PennSilverTaco's "Perfect 5-Lug Regular Cab" Build, Aspergers, and General BS MegaThread!

@Jamesboy2233

Did you get your driver's license yet?!?!

 

@Iamraiderpower

Nice little story behind this one...

This is a 2005 AC 4x4, base model with 2.7L and 5-speed stick! One frame replacement under its belt from the recall, but 180K miles on the original engine and tranny!

So I was taking my boss's dog for a walk around the block, and just before 7:45, this red 2nd gen pulled into the parking lot of a local church.

I stood at the entrance to the parking lot and waited patiently for the driver to get out, and began the conversation by asking "Is your Tacoma Barcelona red?!?!"

The owner, an older guy, kinda chuckled and told he'd had it repainted (I knew it was too bright to be a factory color).

So we got to talking (which is how I learned about the truck's history and mileage). A dog owner himself, the guy absolutely loved my boss's dog Tully. I then noticed that the guy was wearing a "NAVY VETERAN" windbreaker and said "as the son of a Navy vet, I'd like to thank you for your service." This then sparked a conversation about the Navy (always fun for me).

The owner, John, told me there were two things he disliked about his Tacoma. The first was the lack of intermittent windshield wipers (I told him how easy this was to fix and encouraged him to check out TW). The second was the lack of power windows. This is only the third 2nd generation AC I've see with crank windows, and only the second I've seen in person. On top of that, this is the only 6-lug AC I've seen with crank windows! The other two were 5-luggers!

Oh, and before John went inside, I asked him if I could take pictures of his truck, and he said yes, so here ya go!

 

What does the official road/skills test for new licensees consist of in the state of Texas?

 

It's official...

Less than 100 miles to go until I hit 80K!

 

Just for grins, I'm going to drive a 3rd gen at the 2018 Philly Auto Show...

 

How many people can say their A/C blows 38°F at the vents?!?!

 

Good temperature for thin white t shirts and bras

 

Nipple-hardeningly cold!

 

If you don't know anything about the Travis Manion Foundation, you should definitely look it up. I don't have a lot of time but I will gladly do a brief write-up later...

Anyway, the charity is named after an Iraq war veteran who killed in action. I do not remember the specifics of the cause, but I think it something like the Wounded Warrior Project.

When I was delivering pizzas in the summer of 2015 to make some extra money, I happened to make a delivery to the Manion HQ, and got a bumper magnet along with a decent tip...



More than two years later, my magnet is a bit worn out...




I stopped by the HQ today before work, not taking into consideration that, since they're a nonprofit organization, they might not be open on Saturday...



Anyway, this is where they are headquartered...

 

Working at a bar in the Northeast/Mid-Atlantic region that isn't in a major city (Philly, DC, Boston, NYC, etc) during the winter tends to be really depressing at times!

The biggest factor is that all of the college kids are, well, at college.

One big advantage the bar where I work has over other bars in the immediate vicinity is an outdoor/patio bar, with infrared gas heaters! However, while the heaters kick ass, their performance tends to decrease once it gets below freezing, or when there is a severe wind chill. As of right now, the outdoor bar at work is closed until St. Pat's, and will not open for the summer season until Memorial Day Weekend.

This extreme cold we've been having has been keeping the non-college crowd at home.

However, it is hard to argue with the amount of money I make per hour, plus the substantial cash tip outs on busy nights. I also absolutely love my boss and all of my coworkers. Barbacking is the only real job I've ever had in my life!

 

@Iamraiderpower
@Plain Jane Taco
@Jamesboy2233
@98tacoma27
@tcBob
@ChadsPride
@HomerTaco
@LocoLocal

If there were multiple Holy Grails and they all took the form of a Tacoma, this might very well be one of them!

01-04 RC SR5 PreRunner auto!

 

@Plain Jane Taco

Just look how clean she is!

Also, in Pennsylvania, all vehicles except those with antique tags are required to get a yearly safety inspection. Emissions testing is required in 25 of 67 counties for all gasoline-powered passenger vehicles, and gas-powered light trucks under a certain GVW.

You can't really see in the picture, but the beige RC in my latest post has a "EXEMPT" emissions sticker. This means the owner drives less than 5K miles a year, which probably means it's owned by a senior citizen!

 

Some people are lucky enough to live in a state (or Commonwealth in the case of Kentucky) that doesn't require any kind of inspection or testing!

We Pennsylvanians aren't so lucky!

Here's how it works...

All vehicles are except those registered as antiques are required to pass a safety inspection once a year. For large commercial vehicles, I believe it is every six months.

All commercial/heavy-duty vehicles are exempt from emissions testing statewide, regardless of whether or not they are gas or diesel.

All diesel-powered vehicles, whether it's a VW or one of those new Chevy Cruze diesels, a full-size pickup, or a commercial truck, are exempt from emissions statewide.

Safety inspections are required statewide for all vehicles except those registered as antique or classic. Emissions testing is required in 25 of Pennsylvania's 67 counties.

For example, a 2016-2017 Toyota Prius registered in York County would have to pass emissions testing and a safety inspection. Just over the line in Adams County, however, a 1980s V8-powered full-size pickup truck would only be required to pass a safety inspection...

 

These are the inspection stickers on my own Tacoma. The blue one is "Safety" and the reddish orange one is "Emissions"...

 

Just did two rounds of this with my neighbor's wife!

 

So, after years of eating Lucky Charms without issue, my neighbor's daughter apparently broke out in hives twice in a row from eating them and had to go to the ER at least once.

She can no longer eat them, so guess what I'm having for breakfast tomorrow!

 

Do you have to parallel park?

 

@Plain Jane Taco
@Iamraiderpower
@LocoLocal
@98tacoma27

So, I got my oil changed a bit early, before the light came on. Well, now it's on. I forget how to reset the "SERVICE ENGINE" light. Something involving holding in the trip odometer button right before you start the truck?!?!

 

My dad actually found this partially buried in the backyard of our house!

I think it's from an Oldsmobile...

 

My dad is probably going to be buying a new Ford Expedition, and today we browsed the local dealerships, starting with Fred Beans Ford. I found a brand new (in the sense that it still has a window sticker) 2015 Nissan Frontier S that was apparently ordered for fleet use. It is quite well-equipped for a base model, and has automatic, A/C, cruise control, Bluetooth, AUX input, and even steering wheel audio controls...

Fred Beans also has a Nissan dealership nearby, but it makes no sense why a truck that's almost three years old is still sitting on any dealer's lot with the window sticker still in place...


Also, the dealer seems to have been keeping up with the inspection, as it's a technically new 2015 model but is inspected through 2019!