What have you done to your Tacoma today? 1st Gen Edition

Can you post a picture of the bolts you're working on? Exhaust bolts & nuts can be real nasty to get off! I'm talking about a dern-mess. The TRD headers are made of stainless steel.

 

This is on my old 2.7 sitting in the garage, the header has no cracks or anything so Im just gonna swap it over

 

Shit. See what i did

 

Guess those wheelers bumpstops really do compress

 

I'd recommend a couple options (I've learned these the hard way...)
Soak all the studs & nuts (above, below the manifold and the joints) with Kroil or a similar penetrating oil- PB blaster will work in some cases.

This is the part that's not an exact science... if you have access to "metrinch sockets" try to fit (hammer-tap) the tightest one on the nut. At this point you know the nut is not going to be reused, try to loosen the nuts. If this doesn't work, remember to keep the studs in good shape at all cost, if the stud breaks off in the block(well just don't break off the studs). My next step is pull out the "nut splitter", this tool can get you out of a tight spot (and it will split the nut enough so you can back it off- keep an eye on the stud 'cause it'll split it too!).

Tools to have handy: nut splitter, metrinch sockets, Kroil, 11-14mm sockets regular & deep, stubby ratchet, flex head ratchet, 3"/5"/24" extensions, lots of luck. The rounded off nut is going to be a booger-bear- you'll need to tap/hammer on a smaller socket.

This picture was a son-of-a-gun nut, I ended up welding a couple nuts on to remove it.

I wish there was an easy way to tell you, but the fact is exhaust bolts are trouble! They seize, round off, strip, and anything else. Just take your time and you can get the nuts off. I'd do everything possible to not break the studs.

Goodluck Lux!

 

16$ later and i finally have two new wheel studs and lug nuts

 

No. Im not running the oem ones. Thought that might be the issue but i guess not...lol

 

Painted my rear bushwhackers. They were faded black and sun beatin to shit.




Also rotated the tires. While the tires were off I took the opportunity to finally dremel the lower pinch weld tabs and hammer the main seam for some more clearance.

 

Harbor freight has them in 1/4" drive - E8 is the size socket. Just hit the studs with penetrating fluid first and they should pop off.

I use 50/50 ATF/acetone mix in a little oil can. Cheaper and better penetrant than anything you can buy:

https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/penetrating-oil-showdown.350800/

That and a six point socket should help you not strip any other nuts if you do try to remove them.

 

bust out the hole saw!

 

Been stripping black spray paint off a set of 3rd gen 4runner 5 spokes, gonna paint them white. I'll be mounting a fresh set of BFG All Terrain KO2's, should I paint before or after I get them mounted?

 

Found coolant leaking onto the driveway.
Found the leak coming from water pump, fml
Just did a drain and fill the other day.
Anyone have any input on AutoZone pumps??

 

Before and be prepared to touch them up after. A dealer did mine for $80 including dismounting them from my old wheels and didn't mess up my painted wheels. You should clear coat them to make sure they are as protected as possible. UPOL makes the best single stage clear I've ever used in a can.

$25 U-POL Products 0796 Clear Clear 1 High Gloss Coat - 450ml

https://www.amazon.com/U-Pol-Products-0796-Clear-CLEAR/dp/B009LHER0M

 

A little too much hot sauce in your taco.

 

You suggesting clear coat before as well? I was sort of thinking paint before, touch up after and then clear coat.

 

That'll work. Clear coat is like long lasting tireshine lol.

 

Sold the cap yesterday. Cleaned, cleaned, cleaned the Taco today. Change the oil on it's little sister & cleaned her too. Washed the Taco's frame as best I could too. Much nicer.

 

Thanks!

 

I put my old fog lights on my buddy's 1994 Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo.

Man working on American cars are a pain in the ass... took a good six hours to get it done. The Tacoma is so much simpler electronically and mechanically and it's also 4 years older than the Jeep.

 

I continued with the rear suspension today on the LT taco. Previously moved shackle mount closer to main eye, rear squated down a little more from this.

I pulled out the f55s and put in a f67 pack. Had to cut a few bolts to get it apart, thankfully I had more U bolts and main bolt.

Sits much higher now, level, possibly a hair stink bug. It will settle with use and added weight.