Mellow77's Build Thread

[Mellow77]

Starting a build thread is long overdue. Many thanks to all of you contributing members I have been able to glean knowledge from prior to making a purchase decision. I continue to do so with each step along the journey. If the build thread format looks familiar it's because I shamelessly stole formats from other member's build threads I admired.

As purchased:


Officially named "Fenix" (based on my wacky rules for naming vehicles) but affectionately nicknamed ""YODA"
Purchased Jan 27th 2011
'99 T4R Limited Auto 4-Speed
Millennium Silver Metallic
3.4L 5VZ-FE V6 4x4 with 129k miles
Rear E-Locker

Current State and (Future Plans) Modifications:



Engine:
5VZ-FE 3.4L V6
Deckplate Mod
14" Free-Flowing Magnaflow
Future Plans: TRD 2nd Gen Supercharger
Future Plans: URD Additional Injector Controller & Fuel/Timing Controller
Future Plans: TRD 7th Injector
Future Plans: Headers
Future Plans: Hi-Flow Exhaust
Future Plans: Denso IK22 Iridium Spark Plugs
Future Plans: High Flow Cat

Transmission:
Stock A340F 4 Speed Automatic with a clean pan, new filter, gasket and Dexron VI Synthetic ATF
B&M 70268 SuperCooler Transmission Cooler
Transmission Serviced - Pan Dropped; Filter & Fluid Replaced

Differentials/Transfer Case:
Front - stock 4.30 gearing
Rear - Toyota factory installed e-locker
1" Toytec Differential Drop up front
Extended Rear Differential Breather
Royal Purple Synthetic Fluids in F/R Diffs & Transfer Case

Cooling:
Koyorad A1998 replacement radiator
Spal 30102113 16" Curved Blade Extreme Performance Electric Fan
Hayden Automotive 3647 Adjustable Thermostatic Fan Control

Instrumentation:
Future Plans: ScanGauge II
Future Plans: Inclinometer

Electrical:
Future Plans: Dual battery setup

Lift/Suspension:
Toytec Ultimate Lift:
Front: Red 600 LB coils, TTAFCS-600: ToyTec / Bilstein adjustable front coilovers (featuring Bilstein 5100 shocks adjustable for 0 to 3 1/2" front lift)
Rear: OME 890 coils & Bistein 5100 shocks
UCAs: 25460 Light Racing UCAs
Toytec Panhard Drop Kit
Taco LBJs
Taco OTREs
Taco ITREs
Replaced stock CVs
Steering Rack Guide Swapped out to newer designed parts
Future Plans: Wheeler's Off Road Poly Sway Bar Bushings

Wheels & Tires:
17" Gunmetal Tundra Wheels
285/70/17 Nitto Terra Grapplers
Spidertrax 1.25" Wheel Spacers

Brakes:
13WL 231mm Tundra Brake Upgrade
Toyota OEM Tundra Rotors
Toyota OEM Tundra Pads & Shim Kit
NAPA Re-man Calipers

Armor:
Future Plans: Plate Bumper, Rock Sliders, Skid Plates

Recovery:
Future Plans: 8kWinch, D-Shackles

Lighting Upgrades:
Sylvania Silverstar Ultra Headlight Bulbs
Clear Corner Lenses (Burtman Industries)
Clear LED tail lights (Burtman Industries)
Future Plans: Projector Retrofit
Future Plans: Replace stock Dash / Climate Control Lighting
Future Plans: Replace stock cabin lighting

Exterior Appearance Mods:
Re-design of Jaos Style Rear Spoiler (Burtman Industries)
Gun metal painted badges
Future Plans: Sport Hood
Future Plans: Satoshi Grill Mod
Future Plans: Mud Flap Mod

Interior Upgrades:
Cargo Area Carpet Removed & Herculined
Front Speakers - Pioneer TS-A1684R A-Series 6 1/2" 4-Way 350 Watts
Rear Speakers - Pioneer TS-A1374R A-Series 5 1/4" 3-Way 300 Watts

Permanent Stowaways:
16" Mag Light
Scanguage
Maps

Things to get:
Hi-Lift Jack
Low Profile Roof Basket

 

[blcktpgsr]

Looking good, so...are we gonna get a glimpse of your futute plans for the truck sometime soon?.....Oh but I don't mean to rush you..just seems like you started real well already.:biggrin2:

 

[Mellow77]

Looking good, so...are we gonna get a glimpse of your futute plans for the truck sometime soon?.....Oh but I don't mean to rush you..just seems like you started real well already.:biggrin2:

Thank you sir! I have a pretty good vision of the exhibition rig I have in my head but it's a matter of time & money to get it there. Stay tuned!

 

[fightman80]

Looks great man! Love those Tundra wheels!

 

[Mellow77]

Looks great man! Love those Tundra wheels!

Thanks; I really like them too and had to get a set right after purchase.

 

[Mellow77]

Muffler Replacement

First mod was more of a necessity. I had to replace the rusted out stock muffler so I went with a 14" Free-Flowing Magnaflow. It works but I can't say I'm a big fan of the sound. It's a little noisier than I would like it to be (wanna trade???).

 

[Mellow77]

Air Box Mod

Decided the air box mod was something I wanted to try. I decided on going with a little smaller hole (option to add another if I wanted to later) and it was a pretty simple mod to do. Also performed the blue/gray wire mod so I can use my e-locker on my schedule; not Toyota's.




