My New Toy!

[tinman]

I'm not sure if I like the lights behind the grill..... what do you guys think???

I agree...the lights behind the grill kind of kill the overall effect. Some Hella Black Magic's would be kinda cool...

...or if you have some covers for the lights you have in there you could black them out & run the covers until you use the lights. (keeps you from just flipping the lights on when you want to though).

Grill looks good!

 

[Dezert4Runner]

Get the black color shiledz for the 500's -they're the cheap option to make yours like the black magics since you already have the lights.

Amazon.com: HELLA H87988441 Color Shieldz Smoke Protective Laminate for 500 / 500FF Series Lamps: Automotive

 

[BeachWagon]

Yellow lens wrap on the grill lights and your set. I think they look bad a$$, just need a little contrast.

 

[fightman80]

Thanks for all the recommendations guys.... not going to replace the lights I bought... but may tint them?? If that don't work... then I'll just rip them out... and leave it that way....

 

[fightman80]

Picking up these babies tomorrow..... gonna run them with bigger rubber when I lift the Tacoma!

They come off a Nissan Frontier.... same bolt pattern... I'm going to ad my own center cap, and get some proper lugs for it. They do come with some rubber.... but gonna try to flip those.

 

[LittleCaesar]

The Tacoma did not stay stock for long there Fightman. Post up some pics with the new rubber bling on them when you have time.

Got any night shots with those grille lights? I had a chance to pick up some PIAA 540s, but they were off Craigslist in a matter of hours. Oh well, next time.

I hope Mean Green is still getting some playtime in the Fightman family.

 

[Bandit Runner]

Picking up these babies tomorrow..... gonna run them with bigger rubber when I lift the Tacoma!

They come off a Nissan Frontier.... same bolt pattern... I'm going to ad my own center cap, and get some proper lugs for it. They do come with some rubber.... but gonna try to flip those.

Those wheels will look good once you get rid of the Nissan center caps.

 

[fightman80]

THanks for the compliments guys! Mean Green get's plenty of playtime... I drive her half of the time... sometimes a little more. Winter rubber and stock wheels are on Mean Green right now.... so missing my 33's... but at least she's ready for winter!

As for the Taco... the rubber is gonna have to wait. I'm still not decided on how big I want to go with my lift... 3" or 6". If I go 6", it's gonna have 35's on it. I'll have to regear, and most likely get a one piece driveshaft too. I'm still undecided... but heavily leaning towards going 6"! lol!

 

[JadatheRottweiler]

I would remove the toyota emblem if you dont tint the fogs, just too much going on imo

=)

 

[farmerjon]

Well, it looks like you're not getting any black magics like some others have suggested (totally fine!), but I'd thought I'd add a link to some photos of Black Magics on my truck if you want some real life looks of them...

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-g...-introduction-build-thread-7.html#post1225367

Cheers and love the Taco! Keep it up!

 

[Hepar]

Looking good! I think if you softened the lights up a bit or added a darker grille to cover them, they would look great. Maybe post some different angles of them? Might just be the angle that is making them stand out so much.

 

[fightman80]

I have no desire to spend more money on lights... as I've already bought these ones. These are the very same lights I'm running on the 4Runner. They have all metal construction, run H4 Halogens, and are easy to retrofit with some HID's, should I decide to keep them.

I'm just not a big fan of spending more money on something I've already bought, and know works just fine. Ultimately, I'm most likely going to just rip them off, since they are not wired yet. But figured I'd run them as is for a while, and see how I like them.

So far, I'm thinking of tinting them, I don't want to remove any of the emblems, as I like the look, and find if they were gone, it would look too bare on the grill. I've already run the grill with NO emblems, and didn't like the look (even with the lights showing behind).

As for the mesh... it gonna have to stay. It's the same mesh I used on the 4Runner, and I haven't been able to find anything that is as easy to work with, cheap as it is, and as durable. I've looked all over town, for mesh to use for a Satoshi... but can't seem to find anything big enough, or durable enough to run in the front of my vehicle.

Thanks for all the comments guys, and I'll definitely be trying to tint these lights in the future. Fall is in full swing, winter is on it's way, and I'm in the midst of long drawn out snowy winter

I like living in Canada.... but sometimes wish I lived in Cali where the snow never flies, and the temps are always nice!

 

[fightman80]

TRD Oil Cap and Radiator Cap cover....

Added 24hp with these 2 little beauties...

 

[gaterose]

Have you test fitted those wheels?

I've read that Nissan wheels have a smaller hub bore than 4th gen 4Runners, so I'd assume that would translate to 2nd gen Tacos. Was going to purchase some off CL a couple of years ago until I saw that.

Just a heads up so you don't pay to have tires mounted then have to pay again to swap them.

 

[fightman80]

Have you test fitted those wheels?

I've read that Nissan wheels have a smaller hub bore than 4th gen 4Runners, so I'd assume that would translate to 2nd gen Tacos. Was going to purchase some off CL a couple of years ago until I saw that.

Just a heads up so you don't pay to have tires mounted then have to pay again to swap them.

I haven't test fitted them as I didn't even think of the center bore size!! That being said.... I think the offset might.be a problem, as my wheel is 8.5" wide, with very little offset. I don't think I'll be paying for mounting anyway....... As my dad is an old schooltire tech, and does all my stuff for FREE!

 

[fightman80]

What would you do??

Alright folks... it's been months now, and I can't decide what lift to go with for the Taco!

I'm thinking of going with a 6" Bracket lift, and 35" tires.... the truck is SUPER long.. and I find this lift looks pretty bad ass on this truck! Here's a pic for reference...

If I get this lift... I'm looking at huge bucks, with mods to the Driveshaft, gearing, and the lift itself costs over $1500.00 plus install costs.. if I don't do it myself.

Next is the 3" lift with 33's. It uses springs and shocks, and is more of a traditional lift, but could mean having to replace the upper control arms, which will put me close to the same cost as the 6" lift.

Here's a pic for reference....

What do you guys think?? I've always been a fan of the bigger trucks... and find can't help but want to go big with this longer taco. I know it's a Mall Crawler setup... but we all know that I don't wheel my trucks.... lol!

 

[fightman80]

Well, gave the Taco it's first Oil Change since I bought it! Damn Stealership, tightened that filter on so hard, that I had to punch a screw driver through it, and turn it using that! The filter wrench just rounded the damn filter, and no way was it coming off with just my hand!

I swear they do this, to discourage people from doing their own Oil Changes!! lol!

Also.... thinking of naming the Taco.... "The Contender". What do you all think??

 

[downpour11]

Have you decided on a lift for the taco yet?

 

[rickashay]

I'm personally not a huge fan of the drop-bracket lifts but I agree, they do look good on the DCLB. A friend of mine in CT4WD has a ProComp 6" lift, 35's, and just got the All-Pro long travel kit. He has the TRD sport like you and said he would not regear with the 35's. He drives pretty fast too and power doesn't seem to be an issue for him with 35's and the stock gears. BTW, he wheels the shiz outta that BroComp er' ProComp lift and it seems to do ok with the big tires. (I know you said you won't be wheeling it... just sayin)

I don't think you need to get new UCA's with the 3" lift do you? I know we can get away without it on our old 4Runners with IFS so I would assume you can get away with it on the Tacomas... especially if you were set at like 2.5" instead of maxing out at 3".

 

[fightman80]

Thinking of going with the Skyjacker, 3" lift, with new shocks and an AAL for the back. SHould run me around $500.00 shipped, and I can get it here NEXT DAY. The drop bracket lift is just too pricey for me... and can't see myself daily driving something that big! lol!