SouthPaw’s 2000 Tundra Limited 4x4 Build

Projects like these keep me young. I had a lot of fun doing it. I’d absolutely love to do it again. Thought I’d even pick up a set on craigslist for cheap to do some other tests with them (demon eyes, switch backs, color changing halos, etc).

 

Passenger washer nozzle started clogging up on me so I started looking for a replacement. I hated that it squirts streams vs a fan/mist style. I found another guy that used a set off of a FJ cruiser so I bought some on eBay. Not my pics but for $30, this is definitely must upgrade.

 

I'd be interested in a set if you ever decide to sell some budget retrofits. I would go the route you went with the halos, but probably in the smoked housings.

 

I’ll send you a pm!

 

Well it was time to replace the factory radiator last week. It started leaking at the driver side top corner at the mounting bolt. After further investigation, the previous owner replaced the bolt with one that was too long and rubbed/cracked it at the same spot. I threw some jb weld on it to get me by for a day and tossed in a lifetime warranty NAPA one for $150. 177k and some change, she’s back on the road.

One of the biggest reasons I love this truck is how easy they are to work on. Had the old one out and the new in filled and truck running in about an hour.

 

Finally got these guys in last week. I’ve had been working on them for a couple of weeks researching parts and tinkering with them after work. I bought a 12v bench supply and got to work. I’d say the final product was worth it. It was a bit of pain, especially the stripping, sanding, priming and painting part but I came out with a one of a kind set.
Mini H1 w/halos
Audi style DRL light strip with sequential/directional turn signals
6K HIDs
Matte black housing





https://youtu.be/-zDyx9bsjas








https://youtu.be/V2pbI0D0Ygk


Pics of the cut off line and high beams

 

Decided to upgrade the radio. While the old one still worked great, I needed something that would have better call quality. The Amazon one had a built in speaker but it was junk.

Did some research online and found out Best Buy will not only price match (including Crutchfield) but will also install for FREE. I didn’t believe it at first but it really was. I ended going with the Best Buy’s geek squad recommendation on the JVC-M750BT. I was hesitant at first because I had my mind set on a Sony but he assured me this was a better unit. The people that I have called says it sounds like an OEM Bluetooth call and the apple car play is an awesome feature. It’s a lot of bang for the buck at $269.





One of my favorite features is completely adjustable Backup camera lines.

 

Finally did the timing belt/water pump as well. Aisin kit, OEM thermostat, belts and hoses.


Next will be a full suspension over haul, Bilstein 5100’s, new springs, UCA’s, lower ball joints and some 33”/35” tires.

 

Today was my lucky day (kind of)! A 2005 DC limited was posted for a part out. I was able to snag the center console and I’m completely in love with the outcome. It’s about an 80% swap. Not EVERYTHING bolts up 100% but you can get crafty and make it secure. I was even able to utilize the 12v power outlets (different style of connectors). I have a few more things to tiddy it up but it came out great. I feel it’s almost a ‘have to’ upgrade for $65. I’ll get some better pictures tomorrow of how it looks.

 

hey, if you dont mind me asking, what exactly did you do to make that console work out... i have one in the truck and i cant make any combination of brackets come close to working.. i may just make custom brackets if i have to.. i have double cab brackets and access cab brackets

I do not have all the holes the access cabs seem to have on the floor, but i can drill them out and the nuts are on the sheet metal below.. so if i knew what ones you used that would be a great help in of it self (all i have thats kind of close is the rear bracket.. and even its off by a bit

 

I was only able to utilize one bracket from the DC, the one closest to the rear seat. That bolted up fine and then I secured the front to the bottom the dash. I figured between those two mount points, it wasn’t going anywhere. I couldn’t get the middle bracket to line up.

 

hmm.. looks like i'll be making my own bracket (my issue is the damn thing is setup like yours but still isnt "secure"

 

Depends on how you define secure. Under normal use, a roll over or anything like that, it isn’t going to move. Now if somebody latched onto or drop kicked it, it might move lol.

 

my truck has a history with rolling over

na my issue is driving around town just hitting potholes it rattles around.

 

Interesting. I haven’t noticed mine making any additional noise among the other noises it already makes lol.

 

@SouthPaw

Excellent write up! Fantastic progress!

I look forward to more posts, and am watching this thread now!

 

did your transmission tunnel look anything like this? I’m still have a bear of a time getting even one bracket to line up...

 

It looks like it but I didn’t pull the carpet. Like I said, only one of the double cab brackets lined up.

