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

My wife wrecked it. Car in front of her slammed on the brakes and she couldn't stop in time.

Most important thing is she is OK and so it the driver of the other car. The other driver had to slam on their brakes because the car in front of them stopped for no reason in the middle of an intersection. One or two cars ahead of them hit each other but took off! I know it will be my wife's fault due to her being the one hitting from behind, but man this sucks!

The truck is still driveable but the front bumper support is dented in half and pushed back towards the radiator. Slight dent on the top of the hood where the front end nose-dived while trying to stop. The front bumper and grill will need replaced as well.

I plan to take it in for an estimate tomorrow and just crossing my fingers it won't be totaled.

 

@Digiratus @Speedytech7 @drr or anyone else?

Is the 1st gen battery a group 34 or 35?
Is this the right one?
https://www.batteriesplus.com/produ...a/tacoma/2003/dlx/v6-3.4l-u.s.-gas/sli35agmdp

 

35r or 24f

 

I don't know what that means...

 

Those are the two sizes that fit in a first gen stock location easily

 

Zane, beat me to it but yeah, that one will work just fine. Or as mentioned, you can also fit one size up with a 24F for more capacity and cranking power. This assumes your positive and negative cables are still in the OEM configuration. Meaning the positive post is at the corner closest to the engine and the ground is on the fender side back corner.

 

Batteries Plus states 35 but then I hear on here group 34.
Going straight to the experts...

 

Group 34 and group 35 are very similar dimensionally but on the group 34 the battery posts will be in the wrong places for the OEM cables on our trucks. When people use them, they also have to change their cables so the clamps will reach the posts.

 

Ben @Yetimetchkangmi the 24F is the way to go. It will fit just fine and you get a a lot more Amp Hour (AH) capacity, 60 vs.76, and a lot more cold cranking amps (CCA) 740 vs 840 for a $10 difference in price.

https://www.batteriesplus.com/productdetails/sli24fagmdp

 

I'm running two of these (well, the non-house-brand version) at Mike's recommendation and they are fantastic.

I also really like these aluminum terminals. Not cheap, but they tighten up really nicely and obviously have tons of room for activities.

@Yetimetchkangmi

 

What are the odds of oil leaking out between the head and the block? I did a full head gasket job and heads replacement a year ago so I’m praying that it’s just leaking from a half moon/cam shaft seal/or valve cover gasket. Oil and coolant levels seemed good at the time of this picture but it was still hot. Rechecking later when I get off work. 5vz

 

Yeah, 8 full years on mine right now. Even if they diie tomorrow, they've been worth the investment.

FWIW, these X2 Power branded batteries are made by Northstar, yet it seems like the Northstar brand is no longer available for purchase.

 

Really unlikely

 

probably valve covers. Notorious for leaking.

 

Truck turns the big 25 today around noon EST.

 

Gonna give her something good? Mine got ethanol free gas for its entire 25th birthday month in Feb.

 

Na, just another day. I don't want it going to her head.

 

After having this thing sit around for a few years, it's finally in. Probably not really needed, since the axle housing patch was still performing beautifully, but was in the area anyway and had someone who knew what they were doing there to help, so why not? Thanks Zane! @Speedytech7

 

Nice! About time you got it under the truck.

 

It makes for excellent eye candy... and an involved art project