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

Yeah, looks like a mixture of brake dust and aluminum oxidization

 

Corrosion that only a wire wheel on an angle grinder can remove. Super gross/dusty job.
That was my dads original alloys off his 08. They are the reason why I will never restore a wheel again. I paid someone to sandblast/coat the wheels Im on now.

 

FYI. Its aluminum so wear a full on mask. You don't wanna breath in a lot of that stuff.

 

Yup. I wore a 3m respirator with eye/ear protection when I did mine. Still got coated in the dust though. Totally not worth the 3 hours a wheel once I found out I could get them sandblasted for $40-50 per wheel. Lesson learned on the next set.

 

Backed the Taco into the garage and removed the hood. Getting ready to pull the engine.

 

Very clean.

 

I took a really close look and the stuff appears to be on top of the clearcoat, but really caked on after 20 years. I think that spending $5000 in wheel cleaner, and 3 days per wheel would probably get them clean.

Sandblaster works well (and of course takes off the clear coat as well. But damn, now I want one of those big compressors - my little pancake compressor is struggling. To rent or buy, that is the question. I hate renting tools.

 

just take them somewhere to get PC. Probably be 100 bucks a wheel. Done.

 

Where's the fun in that? Time is one thing I've got a lot of.

 

Do you have a pressure washer? The turbo nozzle attachment will bore through wood and concrete -- even when you don't want it to.

 

Thats what I did with my 4Runner 5 stars. I supplied the powder, so I paid $80 per wheel.

 

Home depot rental

3500-4000 PSI Pressure Washer

category #10 group #104

Ideal for heavy-duty projects, such as mildew removal, sanitation, large areas and industrial jobs. Professional-grade, high-capacity gas pressure washer that tackles complex jobs. Pair with the Surface Cleaner tool in order to dramatically reduce project time.


too much power for wheels?
might also be able to power wash inside of my frame before borescope procedure?

 

I have that one. It gets the job done.

 

Too late with this suggestion, but you might have tried either the baking soda or walnut shells rather than more aggressive media.

 

Good suggestion. The flash was me messing with the positioning of the phone camera while taking the picture, its not like that going down the road.

 

Catching up a little.

I honestly have been really happy with fluid film, but I have a brand new frame I am starting with since 2016. I feel without having a pristine frame to start, it’s hard to really get the protection you are looking for. You will see surface rust no matter what on anything that sees any sort of friction or sand blasting from off-roading. I just updated my build with all the pics from the frame shit I am doing and the frame cleaned up so damn nicely.

Gas tanks are overrated. That shit did fuck me up taking it out even with two fans in the garage. At least I finally will replace the 18 year old fuel filter.


Also @BartMaster1234 did you ever get that paper towel out? What's the harm in pulling the plug and spraying some starting fluid in there and just lighting it up vs using grabber bull shits?

 

well, actually, I've seen jobs he does and he's very good. That's why he's busy. Even see ferraris, luxury and vintage cars from time to time. I've been playing cat and mouse with him since the last year. He finally agreed for me to bring it in march...but looks like he's playing me around again....

not really, I live next to industrial area and there must be a dozen or so paintshops around. They are either not interested or they want like 10k. I'd love to, but I do not have 10k to put on the truck. Anyways, those that are not insterested is because they prefer to do insurance jobs because it's more $$ for them. If I had, let's say, a fender to do they wouldn't mind, but the whole truck? nah. But I really don't know why they want to pass out on me and my money. I mean, if it's a good job, I don't mind paying for it. It's their loss, really

Or maybe it's because they are lazy or they don't take me seriously, I really don't know. Sometimes woman + car = not taken seriously and sent for a ride

I explored around yesterday and went farther than the industrial zone and found two more. Were nice to me and said they were interested. Will show them my truck today or tomorrow

 

I'm working with a replacement frame as well. It was as much on other pieces (new shocks/springs, etc) that I felt the fluid film didn't protect all that well. As I said, it's an experiment, but I think it will be better. Time will tell.

 

have you experimented with Krown products (i think its Canadian?)
i was watching an in-house demonstration with that product the other day
looks like it fizzles and eats surface rust right off the metal

 

TRD logos on the door handles