Flippac'd 2001 Tacoma Expo Build

Hey guys, I recently sold my mildly built first gen Tundra and picked up a Tacoma! Figured I'd start a build thread for it so I can keep track of all the money that I dump into it.

Sold My Last Truck (2001 Toyota Tundra, 221,000)
-Coastal Offroad Bumper
-Extended Travel King Coilovers (Took off before I sold it)
-Total Chaos UCA's
-Fox 2.0's
-Custom Rock Sliders
And more...



The New Truck
2001 Toyota Tacoma
-238K, Clean Title, E-Locker, AT Flippac
-ARB Bumper
-Bilstein 5100 rears
-285/75/16 K02's
-OEM Tacoma Steelies
-Dobinson's with OME883
Here she is the day I picked her up...



So let me start by saying, I had no plans of picking up a new truck. I loved my Tundra and it was a great truck, I put over 50K on it over the span of 3 years and it never left me stranded.

However, I was doing my daily Craigslist search and came across the Tacoma. 238K, Clean Title, 5 Speed, E-Locker, and Lots of recent service (Clutch, Timing Belt & Water Pump done at 175K). And a FLIPPAC. The exterior isn't perfect (which doesn't bother me), but mechanically it is very sound for a high mileage truck and the interior is cherry.

This is actually the second Flippac that I have owned. I had one on my Tundra for about a year, I posted a pic of my truck on a Facebook page and someone messaged me asking if I would sell it and offered me a large chuck of change ($3400). While I didn't want to sell it, I was in a position where I could use the extra cash and let it go. I immediately regretted it and started searching for another soon after.

This build will probably be a quick one. I want to get the truck exactly how I want it out of the gate, then stop blowing money on it and save the rest for gas for adventures haha.

Planned Modifications
-Custom Rear Swingout Bumper (I have been talking with a local fabricator and this is in the works, will hopefully have it on the truck within the next 2 weeks)
-A better leaf pack, currently deciding between the Alcan and All-Pro Expedition
-Rock Sliders
-Short Throw Shift Kit (Do they make these for Tacoma's??? Haha)
-Ebay Snorkel (A mod that I do not need at all, however I am going to channel my inner ricer and put it on because I like the way it looks, judge me haha)
Probably more once I put some miles on it....

First Mod, better tires. (2/12)

I always ran Falken Wildpeak AT3W's on my Tundra and was happy with them, but BF Goodrich was running a $150 off sale so I decided to give the K02's a try. I went with 285/75/16's.



(2/18) The next thing I did was switch out the shitty steel wheels for a set of OEM Tacoma spare wheels & tint the windows 20%... I hate clear front windows.



(2/20) 4WP was having a sale so I decided to bite the bullet and order an ARB Bumper. I love the way that these look on the older Tacoma's and ripped off the stock bumper while I was waiting for it to be delivered.



(2/23) The next thing to do was install the ARB. It really wasn't too bad, but the instructions were absolute garbage. I searched for write ups and was able to find some decent ones, but most were showing how to retrofit it onto a 3rd gen 4Runner. Those weren't much help as the frames are completely different. Anyways, I got it on haha.





I'm so happy with how the truck looks, this is exactly the look that I was going for. I am on stock springs right now and after 1 drive I immediately knew that I was going to need stiffer springs in the front, so I placed an order for a set of OME883's.

Next step is to install the OME springs and get a rear bumper built. I have been talking with a local fabricator and we came up with a design that I am stoked on. I should be hearing back from him tomorrow with a quote and as long as its somewhat reasonable, I'm gonna give him the green light to start building it.

 

I'm pretty sure I looked at that one on Craigslist or Market place while I was searching, but didn't want to drive all the way down there to get it (I'm a real special breed of lazy). Glad to see it's going to a good home. Congrats!!

 

Small world! I’m stoked on it, I was on my way to pick it up 15 minutes after he posted the ad.

 

Lol@clean title

Nice truck

 

Last truck was salvage title, excited to have something that is clean title lol

 

Nice looking truck!

 

Is anyone running OME883 coils? I'm trying to figure out which clip I should put my 5100's on.

 

Are those the stiffer springs? I'd put it on the bottom. That what we did on my son's 4runner and it rode pretty nice.

Sweet truck!!

 

When you put lift coils on a set of 5100s you out it on the bottom. Those could will give you 2-3" by them selves. The different heights on the 5100s are for the shock to "give" you the lift via preloading the factory coils.

 

Thanks, I know how the setup works, just asking because on my tundra I had 885’s with my 5100’s on the second notch.

 

damn, that truck looks so badass man! I really like the OEM steely's where'd you get em?

 

I've run it on 4runner (v8) with the heavy weight ome, and with an ARB bumper and winch, and we tested going back and forth between the 2 lowest settings. And we found there was a lot of shock top out. On a truck like a Tacoma, that's even more of an issue, even with a bumper and winch.

 

Well I pulled my old 5100's out to get the OME883 springs installed and everything went smoothly, I didn't even have to pull the sway bar to get them out.
(I reeaaallyyy wish I had a garage haha)


Next I took the struts to a shop that does lots of Toyota stuff and the owner sent me this photo. Not exactly sure how this happened, but it had something to do the nut on top being seized and the shaft breaking while they had an impact on it. Pretty big bummer as I wasn't planning on having to buy new struts, but they had a set of Dobinson's in stock so I decided to give them a try with the OME883's.



They ride great, so much better than the 5100's with stock springs, but I got about an inch more of lift than I'd like. I don't think it looks awful, but I like a little bit of rake and right now the front is probably 1/2 inch higher than the rear. As a temporary solution I'm going to throw a 1 inch block under the leaf springs until I can afford a leaf pack.

 

Nice work so far. You can get a short shifter from URD. I have one in mine and it does shorten the throw a bit.

 

I found the URD one last night, is it worth the $100?

 

have you considered 1in lift shackles instead of blocks?

 

I have, honestly I'm not sure which would be better, any input would be great. I did some research and from what I understand a lift shackle will lessen the arch of the leaf spring making it softer? That wouldn't be ideal since my canopy weighs about 350lbs.

 

Hmmm, I drive around with my rtt and hilift in the back of my truck all the time. Not as heavy as yours. But have been using lift shackles for a few years now I would say. It hasn’t made my leaf frown anymore than it has. But my leafs were kind of flat to begin with. Hence the reason I got the shackles. I felt like it gave me more travel also compared to stock. I thought my shocks were the limiting factor but after shackles I felt like it gave a little more down.

 

I believe it's the least expensive one out there, and I like the way it feels. It's not going to change my 1/4 mile time, but it does make the truck feel different when shifting, perhaps a little smoother too. It's probably all psychological, but for me, the $100 was worth it.

 

Looking good!!