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

So my bed was widend at the rear do to improper storage and abuse.
So I an attempt to fix the problem I ratcheted the sides in ad much as I co and installed so bed stiffer that I had been meaning to get to for a while but I had put off beacouse I'm lazy and I was afraid it was going to interfere with the carpet kit that I use.
Well they helped a little bit I still have a decent gap between the tailgate and the bed .but it opens and closes without to many issues so I'm gonna rock it. I guess the real test will b3 when I put the shell back on..

 

Honestly I feel like you wont need a dorkel after that. It should eliminate almost all the splashing and mud build up. Anything that does get in will naturally dry out or drain since the intake does have it's own drain, and you have the airbox mod too.

My bro in law has me needing to replace his diff cover on his tundra this fall. Not looking forward to it.

 

probably should have pulled it together before installing those.

I used a ratchet strap on the bed hooks to pull it together, made sure the tail gate works and lines up. THen drilled holes and installed with the strap in place.

Sorry, would have said something earlier as probably can't change that now.

 

So my lift install a month ago turned into A LOT more and a long rabbit hole followed.
OME lift with 880 fronts springs, Dakar leafs with 1 overload taken out, greaseable rear shackles, SPC UCA, new LCA, new LBJ, new cam tabs and bolts, bump stops, Powerstop brake rotors and pads, stainless brake lines, inner and outer tie rods, sway bar end links and bushing, steering rack bushings, power steering hose, new headlights, grill, and 3rd gen 4runner wheels with 265/75/16 tires.
Yes I know the bed panel is a little off and plan to take a stab at getting it straight after hunting season.

 

well I am running on less than 4 hours of sleep today so yes haha

 

I appreciate the tip. That's exactly what I did. Well almost I didn't think the check the tailgate. I did have tension on it the whole time.

 

Thanks for the reassurance, I'll keep everyone updated if it fails on me. being 2wd i dont think i can go in anything crazy enough to flood it like you said. (yet ) Should cover the basics haha

I'd just fill whatever gap is left with weather sealer and call it good, since what is done is done now

 

my bed actually split on the back on the bed rails just inside. So I really ratched mine together to weld it back up. Im glad i checked as i had it too tight for the tail gate but was easy to back it off and get it looking just right before putting the bed stiffeners in.

Oh well, you'll be find. Won't get any worse at least.

 

My JBA catback arrived today, trying to figure out my best option for hooking it up. Old muffler and rear cat was installed by a local shop in 2015, they chopped off all of the flanges and welded everything together. So the catback has a flat flange but there’s nothing to bolt onto at the rear cat.

Debating if I should buy a flat style flange repair kit and weld (or clamp) that onto the pipe just after the rear cat, or just buy a whole new rear cat and pipe for $200 or so. I've never done any exhaust work so I'm unsure if I'll be able to work with the welded pipe behind the cat.



Current rear cat:

 

Save yourself future headaches and just get a new cheap cat, so everything is back to OEM bolt on. Will save you headaches in the long run.

 

Well I guess it was better to find out now opposed to middle of nowhere or trying to leave are in the morning. My optima yellow top finally kicked the bucket. It was from 2018. And it was a replacement so... I did try and do a repair on it with the charger but it just wasn't happening. To be far my truck sits a lot and has some sort of parasitic draw from somewhere.
Anyway got a new bigger better battery. It's a group 24f x2 power from batteries plus.
Of course my wires don't fit right . I'll need to extend my amp wire. I really need to get a second battery or figure out were to put all the wires.

 

I made some progress on the carbon fiber steering wheels I have been building


It's going to take a lot of work to get this thing to where I want to get it. This is also the wrong carbon fiber weave for this, but oh well...it was free...
20210909_182815 by Jose, on Flickr

 

I also made progress editing the videos of my AC repair process. Here is part one:
https://youtu.be/C45_YBOK8SA

 

Who said Deaver J59s only fit on 98 to 04 Tacomas.

 

I'm curious to hear your thoughts on those. I've been eyeing them for my 4cyl/standard cab, but most of the lift info is written about v6/extended cabs. How's the lift? How much weight can you put in the bed before riding on the bump stops? What did you do to the front to keep things level?

 

I am running kings up front. With 650 lbs springs to comp for the bumper and future winch.
I am going to clean up and paint the frame tomorrow, still need to get my new valve stacks for my rear kings and I'll get the bed back on next week.

 

That's pretty bad. I made my own supports and they have flexed the bed floor. I always have a ratchet strap keeping the bedside together now. It's annoying but I don't see any other option if one is to carry weight on the bed rails and drive on rough roads. I would recommend getting some supports for the front corner of the bed also. Mine and a few others have separated in the corners there.

Does your topper have storage in the side panels?

 

No storage there open. And I don plan on adding any more weight to the top.
I had an apt to get some reinforcement in the front but I ran out of time. But it's definitely on the to do list.
I didn't think to just keep a strap attached all the time. I'll give that a try.
I think I'm going to look into a suto flat bed conversion.

 

Flatbed is next on my list. Ive done as much as I can to try and salvage this bed and it still gets worse every year.

 

I’m hoping to order Alumas 66077 bed later this year if the winter guiding season goes well.Looks decent and seems affordable compared to everything else.

I feel like you two are probably gonna weld up your own though