what you'd find at walmart, it's SO nice to drive...

My only complaint is that for it to not slide around your steering wheel, you'll need to stitch it on really well, and evenly.. Otherwise, overtime, it'll slowly start to undo itself to the point of it moving around. (Not to the point it coming off though). Not to much so, to where it's a danger or anything, but enough to just feel a bit loose and be an annoyance...

 

[theoutbackdream]

Where did you order your steering wheel cover? It looks pretty sweet.

Here's the link!

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1PC...712.html?spm=2114.13010708.0.0.3a994c4dY0ApSu

 

[theoutbackdream]

Trying to be cool like the 5th gens, I opted to do the amber running lights. The only real issue is routing the wire from the grille to a power source... Will take more pics tomorrow(if I remember), but in the mean time, some pics that I should've used flash.....

I wanted to run a total of 4 ambers (2 on each side), but it just looked weird being so cramped together. So I opted for 1 on each side.

Final result...
My complaint(?) is that the ambers are REALLY bright... And that it looks a bit weird with the ambers on, and the parking lights being on below it on the corners... Maybe I'll just pull the bulbs out, and let the newly installed amber lights, be my parking lights...

Something I want to achieve though is having these ambers run all the time(obviously when the car is in the "On" mode), kind of like a DRL. I tried playing around with a multimeter to find any fuse that would only get power when the key is in the on mode, but it seems all of them get constant 12v (in the engine bay). I'd prefer to avoid having to route wiring into the interior, just for the ease of install.

Would anyone happen to know if there's a wire in the engine bay that is hot when the key is in the "on" mode?

 

[Terminator03]

Trying to be cool like the 5th gens, I opted to do the amber running lights. The only real issue is routing the wire from the grille to a power source... Will take more pics tomorrow(if I remember), but in the mean time, some pics that I should've used flash.....

I wanted to run a total of 4 ambers (2 on each side), but it just looked weird being so cramped together. So I opted for 1 on each side.

Final result...
My complaint(?) is that the ambers are REALLY bright... And that it looks a bit weird with the ambers on, and the parking lights being on below it on the corners... Maybe I'll just pull the bulbs out, and let the newly installed amber lights, be my parking lights...

Something I want to achieve though is having these ambers run all the time(obviously when the car is in the "On" mode), kind of like a DRL. I tried playing around with a multimeter to find any fuse that would only get power when the key is in the on mode, but it seems all of them get constant 12v (in the engine bay). I'd prefer to avoid having to route wiring into the interior, just for the ease of install.

Would anyone happen to know if there's a wire in the engine bay that is hot when the key is in the "on" mode?

Why not just tap into the positive from the small running light bulbs in the headlights? That’s what I plan to do if I ever get around to adding Raptor style lighting to my grill.

 

[theoutbackdream]

Why not just tap into the positive from the small running light bulbs in the headlights? That’s what I plan to do if I ever get around to adding Raptor style lighting to my grill.

As of now, I have it tapped into the small running light bulb(the other ones that are on in the Pic), but I guess my previous owner disabled the DRLs or I don't have DRLS???

 

[Terminator03]

As of now, I have it tapped into the small running light bulb(the other ones that are on in the Pic), but I guess my previous owner disabled the DRLs or I don't have DRLS???

Oh, I see. My ‘04 was already converted to the ‘06 projector headlights before I bought it, and just those small corner lights run as DRLs, so I thought that was how they were supposed to be. There are no sockets in the original DRLs that are in the bumper on the ‘04s. I’m probably going to try to add them back as markers at least because I don’t believe I can pass the state inspection having non functioning lights.

I thoroughly enjoyed this build thread btw! Amazing pics and videos! Very jealous of the great wheeling area you have out in CA.:tea:

 

[theoutbackdream]

Oh, I see. My ‘04 was already converted to the ‘06 projector headlights before I bought it, and just those small corner lights run as DRLs, so I thought that was how they were supposed to be. There are no sockets in the original DRLs that are in the bumper on the ‘04s. I’m probably going to try to add them back as markers at least because I don’t believe I can pass the state inspection having non functioning lights.

I thoroughly enjoyed this build thread btw! Amazing pics and videos! Very jealous of the great wheeling area you have out in CA.:tea:

Hmm, that makes sense. the interesting thing though is that those small corner lights should be DRL's on I think 06 and up? as it became a state or federal law to have DRL's. So I wish I knew why.. but oh well..

Glad you enjoyed my build thread!

 

[theoutbackdream]

Here are some actual pics of my front grille amber lights install/mod... Sorta a How to, too I suppose...

All in all, I used about

8feet of black and red wire, 2 amber lights(duh), and about 25ft of electrical tape. About 30minutes of my time. Worth it.

Pulled the battery get more space to get cleaner wiring...

For anyone doing this mod, if you're going to tap into your small corner lights, use the green wire! It comes on with the parking light/lo-hi beams.

Wire fed through the back of the grille, inbetween the hood and hood insulation pad. Ziptied the wire to the hood strut, and routed it down towards the headlight assembly.

Completed! I am kinda indifferent to the 2 lights... It looks good... but it also looks a tad bit weird...

 

[theoutbackdream]

Today, I met up with some buds I haven't seen in ages. They helped me(more like popcorn gallery) swap out my front coil, and do my Body mount chop.

All in all, it was like good ol times. I even got to learn how to weld... Well... more like a 30second lesson on how to weld, and then give it an actual shot.. Apparently I didn't do all that bad.. but my buddy just hopped in since the welds were bad for him. LOL

Before...

After...
(Will post later)

My original set up was Moog 81108's in the front, set at 1.75". I liked the setup, but I wanted to raise the front a bit more. So with ebay's 15% discount, I hopped onto a set of OME 886's. Same spring rate, Much longer, and a thicker coil than the 81108s.

We didn't have the right tools, so we brought out the big boy tools...

The difference between Moogs and OME 886s.

First time laying a bead, and then trying to tack weld. The bead looks pretty good... Tack welding was just weird to me...

Cutting the Body Mount.. That took quite a long time..

Buddy hopping in on the welding festivities. Couldn't bare my shitty welding skills that I just acquired about 5minutes before hand. :lmao:

 

[YetiX]

Hmm, that makes sense. the interesting thing though is that those small corner lights should be DRL's on I think 06 and up? as it became a state or federal law to have DRL's. So I wish I knew why.. but oh well..

Glad you enjoyed my build thread!

There are two relays for the turn signals. One activates the DRL's, the other doesn't. (This is on the 06 to 09)