The Professional Hand Model Reinvestment ‘Build’: A Chronological Story.

Stoked on this guys. Finally settled in on this position with the u-joint clamp flipped upside down and up tight against the axle bracket. I added a second plate from another clamp for extra rigidity when torquing down on those bolts, as the single plate tended to bend by itself.

The important thing (to me prior) which is now corrected:

1) No mas rear end side hop at highway speeds after hitting a heav or hard bump in the pavement.

Unintended side benefit:

2) Rear end north/south axis planted at all speeds and braking. Better braking and handling feels.



Total Cost: $16.99

 

Do you remember what size leds for both the headlight and fog? I have a 2002 tundra. Thanks

 

Headlight is 9003.

Fog is 9006.

Sylvania website has a bulb finder so you can search for all your other bulbs in the future.

 

Thank you very much

 

this is interesting, thanks!

 

Apologies for being late to the party. Great 1.5 hour read to catch up. Thank you for te exquisite attention to detail!!

 

Thank you for enjoying. Appreciate the kind words!

 

So, Fred....

How much of that $4Million have you re-invested so far into your truck?

 

$8k over 2.5 years.

$4 million is approx. how much the truck has made over 20 years by always being there, never breaking down, and performing flawlessly. After expenses and taxes and cost of living on Fantasy Island, I still need more $$$ even living a humble Professional Hand Model existence... thus the ‘Reinvestment’.

 

$8K is a reasonable amount given all the work you have done to your truck. It should give you some solace knowing that you didn't have to drop $40-50-60K for a new truck (plus having to pay taxes and full insurance).

 

Yep. I weighted all the costs up front. I even created a separate email account and sent out price requests from about 6 local stealers within 50 miles. I remember getting hammered for the first 5-6 years in personal property taxes on the 2002. Plus, 2 mechanics told me I was crazy in 2018 to get rid of the truck knowing she was still in good shape. I just took some of the down payment that would have gone to a new truck and had the front end rebuilt. Bought new tires and all the rest of this thread parts and it adds up fast. A lot of the work I did is stuff shops don’t mess with like leak fixes/etc.

Most of this work has been therapeutic to me.

 

Very nice touch. Do these have a switch or do they cut on/off when you open/close the door?

 

Thank you. They are tapped into the OEM Courtesy Lights (two wires inside door) so they turn on/off when the door opens/closes. Easy stuff.

 

Mrs. Joker is very keen to your addition of those puddle beams. I see that we will be doing something very similar soon, like when the weather warms up.

 

The other morning by my work, I had seen a interesting set up on a newer truck and it’s running boards. He had a strip of amber that ran the length of the steps, and it was also a switchback/turn signal. I thought it was kinda neat.

 

Yes. They are female friendly. Cheap and easy. Thinking back I should have run another 2 wires for a round puddle lamp to insert up in the mirror housings when I did my Modern Turn Signals in them.

 

How do you feel the LED strips on doors are holding up? I’m contemplating

$28 Lepro 12V LED Strip Light, Flexible, Waterproof, SMD 2835, 16.4ft Tape Light for Christmas, Home, Kitchen and More, Daylight White（Power Adapter not Include）

this strip so I can go length of door. I have five days off in a row coming up (it’s been literally years since I’ve had more than two in a row) and so I’m planning to attempt the puddle light mod when I take door apart to do the switch replacement.

 

I know that this is PHM's thread, but that's the exact same product I used for my door strips, and hood strips.

Holding well on both areas. Make sure you clean up where the stick goes as best you can. Sticky likes warmer weather, and doesn't like to stick when colder. It can be persuaded to stick in the cold, but better if its warm.


I reccomend using isopropyl alcohol as a cleaner.

Link.

 

I’m all about trashing his model thread.

The Tundra will have up to two weeks of Shame Garge time coming up. So while it’s Iowa, it will be in garage and I can cycle the heater that does a low to moderate job of warming the space. End of January she carries my meat to Knoxville.

 

Depending on how @FirstGenVol feels about everything, I'll have to come back down for a group photo for the lunch table!

Maybe we should start a 1st Gen meet-n-greet thread like @Hooptytrix reccomended.

About your garage time, I'll be living vicariously though you as you endeavor on your truck!

 

I bought a two strip pack. Iirc, each strip is 3 feet long and already had wires with enough length to reach up and tap the courtesy light. Nice and simple. No soldering. Clean install. Same thing with my side blinker lights.

 

Did you use some PHM level adhesive or did included have enough tack for you?

 

The backer strip was provided. It was 3M Brand. Holding nicely.

 

I did add a dab of FuzeIt on this end to seal up the wire entry after install.

 

The 2002 ‘Cold Package’ HD Heater is still kicking the High Fahrenheit. 155° on a chilly day.

 

What size lift and tires are you running?

 

Bilstien Shocks set at one notch from the lower most setting which is maybe a 3/4”? Not sure because I never measured before replacing the prior shocks. Truck has the ‘TRD Off-road Package Front Coils’.

285/75/r16 Michelin LTX Defenders.

 

Any rubbing? I would like to run 285’s but here different opinions on what size lift you need

 

Yes. It only rubs a little turning hard turning into a tight parking spot. Rubs on the inner frame under the seats area. Been on this size since 2004. Mud Tires are worse rubs due to side knobs. The Michelins are better. A nice alignment helps.