Hunt/Taco's long dream build.

Hi guys. This thread is going to be all about building/ adding mods on my 2003 Toyota Tacoma 4wd, 2.7. It will take some time to get it to where I want it. Currently it has 92,000 miles on it. So let me tell you about how I bought it/ what I have done to it up to date. I have kept my eyes on this truck for 5 years or so (I know the person who owned it). 5 Years ago, I told her to give me first refusal if and when you ever wanted to sell it. So about 7 months ago I got a call from her wanting to sell it. I brought it down to a Toyota dealer to have the frame looked at (mind you this is still under the 15 year frame warranty). Bring it to the Toyota dealer, they inspect it, and told me it is fine/ passed inspection. They also told me to run it for 6 months and bring it back in right before the 15 year warranty ran out. So in short, no new frame. At this time I am kind of bummed out. My dad told me it is still a pretty nice truck and I should still buy it. So I took my dad's/ brothers advise and bought it for $3,000, with 90,000 miles on it. What did not work on it was the Radio, no big deal. I have recently a Pioneer Radio, and boom I have a radio that works!! The front and rear bumpers where shot also at the time of buying it. I have also put on brand new black rear bumper, takes care of the rear bumper needing to be replaced. Fast forward to about a month ago, I take it to a different Toyota dealership for one last frame inspection. My 15 year warranty was up on May 15th, and I brought the truck in to them on May 10th. They did the inspection, and found a hole the size of a quarter in the right rear body mount. They call me saying I will be getting the new frame, and just have to wait for one to come in. So most of you guys know this, but what comes with a new frame, is (new gas tank straps, gas tank skid plate, all new brake/ gas lines, all new body mounts, motor mount, transmission mounts,). So the lower ball joint recall has not been done on this truck, that will be done when the frame gets swapped also. Having Toyota install the new Bilstien 5100s on when they do the swap also. Pretty excited that I bought the truck for $3,000 with 90,000 miles, and it is getting a brand new frame, and all the other stuff listed above. Ok, enough about that. Since I have bought it, I have put on a brand new black rear bumper, Bilstien 5100s, Pioneer radio, Tacoma windshield sticker (looks awesome!!), new brake pads, rotors, and Red calipers (adds a few HP to it, I need all the HP I can get). What I am going to do to my truck before the year is up, is new BF Goodrich KM3s, Truck box, Highlift Jack, Traction adds. Down the road, I am going to put on a winch bumper( have my eyes on the relentless fab front winch bumpers) with winch, method, or Ray 10 wheels (can't wait to get rid of the stock wheels, all in due time

 

Called the Toyota dealership about 1 week ago to see if my frame has arrived, it has. Just a matter of time now. Have to wait another week or so, for the Toyota reps to be less busy. Also ordered new BF Goodrich KM3s for it. Instead of going with the stock 265/70/ R16s, I went with the 265/75/R 16s, so 1 size bigger than stock. So the next big things that are going to be done to it, are the frame swap (warranty), having them install my new Bilstien 5100 shocks. Then after that, bringing it to the place that I bought my tires from, for them to mount and balance the tires. Going to be having to buy a truck box for it soon, and a High-lift jack. That is pretty much all I might be able to get done this year. Although I might be able to buy some ditch lights for it also, idk yet. Like I said it is going to be slow build. Will keep you all posted. And take before and after pics of the old frame, Vs the new one, and the new tires on it.

 

New tires mounted and balanced on the Tacoma!! Dropped it off to Downeast Toyota today, for the frame replacement. They said about a week, to a week and a half before it is done. This truck is getting there for being fixed up. The dent is still in the door though. These tires are aggressive, and look good. Going to get some better wheels next summer for it though. Hoping some Ray 10s or Methods. Bronze or gun metal would look great on it!! Getting ready for deer hunting with this thing. Bought a truck box also for it today. To store all kinds of necessary stuff/ crap (haha). Mostly bought it for my high- Lift jack, and to store the rifles inside the truck box in soft gun cases. As there is no no room in the cab. Will keep you guys all posted when I get the truck back with the new frame. Will take piles of pics.

 

Few pictures of the new Frame. Toyota got it done in 4-5 days. Total bill was $17,600 that was sent to the Toyota corp. Had them install my new 5100's which lifted the truck 2.5-2.75" in the front and 2" in the back. I am a happy guy. Since these pictures I have undercoated the whole truck. Not that I am going to be using it in winter time, I just do not want the new frame to start getting rusty from rocks chipping the paint away.

 

Got my new truck box all mounted. Right now I am storing the high lift jack in the truck box for the time being. (the high lift jack is all wrapped up in a old comforter, to keep it from marring the truck box). Looks pretty good I think, it is a low pro one so you can still see what is in your bed/ when backing up. It is also narrow, to take up less bed space. For right now it works!!

 

That’s awesome that you got your truck for $3,000 and then got almost $18,000 in parts and labor for free.

