2005 Double Cab 4x4 Daily Driver (warning: pic heavy, little OT)

Moving on the the interior, I wanted to get a feel for the cleanliness and then start to get it set up for my daily use. First week or so I pulled the seats out and removed the camo seat covers. Was REALLY clean for a 2005. And the pervious owner didn't even have time to detail it since he hadn't listed it and wasn't really planning on selling until we made a deal. It was rainy so he couldn't wash or vacuum it and then I was there by 8am the next morning.

As I bought it:











After a good baseline cleaning, I was pleased to see there was no need for shampooing or carpet replacement:

 

I've always liked wood grain interiors, ever since buying an auction LR discovery series I for $14k at age 18. I had gone to college right out of high school at 17 and only lasted a semester. Spent the next year and a half chasing girls and riding MCs while working at Circuit City in VT before moving back in with my parents at 19 to regroup. Followed my passion and ended up working in a garage learning the ropes of the auto repair biz. I subsequently got REALLY familiar with how to repair Rovers and their common problems, so I bought several more including a few RR classics. Flipped a few for a decent profit after getting to know a couple dealership guys that would call me when they had a trade-in coming. I bought a few from owners in the parking lot that way by offering them a bit more than trade-in and made a decent chunk of change reselling them in the early days of eBay (for my age at the time). The only one I never profited on was the original auction Disco from when I was 18 because I sank almost every dollar I made into that car. lol Which leads me to the next interior mod: wood grain interior. Fake or not, I love it. My original 06 DC limited had it and I thought it was awesome, so time to start swapping.

A Rover pic for sentimentality:



My 06 interior looked like this, with clunky factory nav and all, which I thought was brilliant:

 

In researching wood grain, I realized there were two shades for the double cab first gens. The normal burl with reddish tones that many of you have in your trucks, plus another kind of darker wood. I suspect this was a port/dealer-installed option, perhaps XSP. Anyway, after ending up with a darker cupholder from eBay, I realized I wanted the light wood. Bought a driver side front switch from a Sequoia, hoping the auto functions would work from the passenger side (it doesn't). Then I got in touch with @Roman and ordered several of the parts from him. After I ordered, @S P A R K Y reached out to me and we're completing a trim swap. My black for his wood grain. Even though I have several of the parts from Roman, I'll have backups from Mark. Also removed an old alarm (these are ALWAYS begging for issues) and did LED swap and added Pioneer DMH-2660NEX as well as extra USBs (one with voltmeter and one with CarPlay USB hookup).

Doors, maps, climate cluster LEDs:

$18 JDM ASTAR 10pcs High Performance Super Bright 360-Degree Shine 194 168 175 2825 T10 PX Chipsets White LED Bulbs. (US Patent number US-D814666-S)

JDM ASTAR 10pcs Super Bright 194 168 175 2825 T10 PX Chipsets White LED Bulbs

Climate switches:

$8 WLJH 6x T5 Led Wedge Bulbs Canbus Error Free 74 73 17 Extremely Bright White 3030 Chipsets for Auto Car Gauge Cluster Dashboard Light Lamp Instrument Panel Indicators

WLJH 6x T5 LED Wedge Bulbs Canbus Error Free 74 73 17 Extremely Bright White 3030 Chipsets for Auto Car LED Gauge Cluster Dashboard Light Lamp Instrument Panel Indicators

Dome:

$6 GIVEUBED 578 Led Car Bulbs,42mm 41mm 211-2 212-2 Festoon LED Bulbs, 1.65in 48-SMD 3014 Chipsets Led Festoon light, 6000K White Super Bright 569 light For Interior Map Dome Door Lights Pack of 4

4PCS 578 211-2 212-2 Festoon Led Bulbs, Super Bright 42mm 41mm 1.65in 48-EX 3014 Chipsets Led Bulbs, 6000K White 569 578 211-2 212-2 Festoon Led Bulbs For Interior Map Dome Door Lights Bulbs

USB port with charging and voltmeter:

Cllena Toyota USB Charger + Voltmeter Tester 1.9ft Wiring and Fuse USB Power Socket(Blue LED)

Cllena Toyota USB Charger + Voltmeter Tester 1.9ft Wiring and Fuse USB Power Socket(Blue LED)

With audio and charging: MICTUNING USB Power Socket with Audio Replacement for Toyota with 6.6ft Power Wire 3.9ft Audio Wire (Stereo USB Connector Needed)

Alarm:





LEDs:



Two shades of wood:



Also, notice the difference around the stereo:





Darker wood cupholder in the cleaned up interior:



New HU and USBs with LEDs:



Brake bypass is a must



Got my new parts in from Roman, further confirming the two shades of wood. I like the warmer shade better personally:



Swapping over the consoles is tedious but doable





These tabs on the switches are a b*itch







Mismatched for now





Looks more modern at night



Black trim sent off to @S P A R K Y





At this point, I'm waiting on the cupholder and two rear ashtrays to finish the swap. Mark's sending me the cupholder and rear passenger ashtray and I have a driver rear ashtray coming from eBay. Also have some new foam cupholder inserts on the way from: https://www.ebay.com/itm/362608902924

 

Cleaned up the engine bay a bit and swapped the K&N for a regular paper filter. Cleaned the TB and MAF too. Purrs like a kitten. Not bad for 15 years and 180k miles!





