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

New tail lights and LED reverse bulbs.

 

What’s a good valve cover gasket kit for V6?

 

Where'd you get that bar that you screwed onto the dash?

 

What a pain in the ass place to weld something. Almost get comfortable and then you bump your hood and can't see anything.




Kind of wish I would have waited to get the anti spatter spray but o well.

Oops

I'm honestly not sure I'd change anything. The legs could probably be a half inch shorter but other than that a hammer was able to close any gaps. I bent the legs the wrong way the first go around so I had to straighten and go back so that deformed it a little. Its a pita to get in place with the UCA tube sticking out like it does.

 

yeah I bet haha luckily you can fit a 6" C clamp or two in there to hold it and help bend it in I'd think. I used two to hold mine up.

And i said fuck it and jacked up the body far as I could on each side. Was easy to unbolt and only gives you like 1-2'' but it makes a HUGE difference haha

Otherwise the best thing is to pull the engine.

You going to weld up the inner circle on the top? I did just to keep water out.

PS. I'll take a set haha

 

Did something easy. Painted the lock surrounds red (painted the pins black) on my toolbox the other day and then added the center cap decals today. Then I installed some expansion nuts into the bedliner and small L brackets on my DIY bed divider just to make sure it doesn’t go anywhere. Simply undo two screws and the whole thing comes out. I think I’ll change them over to Allen bolts and keep the Allen wrench in the glovebox.

 

Interior LEDs with resistors.

 

Why?

 

For some reason, LEDs are wonky in 2003 models. For example, without the resistors my map lights would turn on only if both were on. The dome didn’t work at all. I’ve heard other stories, like the lights flicker unless the ignition key is turned to Acc. With the resistors, everything works as designed.

 

also true in my '02.

Unfortunately, adding a resistor also reduced the light's brightness.

 

I need to add resistors to my LED taillights. I’m not sure how bright they are with the brake applied but even without that they’ll burn your eyes out.

I’d much prefer for them to be dimmer but bright as fuck with the brake applied. I just have no idea how to accomplish that.

 

It’s RAM Mounts “tough track”. They make both the flat track, like I installed, and also an extruded track that sticks up higher.

Track
https://www.rammount.com/part/RAP-TRACK-A9U

Phone holder
https://www.rammount.com/part/RAP-HOL-UN7B-354-TRA1U

 

i tried mine with and without resistors and honestly didn’t notice a difference. Both were better than the stock bulbs. I used 1watt 100 ohm resistors and Auxlight bulbs. Def not “300% brighter” though.

 

Prob pretty easy to tie resistors into the brake circuit. Someone on the electrical forum will know exactly what to do.

 

I only have 5" C clamps but was able to get a trigger clamp in for the short time I needed it.

I did end up welding it up. Kind of worried about water getting into the back side also.

Probably less than an hour of trigger time. Prep was annoying in the tight space. Cutting the brake line bracket off wasn't easy with the tools I have on hand either. It's just not a fun place to do anything in lol.

 

Thanks. I like that solution

 

I went with @csjumper2003 for my interior lights. Haven't installed them yet since truck is in the shop. But i had Amazon red lights in the entire cab. When my key was not in the on position they would flicker. His should work normal. I went with red maps and bright white for the cab. Love the red, but you need some bright sometimes. I remember my kid and i on a trip rolling in the dark with the cab all red. Was pretty dope

 

Spent an hour with “the fast lane truck” two days ago to match up a 2021 Tacoma against a 1st gen.
A TRX showed up too, lol

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=rXqbvtBmtAE

 

again.. i really want your truck. LOL

 

Had to make a post

The truck 2 years ago:


Vs. how it sits now: