Got my Tacoma a year ago. Just found this forum

Hi all,

Late last summer, a friend told me his old Tacoma wouldn't go into first or third gear. Some shop put the scare into him with a $3000 repair estimate. So he decided to sell it - for $400. I told him, even with a bad tranny, he could probably go online and get more for it - but he didn't care. So, even though I needed another vehicle like I needed another hole in my head, I agreed to buy it for $400. On my initial test drive I found it WOULD actually go into those gears by using brute force! Over the next few weeks, the shifting freed up to where it started working properly. I went online and did find some info about a shifter socket kit and actually bought the part at my local dealer for about $35. Hopefully, that can stay in the glove-box for awhile.

The truck is a standard cab, 2wd base model with the 2.4 and a 5-speed. It came with a Toyota bed-liner, hood-mounted bug-deflector and fancy Toyota stainless-steel hubcaps The light blue metallic paint is still decent other than a few spots where the clear-coat is flaking. Frame is solid.
I had to replace both headlights (PO claimed he never drove at night!) wipers, belts, and the PO's dead CD-radio. Then fix the broken spare-tire cable (spare was bouncing around in the bed!) Finally I added a used, ARE raised fiberglass cap, so now that makes it a $700 truck.
Best part was - this truck only had about 71,000 miles on it!

Gripes -
No clock, trip-counter, delay-wipe or AC.
Not-retracting seatbelt gets jammed in the door.
Hard plastic dash and horrible factory cup-holder.
Ride. But hey, it's a truck. Not a Camry.

Parts hard to find in salvage-yards.
My brother has a 2000 Tacoma and he needed a front bumper a few years ago. The local salvage-yard went on their computer network and said there were NO used Tacoma bumpers availible on the whole east-coast!
More recently, mine lost one of it's stainless Toyota hubcaps. I saw a few on eBay -for $50 EACH! Was happy to finally find a decent pair on the local craigslist for $60.
But that's not the truck's fault.

Likes -
4-cylinder with the stick-shift. Feels like a hotrod compared to my '96 automatic 4-cylinder Camry.
Seat. Yeah, others dislike the basic, primitive bench-seat. But somehow, this one fits me well, and I find it surprisingly comfortable on 200-mile trips.

Hopes -
To find a wreck in a salvage-yard or craigslist, so I can buy the whole AC setup to install in mine.
Install an opening back glass to match the one in my cap.
Maybe some new shocks to improve the ride.
Any suggestions?

Happy Motoring, Mark

 

Welcome! Good luck with your ride.

 

Thanks.
Any suggestions on replacement shocks. Not doing much off-road or hauling heavy loads. Just looking for better ride-control, without making it ride worse. I know KYBs are OEM for my Camry and I've been able to get those from RockAuto relatively cheap.

Happy Motoring, Mark

 

I've never seen a taco with no AC. That's crazy. If you have the money, you should replace the shocks, springs, and leafs for a better ride. Stick with OEM if you're not going for a lift or off-roading. Good luck finding a rear window that opens.

Welcome to TW.

 

Thanks.
The PO bought this truck used in 2002. I suspect, as a base model, it was originally sold in some northern state without AC.
Many years ago, I bought a used Isuzu LS pickup, which was very well equipped, but oddly, it also had no AC. At the time, I was able to find most of the parts I needed in the salvage-yard to add it.
I think my 2WD Taco has torsion bar springs in front. I think I'll just try new shocks.
Was hoping, as popular as these are, an aftermarket opening rear window might still be availible.
Ironically, my Isuzu LS pickup came with a factory opening rear window. But I got a cap that fit it for free - without an opening window!

Happy Motoring, Mark

 

Thanks.
Were yours the original worn-out KYBs? Or did you install KYBs, just didn't like them and swapped in the Konis?

To save money, many years ago I tried KYBs on an old Mercedes sedan. They rode way too hard and the fronts failed prematurely, I swapped them for Bilsteins.
OTOH, I replaced the tired original non-gas KYBs on my '87 Isuzu LS pickup with KYB gas-shocks, and those worked out just fine.
Not planning any radical changes to height, or wheels & tires on my Tacoma.

Happy Motoring, Mark

 

Never been really happy with Monroes when I've used them - which was a long time ago. New KYBs worked well in my Isuzu, and recently, in my '96 Camry.
My Tacoma has PO's cheapie 185/75R14 tires now. But they still have a lot of tread. Eventually, I'll upgrade to 195/70 or 205/70R14s.

Happy Motoring, Mark

 

Just get some Gabriels' from auto zone. Those 5 luggers are easy to work on. Gabrials wont be the longest lasting, but the will be the cheapest and you will get a lifetime warranty.

O'Rially's is running their "shock"-tober sale now. 4th shock is free.

 

For my '96 2WD Tacoma, RockAuto lists the KYB GR-2s for about $26 each.
Opinions?

Happy Motoring, Mark

 

That's about right. You don't need anything fancy for this truck. It is never going to be sports car. You just want a decent ride.

 

Thanks.
Though I DO think the 2.4 and 5-speed from my truck might actually make a nice drivetrain for a sports car. I think I read the Lotus Elise has Toyota power?

Happy Motoring, Mark