The 4 month $27k 2007 RCSB TRD Pro build (Full 2014+ conversion, Front Clip, Interior, Bed)

Jflakoll · Oct 5, 2023

Jeff_5_7[OP] initial post: ↑

2/5/2021 Purchase

The beginning…

Quick backstory is I bought my first RCSB Tundra in 2009 at age 19. It was a 2007 Red 5.7 truck and quite possibly one of my favorite trucks to ever own. Unfortunately it was the victim of a freeway accident in 2014 and a total loss on insurance. After this, I went on my way to finish college and try to start a career.

Fast forward to 2019 and I have two engineering degrees from a well respected college here in Texas. As soon as I started my career with a real income I also started hunting for my next regular cab Tundra. I have always loved the single cab short bed Tundra but was sad to see them only offered in a long bed after the 2014 Tundra update. In the 2018 Tundra update the regular cab was cut from production entirely. For years I dreamed of a 2014+ style RCSB V8 Tundra and realized the only way to make it happen was to build it myself. Sooooo here we go…

I searched for a nice RCSB on Craigslist, AutoTrader, Facebook Marketplace ect for almost two years before purchasing this one. I decided I did not want to shorten the frame on a 2014+ Regular Cab long bed, so my search was limited to a 2007-2013 RCSB. It had to be a 5.7 truck with a center console shifter and 4x4. The 4x4 made it incredibly hard to find as these are pretty rare. In February on my 31st birthday I stumbled across this white 2007 that met all my requirements and was about 2 hours away from me. The very next day it was mine for $9,000 cash and I drove it home. Truck was originally sold in Arizona and then moved to Texas at some point. I believe I am the 4th owner now but it is a 100% stock truck that just needed some cleaning and TLC, a great starting platform with no rust. The biggest downfall was the 214k miles on it but it still ran like a champ the 2 hour drive home.

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Jeff_5_7[OP] said: ↑

4/16/2021 Interior Swap/ Full Dashboard Swap

Well now we are all in on a full interior swap….... Time for the dash.

I found a full 2015 dashboard assembly in Missouri again (weird I know) that was shipped to me for $500. It was one of the only ones I found that was not a bare dash. It came with everything but a radio, AC controls, and an instrument cluster. I mean everything such as, all buttons, airbags, AC system, trim ect. To me this was easily worth $500 because I needed all the extra parts I could get just in case.

Watching Youtube I realized a 2016 Regular Cab had the new dash but the 2007-2013 door panels still, this was the biggest hint to me that the newer dash would bolt into my 2007 truck. Seems Toyota didnt want to redesign the regular cab door panels during the 2014 update.

Anyway, I started pulling my 2007 dash out all while hoping the 2015 dash would bolt right back in the same way. To late to turn back now....

I laid both 2007, and 2015 Dashboard next to each other. When I realized it was essentially the same, I pulled all the wiring and pass airbag from my 2007 dash and laid it into the 2015 dash. I now basically have a 2007 Dash internally but the outside shell looks like a 2015.

I would say 95% of the bolt holes lined right up. I quite literally took out the bolts that held my 2007 dash in, swapped the wiring over, and used those same bolts to bolt in the 2015 dash. The biggest problem is the 2014+ dash has the radio stack shifted a few inches closer to the driver. This was a problem for the steel brackets that support the radio. The new 2014+ dash will hit the brackets so they need to be removed and/or relocated.

When I got the 2015 dash bolted in, I added the AC controls and laid my Ipad in front of the radio hole (I didn't have a radio at the time) to snap some quick photos.

Over the next few weeks I worked on all the final details on the dash. I ordered the TRD Pro Trim Panel for above the glove box, bought a silver center trim panel as well as the correct chrome ring AC vents.

The 2014+ Dash buttons are all illuminated blue, while the older 2007-2013 buttons are an ugly orange/amber color. I bought a new style Tow Haul button and it was plug and play on the 2007 harness. I had to repin the new style 4X4 switch to work on the 2007 body harness. The side mirror controls, cargo light control from the 2015 dash plugged right in just worked. I did have to repin a wire or two for the dome light switch. Now all of the buttons on the dash were correct and illuminated the correct color with the headlights on.

I picked up a factory 2015 Navigation headunit from Facebook marketplace for $250. Around the same time I scored a 2018 steering wheel and set of TRD Pro leather seats out of a Crewmax TRD Pro truck that had been in a rollover. The side airbags were blown out of the seats but that could be fixed. More on that later.

I spent the better part of a week wiring in the steering wheel controls and the nav radio. My 2007 SR5 did not have any of this wiring in the body harness so I had to add it all to the connector behind the clock spring in the steering column. I now had hands free/voice calling (with the addition of a mic), full radio control and instrument cluster control from the steering wheel after this.

At this point the dash, AC, Radio, Instrument Cluster, Steering wheel are all done so I turned my attention to the seats,floor and console. Ebay got me a 2017 shifter assembly, for right at $100, that bolted right in place of my 2007 shifter. All the wiring was the exact same as well. The same salvage yard I got the dash from sent me a full SR5 center console from a 2015 for $300. I also bit the bullet and paid Toyota $700 ($550 + $160 shipping) for new black molded carpet. I pulled the old seats and carpet out,spent some time cleaning and then put down some off brand dynamat, the new Toyota carpet, followed by the new shifter and center console. At this point the only thing really left for the interior swap is the seats.

