Not sure if it belongs here...

[RMerritts]

Current Modifications
-Black Headlight mod
-Color matched grill
-DJM 3/3 drop
-Truxedo bed cover
-17x9.75 XXR 527's with 275/40r17 Nitto NT05's on all 4 corners
-Vent visors
-Llumar tint 5% rear, 5% window strip, 20% side windows

Future Mods:
Hand laid front/rear flar s
18x12 cosmis wheels
-ViKing front and rear coil overs and 4 link rear
-XII front/rear sway bars
-5.3 from a '01 silverado with a single t76 turbo, along with t56 i acquired from a '00 camaro, install fuel cell where the spare tire is and remove factory fuel tank.
Im sure im leaving a few things out but those are the immediate plans.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2013/06/taco51-1.jpg
The day i brought it home.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2013/06/taco3-1.jpg
from our weekly car meet

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2013/06/taco6-1.jpg


https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2013/06/taco4-1.jpg
All truck nationals with my roommates s10

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2013/06/taco7-1.jpg
new vs old after a summer of track days

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2013/06/taco8-1.jpg
Aaaand of course the new power plant.

[shizzy]

Yea, I'd do a few laps with it!

[RMerritts]

These are the flares i might put on otherwise it will have to be something custom. Should i do it?
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2013/06/ED03E984A4C340909289CD1C89217CB413500000-1.jpg

And the wheels that are on the way.
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2013/06/18C23EBDF7524A4EBC5553CE74D14DED13500000-1.jpg

Some more for entertainment...
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2013/06/699ACA59A329403D98EF4E92F38D8BF327920000-1.jpg
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2013/06/null_zps0a0536c1-1.jpg

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2013/06/drcg1_zps916be9b3-1.jpg

A friends project almost done, yes the shop is trashed...
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2013/06/F4161233FF254995AEFF1065CEDB053113500000-1.jpg

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2013/06/16F278F779074F638D8CD5E56BA0888013500000-1.jpg

[Guyt699]

Very cool. I like it! Bet it is a blast to drive.

[ff5013]

The Toyota looks cool

[RMerritts]

Bit of an update on the concept for it, still just a rough draft.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2014/05/19B7F069ADD4449C9C214FAFFA9E9752_zpsgnvs-1.jpg (http://s576.photobucket.com/user/RMerritts/media/19B7F069-ADD4-449C-9C21-4FAFFA9E9752_zpsgnvsjjsz.jpg.html)

[bovey]

Awesome. Love these trucks. One question. Have you thought about putting a toyota V8 in it? I'd totally look into that company in North Carolina that sells off out dated NASCAR engines and see if they have any Toyos. The fender flairs rock. 100000000000% belongs here. Drive that thing. bitchin' rig.

[snopro]

Awesome start cutting sheet metal lol

[RMerritts]

Awesome. Love these trucks. One question. Have you thought about putting a toyota V8 in it? I'd totally look into that company in North Carolina that sells off out dated NASCAR engines and see if they have any Toyos. The fender flairs rock. 100000000000% belongs here. Drive that thing. bitchin' rig.

Ive definitely thought about it but I can't justify spending that much on an engine that I can't just go buy parts for anywhere, or grab a junkyard motor if needed and swap it overnight. Most of the parts minus the chassis and body pieces will be stuff I can run to a dealer and replace if needed.

[RMerritts]

Small update not much really going on here until I can take this off the road for a few months, slightly longer control arms coming and then body dropping to lower it more. New wheels came and got a little bit of work done to the engine(s). Also messed around a bit with a gauges panel we'll cut on the cnc router. New wilwood 4 piston calipers are in just need to make the brackets these things are way bigger than I expected and weigh next to nothing.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2014/08/FD37EE7BCCA742469549C40EE07132F4_zpsrite-1.jpg (http://s576.photobucket.com/user/RMerritts/media/FD37EE7B-CCA7-4246-9549-C40EE07132F4_zpsritekrvu.jpg.html)
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2014/08/1E17D49F537B486C89CEA60F73271F05_zpsilp4-1.jpg (http://s576.photobucket.com/user/RMerritts/media/1E17D49F-537B-486C-89CE-A60F73271F05_zpsilp4s3ah.jpg.html)

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2014/08/3159A2DB52A5466690265E9E4D7087C0_zpsna84-1.jpg (http://s576.photobucket.com/user/RMerritts/media/3159A2DB-52A5-4666-9026-5E9E4D7087C0_zpsna84wgmi.jpg.html)

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2014/08/268E54D902CE48CCA4663F6C3F47D93D_zpsg2qt-1.jpg (http://s576.photobucket.com/user/RMerritts/media/268E54D9-02CE-48CC-A466-3F6C3F47D93D_zpsg2qtzidf.jpg.html)

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2014/08/F4A4911EB7FC4CB8B9BEB90F59E0CC9F_zpslvcc-1.jpg (http://s576.photobucket.com/user/RMerritts/media/F4A4911E-B7FC-4CB8-B9BE-B90F59E0CC9F_zpslvccfy3t.jpg.html)

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2014/08/2F687927F0E541DF8A822601483E76B0_zpstyat-1.jpg (http://s576.photobucket.com/user/RMerritts/media/2F687927-F0E5-41DF-8A82-2601483E76B0_zpstyatwh6r.jpg.html)

[RMerritts]

