Slowly not stock

I guess I've done enough that it would be beneficial to create a build. Never thought I'd be making one of these because until I joined this forum, I never imagined doing most of this stuff to my truck.
If some of these mods look familiar, its because I probably took the idea from @BlueRibbon4x4 (https://www.tundras.com/threads/blue-ribbon-4x4-build-thread.71556/) or got the parts from @Squatting Pigeon (https://www.tundras.com/threads/the...eons-build-thread-and-b-s-hangout-spot.45621/). These are my main two influences and go-tos for info and advice on how to plan a mod. There are many other folks who have been a big help and I have really appreciated everyone's time and advice.

 

Bought this baby new (June 2018), only had a little over 100 miles since they had to snag it from another dealership. The GM I bought from still laughs because they traded a Camry for my truck. But it got me my Blazing Blue that I 100% wanted so I can't complain. She was nothing crazy but I'd never owned a truck before. Got a 4x4, SR5 Crewmax, blackout TSS package so it changed the wheels and a new decal on bedside, also had the spray in liner done which is so worth it if you use the bed of your truck, and had them put a tri-fold on.

Here she is at the dealership before driving her home.


And here she is parked outside my home.

 

This is the most recent pic. More info on how we got here will follow as time allows.

How it sits as of 7/30

 

Niiiice

 

Hell yeah! The thread is here!

 

Started small. Added a partial console organizer and put a wireless charger in one of the spots. With it being inside the console and the phone sliding around some, the charger didn't last long but the organizer has been decent.
I then acquired one of the forum decals and got it on the truck. Then I ordered the grille emblem overlay (due to cease and desist, these are no longer made or sold). 2 things that really impressed me. The color was spot on! And this drastically changed the look of the grille! I had been debating the older style Pro grille but didn't want to deal with relocating my sensor. This emblem overlay makes me love my grille especially with how unique it is.

 

Next up was to help with the Texas heat. I wish I had done ceramic tinting but unfortunately I learned about that after my window tinting was done. Oh well, future purchase when I can justify redoing the tint. But until then, I got a steering wheel cover that my local dealership had, overall I have no complaints. Its been on the truck for almost 4 years and just now starting to show the wear, I'm thinking about trying a steering wheel wrap but need to knock out some other things first. I also got a dash mat, my family has always used dash mats so it felt more natural having it too. I went with a charcoal color and it doesn't get too hot and barely reflects in the windshield. Its just held on with velcro that is stuck to the dash.


Edit: product color is actually Smoke and here is the link
https://www.covercraft.com/us/en/product/ltd-edition-custom-dash-cover.DML

 

Had credit with my dealership and worked them to install an autostart system on the truck. Also added the Weathertech in chanel rain guards. I often leave my windows rolled down and now I don't have to worry about missing a change in weather (often the case in Texas). Also got it cleaned up which is rare so of course a pic was taken lol


Edit: don't have the autostart info, but here is the link to the rain guards
https://www.weathertech.com/toyota/2021/tundra/side-window-deflectors/tundra-cab/crewmax/

 

My parents came to visit and neither of them are used to a truck or even a large vehicle that you have to step into. After watching them struggle one evening with finding the running boards, I hit up @BlueRibbon4x4 build thread and picked his brain on how he did this mod (steps are in his thread, go check it out!). And of course I went with blue! They only come on when you unlock/lock vehicle or a door is open (they are off when you drive). The lights are that noticeable in person but the camera really focuses on them. For about $20 I have really enjoyed having these and it makes me smile waking out to the truck k and having the blue glow!



Edit: link to Geno's post on how to run and connect the lights.
https://www.tundras.com/threads/blue-ribbon-4x4-build-thread.71556/page-3#post-1903058

 

Was looking to get the rear TRD sway bar. Fell into a deal and got both front and rear TRD bars. Installed at the same time so I don't know how much of a difference the stock vs TRD front really is. But going from only having the lighter black front sway bar to then having both TRD sway bars, that is a huge difference. You can take turns harder and faster and the truck stays planted! If you can find the front bar on-sale, its probably worth it but I doubt I'd pay normal Toyota price unless I'd done everything else to my truck. The rear should be on your list if you think your truck leans too much going thru turns.

 

Another simple fun mod. I had seen many folks posting about making their tow hooks red. I figured blue would look fantastic on my truck. The only issues I had, I didn't have a breaker bar or impact wrench at this time so I couldn't get the tow hooks off. Quick trip to hardware store and I now own a breaker bar and removal became simple! Second issue, I had some minor surface corrosion between the tow hooks and frame (pretty common issue). Back to hardware store for a wire brush and bye bye corrosion. I painted it with some black rustoleum. Painted the tow hooks with blue rustoleum followed by their matte clear. Since they aren't super visible I didn't bother trying to paint match. I didn't paint the bolts either since I didn't expect anyone to see them.

Another simple mod that really made me enjoy walking out to the truck. The additional blue accent on the front was just enough to make me smile more but not be overpowering.

