Back With A Nearly Complete Restoration!

Hello all! Haven't logged in since May of 2016. Been busy with a move to a new state, finishing school, and finding new work. In the meantime, I was able to put a lot of work into my 1995 Tacoma, its almost a brand new truck! Much of the work I did myself but some of the larger stuff (Paint and bodywork, control arms, harmonic balancer) I farmed out to shops that I trusted.

List of things I did:

- Complete restoration of the interior (Carpet, trim, radio, interior lights, etc.)
- Auxiliary lights, amber in front, white in rear
- New headlights, tail lights, and side markers
- Painted the grille and markers black
- Bedliner (Including painting the bumpers and bullbar)
- AEM Intake (had to modify it slightly), exhaust with a Flowmaster 40
- Major cleaning of engine bay including throttle body and MAF
- Spark plugs, wires, distributor cap, fuel filter, high crank battery, PCV Valve
- Starter rebuild
- Frame paint with undercoating done each Fall as it is my daily driver (Live less than 10 min from work!)
- Tool box (painted that as well)
- Made my own AC evap drain valve as the factory one seems to have fallen off at some point, works well (Knew I needed one when my passenger side floor was soaked!)
- A bunch of other little things I'm forgetting

Things I had other people do:

- New belts, Harmonic Balancer, ball joints and bearings, complete paint and rust repair on fenders, the suspension lift and UCAs, American Racing Baja wheel and BFG tire install and balance. And lastly I had the gas tank cleaned out as the stock tank is still in excellent shape minus the filler neck gasket that just started to drip a little when I fuel up, just got the gasket from Toyota yesterday, which I will do myself.

Here are some pictures from the restoration process, enjoy and if anyone has any questions as to how or why I did anything please let me know! I have some big plans for the spring (Header, big bore throttle body, and valve cover) that I will be doing myself. I am also having the rear diff rebuilt as it has a slight whine to it at certain speeds.

 

Looks sharp!

 

Cool! I'm nearly done doing a big overhaul to my taco too! Not much left to do!

I have to get a paint job as well, as the paint is in bad need of a refresh. How much did it cost you to have to have it painted?

 

Thank you!

Total for bodywork (replacement front fenders, tailgate, and cutout sections on the rear wheel wells) was $4400 total and it all came out great. Definitely one of those things you'll want to leave to the pros who have done it hundreds of times!

 

thanks for the info

Any tips for chosing a good auto body/paint shop?

 

looks pretty sweet man!

 

Honestly ask around. I was fortunate enough to be able to use a shop that had been around since the 1980's and that has a really good reputation. They do the bodywork and detailing for the local State Police barracks cruisers, so I felt good leaving my truck with them... and I don't like other people handling/driving my truck!

Thanks! Worked a lot of hours to be able to make it the way I want!

 

Blood Sweat and Tears, now you and that badass truck will have an unbreakable bond forever! You saved its life, Im glad youre keeping one more 1st gen on the road. Job well done!

 

Looks damn good! Restorations are AWESOME. These trucks are classics!

 

does that have the 22r ?

 

Rebuilt 22R! It’s a 1980 model.

 

Damn looks like my first truck! 22r w/weber sidraft carbs, nice to see these in that condition. Memories..

 

Thank you and very nice trucks gentlemen! Currently looking for a T100 now or an 87-95 pickup!

 

That's awesome dude.....My 96 goes in for it's paint on Wednesday. The original Blurple of course. I have a new to me box and tailgate its amazingly rust free. New rocker and door passenger side as it got hit back in June. Only minor damage but the insurance wrote it off. I had minor rust in the fenders but as they are original i wanted to save them. But decided to go with new ones. Windshield is out as is the back window and doors stripped down. My chassis is in real good shape but getting POR15 sprayed while we are at it. Can wait to be where your at.........Where did U get the carpet. I'm gonna do new too. Did it fit good?

 

Awesome! Glad to see so much enthusiasm for the 1st gens on here!
Carpet I got from Stockinteriors.com, fast shipping and everything is pre-fit. I did have to trim a little off all of the edges, but other than that it was very easy to do and it looks great.

 

Which carpet did you use.......The stock grade or the one they list thats like plush grade. Cant remember the terms sorry.

 

I just went with the regular level plush, not the Ultra. Also, I didn't add any backing to it. Wasn't too concerned with sound deadening, I like to hear when and if something goes wrong.

Thank you sir! I will sift through your posts and check it out, can't beat a classic regular cab!

 

I believe it is in the thread from when I first joined TW, but it needs an update!

 

New part, will be ordering a header and a big bore throttle body from LCE whenever they get some more done up for the 3RZ!