Preparing to Drive a 1st Gen Into 2050 (and Beyond!)

I'm sure I'm not alone in hoping that my 1st gen will outlive me. These trucks are extremely hardy and replacement parts are relatively abundant. However....
Time waits for no one and Toyota is slowly but surely discontinuing OEM support for 1st gens.

Assuming money is no object, what is be the ideal inventory of OEM parts that we should have sitting in our garage?? Obviously rubber engine parts are not helpful to stockpile... but I'm sure there's many other parts that are rebuildable or have a decent shelf life. I suppose we can exclude parts that are more generic (standardized gaskets/sensors), or acceptable third-party (suspension parts), or non-essential (interior trim, luxury items).

Let's make sure our trucks are on the road until they stop selling gas, and avoid some bidding wars/bloody fights at the pick-and-pull in 20 years! The line is a mile long for the time machine to buy a OEM replacement frame, so let's avoid that for all the other parts that will make us say "I wish I bought an OEM spare when they made them..."

I'm relatively new to the 1st gen platform, but I'll kick things off with a few things that already pop into my head. Feel free to correct me!!

I'll update this list as people chime in. ~~Last Edit 10/27/23~~

-LBJs (Aftermarket upgrade available -Uniball conversion)
-Steering racks
-Throttle body/Pedal Sensor (03-04)
-Engine/ Rebuild Kit
-Tranny/ Rebuild Kit
-Transfer Case
-3rd Member
-Driveshaft w/ Serviceable DCJ
-TREs
-U/L CA bushings
-Harmonic balancer (LCE upgrade available)
-Wheel Bearings (Part # 90363-40068 still available)
-AC compressor
-O2 and MAF Sensors
-Alternator
-Water Pump
-Starter/Rebuild Kit
-Power Steering Pump/ Rebuild Kit
-Fuel Pump
-IAC Valve
-ABS Modulator (03-04)

-Frequent Preventative Fluid Changes
-1000 gallons of fluid film

 

Eventually you'll want a spare engine, or spare engine components (crankshaft, heads w/cams, harmonic balancer, pistons, rods) basically everything to do a proper rebuild.

Depending on your transmission you may also want a rebuild kit or spare tranny, assuming serviceable used, or rebuilt transmissions become unobtainium.

Spare 3rd member, OEM rear wheel bearings, and transfer case probably would be wise.

Lastly, a spare driveshaft with a serviceable double cardan joint might become priceless at some point.

 

Other wear items, TREs, U/L CA bushings, harmonic balancer, AC compressor, brake shoes and pads, o2 and MAF sensors. Maybe a radiator.

 

Because I have a few quirky cars which the OEM parts are unobtainium, I will say that Ebay is a great source of used parts. There are people posting all the time with OE stuff. 1st gen stuff will be available for a long time since there were so many produced. So, I would not be too concerned about parts availability. Good alternators with good voltage regulators are hard to come by though (aftermarket/reman stuff is generally shit). If you get some stock ones, I would squirrel those away if not just for the OE voltage regulators.

 

I have virtually no OEM replacement parts on mine. That said, the one thing I would be going with OEM on is the water pump.
If my LBJs ever snap, I'm going TC conversion

 

Funny^^^
Look at my original OE water pump
And then the RA water pump I installed

 

Toyota discontinued rear wheel bearings. I just had one fail in the worst way possible and I could not get a oem wheel bearing so now my perfect truck has an aftermarket napa wheel bearing which after 4 days is still working fine.

 

Starter(and rebuild kit), alternator(and rebuild kit, power steering pump/rebuild kit. Fuel pump, injectors, coils and wires/distibutor. Harmonic balancer and Maybe an iac valve. Everything else I believe an acceptable aftermarket can be had for. If you wanna go wild maybe a set of engine bearings, seals and rings. A tranny rebuild kit and a flywheel(if applicable)

 

Why not just buy an extra Truck the same year you currently have and just take the wheels off and put it up on Jack Stands until the spare parts are needed. This way you have everything covered.

 

Your really over thinking it....all the 2000 and newer are gonna be like jeeps...
a lot of your parts are shared with 4-runners, rav's, and even the sienna's.

you'll have parts for a long time....oem and aftermarket.....


its the 95-97 taco people that have to be careful.....a lot of those parts are pre tacoma and have to be resourceful at finding...



The really bad wrap you have ....is that electronic TB.....
.....and its the pedal position sensor that they dont sell separate that eventually fails...
its just a fact..........so if found a low mile used 03/04 sometime ......it could save a $1000+ for a new one....

I wouldnt worry until 200k or so tho.....
.....there is a thread in here somewhere on how to overhaul/clean that sensor....
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...lable-from-toyota.807474/page-2#post-29032053




And make sure you take good care of your differential...that can cost as much as the whole tranny.....and those get harder to find.....they do stop making those...those and the anti lock brake modulator will be first things discontinued....



If your gonna splurge......do it with fresh oil and coolant often....diff fluid...
new vac lines......that will save a butt load of problems......

7 yr coolant my ass....


If you ever run it hot or over heat.....just get ready for head gasket or head....
the oem heads are not very forgiving...

 

Thanks yall for the replys! It seems like I might be worried about nothing, but I'm grateful for the info! It sounds like I should just keep my eyes peeled for a parts truck. I'll update the original post with everything that was suggested.

 

It's like the old rule of 2 is 1, etc. but these things are getting pricey. Good thread.

 

I'm definitely in the camp wanting to be overprepared with spare parts... I've spent enough time salvaging old shit at pick and pulls and would pay the premium to have some parts waiting for me rust free and wrapped in plastic

 

I vote for this as the best idea.

Things could be adjusted for long term storage .

Then your only talking 26 years .

My 2000 is almost 24years now.

Then talk mileage in the west an easy 30,000 a year if it is your Daily driver .

Those Good old 200 round trip grocery Shopping trips add up fast.

 

I'm convinced on finding a complete parts truck, it seems that would check the most boxes in one blow.
I'm lucky that I do most of my daily "driving" on a bicycle. Over the last 10 years I've averaged only 5-6k miles/year, mostly highway miles getting to nearby outdoor areas.

 

Find one from the Southwest you should be good.

Then mechanical electrical parts can fail at anytime.

It never fails something so small and minor we all forget .

That falls off and rolls away .

Good luck no matter how it works out.

 

That's normally how it goes, you prepare for situations A and B but then C pops up unexpected...
I'm just hoping that a little preparation now will save me some time/$$ down the road as parts get more rusty and expensive I know no one has a magic ball when it comes to playing the long game...

 

Not sure what truck you have, but 6 lug 1st gen front and rear(90363-40068) wheel bearings are still available...

That bearing didn't just fail, you've had to have ignored that for awhile for it to look like that. The presence of gear oil tells us that axle seal has been blown for quite some time.

Also, Toyota doesn't make the bearings, nor does Napa... Koyo and TIMKEN also still appear to have them available. The "OEM" ones are most often Koyo.

 

Good info, I'll update the post

 

I just had a complete LC long block built. Completely brand new, and I installed a Haltech standalone ECU to eliminate the rotten MAF, EGR, Vacuum, etc. I have King shocks which are easily serviceable/rebuildable, TC upper and lower uni-balls. I live in Arizona and the truck is from AZ too so rust is non-existent (I’m the original owner). Figure I’m good for another 240k.

I replaced the motor mounts and they were pretty shot. That’s a spare part you might want to have on your shelf.