I was drag racing ricers in no time! Caution-I'm rarely serious... :nono:

Made a slight difference; nothing major.

 

[Mellow77]

Herculined Cargo Area

Next mod was out of pure laziness. I have a yellow lab that does plenty of shedding and I swear that factory carpet is the world's best dog hair entrapment device. Once it's in there it's pretty difficult to get out. To remedy that situation I decided to remove all the carpet from the cargo area and Herculine it.

It works really well and makes cleanup (of anything) quick and easy. I've even been know to open the rear passenger doors and take a hose to it. :happens:

Rocks, rain, mud and the muffler do add additional interior noise to the cabin without the carpet's buffering effect. I drive A LOT and it doesn't bother me but it is a noticeable difference.

Problem Area


Solution (It's dirty and I still need to wrap the back seat pieces for a cleaner look)


Also tinted the windows to combat the heat in TX.

 

[Mellow77]

Lift Time!

I finally bit the bullet and decided on a Toytec Ultimate Lift! :guitar2: I'm glad I did because it gave me a chance to address a couple of things while I was at it. Ditched the stock running boards during the process.

Ball Joint was on it's last leg


Found some rust that needed attention


Old UCAs got upgraded to some from Light Racing to make space for some planned upgrades down the road


New Shocks & Springs in the rear


Crappy cell pics late at night but I was so excited I didn't care


Picked up the panhard drop bracket from Toytec and had it welded on a few days later

 

[Hepar]

Mmmmmmm. Love the look of shiny new coilovers. Dig the list too. Can't wait to see the process.

 

[Mellow77]

Tundra Rims & Tires

I've always loved the look of the 17" Gunmetal Tundra Rims so I picked up a pair and then wrapped them with 285/70/17 Nitto Terra Grapplers!

 

[Mellow77]

Tundra Stopping Power

Had the well documented rotor warp after 116k on the rig so it came time for a serious upgrade. I went with reman'd 231mm (13WL) Tundra calipers from NAPA and Toyota OME Tundra rotors.

After the install I couldn't bleed the brakes for the life of me and finally took it to a shop. After some digging they figured out the culprit was a faulty seal within one of the calipers. After a swap-out, re-install, drum adjustment and brake bleed the rig was back on the road.



I also took the opportunity to rebuild the stock drum brakes on the rear end considering the parking brake didn't work. Cleaned them up and painted them as well.

 

[Mellow77]

Rear Axle Rebuild

I got hit with the famed rear axle seal leak.



Since I'm a big fan of the "WHILE IT'S APART" mentality I basically rebuilt the whole axle with new seal, bearings..etc so I was sure it would be solid going forward.

 

[Mellow77]

Jaos Style Rear Spoiler

I intended to upgrade the look with LED brake lights but didn't like the option of leaving the original third brake light in stock form when I couldn't find a suitable LED upgrade for it so I held off.

I have always like the Jaos style rear spoilers on T4Rs; especially with the integrated LED third brake light. I DID NOT like how the orignal design mounted to the rig as it used a metal tab to orient it on the top side and it didn't cover the stock mounting holes that were left when removing the stock deflector. :nono: :barf:



When Burtman Industries decided to address those issues and needed a guinea pig for mock-up and testing I decided to go along for the journey. :snacker:



Finished Product - I love it!

 

[Mellow77]

Lift Supports / Hatch Struts

My stock hatch struts are still lifting the rear gate about 65% of it's opening height but I would like it to open all the way. I swapped out my stock struts for Monroe 901446 Max-Lift Hatch Lift Supports. They performed exactly like my worn stock struts did. :bash:

 

[Mellow77]

Hitch Removed

Decided the hitch had to go. I rubbed it some while off-roading but have plans to replace the rear bumper with a swing-away.

 

[Mellow77]

LED Tails & Clear Corners

To match the LEDs in the rear spoiler I picked up some Clear LED tails from Burtman Industries. I didn't want to stray far from the stock look but I really think the LEDs look clean.



I also went ahead with replacing the amber corner lenses with clear ones. I'll take care of the turn signals when I replace the front bumper.

 

[Mellow77]

Mmmmmmm. Love the look of shiny new coilovers. Dig the list too. Can't wait to see the process.

Thanks; I've really been pleased with the Toytec Ultimate Kit! So far I've really only posted pics of the work...so here are some of the fun with the suspension at work.





A big thank you to Scott Brown for capturing these pics. Next time I promise to disconnect the sway bars!!! :rtfm:

 

[BigFishAllDay]

The build is coming right along Mellow. The truck looks great, and the future plans sound good too.

For some reason though, something about the formatting, sub headings, and even the verbiage of the items listed in your build summary in post #1, remind me of another build. I'm pretty sure it's one that I've looked at alot, because it looks VERY familiar to me.

 

[Mellow77]

The build is coming right along Mellow. The truck looks great, and the future plans sound good too.

For some reason though, something about the formatting, sub headings, and even the verbiage of the items listed in your build summary in post #1, remind me of another build. I'm pretty sure it's one that I've looked at alot, because it looks VERY familiar to me.

It should, I really liked the way you organized yours so it was obviously the major influence on how I chose to do mine. Not only do you contribute knowledge, creative mod ideas and advice; your now a grammarian contributor as well! :reddance:

I love both of your rigs by the way.