Large Marge

Hi everyone. I came to the 2016 Tundra (which I've named Large Marge) from my 2007 Tacoma TRD 4x4 offroad double cab, a very rare Canadian-market "industrial edition" with a factory 2.5" lift, stiffer leaf springs, big tires and a 6 speed manual, totaled by a drunk teen while parked in my driveway. Luckily, insurance gave me a good amount for it since it was low miles for the age.

I replaced it with the Tundra, a 2016 SR5 double cab 5.7L V8 4x4, $14k from a local construction company owner who upgraded to a new 2025 1794 edition. While he didn't baby the truck (he smoked and ate food in it daily, and definitely spilled coffee all over every surface) he took care of the maintenance and was the only owner. it only has minor wear from age, and has the evap purge codes (P0441 and P0455 which I think is either the purge solenoid value or the charcoal canister itself, already replaced the gas cap) and minor timing chain noise common with these trucks (an oil change seems to have helped there, maybe the tensioner was stuck?). The worst part about it was the dings and dents from being a daily-driven work truck. and the cigarette smell.

what I've done so far:

I spent a week completely gutting the interior and cleaning every inch with an upholstery vac and hard bristle brush to get the cigarette tar/nicotine out. pro tip: OdoBan (alcohol-based cleaner "fresh eucalyptus" scent) is magic for cigarette smells and stuck-on tar. also magic: Folex (enzyme cleaner), Simple Green (degreaser), and mini ozone generators.

I also upgraded the bumpers (ebay specials), lights (TRD pro LED), grille (TRD pro), etc, to fix minor body damage and wear from being a 10 year old truck. my DIY paint job on the front end was a minor fail, which I'll have a paint shop fix later. I applied the clear coat too soon.

I threw in a new leather steering wheel (ebay), TRD style shifter (ebay), re-wrapped the center storage bin (via Wolfman's) and new drivers' seat foam and upholstery (junk yard, from a wrecked 2020). the interior white trim (upper trim panels) and headliner were stained yellow from years of cigarettes, so I stained them black with automotive interior dye (Hi-Tech industries black spray dye). truck is now fully black interior. I also replaced broken center caps with TRD versions on the factory 18" wheels.

redid the brakes all around with Power Stop drilled/slotted rotors and ceramic pads (and replaced the completely rotted dust shields). new lug nuts. upgraded to the aluminum oil filter housing. replaced the cigarette lighter ports with USB ports.

I have a Prinsu roof rack and TRD skid plate waiting to be installed. I don't do "overlanding" really, but I do have two young boys, and we will be doing some camping and other outdoors activities with the truck.

in the future I will eventually do a 2.5-3" lift and bigger tires (open to recommendations). I'm thinking 285/75 18s, as I basically want what is the factory TRD Pro setup but on a budget. my Tacoma had a factory lift using stock Bilsteins and I was fine with it since I'm not doing rock crawling, I just want the extra clearance, and don't like the "bumper car look" on big trucks (big vehicle, tiny wheels, no clearance). I also want to ditch the nerf style "dad" step/running boards for slimmer ones like RB20s, or the TRD ones you see on the new Sequoia.

 

Welcome from TN!! WOW, you've done a lot of stuff!! Keep us posted and continue to provide pics! We like pics!!

 

I didn't take many "before" photos but it had sat for a year... it had some mouse poop and was covered in dirt, food, cigarettes, etc. I also fixed a couple of rust spots (door jambs and tow hitch area) and replaced some door gaskets and one of the tail lights. totally different looking truck. it's now basically rust-free (aside from parts I plan on replacing). I'll attach one photo from the original Facebook Marketplace listing so you can see... it had the typical chrome front end, and the driver side (which he conveniently left out of the photos...) was bashed-in from driving into a concrete light post. rear right side also had damage from a similar incident (I was able to pull the dent and use touch up paint).

 

Thank you so much for the info! Yeah, I love it when people try to hide obvious damage. That's a good color!!

 

I'm a fan of black but yeah at least silver is neutral. it was a steal even for the smoke damage.

 

Welcome and well done!

 

Need this on your back window:

 

already beat you to it

 

Welcome from VA

 

Welcome from LA (Lower Alabama)!

 

Welcome from NY.

 

Welcome from NC

 

Just ordered new ball joints and links (mevotech ttx) and struts (bilstein 5100) and shackles (camberg +1.5"). Also TRD rear sway bar. Will post pics.

Any idea if the rear will lose the extra height with this setup? I actually like having more room for carrying a load. Maybe add a leaf after this?

 

Welcome from Texas!

 

Welcome! Nice rescue! If there is still lingering smell, ozone machine helps a ton.

 

I've run it a few times before doing the deep clean. Still need to try to get into the vents and dash to get any lingering nicotine and tar.

 

You could try leaving the truck fan on recirculation with the ozone machine on for a few hours.

 

Yes but there's actual physical gunk in the hvac tubes and no amount of ozone will clean that off. Smokers don't understand how they're basically ruining a vehicle when they smoke in it.

 

Nice moniker....I call my 2014 Tundra "Big Booty Judy."

 

Ah ok. I used to smoke in my old truck and it never smelled. I always had the fan blowing in outside air with windows open. Guess some people like to hot box lol

 

smoking kills your sense of smell, so you likely just didn't notice, but yeah also it helps if people have the windows open and keep the truck clean.

this guy kept it dirty and 100% had the windows up.

 

Think I'll get pulled over for this? Had no idea it would be a full on strobe effect.

https://youtu.be/aQKu_0nC4Es

 

Yup. Off to the pokey it is. You'll get one phone call OR one post. Hopin' you post in this thread.

 

Doing suspension work. Started in the back and of course one of the bushings in the leaf spring was seized onto the bolt. Had to cut off the old shackle and bolt and then drill out the rubber before cutting off the sleeve. Rockauto overnighted a replacement and I drove it in with an impact on a ball joint press. So all of this just to install new shackles for my bilstein 5100 shocks, which are bright and shiny but hidden behind the wheels.

 

Been working on the truck even though I'm sick and exhausted, who can spot what I did wrong here? Spent an entire day trying to figure out why the spring wouldn't fit.

 

Glad to have you from Alabama.Have you got the shock mount upside down?

 

Look on the 2.5Gen Tundra thread for a lot of ways to spend your money

 

yes and I didn't notice until the next day.

 

Off to the alignment shop after new suspension all around (bilstein 5100 on the top setting with shackles in the rear).

I tried for over a week to push out the seized camber bolts and the lower ball joints and gave up. Got the moog greasable camber bolts and mevotech lower control arms and greasable upper and lower ball joints. Went for the "extreme" ttx mevotech for sway bar links and outer tie rods.

In the rear I also installed a TRD sway bar.

Will post more pics when done. Also have a TRD skid plate going in.

I'm from the Pacific Northwest and being back east is a nightmare of rust.

 

Not sure if I did it or the shop did it but the tie rod ends rub on my wheels because they're swapped side to side.

Rather than accuse the mechanic and argue for them to fix it I'm just going to swap them myself, as the alignment is actually really good (close to 0° caster and camber and a little toe in).

Stupid question but assuming I get them swapped to the exact same position, the alignment will stay the same correct? The only difference in the outer tie rods on each side is which way they curve, not their length
.... guess I'll have to measure closely.