Also cleaned the AC and it cooled better and smells like a new truck. Definitely recommend this if you haven't done it!

 

Got a new OEM key and aftermarket key fob from Amazon so it feels like new again.

 

If that darn S P A R K Y guy would get off his arse and send it back already! I have the swap complete. Just need to repackage the box! Son's B-day party this weekend, hopefully get it out to you tomorrow or monday!

Awesome build! Brian, I worked at Circuity City as well. Did 3 years in the Roadshop. Loved every bit of it.

Thanks for spending more of my money on this build! Saved many things in Amazon cart. Great find on ebay with the cup holders as well.

 

LOL take your time man! Circuit City was a trip. I was in sales, started with consumer electronics and moved up to I think TVs. Made most of my money on cellphones IIRC. It was like $75 for every person you got to run a credit check for new service. Plus they got a free or almost free Startac. I could do 20 in a day sometimes! Had seem really, really good paychecks there, but ultimately I realized I couldn't do sales. I felt so guilty selling warranties and it screwed with my conscience. Honestly tho, all the different jobs I've had influence how I am right now and that's what it's all about. Sales was profitable and construction was fun (especially operating equipment), but auto mechanics was the most fun. The least fun (and worst paying) came right after my first bachelors , mediation and therapy. Ended up making way more in EMS than as a trained counselor - go figure! Anyway, no hurry on the parts man.

 

Man, you have a great looking truck! The wheels + leveling (is that something you did?) is such a good look.
I'll probably have some questions for you (I have an '05 DC 4WD Limited), and you've done a ton of the exact updates I'm interested in making.

 

Thanks man! Feel free too reach out anytime if there's anything i can possibly help with!

 

Got the new-to-me cupholder me in with replacement foam from eBay. Now I need to find a nice color leather to match the wood and dark interior. Thinking something warmer than grey, perhaps dark saddle colored. Thoughts anyone? https://www.ebay.com/itm/Toyota-Tun...sole-2001-06-Free-Shipping-PAIR-/362608902924

 

Looking for input in leather color. I have the dark interior and the warm wood from the limited. Thinking katzkin mahogany or cognac with black sides may be a nice look.

 

Man, you truck is KWEEEN! Nice build you have going, keep it up!

 

thanks man, LOVING the headlights!

 

Been awhile since I updated this thread. Still haven't made a decision regarding the leather interior. Definitely open to suggestions and still leaning toward a warmer color rather than grey.

A couple weeks ago, I bypassed the SAIS with a Slyfox kit from eBay. Never gave me any trouble, but i figured it was only a matter of time. No more hairdryer at start-up and one less thing to worry about failing! https://www.ebay.com/itm/Slyfox75-AIP-SAIS-Bypass-Toyota-Lexus-LONG-CABLE-for-Tundra-Sequoia-LC-LX/143371402266?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

This morning I did new CVs, LBJs, outer TREs, and tire rotation. Didn't need it all, but one CV had a tear in the boot and I could hear it squeaking when the windows were open. New parts that I replace myself give me peace of mind. Still loving the 6112s and Maxx end links. Drove amazing before and drives great now, smooth as can be (smoother than my 3rd gen). Heading back out to the garage to adjust the parking brake cable and replace the carrier bearing with a new spicer unit. Props to @Roman and Cool Springs Toyota Parts for the parts and awesome C/S as always

Thinking about a diff drop kit. I had one on my 06 when it was new because my CVs pissed all their grease after lifting it IIRC. I seem to remember putting really large hose clamps on the boots too, but I could be confusing different vehicles, that was 15 years ago... Any thoughts on these kits? I assume by now there must be a consensus regarding their efficacy and downfalls. Thanks in advance for any input...

 

Hey Brian! Hope everything is well in your EMS life, thanks for what you do!

SAIS, I don't have issues currently, but you mentioned the hairdryer at start up. So if I install the kit, it won't sound like a giant whirl wind? If that's the case I will be buying as well.

Did you buy the block off plates for the SAIS kit?