Toyota doing what Toyota does changed all the connect styles between the 2007-2013 seats and the 2014+ seats. My 2007 seats were old and dirty so I decided to cut the SRS Side airbags out of them and have the upholstery shop put these airbags in my new TRD Pro seats. The Pro seats were in a rollover and the airbags had to be replaced anyway. A few days work and $200 at my upholstery shop and the seats were ready. With them bolted in the interior was now basically done.

I converted all the dome, cargo light, door lights to VLEDs and added the VLED puddle lights in the mirrors. I also got a set of TRD Pro floor mats and some other small touches to finish out the interior. I am sure before it is over I will add a few more things here and there. A wireless phone charger for the console lid is definitely on the list.

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You really motivated me to do the seat conversion. Do you mind letting me know everything you did? I know mounting seems to be the same, but from going to a base model manual seat to a power seat, was wiring and power already there? I see you had to splice and do some of your own connectors but I’m interested to see what else you needed to do as my seats will be here in a week. Thanks so much for your time!

Jeff_5_7 · Nov 11, 2023

Got the truck out for the first time in a while today for a little drive. I’m ashamed to admit it sat so long the battery had died.

All good now.

texasrho83 · Nov 11, 2023

Jeff_5_7[OP] said: ↑

Got the truck out for the first time in a while today for a little drive. I’m ashamed to admit it sat so long the battery had died.

All good now.

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Been taking drives in the gf's TRD Pro?

Jeff_5_7 · Nov 11, 2023

texasrho83 said: ↑

Been taking drives in the gf's TRD Pro?
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You know I think she would be onboard for a 4 Runner…

I bought a 21 F150 over the summer to replace my daily, so it gets driven the most.

Work and life has just kept me busy from enjoying the Tundra much. I had to make time to get it out for a short drive this afternoon, it had been too long.

easleycrawler · Nov 11, 2023

Jeff_5_7[OP] said: ↑

Got the truck out for the first time in a while today for a little drive. I’m ashamed to admit it sat so long the battery had died.

All good now.

Click to expand...

Best looking truck on the forum, hands down.

RichterScale · Nov 11, 2023

My first time seeing this. Looked through the whole thread. Love this build.
Really appreciate the work that went into this.

biebs96 · Nov 11, 2023

This build has always impressed me, just never added anything to the thread.

I will say, I’m surprised you didn’t go with the traditional 18” all black TRD wheels.

Not a negative comment whatsoever. Just curious.

Jeff_5_7 · Nov 11, 2023

biebs96 said: ↑

This build has always impressed me, just never added anything to the thread.

I will say, I’m surprised you didn’t go with the traditional 18” all black TRD wheels.

Not a negative comment whatsoever. Just curious.
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I have never liked black wheels however I am not dead set on keeping the ones I have. I’m sure they will be changed one day if I can ever firmly decide on somthing I like.

The TRD Pro wheels would be a nice touch.

biebs96 · Nov 11, 2023

Jeff_5_7[OP] said: ↑

I have never liked black wheels however I am not dead set on keeping the ones I have. I’m sure they will be changed one day if I can ever firmly decide on somthing I like.

The TRD Pro wheels would be a nice touch.
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strictly a question, was in no way a “dis” against your build.

…but I do agree the TRD Pro wheels would make your build completely authentic

RainMan_PNW · Nov 11, 2023

Rock Warrior wheels
Bring some of the Gen 2 back into the mix.

Jeff_5_7 · Nov 12, 2023

RainMan_PNW said: ↑

Rock Warrior wheels
Bring some of the Gen 2 back into the mix.
Click to expand...

I have seriously considered rock warriors. Always loved them. The 17 is a little small but I saw some “knock off” 20in rock warriors once. I could be on board for those

RainMan_PNW · Nov 12, 2023

Jeff_5_7[OP] said: ↑

I have seriously considered rock warriors. Always loved them. The 17 is a little small but I saw some “knock off” 20in rock warriors once. I could be on board for those
Click to expand...

20's on a blown RCSB would be appropriate...

Jeff_5_7 · Feb 26, 2024

Stopped by the local Discount Tire over the weekend and picked up a set of Toyo Proxes STIII. Considered doing a wheel change now but still can’t make up my mind on what I want.

Sadly this was the first time I got the truck out and drove it this year. The tire tech at discount was a Tacoma guy and kept looking at my truck funny. He finally came up to me and asked “what year is this truck really”

M3Tundra-JK · Feb 26, 2024

Jeff_5_7[OP] said: ↑

Stopped by the local Discount Tire over the weekend and picked up a set of Toyo Proxes STIII. Considered doing a wheel change now but still can’t make up my mind on what I want.

Sadly this was the first time I got the truck out and drove it this year. The tire tech at discount was a Tacoma guy and kept looking at my truck funny. He finally came up to me and asked “what year is this truck really”

Click to expand...

Buy my 22" Black TRD Forged wheels! I'm moving to Dallas soon and they'll be moved to storage down there

https://www.tundras.com/threads/22-...d-in-285-45r-22-yomohama-parada-tires.120186/

https://www.tundras.com/threads/fs-22-trd-forged-wheels-w-yokohama-prada-spec-x-tires.126105/

AZEric · Mar 2, 2024

I think this might be the coolest Tundra on this forum. Great work!

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