What have you done to your 1st gen Tundra today?

Replacing the shocks on moms 4Runner and decided to snap a few pics of the garage. It’s somewhat organized but under the house is 10lbs in a 5lb bag. Just rented a 25x10 for all of mine and the woman’s shit that’ll be going to the new property hopefully soon. Where I will have a 50x30 shop with a lift and plenty of space.

 

Was gonna plant a garden but the wind kicked up and T-storms forecast so I took the pup to Pull-A-Part in Columbia. Website said they had a new 2000AC couple weeks ago. Scored a nice oak steering wheel in good shape for $15. Definitely worth pulling it in the driving rain.

 

Looks pretty well organized to me.

 

I’ll have to be under shade for better pics but you can kinda see where some cutting occurred and lack of washer resi.

 

I also cut my fenders up about 1-1/2 to 2”, so take that into account when trying to make sense of the pics

 

Where did you relocate your resi for 35's?
Mine is still stock. I just trimmed the shit outta everything around it

 

So the center console is something I‘ve thought was disappointing since I bought my 2005 access cab. In newer trucks I enjoy resting my arm on the larger center consoles and having a place to put things which I can’t in the Tundra because its very low and rounded which I don’t think is a great design idea. It really should have gotten the higher rectangle one that the first gen Tacoma has.
So I built a top center console that’s more comfortable and is something I like for daily driving.
First I had to decide which parts to use and to keep along with a practical way to build it. I’m sure there could be better ways to build this and I’m not an expert woodworker or fabricator so I did what was in my skill level and budget. Of course there could be different shapes, sizes, and designs too. I went with something simple because what I really wanted was the top arm rest.

1) I removed the top lid from the metal hinge. Then removed the bottom plastic bracket to separate the top lid. I kept the plastic bracket as the base because I couldn’t think of a way to easily have the top console latch correctly and have fit well with the bottom part.



2) I built a box that would fit between the seats and that was going to be higher as well. I used 1x6 pine. 9 1/8” wide and 3 5/8” tall worked well. It will need to take into account the upholstery thickness as well.


The box also has to fit flush with the plastic bottom bracket. I meant to have the fins of the bracket fit completely inside the open middle of the box but I cut those pieces too wide which I is why I had to run it through the table saw to make room for the fins.

I also had to build a mount for the latch to be secure as it screws into the top lid that I’m not using. I nailed in a small block for the latch to screw into. It is sturdy although it could probably be better.

3) The plastic bracket won’t be perfectly flush because it has a slight angle front to back. It also has a lip and fins around the screw holes. To fasten the box to the plastic bracket I marked out the screw holes and pre drilled them. Then as “standoffs” I stacked some washers for the gap between the pieces. I’d say brake line or a solid tube would be better but the washers did work well. I skipped the second holes because they were right where the wood was jointed and it didn’t affect anything.



4) Test fit to see how it feels and what lid size I will want.

5) To finish the box I went with a 3/4” thick lid and 1” foam on top. I extended the lid past the box for some extra surface area. I grabbed some vinyl from the fabric store and used some contact cement on the vinyl as well.

I’m not the best at upholstery but made it look pretty good with relief cuts and staples.



6) Lastly, I put some torsion hinges on from Amazon. They tighten to increase the hinge friction so I don’t need additional latches. I also removed 1 washer from each screw due to the fabric thickness.


7) After reattaching everything I really like the height and size. You will have to decide the length of the box and top lid. It’s pretty close to the cup holders so if there is a tall large drink it may hit the box or lid. The back of the lid also needs to clear the back of the console when it’s lifted up. Overall I’m a lot happier with the console and it’s something I’ll use every time I’m driving.

 

Yes. Good job.

 

Progress was made.




I really don't see us selling this anymore..

 

Looking badass, in my opinion.

 

I thought you had already sold it

 

Nope. I've had one person look at it and his offer was laughable. Main complaints are dented beside (now fixed with glass) and that it's an 04 so no vvti. So we might say screw it and keep it. We would long travel it at that point and put an 05-06 intake on it haha

 

Naw, just April 1st, fool!

Now let’s hope I didn’t just jinx myself.

Very jealous.if love to have all that space. I have about 30” on either side of the truck, and with the bumper 3” from the wall, I barely have 8” to scoot behind the truck, I wouldn’t be able to fit a double cab in my garage. Too long.

That’s some solid work. For me, the low, out-of-your-way console is one of the things I love about these trucks. I have the armrest to lean into, and often plop my arm on the console door. Modern trucks with their big clunky consoles are kinda a joke to me, but I’m curious to see where you take this. Looking forward to progress updates.

 

Got my carrier bearing in from Rockauto. They didn't disappoint with the magnet this time. They don't list the one the brain trust suggests under Tundra, they are linked to a tacoma truck for anybody that's looking. I just searched the part number on RA and found it.

 

Its temporarily behind the power steering resi, on top of my ARB twin compressor, squished in together with the three massive trumpets from my train horn. Temporarily

 

Nope you jinxed me... 1GT down. Fearing the tranny is gone. And this is no April fools joke

 

The shakespeare bullshit is tired. Let it rest already. Geezus

 

Same resi or did you swap it for something else?

 

It's still the original resi til I can find a suitable replacement. And I only moved it closer to where the fluid lines and electrical come from, so it's able to remain connected and functioning.

 

Morning sun

 

Verily, I say unto thee, grand praises and much gratuities to the reverend Divinity that hath repealed such calamities of word that thus did plague these magic scrolls. Hark! Rejoice!

 

That fuckin sucks. What the trans doing?

 

I would do my relocate the same way if I were to do it again, FYI. The capacity is fine.

 

What did you do?

 

Still diagnosing
Good news is the tranny seems to be okay. Bad news is the driveshaft spins and the wheels don't.
No signs of failure otherwise. Obviously theres an issue with the diff, but no clunk, no crunchy, no warning feels. Trucks starts up fine, shift into D and speedo responds to pedal push. Never heard any noise from the rear end. Scratchin my head but won't know much til I pull the third, so.... here I go

 

The old ring gear delete. Classic

 

Do tell.... How's that possible? or you just talkin out yer neck. I mean, it's like a small container right? with a given mass of things inside... the ring gear didn't disappear, even though it seems so...

 

Certainly impossible. Drove fine last time and then you get in and nothing? Would reek of a broken U joint, but that would be obvious. Haven’t seen a pinion bearing go at with such gusto that the pinion gear failed to contact the ring gear. Any other symptoms?

 

Damn your luck with diffs lately...