Goldentaco’s college budget build

I decided to make this thread to keep track of all the mods I've done as well as all of the major maintenance I've done. I'm a senior in college, and I bought the truck when I was a junior in high school. Long story short, this website inspired me to work on my own truck, and spend a lot of money in the process...

THE TRUCK
2003 Tacoma, Xtra Cab, 2.7L, 5 spd

How she sits currently:


How she sits when I bought her:



MODS:
Engine:
- AFE Pro Dry S air filter
- Silicone vac lines

Suspension:
- Bilstein 5100 shocks with Eibach 620lb springs (approx 3 inches of lift)
- Bilstein 5100 shocks with AAL in the rear (approx 2 inches of lift)
- SPC UCAs

Transmission and Drivetrain:
- polyurethane shifter bushing
- 1" front diff drop

Electrical:
- LED Reverse Lights
- LED dome light
- Ultimate Headlight Upgrade
- Paranoid Fab aux fuse panel mount
- Bussman aux fuse panel
- LED pods on bed bar
- Hella 700ff x2
- Hella 500ff x2

Body and Misc:
- Bed bar
- Bull bar
- Plasti-dipped hubcaps (all the chrome peeled off)
- Plasti-dipped door treads/kicks
- Goodyear Wrangler Duratracs
- Salt belt rust mod (pieces of metal fall off your truck all the time, great for weight savings)

Future:
- bumpers
- rear springs
- CB radio
- bigger tires
- new wheels
- winch
- flatbed

 

MAINTENANCE:
4/1/15 - 130,xxx tires replaced with 265/70-16 Goodyear Wrangler Duratracs
12/28/15 - 131,xxx headlights replaced with ultimate headlight upgrade
12/30/15 - 131,507 spare tire carrier replaced under recall
3/12/16 - 133,085 oil and filter changed, tires rotated
6/3/17 - 138,500 replaced charcoal canister and vacuum/fuel lines under bed
7/1/17 - 139,xxx stripped and painted rims
7/8/17 - 139,500 replaced front and rear shocks, front and rear springs, UCAs and UBJs
7/8/17 - 139,500 replaced all soft brake lines with extended SS lines, flushed brake fluid
7/30/17 - 140,xxx changed oil and filter to Mobil 1 full synthetic
7/30/17 - 140,xxx greased all driveline u joints
8/5/17 - 140,300 replaced front pads, rotors, and calipers
5/18/19 - 143,xxx replaced fuel filler neck due to leak
6/11/18 - 143,xxx replaced muffler and rear O2 sensor
7/12/18 - 144,xxx right CV axle replaced with Autozone Duralast axle
7/12/18 - 144,xxx front diff drained and filled with Valvoline 75w90
7/12/18 - 144,xxx lower ball joints and bolts replaced with OEM
8/1/18 - 144,800 tires rotated and balanced
10/14/18 - 145,200 alternator and alternator belt replaced
11/21/18 - 145,700 oil and filter replaced with Mobil 1 full synthetic
11/22/18 - 145,700 transfer case oil replaced with Valvoline 75w90
12/24/18 - 146,030 rear diff drained and filled with Mobil 1 full synthetic
3/9/19 - 146,xxx carrier bearing replaced with Timken bearing
3/13/19 - spark plugs replaced
10/13/19 - 150,484 oil replaced with Mobil 1 full synthetic filter replaced with STP extended life filter
1/4/20 - 151,xxx front brakes cleaned and slides lubed
1/xx/20 - 151,xxx vacuum lines replaced with silicone vac lines
1/5/20 - 151,008 tires rotated
1/10/20 - 151,111 transmission drained and filled with Mobil 1 full synthetic
1/12/20 - 151,xxx sway bar end links replaced with MOOG greaseable links
1/15/20 - 151,xxx flushed clutch
4/13/20 - 151,xxx gas tank strap replaced, gas tank skid plate replaced with trail gear skid plate
7/14/20 - 152,xxx alternator replaced again due to corroded and broken terminal
8/8/20 - 152,xxx clutch slave cylinder replaced with AISIN and flushed
8/22/20 - 152,xxx fuel pump replaced with Bosch and evap leak fixed (fingers crossed)
12/12/20 - 154,xxx woolwax applied to frame inside/outside, rockers, body mounts, leaf hangers, and axle
5/25/21 - 157,xxx oil and filter replaced with Mobil 1 full synthetic and STP extended life filter
6/1/21 - 157,xxx PCV valve replaced with OEM
8/29/21 - 161,xxx Rear axle housing replaced, brakes flushed and bled, rear drums adjusted, parking brake bell cranks cleaned and lubed
10/23/21 - 162,xxx Rear axle cleaned and painted with Corroseal and frame paint. Pass rear axle seal replaced. U-bolts and bumpstops replaced. Brakes bled.

 

PICTURES (new to old):

 

Flushed my clutch and this is what came out! Don’t think it’s ever been done, or if it’s been done it was done once. There was quite a bit of sediment that came out, so I may be in the market for a new slave/master cylinder soon. Maybe when I redo the clutch

 

young guys have it way too easy!
i can barely remember the junkie beater i had as a senior almost 30yrs ago
your truck looks nicer than that old car i had
i have 156k on my clutch and the fluid is the original still

 

Definitely flush the fluid, mine looked terrible. Still on the original clutch too but that’s on my to do list. Going to replace the slave cylinder soon and see if that gives me better pedal feel.

 

i have the duratracs also with about 45k miles on them, they are good in the snow when my area had a ton a year ago.
but they ride so rough on badly maintained concrete

i run 32psi now which made a huge difference compared to 35psi but worried now about maxing the tread life

 

I found that they are shit in the rain but amazing in the winter. I have never had any issues with snow and there's some pretty nasty storms in NJ. And the ride is terrible, I usually clench my ass and cringe whenever I go over a pothole or rough patch. I just run whatever my door jamb says. I think about 32 up front and 35 in the rear. 32 in the rear is fine if you're not hauling stuff regularly.

 

and you have all new(ish) suspension components that makes no difference in the ride quality of the duratracs, my truck still has all original suspension that needs replaced finally, but maybe not if its just the tires!

tires are so pricey...

 

Well my springs up front are a bit heavier than I should be running which is why it’s a little bouncy in the front. I’m eventually planning on building a bumper and putting on a winch which is why i was fine with heavier springs. Other than that, new suspension made for a much firmer ride overall but made things like loose steering and my front end clunk a lot more noticeable.

you can get a used set of ATs and swap the Duratracs back on in like November