BTW, I did just order some 6112's from wheelers with their black friday sale. Heck of a deal! Thanks for your opinion, it definitely helped the decision. I will be installing a diff drop, have had one for 11 years on my 4th gen T4R with no issue. Most shops with employees that have lifted yota's run them, so can't be a bad thing. I will also probably use new clamps. CV rips and grease are just something I don't want to have to mess with more than once.

Stay safe!

 

Hey Mark, hope all's well with you. I've actually not worked EMS in ages so I cant take credit there. Went back to medical school and work in the hospitals now. Sometimes I miss EMS though, it's an adventure for sure! Stoked you got the 6112's, I think you'll love them. Going to order myself a diff drop kit, thanks for the input! As far as the SAIS bypass, I never had any codes, so I didn't do the block off plates. If you're doing it preemptively, all you should need is this kit. If you have the codes, you made need more, including the block off plates.

 

Replaced my center carrier bearing with a new Spicer 5002007. It was time. Didn’t even realize this truck could get smoother until I replaced it this morning.

 

Forgot I also recently replaced all the plugs with a new set of Denso iridium. Really cheap after coupons from Advance Auto. Probably didn’t need the plugs (old ones were pretty new by the looks of them) but I found the 3rd cylinder back on both sides was loose so I’m glad I did it.

 

What sort of monster was the previous owner? ACU seat covers, untinkable!!!

Your truck looks awesome. I Vote Mahogany leather.

 

Haha, to each their own, I suppose! I can’t say I miss those covers at all though. Thanks for the feedback, need to make a decision soon before the BF deal expires!

 

Did a trans drain and fill today. Was exactly 3qts. Hardest part was waiting for the trans temp to get up to 115F to check the level. Old fluid didn’t look too bad considering it’s been about 85k as best I can tell.



Old


New

 

Ordering a set of Katzkins from @jhuey8947 at the moment, just getting final details squared away. I was more indecisive than watching my wife pick an outfit for a special event. Ultimately, going with mahogany perforated faces and dark wraps to blend it in. Heated and cooled driver's side and heated passenger. Will be trying to integrate into the factory switches tho may need to use the Katzkin switch with for the driver's side. I think it's a momentary switch for the heated/cooled option. Going to tackle the install myself, so I'll add some pics if/when I ever get it done. Likely well into the next year as we're busy as hell through New Year's.

 

Wow! Following...

 

Well, turns out my vision for the interior with mahogany faces and black/charcoal sides wasn't quite doable, so I settled on a factory leather color (charcoal) with perforation, cooling, and heat. Got the kit in this week, and it looks and feels really nice. Just waiting to be off work next week to install. I'm sure I'm in for some beat up hands by the end of it!



also changed the oil the other day and decided to go with the M1-301 filter. Fit nicely without leaking and put the capacity right at 7L.

 

Making some progress with the katzkin install. I’ve got four of the five seats done. Still need to do the driver seat and the headrest. I’m really liking the charcoal color, it matches the interior plastics perfectly. The quality of katzkin is impressive. Unfortunately, I don’t think I’m going to get all the electrical done for the degreez heating and cooling before I get back to work next week, so that will have to wait a couple of weeks.




I got distracted with another project, working on possible possible cluster swap.


https://youtu.be/5EtIgYBQNJY

 

Which brand heater element did you go with? The ones I had (Dorman) work great, High is HOT and low is perfect after High becomes too much, but I had to modify them a bit so I could attach the leather to the cushion properly...yours look like they fit properly with almost no modification.

 

This is the Katzkin kit. The instructions say to cut around the mounting strip so you can still anchor it with the hogrings and then it gets reinforced with tape. I got heat for the passenger side and heat/cooling for the driver side. The heat/cool kit is pretty involved as there are two blower motors, ductwork, exhaust, and an ecu to install. Probably going to start the drivers side tomorrow. My mother in law is coming to visit so maybe I'll just spend the day in the garage

 

Finishing up the drivers seat. It has heating and cooling which consists of two blowers, ductwork, two thermal units, and an ecu. It’s a pretty neat kit. For now, I’ll be wiring it up using the katzkin switches.

 

Well, got all the seats done. Love the color and feel and smell! The charcoal color matches my dark interior perfectly. Like a new truck! All the HVAC is in place and tested - it works great! Going to leave the headrests, armrests, and wiring for at least tomorrow if not another day. I figure I’ve got 12 hrs into this over 5 days so far and my hands are sooooore. Need to get some veggie bags from the grocery store for the last step.
Here are a few pics. Ignore the missing headrests, door inserts, and armrests.

 

Wow, that's commitment! Nice work, and well done Sir !