But this isn't about those things. This is about a project I have wanted to do for a while now. This is one that I want to do all the time. Every time I look out the window, every time I stand in the late afternoon sun, every time I stand up in the mountains it creeps under my skin. It is time to ruin my gas mileage and make my truck something a little more awesome. I have worked on a list of things I wish to complete over the next year or so.
1. Lights - I want to upgrade the headlamps to halogens or something similar. I would like to add some molded top lamps in the amber fog color.
2. A full blown suspension overhaul - I don't want to lift my truck, but just beef up the suspension for some of the forest trails around the state
3. Brush guards - for all the new fancy pants lights
4. Upgrade seats - The front driver seat either needs re-upholstering or just out and out replacement. With a replacement I could put in a harness instead of stock belts
5. General performance boosters - Anytime the maintenance calls for replacing something I want to upgrade to something stronger or tougher. Things like tires, spark plugs, spark wires, upgraded filters would fall in here.
The overall purpose of this should be obvious. I want to make something tough enough to roll with the big bad zombie dorks, but still be able to drive to work without watching my gas gauge plummet. I am starting with a strong motor, Toyota's 22R-E. It isn't the most powerful engine to build off of, but it does have one advantage; it isn't deterred by most hills. So I think the place to start is on some of the easy stuff like wires and lights. Then some new struts, not the best right now, but something better than what I have under there currently. And any little things I can complete on the weekends.