1999 Tacoma SR5 TRD Imperial Jade Build, Sweat and Tears

The shit you find at a Super 8 parking lot.

 

I really wanted to mess around a lot more. I was planning on stopping at a lot of different places, but after going through Wyoming and my truck just dumping oil out of everywhere I decided to just make it. There were too many problems for me to feel comfortable. I was having to check and top off my front diff, trans and t case every 300 miles when I got gas. I figure I can get everthing fixed while Im here and when I go back to LA Ill take all the time I need with a rock solid truck.

Found some sorts seats before pulling in.

Made it to PA

 

goodness! you were so close to me there i coulda bot you some lunch lol
not the greatest part of this small city though, its old

311 were from a rival HS too!

i drive over that bridge into Iowa many times during the week

 

Ill let you know on the way back. I need to stop over there again.

 

What it looks like when you don't change your fuel filter for 15 years and have a couple hundred thousand miles on it.

 

My truck never came with a take down tool for the spare. I was using a hook out of a 4Runner that I smashed down but it worked kinda terrible. Decided to make a T.

 

Decided to pull the bed off and check a few things out. I wanted to see why my bed was slightly leaning to the back and what else might be going on under there.

 

I’m interested in this as well. Same exact issue.

 

I can't figure it out. The rails are all straight and the bed looks straight. I measured and both rails are even. I changed the cab bushing which did help a little. I have no idea at this point.

 

I appreciate the response. Maybe I missed it, or did you do a separate thread on changing them out? I've really enjoyed reading your posts and I hope you did a write up.
I loosened up the bed bolts but couldn't move the bed around enough to make a difference. I "thought" when I recently replaced the leaf spring bushings it corrected the problem.........not.
So, the next step is replacing the body mount bushings. The difference between the cab and bed is pretty pronounced on mine. Passenger side is way to close. I can barely get a wash mitt in-between the gap.

 

We are pretty much on the same page. Ive gone through all the steps that I thought would help. I thought maybe new leafs and bushings would help but nope. The cab bushings helped slightly, but mine were super gone. I even went as far as lifting the back of the truck with a fork lift at the very end of the frame and bounced it to see if it would bend up slightly and theres no way in hell. That thing is pretty damn solid.

I never did a write up for the cab bushings but its very easy.

There are 6 bolts, 2 up by the engine (one on each side), 2 inline with the door hinges and 2 at the back of the cab. Loosen 1 side of bushing and take the other side off (driver or passenger).
You need to jack the cab up on the one side high enough to get the bolts and bushings out for the ones near the cab. The ones near the engine are really easy.
The 2 near the door hinges, you have to take the carpet up and there is a body plug you have to pull to get to the bolt. The ones at the back you go through the little storage area and pull those plugs.
Then pretty much reverse the order to put it back.

If you buy the energy bushings it will come with instructions. If you do that it says to remove the bumper (or something up there) and I never did and everything was fine. As far as the energy bushings go, the ride is slightly stiff so be aware.

 

Decided to start messing with the seats right aways.

Some dick used the drivers seat as a rag to wipe the grease off his hands at the junk yard. I got most of it off though.


The front leg that goes towards the door definitely needs to be modified.


Heres the back leg that people were saying line up and it doesn't. Its about an inch off and if you force it, it tweaks the frame of the seat and binds up.

 

Thank you for this! Hopefully some TW Members with a similar experience will see this and chime in.
Good Luck on your build!

 

Thanks, I hope someone might know, it annoys the hell out of me.

 

Even though its a CA truck (as far as I know), that still didn't deter the rust (thanks Toyota). At this point Im glad I took the bed off. I decided to clean up some of the rust.




No idea what that rusty hook is for.






There was a slightly drizzle over night and can't believe it rusted all the spots I wire wheeled so easy.

 

The rear diff breather was clogged. Also in the future I think I might want to move the breather up higher for off roading.

 

The exhaust was swinging badly. More previous owner crap. They only put one bracket.





I tied it in to the other bracket for the most support. If I would of went to the turn down, it still moved too much.

 

Since Ive gotten my truck its had a vibration somewhere, figured Id start at the support bearing. As a side note, it sucked driving across the counrty with the vibration. I could only go 73mph, 76mph or below 55mph.

Now for the driveline. I tried to find a Spicer/Dana but no luck and it was even sold out online. So a Dorman will have to do for now. Yes, I loosened the mounts.

 

Back to the seats.

Theres a spot weld holding the leg in place from spinning. I drilled the weld out. I got the passenger seat in, but Im kinda been slacking on taking photos.

 

Kinda bouncing all around trying fixing multiple things at once.

It looks like the previous owner only replaced the passenger side plugs. The driver side was really worn. Even though I gapped them down before the trip it sounded like there might have been some misfires on the trip
when pulling hills.

Took the NGK's out and put Denso's in. Not sure why people are saying pull a bunch of stuff off to change the drivers side plugs, but I took nothing off and was able to change them no problem.