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

Oh, also replaced the rear taillight and waterpump. Went ahead and did the timing belt while in there.

 

Lastly, spark plugs and wires! Running like a champ!

 

nice. how did you mount the bases? cut and re-weld from the Evo or did you make new brackets.

 

I basically used the stock Tacoma seat brackets and cut them and bolted them to the recaros very simple

 

That’s

a

lot

of

posts

my

dude

 

Figured it was an attempt to get their post count up.

 

An effective one

 

Had to do a double take seeing this pass by...

 

My old boss had one of those, diesel, he’s a big VW guy. He pretty much ran his business out of that thing for the first 5 years, hauling construction debris and talking on a car phone, the definition of hustling in the early 90’s lol

 

Had to get to 50 before they can spam us with parts

 

Definitely a nice set up, but all I see is my aching back. LOL.

 

Question for you guys:

I'm getting ready to install Icon UCAs (delta joint ones), and Icon 2.5 Coilovers tomorrow after work (probably cant start until 5pm). I have to be up fairly early Saturday so don't want to get hung up too late on this job.

Is there a surefire ball joint press kit that will make getting the old OEM upper ball joints out of the steering knuckle, with the knuckle still on the truck to save me some time? (Had issues with the O'Reilly rental kit before last time I replaced OEM upper ball joints).

Or is it better I just plan to pull the knuckle from the truck and use a BFH to get the old ball joint out?

I'm trying to do the coilovers, upper control arms and stainless steel brake lines (front and rear), in about 2-3 hours with the help of a friend. Any tips on shortcuts are much appreciated.

 

I’m getting ready to do mine as well and was going try to do it like this:
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/how-to-replace-upper-ball-joint.434497/

 

http://www.bajataco.com/tech/control_arms_03.html

 

Do able in that time. But might take a bit longer if it's your first time.

I just used the oreilly one I think last time with no issues that I remember. Just takes some tweaking to get it lined up good enough.

 

Definitely doable, just be patient

 

The link that @time623 shared shows a heavy duty Pittman arm puller that AutoZone loans out, apparently. That tool looks better suited than the O'Reilly kit. This will be my 3rd time dealing with OEM UBJs, but first time dealing with the Icon UCAs. My buddy assisting is pretty savvy too (has owned 2 - 1st gens for 20 years), so I'm sure we'll get 'er done.

We've got to do his 2008 Tundra valve cover gaskets Saturday, so I'd rather not be up late the night before that job.

 

The rental BJ press from any of the stores will be the best way to press in the adapter slugs for the new UCA's. So get that either way. It's free anyways to rent so can't hurt to have it on hand.

 

Not mine, but it is a first gen.