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2014/08/DD9188B111F84184825C9EC609CA3632_zpsgv60-1.jpg (http://s576.photobucket.com/user/RMerritts/media/DD9188B1-11F8-4184-825C-9EC609CA3632_zpsgv60ola4.jpg.html)
C5 rotors vs stock


https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2014/08/1B53EF5698D54065B9A16A91021BD482_zps83wy-1.jpg (http://s576.photobucket.com/user/RMerritts/media/1B53EF56-98D5-4065-B9A1-6A91021BD482_zps83wy9fii.jpg.html)

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2014/08/79AB2FDF851347B8B7387E08D86765C2_zpsvhat-1.jpg (http://s576.photobucket.com/user/RMerritts/media/79AB2FDF-8513-47B8-B738-7E08D86765C2_zpsvhatwlj2.jpg.html)
First time powder coating I think it came out well, the brackets on the engine will also be this bronze color
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2014/08/0333FA79F977401D872072402AFF307E_zps91gg-1.jpg (http://s576.photobucket.com/user/RMerritts/media/0333FA79-F977-401D-8720-72402AFF307E_zps91gg7ytq.jpg.html)

[andrewb70]

Nicely done.

FWI...Those NASCAR "Toyota" V8s are basically SB2 engines...

Andrew

[RMerritts]

For sure Andrew. Budget and car building are words that shouldn't be used together, but I can tell you the intake and throttle body cost more than both engines I have ready to go haha

[brawls43]

I highly recommend not using a Toyota or Lexus V8. Fun engines (I race one), but not many parts available. And the ones that are, are super expensive. Can't wait to see the LSx in it! Love the flares!

[Tig]

Awesome build. I agree, those flares are pretty sweet.
I'm with you on the LS motors, they're a dime a dozen and are more than capable of putting an smile on anyone's face.
Parts are more than readily available to.

Lookin forward to your updates.

[bovey]

The "Not sure it belongs here" title makes me giggle. This truck is the reason we exist. Great, great project.

[andrewb70]

For sure Andrew. Budget and car building are words that shouldn't be used together, but I can tell you the intake and throttle body cost more than both engines I have ready to go haha

I don't doubt that. I totally approve of the LSx route..

Andrew

[RMerritts]

Thanks for the kind words guys, was kinda iffy about posting it on this forum with it being an import and not exactly the cookie cutter pro touring style. Anywho, we added this to the stable recently, $800 with a spare cab with full interior and a 2 spare grills. I will be pulling the steering column out of one of them for the tacoma as well. Hopefully my ideas with all of these mis matched parts from other vehicles turns out the way it looks in my head. It is sitting on a c10 frame so don't mind the c30 badging.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2014/08/2847D638920A43239FB6F43B2D84F2AC_zpsuq5g-1.jpg (http://s576.photobucket.com/user/RMerritts/media/2847D638-920A-4323-9FB6-F43B2D84F2AC_zpsuq5gelzs.jpg.html)

[Clutch93]

Great looking truck! I'm excited to see how far this thing get's transformed. It already looks menacing and tough.

[RMerritts]

We worked on the prototype for the gauge panel with the cnc router a bit tonight. Will make a few tweaks like making the turn arrows a little deeper to fill with a piece of frosted plexi or epoxy. Let me know what you guys think. It's setup to be 2 piece so it'll have to be glued with the final part.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2014/08/9FE7F7191D194088A5522C06E6A1F3D4_zpsonsi-1.jpg (http://s576.photobucket.com/user/RMerritts/media/9FE7F719-1D19-4088-A552-2C06E6A1F3D4_zpsonsijkjf.jpg.html)

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2014/08/BD32DCB8C53A44419F5C65B4EF854635_zpsvyeo-1.jpg (http://s576.photobucket.com/user/RMerritts/media/BD32DCB8-C53A-4441-9F5C-65B4EF854635_zpsvyeovksh.jpg.html)

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2014/08/B7F33885363541A29742C942D7D9A51C_zpssd3a-1.jpg (http://s576.photobucket.com/user/RMerritts/media/B7F33885-3635-41A2-9742-C942D7D9A51C_zpssd3awech.jpg.html)

[RMerritts]

Well that panel went to the scrap pile... While simple, I think I'm looking for a bit more... What were gonna try next, had a friend in the UK do a few sketches this is what we chose....

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif (http://s576.photobucket.com/user/RMerritts/media/E848CE02-2E1F-475D-9717-4D669DBD35B9_zpsnzjbiy8v.jpg.html)

[67goatman455]

I LOVE this thing! it looks awesome. body drop will be perfect, i was thinking it could use another inch, and those wheels are sexy!

[FRENCHBLUE72]

Id say it belongs here..... Who makes those gauges speed...

[RMerritts]

Id say it belongs here..... Who makes those gauges speed...

Sorry I haven't been updating this, working a lot of OT trying to get some things paid off so i can really focus on getting this done. The gauges are the spec series from ProParts, same as what most teams use in the cup/nationwide/truck series.

[WideOpenThrottle]

Bit of an update on the concept for it, still just a rough draft.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2014/05/19B7F069ADD4449C9C214FAFFA9E9752_zpsgnvs-1.jpg (http://s576.photobucket.com/user/RMerritts/media/19B7F069-ADD4-449C-9C21-4FAFFA9E9752_zpsgnvsjjsz.jpg.html)


Awesome rendering. What did you use to get it sketched up?

[RMerritts]

Awesome rendering. What did you use to get it sketched up?

a good friend built/modified a model in 3dmax for me