 

Seeing the above pic, I jumped past adding the blue accents to my wheels.

It started when my in-laws got me some blue Colorlugz. Cause why wouldn't I want more blue to add to the truck! The colorlugz were a nice addition but I quickly realized I wanted a little more blue on the wheel to really make it work. Luckily, found a forum member who had the same wheels and already figured out decal overlays for them (he nolonger lists them on his Etsy so I won't say who of where) and picked those up. Really happy with the addition of the colorlugz and the blue center cap decal. As stated before, my truck doesn't get washed enough so its normally dirty.



Edit: https://www.colorlugs.com/

 

Had a coworker 3d print me 2 sets of vent rings (https://www.tundras.com/threads/3d-printed-vent-ring-covers.72483/ ). First set I only sanded (haven't messed with 3d printed stuff and was worried about sanding thru it since they are pretty thin) and just used some blue rustoleum followed by gloss clear. I wasn't sure how the end result would be so didn't waste a lot of time. Was surprised how well they worked and the only issue was my result looked cheap. For the second set, I sanded them a little more, I then used fill primer, sanded smooth, hit it with dupli-color color match, and then rustoleum matte clear since I wasn't liking the glossiness from the first set.
So many pictures

 

So about this time I named my truck Vera (huge fan of Firefly and Serenity, if you haven't seen either i highly recommend. Firefly is a tv show, sadly 1 series, and Serenity is a movie to help provide closer. Its a space western essentially and really good) my quote by Jayne is from the show and he calls his best rifle Vera. The funko pop figure seen in above post is Jayne Cobb!!! I mounted him to a metal plate and stuck 2 magnets on the tray on the dash. Holds him in place but I can remove him in the summer when the truck gets too hot and the glue holding him together starts to melt.

Oh, added the talon klaws to the passenger floor mat and it no longer slides!!



Edit: Eagle Klaw not Talon Klaw
https://eagleklaw.com/products/eagle-klaw-floor-mat-retainer-kit

 

With all the fun I was having with adding blue. @BlueRibbon4x4 convinced me to paint my engine cover. Or I convinced him to update his to motive me. Somehow we got to talking and he repainted his and I painted mine. (Here's Geno's update paint job. Again, just check out his build thread! https://www.tundras.com/threads/blue-ribbon-4x4-build-thread.71556/page-9#post-2243033)
I used VHT engine paint for plastics. After I taped everything off (honestly that took the longest) I sprayed everything with the silver. Once the silver had dried, I covered the areas I wanted to remain silver and then sprayed it with the blue. I used the same VHT engine paint on the chrome emblem, I just scuffed it some before painting and so far its holding up. Once I removed all the masking, the black plastic just seemed dull compared to the rest. So I hit it with a couple coats of Gloss Clear.

 

Started to get the addiction and wanted to paint more bits of the truck! Found a Rock Warrior Tomahawk shifter for sale on here and jumped at it (otherwise I probably would have bought the Teton shifter with the blue highlights. https://tetonworkshop.com/collectio...ducts/tundra-2007-2021?variant=39447022764106).
I took the opportunity to refinish the shifter and replace the leather. I used SEM charcoal metallic which matches the horizontal gray dash piece on the passenger side dash in my SR5, so it ties in nicely. I also got some blue anodized hardware for it. I also took the shifter surround and cup holder and painted those with the same paint. I also painted the shift gate with my color match blue. Happy with how it all ties in and I really like the feel of the Tomahawk shifter. I used cheap leather off Amazon since they had blue but I may try to find some better leather now that I have experience attaching the leather to the handle.


Edit: details on shifter restoration:
https://www.tundras.com/threads/restoring-rock-warrior-tomahawk-shift-knob-leather.73282/

Thread on painting shifter pieces and how to remove them:
https://www.tundras.com/threads/painting-chrome-trim-bezel-around-shifter.27828/

Another cool shifter. Has a spot up top for a small patch!
https://tinkererdesign.com/collections/ranger-series-shift-knobs

 

And seeing the last post, I noticed I jumped over installing the steering wheel emblem overlay. This is the issue of backtracking a build tread and not having good notes.

Took a Cav blue emblem before they were no longer allowed to be sold and color matched it. Hit it with matte clear and used the supplied tape to attach it.



Edit: these overlays are now just on Amazon and eBay

 

That interior is looking sweet! Thanks for the shout.

 

Sexy.
Still my favorite shifter

 

Okay, I guess I should keep this going.
June of 2021, I ordered a set of the Valhalla shields in steel. Holden ironically had ordered a set 2 days prior so we figured we would roadtrip to save on shipping and split the cost of gas. Funny enough, Holden ended up near Houston about the time they were done so he picked them up solo, so I painted both sets of plates to contribute.
I went white because I had a TRD skid plate on its way and had been told that platebis white.... its been over a year and I've had 0 issues with the plates and my truck lives outside and I have not worried about theft at all. I am thinking about repainting but we will see lol my paint is holding but I want to change the color and I've mocked up a pretty fun design if I do say so myself lol


Edit: if you are in need of cat protection (you are unless you have it!) Hit up @Talon2006 or https://www.tundras.com/threads/welcome-to-talons-garage.113331/. Definitely the vendor I'd use if currently in the market

 

Now a more fun and visible mod. Again with Holden (you may notice a theme. I'm either copying Geno or getting parts or help from Holden hahaha). He was about to trade his truck so his aftermarket blitz bumper really didn't matter, and he had a full front bumper coming for the new truck. Instead of having the dealership swap his new trucks bumper, we swapped with me providing some incentive. Helped give my truck a non stock look.



