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

My local Toyota dealership quoted me less than an independent shop to replace the head gaskets. The independent shop did say that their price of $3700 included any machining and pressure testing of the head (they are also 3.5 weeks out from being even able to look at it). The dealership was at $2075 and said any additional machining would anywhere from $200 to $500. Still considerably lower than the other shop. I am still waiting to hear back from a third shop about it.

 

Could it just be way out of adjustment? They are hydraulic but still have adjustment threads down by the pedal. Also, if you are sure it was slipping, it's probably going out. When they are going out they tend to slip the most when going up a hill while shifting into third.

 

I was going to try that today.

But the only time it “slips” is going from a dead stop to first gear. It’s completely normal through the gears

 

How mechanically inclined are you? You can toss in a used engine cheaper, and I would argue way easier, than replacing the head gaskets.

Even if you factor in the costs of picking up some new tools, like an engine hoist, you should be able to do it for less than $1k if you shop around for an engine.

 

that is odd, my Toyota dealer mechanic told me the clutch Cannot be adjusted

i have found in the past on other MT car they slip going up a hill in 3rd or 4th when you give it more fuel, the engine revs

 

There's got to be other shops out there. Mention the used engine as its a good cheaper option as well, especially if you source it. Multiple overheats aren't good for the overall engine/bottom end health anyways. Check www.car-part.com for local options and some wrecking yards will deliver cheap to the shop directly. Dont dick around with a Jasper engine etc.

Pulling the head and taking it to a machine shop for a rebuild wouldn't be the end of the world either.

 

I am fairly mechanically inclined. The problem is I have no time to do it or the space really.

 

This is how my alternator went out. When they fail, they do so slowly at first.

 

Found a small chip on my windshield.

 

Took me 16 years of driving to finally get a windshield chip believe it or not...happened last year. Still haven't fixed it but luckily it hasn't spread or cracked, just a decent sized nick in the glass.

 

Is it just one part?

 

Mine is the size of a dime didn’t notice it till today I did hear the big ass hit

 

Having some weird braking issue. I was driving and some one cut me off, I hit the brakes hard. The pedal felt super hard and then slowly compressed, almost felt like it wasn’t braking at all at first. Then finally started to brake. If I press the brake normally it feels fine. But I re enacted the braking and it did the same thing. I’ve never felt the truck do it before. Any ideas where to start looking? Plenty of fluid in the MC. I was thinking maybe the booster or something?

 

You might not know till you open the alternator up,
And hopefully it’s the original DENSO alternator
That’s one off them.

50/50 chance.

 

well...Here she is. Washed and waxed. She’s definitely a 20 footer.
Have replaced the shifter bushing. Replaced trans fluid with redline mt90. Replaced and bled clutch fluid. Adjusted clutch pedal. Engaging first from a dead stop is still hard But overall a great improvement from when I got it. I have to rev engine to 2k rpm for it to engage smoothly. Shifting up is smooth, not so much downshifting. Pilot bearing?
Interior detailing is next. And window tint before summer for sure.

 

Nice 5 lug man. Keep up the good work

 

downshifting in these trucks is never as smooth as it was in my FWD manual cars I had before, I think it's just the nature of the vehicle. You get used to it though

 

Looks like Tucson area. East side of town?

 

Thank you. This will be my DD.

My dads 95 pickup shifts better though.

Actually in Phoenix. Verrado area. But, I picked it up in Tucson.

 

Had the alignment checked today. As expected, a little off from previous numbers. They were able to set caster a little higher without having to move the SPCs from the default "D" setting.

Previously had a slight variance in Caster from left to right to account for road crown but this shop advised against it. Went with their recommendation. Tracking nice and straight.



Previous report from a different shop and before I added the ARB