Builds Build #2 - 45 Extended Cab, 80 Frame, iForce 5.7 3UR (1 Viewer)

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Brilliant !!
 
The rate at which you move make me feel like i live in cold molasses.

Here is a tailgate idea:
 
The rate at which you move make me feel like i live in cold molasses.

Here is a tailgate idea:
I am in the extremely fortunate position that I have some things in my life that make it conducive for me to work on projects like this.

Very supportive wife
Very supportive boss
Nice shop to work in
Nice tools to use
Good health
Good weather
Huge amount of stores, shops, and suppliers in my area
No major time constraints or demands

I think about all of those pretty often, and I'm always thankful.

Thanks for the link on the tailgates. If they were stamped, I'd definitely do one, especially for that price. I purchased a stamped Toyota piece a couple years ago I'm going to try to incorporate into my tailgate... We'll see how it goes!

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I am in the extremely fortunate position that I have some things in my life that make it conducive for me to work on projects like this.

Very supportive wife
Very supportive boss
Nice shop to work in
Nice tools to use
Good health
Good weather
Huge amount of stores, shops, and suppliers in my area
No major time constraints or demands

I think about all of those pretty often, and I'm always thankful.

Thanks for the link on the tailgates. If they were stamped, I'd definitely do one, especially for that price. I purchased a stamped Toyota piece a couple years ago I'm going to try to incorporate into my tailgate... We'll see how it goes!

View attachment 2881333
It just keeps getting better!
 
just great stuff!! Your pretty much doing all the stuff I wish I had time for!!! And skill!!! With two young kids it won’t happen for awhile… love watching your attention to detail and eye for well thought out design.. looking forward to seeing this completed!!!
 
I got a lot done on the bed over the weekend. There's a lot of trimming that needed to be done. This was my pile of scraps when I was done -

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Very tedious removal of spot welds -

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This is with the rear sill, tail light buckets, and bed side rails removed -

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Making a new rear sill -

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All done

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Installed

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Framing up the sides

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Welding in the bottom

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Almost done framing

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That looks really nice
Thanks... It's coming along. I like the proportions a lot. I think I lucked out with that Nissan bed. Very time consuming work though....

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This build just gets better and better. 😉

Thanks for posting!
 
those rear corners are looking awesome
 
Building the tailgate....

I bought this stamped Toyota panel a couple years ago and have been thinking about how I could use it in a tailgate -

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I started to frame with 1x2 around it (same 1x2 as bed rails) -

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Outside frame complete -

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Framing the panel -

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In using early windshield latches to secure the gate. Measuring...

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Installing M8x1.25 nutserts -

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Latches done -

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Done -

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I've been going back and forth between 35s and 37s. I think I'd love the look of the 37s, but with the power I'm a bit concerned about the stock 80 axles.

I've been looking for some lightly used tires and came across these KM3's. They're 35x12.5x17. I got them mounted up today for a test fit.

I have been very curious what they would look like with how wide the 80 axles are, but I really like the stance. I actually think with these high offset 80 series wheels, it sits similar to UZJ40 with low offset wheels.

Now that the tires are on, I can take final measurements and finish the bed sides and rear fender flares.

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Some technical, boring stuff here, for anyone that's interested... And might be useful to some 80 guys with the new Dakota Digital dash for them.

Using the Dakota Digital gauges, you need to program for the correct fuel sender. They want empty, 1/3, 2/3, and full. One way to do it is drive til empty and program at a gas station while fueling up. I tried doing it that way with my last vehicle and had some issues, so I wanted an easier method.

Since I'm using the factory 80 fuel tank, pump, and sender, I was able to take some measurements. I used a digital multimeter and digital angle finder to

The ohm reading on empty is about 114, while the float arm is strait vertical -

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At full, the arm is at about 60 degrees, and it reads about 3 ohms -

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Which means I can take a reading at 40 degrees for 2/3 -

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And again for 1/3 at 20 degrees -

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To verify, I tried to measure the vertical travel of the float to make sure it was linear. Empty -

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Then marked for full -

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Then I moved the float to 2/3 according to my previous readings and marked the table -

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And same for 1/3 -

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Finished -

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Now that I have my measurements, I can use resistors to duplicate those readings. I'll need 4 different setups -

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For full, I used (3) 10ohm resistors wired in parallel -

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2/3, I used a single 20ohm resistor -

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For 1/3, I used (2) 100ohm resistors in parallel. For empty, I used a 100 in series with a 10 in series with (2) 10's.

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Ready to go -

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Now, when I install my dash and power it up, I can use those resistors for each setup stage and I should be very close to factory readings.
 
I've been going back and forth between 35s and 37s. I think I'd love the look of the 37s, but with the power I'm a bit concerned about the stock 80 axles.

I've been looking for some lightly used tires and came across these KM3's. They're 35x12.5x17. I got them mounted up today for a test fit.

I have been very curious what they would look like with how wide the 80 axles are, but I really like the stance. I actually think with these high offset 80 series wheels, it sits similar to UZJ40 with low offset wheels.

Now that the tires are on, I can take final measurements and finish the bed sides and rear fender flares.
Looks great with the 35s and steel wheels! Are you going to re-gear the diffs or run stock?

I like the creativity on finding a pickup bed with the right proportions and doing your own tailgate and sides. Excited to see the rest of it come together.

Thanks for taking the time to post about the fuel gauge and calibration for Dakota digital. I'm planning to mount the 80 tank sideways at the rear as others have done so this is great info to have. Are you re-locating the factory 80 tank or does it fit it in the stock location with your cab and bed?
 
Now that I have my measurements, I can use resistors to duplicate those readings. I'll need 4 different setups -

View attachment 2888032

For full, I used (3) 10ohm resistors wired in parallel -

View attachment 2888033

2/3, I used a single 20ohm resistor -

View attachment 2888035

For 1/3, I used (2) 100ohm resistors in parallel. For empty, I used a 100 in series with a 10 in series with (2) 10's.

View attachment 2888039

Ready to go -



Now, when I install my dash and power it up, I can use those resistors for each setup stage and I should be very close to factory readings.
now thats good tech. good info to have, although I still haven't decided between a dakota and one of those OBD2 smart dashs
 
Looks great with the 35s and steel wheels! Are you going to re-gear the diffs or run stock?

I like the creativity on finding a pickup bed with the right proportions and doing your own tailgate and sides. Excited to see the rest of it come together.

Thanks for taking the time to post about the fuel gauge and calibration for Dakota digital. I'm planning to mount the 80 tank sideways at the rear as others have done so this is great info to have. Are you re-locating the factory 80 tank or does it fit it in the stock location with your cab and bed?

Thanks! With the additional power I don't think I'll need to regear. Tundras without tow packages came with 4.10's, with tow packages 4.30's. They weigh a couple thousand lbs more than I will, so I don't think I'll have any issues with this setup.

I certainly got lucky with that truck bed. I like the length of SWB 45's, but I don't like the look of them. I think the LWB's are too long, and have too much rear overhang. With this setup, I'm able to combine the two and make it how I want (hopefully).

The tank will not fit in the factory 80 spot any longer due to the length and width of the new drivetrain. It will be sideways behind the rear axle. I actually just got it back from the radiator shop.... they boiled/cleaned it, and I was able to get the 3 new seals from Toyota for the filler, evap, and pump.

I am excited to use the 80 setup though. I like the size, the fact that its metal, and I can use the OEM steel skid plate.

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now thats good tech. good info to have, although I still haven't decided between a dakota and one of those OBD2 smart dashs
Thank you! Definitely go with the DD. The OBD stuff is nice, but I don't feel like it's quite there yet as far as every day driveability.
 

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