Newbie joining with 1st gen 2WD 5-lug 1998 Taco 2.4L 2RZ

Hello TW Forum,

I just a bought 1998 2wd Toyota Tacoma after owning the older 1990 model 2WD Hilux that I bought new in 1990 and sold for cash in 2005. Owned a Toyota Echo and another used 1991 Toyota pickup. Sold both for cash a couple years ago. Now, I own this 1998 Tacoma with low miles (93K) without cold air installed, which I could not resist anyway for its simplicity, gas savings to/from work, and modification projects for looks and drive-ability in adverse conditions (snow covered roads, rocky terrain, sand bars at creeks, mud slicks on declines and inclines around creek/river/lake beds.

I am thinking the first modification for looks and adverse conditions will be bigger wheels from the stock 14's. Should I go with 15's or 16's to get around better in snow, mud, sand, and rocks on river/creek banks? The 2nd generations appear to be higher off the ground to begin with but I noticed improved height of the 2nd gen's simply from bigger 5-lug wheels and tires alone? Is this the same story with 1st gen Tacomas? What profile of tires are people getting away with? How can I test a set for fit?

For example, I have seen bigger 17" Lexus wheels that might fit the lugs on my new Taco. What are some other non-Toyota type wheels that have the 5-lug 4.5 space between lug centers? I am looking at the 5-lug dedicated page but it's not always clear what I can get away without lifting and spacers or a gear ratio change. Lifting and spacers are not out of the question for later mod's - for now I would like to see what I can get away with for added lift and improved looks without lifting or gear ratio change.

Any explanations for how big of wheel and tire I can get my hands on to lift the vehicle higher without lift kits and spacers? I have some good life left on the stock 195 14's wheels and tires so I will keep them for now but my first mod will be the biggest wheels and tires I can get away with without having to buy lift kits and spacers and gears. A better stereo head unit to replace the stock one too. After that, maybe K&N or other type of air intake. Locked toolbox for extra storage, maybe?

Any URL's for tacoma mod's and after market parts would be interesting if you already have your proven, favorite links to share with me.

I survived through a lot of maintenance thanks to Yotatech and other similar forums, such as, Pirate 4x4, on later model Toyotas. I am looking forward to having a similar experience here for the 98 Taco but this time for mod fun versus 'have to fix'. I am no more than a shade tree mechanic and not afraid to turn a nut or solder a wire for maintaining my vehicles when I have the tools in hand. I don't like to rig everything half way and I try to fix things solid with long-term dependability.

This is my new everyday commuting vehicle (without air) but I frequently drive down to small rivers and creeks where possible without a 4x4. The mud, water and sometimes ruts leftover from 4x4's and tractors can make it pretty technical to enter or leave in a 2WD Taco. I know a little more clearance and better tread make a big difference in situations like that. My 2WD Silverado is always silly in that type of terrain but I don't think I would be as bad off with a light Taco that has shorter wheel base and more ground clearance with profile and tread. My early 90's Hilux's did okay in adverse conditions because they are so easy to push out by hand -- I was always lacking the clearance and tread on my old ones. I want to upgrade this one if I can.

Thanks for all the advice upfront.

 

I have the exact same truck. I have a 3in spindle lift, aal, extended shackles, cut fenders and a "prerunner" bumper that helps me clear 31" tires with out rubbing. Stock with out lift you wont be able to clear anything much bigger than stock size tires but a spindle lift is a cheap, great option for these trucks.

 

Where did you get the 3in spindle lift, aal, extended shackles and "prerunner" bumper? Do you have any pictures you can share besides your thumbnail/profile pic? As far as fender cutting? Did you do get that done at a metal fabrication shop?

 

Things going wrong with this vehicle at 95K on the odometer, which are making me forgo any customization at this point. I want to fix the following before I begin investing in customization parts.

1) There was a leak in my exhaust pipe where it enters the Cat. Got this fixed by cutting off the flanges before and after the cat and welding in pipes. Now the CEL comes on with 'catalyst system' code. (Researching possible replacement cat and O2's and bluetooth OBDII for this)
2) Radio intermittently turns on and off (stock speakers still sound good so maybe I'll replace with aftermarket stereo that I can plugin android)
3) Upholstery seam on drivers side began coming apart ( I think I can fix with needle, heavy duty thread, and dab of aquaseal, which dries clear rubber form)
4) Rough idle (researching cat system, IAC, EGR, MAF, O2's for this) - some people are saying this is typical for the 2RZ-FE and I beginning to accept because I have been through the entire vehicle and cannot find cause so far
5) Gas door to gas cap lock broken, which means the gas door flaps a little going down the road (fixed temporarily with stack of rare earth magnets)
6) Turn signals don't work unless I pull on the lever with majic
7) Flat tire on non-matching tire left rear
8) The spare tire is flat
9) Passenger side window rattles when rolled down a crack
10) Bad catalytic converter discovered with new bluetooth OBDII scanner and Torque app for Android and replaced CAT and muffler and tail pipe
11) Front bumper brackets broke on driver side
12) Found more rust on frame while adjusting parking brake
13) Parking brake cable is stretched and parking break light stays on now
14) MAF was caked with dirt (cleaned)
15) Air fllter was dirty (Replaced)
16) Throttle body was caked with carbon deposits
17) NGK spark plug gaps were out of spec - replaced with Denso and gapped to .031 according to owners manual
18) Replaced fan clutch in September/October 2014.
19) Replaced ignition coils in 2015
20) Replaced rear break/turn light housings in 2016
21) Ordered SafeT caps in summer of 2016 to repair frame

 

The bumper was made by the previous owner in his garage, same place the fender cutting to done I'm guessing. Looks like he used a sawzall I'm guessing the spindle lift and aal were ordered online and my shackles are really ghetto, made by the last guy that owned the truck