What have you done to your Tacoma today? 1st Gen Edition

Where did you get the trailer

 

Well, I finally got around to writing up a fun post about speedo's, odo's and gas mileage, after realizing that the amazing increase in gas mileage that I thought I got as a result of new gears was baloney, and that I actually needed to recalculate the gas mileage for the entire life of my truck.

It's a bit of a read, but relatively quick and enjoyable I think: Speedometers, Odometers, and Gas Mileage - All Lies!

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All of mine are off, but when you drive an abomination it doesn't matter anyway. My Ultragauge is calibrated and correct everything else is miles (literally) off.

 

My last stick was a CTS V. Fun fucken car. Sucked in traffic. Never again. I love my auto truck.

 

Got my expos installed. Haven’t had a chance to drive it yet. They sit about an inch higher than the standards as of now, I’m sure they will settle a bit.

 

I just happened to see it on Craigslist a week ago, for a decent price. I’m amazed at the shape it’s in for a 50 year old trailer.

 

So I finally hit up my buddy with a welder and we made a fix for my ripped out rear skid straps. I think this applies to @Fernando as well?

Thankfully he's got a lift and a heated garage so working in 7 degrees isn't an issue. I developed and bent 3/16" 1.5" straps, and he welded them in for me.

IMG_9139 by Michael Halat, on Flickr
IMG_9144 by Michael Halat, on Flickr

We had a couple gaps to fill so the welds aren't the prettiest, but damn it's way stronger than the laughable tack welds on the original straps.

IMG_9148 by Michael Halat, on Flickr

I also beefed up the trans skid more to hopefully prevent it from bending again. I did end up welding this myself to get some practive and was pretty happy with them.

IMG_9151 by Michael Halat, on Flickr

 

Did you get a sled for this winter?

 

That looks great. Mine have been redone too. Ill try to get under my rig to snap a pic. I like yours

 

Hey those look great!

I did the bud built style for my mock (10gauge) skid when I realized the LCA mounts were angled. I wasn't sure what to do, but this looks like a nice work around.

 

How do people level the rear out? My passenger side is still a half inch higher than my driver side with the new leafs.

 

Side specific leaf springs.

Counter load on passenger side

 

Have you considered getting a fat girlfriend?

 

I'll give you a unique perspective most of y'all have never had. I grew up in this truck as a kid. Instead of riding in the back I'd ride in the front seat, but then have the airbag off. Don't recall using a booster seat but 01-04 trucks have an anchor in the rear of the ext. cab to specifically fit and anchor front booster seats.

 

Bad idea to add a 1/2 block on one side?

 

Yeah not a good idea.

You sure you got them on the right side?

 

There’s nothing to distinguish a right and wrong side.

 

A dead body on the higher side will work

 

Battled for far too long with rusted bolts, seized bushings, shitty sawzall blades, etc. to hopefully finally be able to get a proper alignment. New LCA's, LBJ's, and alignment cams/bolts.

 

I've heard that some have a + (slightly oversprung) and some a - (slightly under) marked on them. + goes on the driver side to compensate for more weight there.