The Poor Man's Almanac

I'm a terrible painter, as a rule, but this stuff goes on really nicely! I'm totally digging the color, too, it looks even better to the eye than the camera.

I started off the same way as you, mine was the only 1st gen regular cab, short bed, 4x4, manual w/a V6 in all of Southern California that week. Coulda been purple, and I'd have bought it!

 

Pure luck; I happened to see the ad pop up on CL, and hauled ass down to the dealer's. I was there within 15 minutes, and didn't haggle; the price was really reasonable. The truck's in pretty fine mechanical shape, too, for 184k, plus my neglect while it sat in storage.

That extra room in the cab can be nice, though, too. Isn't the extra cab the same wheelbase as the regular cab, just a shorter bed?

 

There was another thread on TW recently about debadging; I mentioned that I used MEK on my truck. I figured it would lift some of the factory finish, but didn't really care, since I was planning to repaint it anyways.

But no, didn't harm the factory finish at all, and it works much faster than any of the other options that folks mentioned in thread. Of course, should you try this on YOUR truck, it will immediately strip the paint to bare metal...

Anyways, before, with the remains from the badge, and the goofy gold stripes:



After;while you can still see the outline of where the goo was, it's all gone:



Made some more progress with the OD, as well. About to start the passenger's side. The driver's side front was my first effort, and if you look closely, you can see that I still have a bit of massaging to do...



Now, it definitely looks like a green truck. With red doors?



I actually noticed the flaws in the fender after sanding it down, but I discovered last night that I have way more paint than I realized, so I'll be taking my time with the details after getting the outer panels painted. I have enough OD on hand for the inner fenderwells, and even the engine bay. THAT is gonna be fun, pulling everything off to get paint on. At least I can take my time with it, do a bit here, a bit there...

 

Given all the paint I have on hand, didn't mind potentially wasting a bit of it, so I went ahead and put an end to the Christmas theme.

Actually finished this last night, can of paint in one hand, worklight in the other.



Green truck! (As soon as I paint the passenger's side door, at any rate...)

 

Thanks for the great info. I'd love to paint my truck the same color. Maybe in a few years....

 

It really is good stuff, I've used it in a few rigs.

I have 2 upgrade projects in the works; the body lift, and the camper gate. Most likely, the body lift 1st.

 

Sorry for the interruption, had a bit of work going, but the gig fell through. Not good times! But, as they say, "this too, shall pass", and I finally managed to scour together enough loot for an upgrade.

Storage. Gotta be clever about it if you're sleeping every night in the bed of Tacoma. As a sort of "proof of concept", I strung up some 1x6 to the bolts securing the camper to the bed, along with some nice D-rings. Works surprisingly well, but I need a bit more, as I often have to transport my amp and the band's PA from storage to gigs, so...

I had been rolling with this for months, a very simple system that allowed me hold my stowage against the edges of the bed; secure and simple:



The bill for everything I needed (3 6' long 1x6 clear pine boards, 1 6' long 1x3 clear pine board, and 30#8 galvanized screws) came out to 65 dollars and change. I had plenty of luthier's glue on hand, and just enough Permatex gasket-maker to treat the ends of the lumber where it meets the bed in various spots.



Right now, the glue is drying, the Permatex is curing, and in the morning, I'll hit the whole assembly with an orbital sander. Lots more room for stowage now, especially when I need to haul my gear to a gig!



Hope all y'all are well, and enjoying your trucks to the fullest!

 

Cool thread, Mud. Really like the truck! Hope things pick up for you man.

 

I missed your updates Mud...
Keep 'em coming if you're able. Your truck is one of my favorites and I'd love to see it with new shoes when the time comes.

 

x2

 

Hey Mud awesome truck, keep em coming!

 

Looks great

 

interesting.

 

This thread is relevant to my interests.

 

Well...

Been a while since I last posted. Haven't really upgraded anything since then.

Just been keeping up on it, and driving it everywhere. I'm in a place called Saskatoon right now. Saskatchewan, Canada. Yeah, there's a story to tell, I'll get right on it!

 

Do tell.

 

Long story less so, I recently made an epic journey from Long Beach to Saskatoon. Drove 14 hours on the first leg, then 24 hours on the second. I 15 from one end to the other, was 27.5 hours. This truck is the Millennium Falcon of Tacomas...

Avoid Medicine Hat at all costs, is my advice. Oh, and don't mind the deer carcasses in Montana.

Somewhere in Idaho, I decided to check my fluids. Oil was fine. Coolant was frozen; too much water in the mix. A bit of coolant in the reservoir, and it's been liquid ever since. Lost a tire here in Saskatoon, a hundred miles or so after the trek. Tread separated from the carcass due to cold as XXXX weather. Cost $65cdn to replace, which is about $40usd, so not bad.

Hands down, the most reliable vehicle I have ever owned. Been seven years now, and I could not possibly be more impressed than I am. What a truck! Sadly, I'll be letting it go in the near future. Need seating for five. This thing could easily make a million miles; I'm almost at 200k, and nowhere near a rebuild. Great offroad, great on the highway, just a really, really well designed vehicle. Bravo.

Looking at Land Cruisers and Range Rovers.

 

I guess this means your fortunes have changed. Bravo.
Good luck and post more pics of that Taco before you let it go...that olive drab is fantastic.

 

Just read the entire thread man, love the build. I know you've slowed down on it now but I'm really very excited to see what's next. Keep your head up brother!