1999 Tacoma SR5 TRD Imperial Jade Build, Sweat and Tears

A little side quest from the tank.

I dont know why I didnt do this sooner. This stuff works pretty decent. Its not a miracle but worked good enough for me. I fixed all the deep scratches that were showing white on the shell, its been that way since I bought it, the pervious owner trashed it.



Before


After.
It also got even better with a second coat. Ill apply one more when it dries.

 

Back to the tank.

Sides all tacked up for a test fit.




So much more useable space still left.


Test fit was good. I just need to adjust where Im going to make the cut for the brake bias rod now that I can get a presice mark and a slight adjustment for the spare tire bracket.

 

Took the mounting sleeve out of fuel filler door, seeing if it can fit 2 filler necks in the one door. It appears that it should be possible. Im trying to find a used factory filler neck and Ill have to modify the bottom to make the turn towards the tank. I think the only tricky part is making a mounting bracket to hold both necks.

Itll be nice using the one filler door and not the one I added on the side of the shell. It always seems to spill down the side (at least in CA with their super short pump nozzles) .

 

Need that paint.

 

Its actually a really good deal. Amazon.

 

I lifted the hood with wipers up.
Rookie move

 

Nice truck. Yeah, its not bad at all for the price, its not a miracle, but it works. I ended up using the ball tip part over the brush thats inside if you screw off the top. I just kept shaking it every 10 seconds because of the flake thats in it.

 

Went to the junkyard to get a fuel filler neck from a 3rd gen 4runner.



Forgot how rusty everything is on the east coast. Was a pain but got it all undone. I couldnt get it out though. They blocked it in with lifting the car with the spare tire. I had to abandon it.




Found a 2003 4runner.



I only brought a 1/4 drive set, not thinking about all the rust. Had to improvise.


I got it out. On the way out I walked over to the 3rd gen only to realize the caps are different. I dont want 2 different caps on my truck I want them to be the same. So I left it.


This is what I ended up with.


The jack/lower rod was missing pieces so the guy only charged me like a $1. Im gonna weld a hook on the straight piece for my jack. Im gonna need the fuel hose for the tank and the just ended giving me the phone mount, the suction cup ended up not holding anyways.


About a mile down the rode I was kicking myself for not getting the fuel filler neck, its the wrong one but I can use the bends on the piping to make the other one fit. So I turned around and went and got it. I really should go back and just cut off the top of the 3rd gen one then just weld it on.

 

Test fitting again with the notch cut out. I think the notch is overkill. If I had to guess that rod is never moving up enough to need the clearance, but its there now. I just chalk it up to an exercise in fab work.




With the rod maxed out. I need 3 arms.


Still .5 inch clearance with the rod maxed out.




The channel is a little oversized than what it needs to be. Im just using whats laying around rather than going to buy material. I chopped down a piece of box tubing. Its 1.75 inch internal dimension rather than the 1.250 I wanted but free is free.

 

Also noticed my cancer is growing by the day. Gonna have to fix this real soon.

 

Baffling

 

Following along. Liking your idea about the aux tank.
P.S. Save your templates
And yes, fix that rust before it is too late!

 

When its all mounted and I know it clears works, Ill put the measurements here. I thought about making an extra one just to have one to sell, but I dont have enough time.

 

Got the sending unit in today.


Back to welding.


One last test fit to make sure the channel is good.






Then welded the whole side on.


Tested the capacity, I might have miscounted since Im kinda retarted, but I think its right around 10 gallons. Which is weird because I thought it would of been more. My guess was 12-13 gallons. It definitely seems bigger than my other one that is 10.

 

I wish I could fab like this

 

You most def can, you just gotta go for it. Ive only welded aluminum a couple times. Even if you mess it up just fix it.

 

Are you on Flickr or Instagram? Your photography is top notch man!

 

Thanks, much appreciated. I have an insta I started for the truck awhile ago, but never kept up with it. Ive been thinking about getting back on and keeping it up to date.

@taco.2uesday

 

1 inch size of the filler neck. Need to order the weld in aluminum one.


Made a templet for the back shell window curve to try and make some window covers.


I dont have a hook for my kit and Im tired of using a screwdriver to turn the jack. Ive been buying whatever I can find at junkyards to make one.






The 4runner rod was missing the wingnut so I made one of those too.


Now I have a T and hook.


My OEM 4x4 corner came in.


Had to mod it like the others for the turn signal relocation.


Fits much better. Although Im missing the grommet that holds the bottom stud part in, gonna need to find one or the part number to order one if they still make them.


So for the last few years, my passenger seat has been a 4runner seat and I never got around to doing the driver. I got my old seat back out to put it back in. Ill store the 4runner seats for a future date. It was covered when it was being stored but I guess the bags got taken off.


So I threw the ozone on it for a couple hours to kill anything in there. Mold being the biggest concern and I dont want to track that into the cab. Also wiped it down with white vinegar too.


Cant find the connector on the floor for this. Is there no connector on the passenger side?


Seats in. Gonna have to clean it some more.