2003 Toxic Tacoma

[ToxicGumbo]

A couple more packages arrived:


^ Ichiba spacers for the rear to match the front spindles. The Gorilla nuts shown further up will be used to hold these to the hub.


^ These ET nuts will be used for all 4 wheels (the shorter acorn nuts on the spacers will be abandoned). Next to the nuts is a B.A.M.F. BPV bracket.


^ Here's the truck as she sits as of this afternoon: new windshield, updated inspection sticker, and removed front bumper. The mis-matched wheel is a spare--every tire on this truck was a different brand and most nearly bald.

The hood really could use a gator head on it. That would free up prime dash real estate for tacho, boost, and AFR guages.

-Jeff

[Fred]

A couple more packets of rice arrived

Fixed

The hood really could use a gator head on it. That would free up prime dash real estate for tacho, boost, and AFR guages.

ROFL!!!!

[ToxicGumbo]

I didn't realize how badly the existing body lift kit affects bumper placement until after removal of the stock front bumper. It amazes me that they're even legal since the front bumper becomes functionally useless in a crash situation.

In order to avoid a significiant 3in (~75mm) gap between the grille/lights/fenders and the stock bumper location, some serious welding needs to take place to install the new bumpers and winch as safely as possible while maintaining wheel clearance and body fitment.

-Jeff


Edit: Total re-write. Got rid of original frustrated rambling and am looking at solid solutions.

[ToxicGumbo]

I spent my lunch hour finishing up the paint on the Toxic Tacoma's "All Pro" front bumper, eager to install it before a road trip. Only, that lunch hour dragged on and became a lunch afternoon upon discovering that the bumper was a whopping 1/4 inch (>5mm) out of spec and the bumper and paint job are scratched up pretty badly now from failed install attempts.

It was only when another resident at my apartment complex saw me fire up an angle grinder that a solution presented itself: we used his come-along hand winch and were able to pull the frame rails together just enough to clear the bumper for installation. In my mind, that's a horrible solution and the stress on the bumper welds might eventually tear the bumper apart. I'm sure it's also not good for the suspension.

I've written All Pro Offroad a frustrated letter and am awaiting a hopefully professional response on the matter.

Here are a few photos of the results:


^ Bumper in the paint booth.



^ This looks less serious than it was. Multiple measurements revealed a more significant disparity in sizing overall.



^ Front shot. The 3in body lift's dead obvious and ugly, but not as bad as expected. I have a plan for resolving the gap in a decent and functional way.



^ Beauty shot.


-Jeff

[Fred]

Your obsession with prettiness on car parts is unprecedented!

[ToxicGumbo]

A happy ending to a crappy day:



Thanks to Deuce for the Jaguar, Fred for the firmware, and both for the late hours, endless testing, and collaboration.




-Jeff

[Fred]

Congrats, my favourite new hw tester :-) Well, if you were less busy I might be so cheeky, but alas, just joking.

Thanks to Deuce for the Jaguar, Fred for the firmware, and both for the late hours, endless testing, and collaboration.

De nada! :-)

What's this? A key to your heart? :-)

[DeuceEFI]

You're welcome, keep us up to date as you start building your Jaguar board

[ToxicGumbo]

Well, if you were less busy I might be so cheeky, but alas, just joking.

Chances are that I'll be a lot less busy in a few weeks.

What's this? A key to your heart?

I thought it was to yours!

You're welcome, keep us up to date as you start building your Jaguar board

Will do. Pulling up your BoM right now.


-Jeff

[masterkorp]

This is going really nice. I hope you get that bumper tight.