Jake's 1996 4x4

Hello Everybody!

I doubt many have read my long winded intro in the new members page, and I can't blame you.
Basically, I just got back into Toyotas not too long ago. Drove an '83 4x4 in high school until it got stolen my junior year. Since then my brother-in-law has become a Toyota master tech and I've driven Fords ever since, still do. About a month ago I took my f350 to have the bedside repaired, at the body shop I saw a Tacoma, I asked about it and the owner said it was his and he wanted to sell. Needing an economical daily driver to replace my big block Ford, I made a deal with him. It is currently back at his shop getting painted.

It is a 1996 extracab with a 3.4 and an automatic. She has a crap load of miles but you would never know by looking at it. It had a junkyard motor that has 130k just installed. Right now it sits on some Alcoa look-a-likes and 31's. Front has some old Fabtech/Fox coilovers and the rear looks to be clapped out stock leaves.

Plan is a new set of wheels and tires and new suspension. I don't want a lot of lift (getting too old for lifted trucks , my F350 is on 35's) maybe 3" at most. So far I have done a ton of reading and have gotten no closer to a final decision, but I think I'm leaning toward Dakars in the rear. It will mostly be a daily driver with some camping, hunting, shooting and general off road use. It may even evolve into a full blown expeditionary truck, but aiming for the basics for now.

Here it is as I got it





As you can see the interior is in good shape.



And just because, here's my '96 F350

 

I picked up the truck from the body shop from getting painted about a week and a half ago. First order of business was get all four wheels matching. My first choice was Methods, but my dealer buddy took too long getting back to me so I went with my 2nd, which was American Racing Outlaw 2's. My old man had them on his '83 when I was a kid and have always liked them. I've also managed to clock over 1000 mile on it in that time.

The day I picked it up.



Then after the American Racing 15x8 Outlaw II.



As I said my brother-in-law is a tech at Toyota, so I swung by to let him look it over. Straight away he hooks it up to the scan tool and tells me I have a miss in #4. He also sees that most of my display isn't working. He found a bad fuse, changed it and now everything works. While I'm there he has me pick up a set of plugs and wire. I also took advantage of a good deal and got a bunch of stuff my interior was missing. Like the button clips at the front top of the door panels and on the side of the bottom center dash piece, new window winders, new dome light lens, floor mats, knobs for the climate control slides and starter contacts.

Swapping the plugs and wires was a breeze, but for the starter I had a buddy do it on his rack. While up in the air I was able to asses the pushing 300k undercarriage. Leafs are about shot, rack bushings are gone, front lower shock bushings are gone, and the ball joints are on their last leg. The original motor must've puked more oil than it kept inside, everything from the transfer case forward is saturated. However, the frame is in as good of shape as when it left the factory! So signs of rot anywhere.

As time goes on there will be more changes and additions. First will most likely be leafs and coilovers rebuilt. When the 31" Yokohama's wear out they'll be swapped for some 32's or 33's. In due time plate bumpers will find their way onto the front and rear, and even a rack and tent. But for now I'm just trying to replace all the worn out parts and am excited that the F350 can sleep for awhile.

 

Love seeing threads like this. Makes me want to work on my truck. I get to thinking sometimes that my 09 Tacoma with 50K miles is getting old and needs to be replaced and then I see a post like this and it reminds me that she is just getting started. I had a 97 that was the same color and body as yours. I had 230K miles on it when I sold it and it ran better than the day I got it. Followed, keep the updates coming.