1999 Tacoma Xtra Cab Build!

I thought I would share with you all what I am doing to my 1999 Taco, 2.7, 4x4, 5 Speed.

I purchased the truck from an older gentleman who has taken very good care of the truck it only had 104,000 on it when I purchased it. I will
Place a picture of the truck when I first got it and a picture of it now.


I have every service record, manual, paper work, etc since truck was brand new. Knowing everything looked good and was up to date I still wanted to do my own tune up kit just so I know it was done by me! (I am OCD)


1. I changed spark spark plugs, I used Genuine Toyota Plugs.

2. I changed plug wires and again used genuine Toyota wires.

3. I changed air filter and again used genuine Toyota air filter.

4. I changed PCV valve genuine Toyota.

5. I changed fuel filter genuine Toyota.

6. I drained coolant and flushed system a bit and replaced with genuine Toyota red coolant. This was of course what was in the truck already.

7. I changed rear diff, front diff, transfer case, and transmission fluid. I replaced every metal and copper washer with genuine Toyota washers. I resolved fluid with Amsoil severe gear 75-90w full synthetic. (All the used fluids I drained out looked like brand new.)

8. I greased all of my drive shaft u-joint fittings.

9. While changing front Diff fluid I removed front skid plates, truck was on drive on lift so I begin to examine and inspect my entire frame in the areas known to rust, frame was solid inside and out so I sprayed my entire under carriage down in simple green and use a lighter duty electric pressure washer instead of the hotsy. I washed the entire undercarriage very well, even spraying up in the boxed frame to see if any dirty, or rusty colored water would run out. To my surprise none.

10. One I cleaned the entire undercarriage and let dry, I then used rust oleum rust reformer in flat black and sprayed the entire under carriage with it. Once this dried, I then used rust oleum flat black paint and sprayed the entire under carriage. I did not want to use a rubberized undercoating as these are known to trap moisture between them and the metal and cause rust to build and form under them.

11. Truck then set in garage for a week to thoroughly dry. I then placed back on 4 post lift which is a drive on lift, we have one located outside for which is nice for this type of work. I then used Eastwood Internal Frame Paint with a piece of wire on the hose and I went to town spraying all of the boxed areas of my frame, control arms, etc. my idea is the frame has made it 22 years on the original frame and has been taken care of so why not go ahead and protect it so that hopefully it will last another 22 years. I did not tape anything up, I free handed the entire undercarriage. I did get allot of over spray on the outside of my truck that I will have to clay bar off when I detail it.

12. I have changed the wheels and tires that came on the truck when I purchased it. They were Special Edition Enkie 15x7 JJ wheels with 235/75/15 Michelin LTX tires. The truck came factory with 15x7 steel wheels as it is a base sr5 with the highway package 225/75/15. I went with 17x8.5” solid black Fuel Vectors with 265/65/17 (30.6”) Falken Wildpeack AT3W tires. No rub what so ever and ride amazing.

13. I have removed the factory rear shocks, while they were removed I did clean up the lower shock mounts and the one on the passenger side upper as they all had some build up and rust, I scraped them down good with a flat head screw driver then used scotch brite to clean them up. I then painted them with Eastwood internal frame paint. I also painted my factory washers and bolts with it as well after cleaning them up. I installed Bilstein 4600 HD shocks on the rear with new bushings.


14. This is where I am currently at! I want to truck the stay stock ride height, I do not want to jeopardize the ride nor put stress on other components that do not need stress. I am going to be updating my entire suspension with a re-gear and trutracks front and rear. Parts are being ordered right now. (Truck came factory with 3.58 gears, with a 2.7 this is terrible gearing and really isn’t even that great if gearing for the 235/75/15” tires much less the tires and wheels I am running now. I am going 4.56)

 

That’s awesome. I love how clean it looks

 

Thank you sir!

 

Thank you Sir!

 

Parts that have been ordered, and going to be ordered today:

1. Rear 3rd member from ECGS 4.56, solid spacer, Detroit Trutrack LSD.

2. Front Clam Shell ECGS 4.56, solid spacer, Detroit Trutrack LSD. (Remember I have manual lock out hubs.)

3. New Leaf Pack from Deavers springs with new U-bolts.

4. Genuine Toyota shackle, shackle bushings, leaf bolts.

5. Genuine Toyota front Coil springs, New top Hats, Top Hat retainer, top hat nuts, and bottom strut bolt, washer, and nut.

6. Bilstein 4600HD front strut with Bilstein 4600-5100 strut washers and rubber bushing kit.

Once all of this arrives I will build the front new strut assembly so that it is a plug and play once I remove the old strut assembly.

I will then change out my clam shell, and rear 3rd member.


Lord willing I will have a good driving truck with some fresh suspension and that stock clean look.