 

Yes it is!! There was a point I was not sure if the frame was going to get replaced. I did have to pay Toyota $400 out of my pocket for mounting my new shocks/ lift, along with a few other odds and ends. I am not complaining though, haha. Yeah the body is not in the best shape, rusted out front bumper, dented drivers door, big huge scratch down the passenger side door, then throw in my crappy spray paint job above the rear wheel wells. A 90 year old guy owned it before me, that is why the dents/ scratches. Like I said above this is all I could put into it this summer for upgrades. Next summer, SCS Ray 10s, front winch bumper, with winch, and ditch lights, after that who knows. Guess I would have to see how money is after those upgrades, then add more on it if I can next summer. I will be keeping you guys posted as I buy stuff, take cool pics.

 

Love it! I may or may not be drooling over that new frame of yours...

 

Thanks man!! It feels like a new truck. I have fully undercoated it since these pictures, even though I won't be using it on winter salty roads. Want to keep this truck as rust free as possible. Like I said this is my play/ personal/ project build truck. I will never be done upgrading it. I just ran out of funds for this year. Looks like you have a sweet truck just like mine. Does yours have the 3.4 in it, or the 2.7? What size lift?

 

That's a good call trying to keep it as rust free as possible! With less than 100k on yours it will probably last forever!

Mine just has the 2.7 in it with a manual transmission. Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe V6 single cabs were only available from 1995-1997. I would love to swap it out to a 3.4 someday, but I don't think it is in the cards. Too much time/research and I don't want to rip apart my perfectly good truck if I don't have to.

I have a 2.5" lift on my truck, just some OME 881s and 5100's with a 1.5" AAL in the rear. I'd like to do a full leaf pack someday, but for now my current set up does everything I've asked it to do!

 

Yeah I have not seen any 2000 newer 1st gen reg cabs have the 3.4 either. Some day I want to do the V8 in mine, or a diesel swap, that is way way down the road. I think I am going to go with the Dakar leafs on mine next summer. I am getting a weird/ loud clunk noise going on, under my truck. When you are driving it does not do it, same with going over bumps. It does it when you shift into reverse and start backing up/ under some strain. It is locked in gear. Sounds like Toyota did not tighten up the drive shaft when they did the frame swap. I did not have this noise before the frame swap, only now after the frame swap. It is weird. What are your thoughts? I crawled underneath and checked every thing out, every thing looks fine. Silverbullet are you a member of the FB group below?

 

I've personally never had an interest in a diesel, but I toyed with the idea of a V8 swap for about half a day before I thought about it a little more. Check out this thread of a guy who actually V8 swapped his Tacoma using a Lexus motor. It took him over a year but wow does it sound good! https://fourwheelforum.com/showthread.php?t=248

I had an issue that only showed up in reverse, it was aloud squeaking sound that got faster the fast I went in reverse. It ended up being a bad u-joint.

I am not a member of the FB group, in fact I don't even use Facebook... Tacomaworld and Instagram are really the only social media I am active on!

 

Got my truck out from sitting all winter long (kept it off the salty winter roads). Just did the Mobil 1 oil change on my truck, and new oil filter. Bringing it down to the Toyota dealer due to 2-3 bolts missing from the lower ball joint when they did the lower ball joint recall. Also they mounted my 5100s upside down, so when I contacted Bilstein about the issue (it was pumping oil out of one of the rear shock) they said it was the dealers fault on how the shock was mounted. So luckily Toyota will be fixing that also. Also when I am at the Toyota dealer I will be picking up a union/ breather for the diff breather mod. Time to start building my truck again since it is not winter time.

 

I may have missed it but what kind of toolbox do you have? I've been looking at a few low-pros in black lately

 

It was like $300 for it. Got it at 10-20% off, can't remember exactly. Custom Tool Boxes is the brand. There website is Custom Tool Boxes.com.

 

Thanks man! I will have to check them out

 

No problem. Where I bought mine was from Truck Works in Bangor, Maine.

 

Went out and cracked my rear diff breather loose on my Tacoma. Did not think I could get it loose due to the rusted rear axle. But good news, I got it loose now I can start doing the diff breather mod. Going to be getting the Union/ breather from the Toyota dealer in a few days for the mod. Also I sprayed PB blaster on the drain/ fill plugs for the rear diff. Going to be doing an rear diff, front diff, transfer case, transmission fluid change this summer, along with a Anti-Freeze flush. Truck is sitting at 96,xxx miles so figured I should be changed everything I listed just for peace of mind.

 

Just ordered my Relentless fab predator bumper. Called up relentless, and they had 1 bumper at there shop (a guy backed out of his order), so I managed to score it. It did not have the hoops on it, but Eric welded them on this afternoon and shipped it the same day!! Also they cut me 10% off the price of the bumper to. I am excited! I am getting it bare steel, going to line-x it once it gets here. Should be here in 5-7 days!! Here is a picture of what it looks like for those of you that do not know. Photo by https://www.tacomaworld.com/members/cbechtold.121010/,

 

I purchased the 2nd front bumper that they had in stock, I settled on the "SUMMIT" style hoops, but the Predator hoops look sick too. I purchased their rear non wrap (last one in stock) and their 2nd to last IFS skid too. Hoping to receive everything in a few weeks.