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

Thanks all! I'm pretty happy with the whole thing, though it'll need some tweaking, I think...but only after I use it a bit. The Hi-Lift mount behind/next to the jerry can basket is useless to me, acts an air (and mud!) dam, and blocks some side-view mirror so I'm likely to cut it off. And I'd like to move the jerry can holder down about 6 inches... but I'll need to check departure angles/clearances before doing that.

Yeah, agreed that that height of the back is better now. And OMG, my headlights still suck (they are 98-00's so that's a given), but at least they are now pointed forward instead of down. hahahaha

I considered waiting for the Pelfrey's - I'm sure it'll be cool. Ultimately decided that it was far enough away that I should just go for this (which I don't really consider much of a compromise! hahaha) Fabbing stuff in and making it your own is half the fun!

12 hour drive for me, so not all that close. But worked out well timing wise with a trip down to the Maze that @m3bassman organized so made a pit stop on the way. Was actually quite the story, which I'll get written up in the next week I hope!

Outback for sure. At least for me. I wasn't going to cut my bedsides. And the clearance is great - already way better than OEM + tow receiver.

 

Found a razor blade stuck in my tire tread. It turned 90 degrees and wedged in one of the tire treads. How it never broke is beyond me and I pulled it out still didn't break.

 

Any word on whom has this?

There was one in the PNW for a bit and got sold. Looking to change this out along with Spindle bearing...

 

No not a free floating one.

Can just buy them at ecgs.

 

Im getting a knocking sound from under the hood. Motor mounts? Its not the engine itself. Rigs at 202k

 

Here’s a none potato phone picture just in case anyone’s interested

 

If you don't have the time to sell your truck and hunt for a 4 x 4, do you think you have time for a swap?

I own my own lift and I won't do a 4 x 4 conversion.

Please consider how much time and money you will really have into this project.

Also, the hunt for a 4 x 4 can be just as much fun. Visiting different places to check out trucks can be a good time.

After buying tools and the time you have into the swap, you won't be saving ANY money!

Finding manual hubs is getting very rare, plus ADD axles in the automatic differentials are stronger and they are common.

Just my opinion, don't hate on me too bad.

 

What kind of phone is that? That pic is so vivid, I'm on the verge of having a seizure!

 

It’s not a phone picture, guess I shoulda worded it different.

Nikon Coolpix 7000

 

OK, looking for some diagnostic help - basically, where to start looking for the problem.

There's more to this story, and it'll come in a few days, but on our way out of The Maze yesterday, I wasn't paying attention and hit a whoops too fast. At say 45mph, in 2WD. Ben @m3bassman or Zane @Speedytech7 may be able to say how high off the ground we got.

Definitely not my normal M.O. Anyway, everything seemed OK on dirt at lower speeds and we drove the rest of the way to civilization.

On pavement, here's what I notice:

1. There's more/new vibration but only when I'm on the gas - goes away (mostly if not completely) when I'm coasting. I can really feel the new vibration in the gas pedal (feels like there's a vibrator on the bottom of my foot), and even the seat to some extent.
2. Vibes are most noticeable from 45-65 mph, with 65 being the worst. The frequency of the vibration becomes fast enough at about 70 mph that it almost seems to go away (but it doesn't, it's just a really fast "refresh rate" and so seems constant)
3. Truck almost seems to be "lugging" - it feels like I don't have as much power. There's that "low / base-y" hum that I sort of equate to how my 4.10 gears felt with my 33's when going uphill
4. Sometimes, what I'd call a bit of of a "clunk" (I think from the front, but not 100% sure) when getting on the gas; more noticeable in low gears 1, 2, 3. Almost like the sound I've heard people talk about with axle wrap (though obviously that'd be in the back).

So, ideas? Did I bend something? Break something? I'm going to give the truck a good wash and look at all of the suspension, obviously. But i'm not sure how suspension would result in #3 (lack of power) and it seems like it wouldn't go away when off the gas (#1).

Edit: Also going to get an alignment and tires balanced, since I'm sure I could have thrown those off. But again, I don't think those result in all these symptoms.

My total-newbie-don't-know-anything-ness wonders "did I bend break some engine mount or something like that?; and could that result in this?"

I really have no idea. Would love suggestions.

 

Looks like a fun day. What brand of tracking collar are you using, that antenna looks real long.

 

Garmin, they’re factory replacement,, supposed to be stronger and get better reception.

 

oooo was it on the road out of the ranger station headed north to the highway/green river/hankville. Before you got to this junction?

ImpromptU-Ah-16.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

because i hit a spot there on the way out at about that speed. hurt bad on the landing.


anyways, check you motor mounts and tranny mount as well as the motor perches. How old is your clutch?

 

Yep, that's the road, we took it all the way up to Green River.

Now need to go find the motor and tranny mounts, since I've never looked for them, hahaha. You think that's what this sounds like?

Edit: How can I tell if I bent them, will it be obvious? (vs. break, which will be obvious)

Clutch is original, but only 85K miles.

Also going to get an alignment and tires balanced, since I'm sure I could have thrown those off.

 

I have the exact same camera. It is an amazing point and shoot.

Thanx.

 

Sounds driveshaft related. Not alignment/tires.

Talking about moving your axle forward the other day, I was wondering about where you're sitting at within the movement of the slip joint. Wonder if you bottomed it out going to full droop, have you ever checked that?

 

I really like mine, I’m on my second one.

 

Yeah as you are leaving Hans Flat that strech out there i hit something and with the weak as rear suspension it hurt. Was glad i kept it under control. Think the superbumps helped though.

Motor mounts will be easy to inspect from under the truck by the tranny looking up towards the headers. If the perches are still straight then start the truck and look at the mounts from the top and the bottom. If the motor is shaking a lot then the rubber isolators could be destroyed. The mounts are a two piece design so not a great way to see if the rubber is toast or not without removing and disassembling.

Tranny mount is super easy...except you have to drop your skid probably

To me it sounds like the power isn't being delivered correctly anymore. So either one of those got toasted or the axle/axle shaft maybe. Or could just be the wheels are out of balance and you lost a bunch of wheel weights.

this is a good point, however 3/4'' should not max out the slip joint.

 

yeah its smooth, but i hit something during the part where the hills roll a bit and caught air in Igor. Wasn't good.

Mike launched the Red Head off that cattle guard. I laughed my ass off watching that.

 

That road was a blast but scary as hell. I recall a blind right hander after a crest that I almost didn't make. Just a wee bit too much speed.