I will also clean My MAF sensor soon as well, and replace front vacuum line that runs across the top side of the radiator as it is dry rotted. I will also install my Wet Okole Sear covers when they arrive as well.


I am terrible about taking pictures, but I will try to give an update along the way.

 

Dusty, was good shooting the shit with you.

I'll tell you what though, you make my boy @SouthernYoder sound like he ain't got no accent at all

 

Sheeshhhh. That’s a accent if it makes me sound like I don’t have one lol

 

It only helped that I lived in S Carolina before so I understood the lingo

 

Haha I really enjoyed the chat and all the help, I also enjoyed all the pics man! Thanks!

 

It’s called hillbilly talk son.... y’all know what I mean?

 

Oh I hear you loud and clear. Got family from all around the south and my 2nd cousins in Mississippi are the worse. I’ve got the southern draw but damn man are they bad.

Love the truck btw brotha.

 

Thank you!

 

A few pictures!

 

Interesting choice of pictures

Truck is clean as hell

 

I assumed they would show how clean she is and why I want to keep it stock. Once I get done tinkering ima clay bar and ceramic coat her.


You need to ceramic coat yours too! Help you slide over them rocks better!

 

Man...my 4R is a 100 footer.

You leave her out of this

 

FUCKING BEAUTIFUL.

BRAVO!

 

Alright folks, just wanted to share some helpful information. So I received all of my front suspension rebuild parts today!

I want everyone to know when replacing front coil springs with OEM Toyota springs make sure you understand they take 2 different spring rates. This I found out is why folks get what is called taco lean when doing a lift or leveling kit as many of the aftermarket springs are the exact same rate for both sides and cause the driver side to sag more. Toyota makes one spring taller then the other to eliminate what we call taco lean.

Driver side Front spring is part number 48131-04050. Marked with grey paint.

Passenger side front spring is part number 48131-04030. Marked with green paint.


Top hat (strut mount) part number 48609-35010 use one for each side.

Make sure you replace the retainer that goes up inside the top hat (strut mount), allot of folks do not transfer this over, but it should always be replaced with a new one when replacing struts of any kinds. Allot of guys will use their existing coils springs and their existing top hats when they go to a Bilstein 5100, etc. and they forget to add the retainer which comes up through from the bottom side. The part number for this is 90948-02160 it will keep your rubber strut mount bushing from wearing out. (I’ve read where guys have had major issues with this, because their local shot didn’t replace it, or they forgot to replace it).


Also if you change to a Bilstein 4600 or 5100 make sure to purchase a Bilstein bushing and washer kit which does not come with the front shocks. OEM shaft is smaller then the Bilstein shaft and you need to replace these. You can purchase these kits from ToyoTec part number 142467. The small washer goes on the bottom and the thicker washer goes on the top over your actual rubber bushing and under your strut bolt shaft lock but which is a nylon threaded nut.


Also I ordered OEM Toyota rear shackles and bushings, with washers and bolts, along with oem front leaf spring bolts, nuts, and washers.


I will build my New Set this week Lord willing when I get a chance to get to my brothers shop and use the

$909 Branick 7600 Strut Spring Compressor

Branick 7600.

I would not trust the average shop to understand all of this and to build them correctly as it’s quite a few loose parts that have a specific order to go in.


This is for a 1999 Toyota Tacoma, xtra cab, 5 speed, 2.7, 4X4. However this will be the same parts for majority of the gen 1 tacos just make sure you verify.


I talked to a master Toyota goo rue who’s being working on these trucks for 45 years and he said nothing rides like the stock oem springs, but he said the rear leaf springs are garbage. I have Scott at Deavers building me a custom pack for my needs.


I will try to post pictures of the build of the struts if I do not forget. I am using Bilstein 4600 as I do not need no adjustability and want to maintain factory ride height.



I also just ordered 2 new TYC head lights from rock auto as man at Toyota recommended to get them there as he said they are same as OEM.

 

Alright folks, got the new genuine Toyota coil springs installed with Bilstein 4600HD shocks, I use all new genuine Toyota top hats, retainers, nuts, bolts, and washers. I am totally amazed at how fast this was done, I started at 7:15 and was done at 8:30 took 1 hour and 15 minutes to do both sides and back ready to drive. My factory struts and oem springs were so wore out that we had to pry them apart after removing the top middle bolt. This means my springs didn’t have enough preload to push the top hat off. It raised the front of my truck about 1.5” with the new setup and rides like a dream, I didn’t have time to align it tonight. My brother just bought a new 35k aligning machine and his alignment guy wasn’t there late tonight so we will do it later. My gears should be here this next week and I will hopefully have them and my rear leaf springs done within the next 2-3 weeks.


Here is a few pictures. I am so thankful I have went this route instead of buying after market springs.