Edit: if you plan to use a winch to actually pull vehicles, you will need to reinforce the bumper or just go with a full front.

https://www.victory4x4.com/product/VTU3FB.html

Issue Geno had: https://www.tundras.com/threads/blue-ribbon-4x4-build-thread.71556/page-26#post-2912340
His fix which is BA!!!! https://www.tundras.com/threads/blue-ribbon-4x4-build-thread.71556/page-27#post-2918775
https://www.tundras.com/threads/blue-ribbon-4x4-build-thread.71556/page-28#post-2931846

 

Since I had to give up the blue tow hooks for the Victory Blitz bumper (the bumper mounts up in that location as well) I found some Gear America shackles on the marketplace here and figured I couldn't pass them up especially since they were blue!! Just the little pop of blue makes a great improvement if I do say so myself lol

 

Wooo! Get to see some upgrades!!

 

Had some issues getting my skid but it finally arrived in October. I was going to do the install but the dealership I ordered thru offered the install since there were so many issues getting the plate in. Hard to argue that.

So I had done my research on the Victory Blitz bumper and compatibility with the Pro skid, I knew there would be no issues with the Valhalla shields since the front plate uses the same holes. I even hit up @BlueRibbon4x4 since he has the blitz and pro skid (check out how he painted his if you haven't seen them!) and got confirmation that its a piece of cake.

Well.... I'm chilling at the dealership and my service advisor comes and gets me (he is a good one, doesn't pull shit, and knows I love my truck and do my homework) to show me that there is interference between the Pro skid and the bumper. Quickly hit up Geno, and this got the gears turning (I know! I had to bring this up ) and he did remember having to trim about an inch off the skid in the middle section (lines up with the issue we were having). Dealership was super cool about it and modified the Pro skid and got it installed without further delays. Asked if this affected their installing it for free and was told no. So I really can't complain, just wanted to poke fun at Geno, as well as document the Pro skid needs to be trimmed if using with the Victory Blitz.

 

Well... this next mod took a bit of time. I was trying to color match the chrome hood bulge and grille surround but I'm cheap and wasn't willing to pay Toyota prices. Most info is detailed in this thread:
https://www.tundras.com/threads/chrome-bulge-surround-painting.92719/

But by the time I got the bulge and surround painted, I picked up some Pro headlights for about half price and since I had the open recall for headlights potentially catching fire and I drive everyday at midnight, I figured I should pick them up and do the install while the front was all taken apart. I used @iHacker and his stuff is quality and made wiring the leds to my existing harnesses a cake walk.

Doing this install early March of 2022, Texas being Texas our weather went from being 60s/70s to 30 degrees with some sleet (forgive me if that is the wrong term, I'm from the desert and still getting used to non water falling from the sky) the day I had the time and had planned to do the install. Really the only affect was I had hoped to paint my chrome bumper ends while the front was off and that wasn't happening in 30 degree weather.
Last pic is from a few daysblater when it warmed up and the sun came out lol

 

Been loving the front being color matched but it really makes you want to dechrome the bumpers! I was torn between color matching and going black. Definitely overthought it a lot but after wasting too much time not deciding and still having the chrome. I figured I'd try the affordable and easy way to dechrome with Plasti-dip but I added some bedliner over it for some protection. My first time using plasti-dip and I used the Rustoleum Turbo bedliner in a can. I have no complaints about either product but I will state the Rustoleum bedliner does not go as far as you would think for such a big can. But once you know this, 0 problems with it.
Again, Holden had some led amber fogs in his garage that would let me mix my look up some more. Both he and Geno pushed me to color match the fog housing (of course Geno did, he is the color match king!) which I was initially hesitant to do. I think we will all agree they had the right idea! Absolutely loving how this came together!
This is also a caught up mod. I'm no longer documenting past work, this just completed yesterday!
Pictures showing all stages. Thursday morning I moved to park under some trees (we are hitting 106 in the day and the vehicles often read 118 when you get in, so I figured more shade would be good) I didn't move the truck at all during the process. I went overboard with what I removed and my masking. 2 reasons, first being I spent a lot of time color matching the surround and I didn't want to mess it up. Second being there is a slight gap between the bumper and the piece below the lights due to the Blitz bumper install. I didn't want any chrome peaking out so this let me spray everything!

I'm fricken loving the result!!!!

 

Haha! Thanks for the tag, Robert! Glad they figured it out.

 

Lookin awesome, man!!!