It took me over an hour to figure out how to line it up. Sounds dumb but it was a royal pain in the ass lol. It was the bracket closest to the bed that lined up if that helps. I think I bolted the bracket down first. Then fished the console around till I got it to fit. I’d also suggest getting the cigarette plug connectors to fit too. Once I got it all bolted up, I realized the damn pins were different and didn’t connect to the new fascia from the DC. I ended up snipping the DC connectors off and crimping on spade connectors that pushed into the connectors on my truck If that makes sense.

If it helps, I might take it apart to put two bolts into the holes that are left open since I didn’t use that bracket. I could snap some pictures of it then and maybe that would help.

 

Yea that’s the only one that even bolts into my floor. Did you use the bracket that came with the console or one your truck already had?

 

I just updated my post. Honestly I could have. Reason being why I don’t know is because I did this at night with a flashlight. I took it all apart inside the cab and then realized I didn’t know which was the new brackets and which was the old. I just sold my old console yesterday with the brackets

 

I was only able to utilize one bracket. The rest didn’t line up.

 

I’m just drilling all the holes for the mounts.. the nuts are under the truck, but the holes are not drilled. So far I have the front mount setup. (Granted I’ll have to find an access cab console to work now.. the double cab one won’t line up with any of these.) or I’ll just make custom mounts.. we’ll have to wait and see.

 

When I bought this truck, my intentions were to restore it, not build it. Well... I think that has officially changed now.

Since blacking out grill, I’ve wanted to replace the bumpers to get rid of the chrome. I saw another first gen that had the bumpers covered in bed liner and I wanted to do the same. After reading how much prep was involved, I opted to do plasti-dip. It’s on there pretty dang thick (8 or so coats worth). I cleaned it really well, sprayed a coat, waited 20 min and did another coat. Repeated that a bunch of times and it’s on there thick. I don’t think any rock chips will be getting through, at least for awhile.

And lastly, her latest and biggest upgrade; a Leer 100R topper. Found this by accident and I got a smoking deal on it. I’m going to upgrading and painting a few things on it to bring it back to life and then will be building a sleeping platform for an air mattress.

 

I kinda like the storm tropper look going on here.

youve also reminded me i want to put some reverse LEDs in my bumper.

 

I’m a big fan of two tone. Might have to get a ST decal for the topper back window now lol.

Those are extremely handy, especially when someone is tail gating you.

 

im just going to make a T harness for the trailer brake and reverse lights. no hacking of my harnesses and it'll be a clean install for the cap and eventual reverse lights

 

I plasti-dipped my grill and bumpers years ago. Held up pretty well for 3-4 years and then started to peel at all the bug strike spots. after it got pretty ratty looking I stripped it down and wire wheeled the whole thing. Then used etching primer. Then used Rustoleum bedliner in the spray can to recoat it. Turned out great, is easy to touch up if you get a chip in it and looks darker black than the plasti-dip. My grill is still plasti-dipped, but is peeling in several spots. Will likely bedliner it also. Might buy a new all black grill for an SR5. Mine has a broken clip on it and rattles. I ended up using the bedliner on the mirror caps and side trim as well since the factory clearcoat was almost gone.

 

Beautiful cool day in Colorado so I decided to work on the shell. The previous owner was obviously into construction as the inside had paint all over it and glass. I got all the paint off the windows via a razor blade and removed all the chunks of paint off the fiberglass I could. Then ran it down to the car wash and washed it all out. Stopped by the auto parts store and picked four cans of Duplicolor TR250 truck bed coating. Got everything masked off and shot it. I’m really happy the way it came out and it dried really hard. The texture was exactly what I was looking for.

Before






After a solid coat:





And the finished product. I’m sure once it dries completely, it will look more uniform.








Here is an example of the texture. A piece of tape came up and I didn’t catch it right away.

 

I debated on what to coat it with. I called a topper place and he suggested just a roll on latex paint. I then thought bed liner, plasti dip and regular spray paint. I decided on bed liner because I wanted that texture and I felt it would ‘fill in’ the deeper spots better.

Product used - Dupli-Color Truck Bed coating TR250. This stuff sprays fast, strong, wide and doesn’t clog. I had ZERO issues in the four cans I bought. Three cans would have done it so the fourth was just for added thickness.




For anyone looking at bed liner in a can, DO NOT use their Bed Armor stuff. I had an extra can laying around and figured with this, plus the four I had I would be enough. I started with this and within 30-45 seconds of spraying it clogged up and ran down the the side of the can. I cleaned it and tried again but it kept happening. Halfway through the can and I pitched it.

 

Howdy from DFW and nice truck