My Big Can of Worms Build

Picked this up for $90. Allegedly it's a Fiberwerx. Kid unknowingly bought it for his 01-04. Been working too much to do anything besides buy stuff - hopefully the headers will get here and I'll be able to work on it on a Saturday coming up. Engine and trans need to go back in and then connect the exhaust to the headers.

 

Damn you find all the good stuff
Looks cool, going to paint it or do the socal thing and leave it white

 

lol By the time I get all my glass and new doors and mirrors on, I'll have white fenders, bedsides, passenger door, a blue driver's side door, and silver side view mirrors. I guess it would have that salvage title look. lol

I'll prime everything before I install it. Paint will come next year when everything is done being banged up from working on it - trying to decide which material to go with - maybe rhinoliner or monstaliner in tan or light blue.

 

. So is the 1st gen becoming a long travel project? I've seen tan colored liner on a 2nd gen before, would look pretty badass on a 1st gen

 

Need a front bumper?
https://inlandempire.craigslist.org/pts/d/2001-toyota-tacoma-prerunner/6322529713.html

 

Yes - a long travel expo rig - expo for me at this point consists of tools, recovery gear, a floor jack, small foam mattress, a pillow, a cooler, and a sleeping bag along with basic outdoor gear. It was purchased with the money I had saved to do the rear on my 2nd gen. One sketchy solo day out in Mojave convinced me I need 4x4 for what I like to do. Sold the front kit off of my regular cab and used that to pay for parts on my first gen. Right now I'm getting the first gen or the bean I like to call it (super round compared to my first gen with the roundy campershell) mechanically sound. Then suspension work will start next spring.

What about you? Why are you looking for bedsides? There's a group buy at advanced right now...

I saw that one too. It's the style I'm looking for - winch mount prerunner. Not a bad price. The only con about the all-pro is that it only works with all-pro skids if you want to go aftermarket. There's another member on here who told me he'd sell me his trail gear with a light hoop already welded on once he purchases a Pelfreybilt bumper. Looks like they're getting closer to going into production.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/1st-gen-love.471568/page-25#post-16028136

@Captain Magma

 

Oh god, why now! All this maintence is already draining my funds

 

There's a good feeling that goes along with buying maintenance parts, but there's a great feeling when it comes to buying mods

 

That's going to be quite the fun rig when it's all done. Gotta love having the top over the bed and a foam mattress, love my bestop with a pad. My version of glamping haha, mattress and beer I'm good . Not sure where you heard I'm looking for bedsides; myself I'm debating between different wants. Realistically I need to just settle on something and spend some $$$ instead of saving and penny pinching like I have been my whole life, learned from pops . Recently been doing some maintenance, man it's expensive definately want to learn how to do more stuff on my own to save a few bucks and for the fun of it . Now that you mention the allpro skids, I do remember reading somewhere about that being the case. Speaking of which I gotta replace that eventually too, finally put a small hole in it among all the scratches and dents. Gotta give it credit for all the abuse it's taken though. UCAs are next on the list, debating between ball joint and and uniball.... probably uniball though since I'd love long travel down the line. Also keeping an eye out on CL for some used coil overs. Goal is to go fast through the desert and be able to explore some new places. 4wd would definately help but you can do a lot with speed, shovels, wood, and traction pads ... sorry about the long read hahaha

Edit: Advanced... why does that ring a bell.... ... fiberglass company that bought someone out right?
Soooo where's this money tree you're hiding... I need some seeds

 

I'm down with your take on truckin' lol The nice thing about these trucks is you can do a conversion for less than $1000 if you ever want to go 4x4. After you sell your 2wd parts you could probably do it for $500. I thought you said something about wanting bedsides when I posted about finding some... my bad.

Advanced bought Glassworks. Most of their molds were purchased except for a few less popular ones for older models like a hood for 2000 and earlier trucks, hence searching out a used one CL.

I pretty much poured all of my student loan money into my two trucks - before that I had spent $13k+ on a rock band program in downtown Long Beach that I worked for as a baseline employee with Parks and Rec and after they cut the program and wouldn't let me volunteer to keep it alive, I guess it was time to invest in a new project. Single, no kids, I figure it's the right time to do this. I just got a new job teaching in a high school after 10 years of being a full time student and working part time jobs, but I spend barely anything on food, clothes, and entertainment.

 

I've heard and seen that done a handful of times, definately have considered it but I lack the mechanical ability. But honestly I rarely get stuck, the times I have could have been easily prevented. Lot of messing up and learning so I'm chilling with 2wd . Always could toss a locker into the rear if I ever want some extra help crawling.
That's right! I forgot about that, wonder if they bought glasswork's storefront here in Huntington Beach. (Checked their website they have a costa mesa address). I have some busted front fenders I bought cheap sitting in the garage, in my head I can learn some basic fiberglass and repair/reattach a broken mount. It's this one
https://www.mcneilracinginc.com/products/96-04-toyota-tacoma-6-off-road-fiberglass-fenders . Probably should just toss them and buy some in better condition haha
Damn that's one hell of a build up, props to you sir


I'd like to do a mild long travel build up on the toy tank, some coil overs & ucas in the front, spring under axle and 16 inch shocks in the rear with a minimalist bed cage. Something that doesn't take up much space in the bed so I can still sleep back there and use the bed to haul stuff when needed. Oh and my parents would love to see me add a roll cage sooo that might happen down the line, it would definately be great for safety and allow me to install some seats with harnesses. I have a grand idea of squeezing 3 seats with harnesses in the cab hahaah

 

Finally had a half day to work on my pile:

Found out my SST for the pilot bearing did not exactly work.




Tried the grease method - not the answer for me. But it came out nice and easy anyway




Got the rear main seal out and a new one back in. My second homemade SST of the day didn't really work that well driving the new seal in- just used a small piece of 2x4.






Found out brake clean doubles as wasp killer (they were making a nest in my engine hoist)



Got my replacement clock - thanks @hokiee!



Got the heads ready for the headers with some red scotchbrite pads.






Cleaned up for the night.

 

That it does haha; so does still living with your parents . Damn lucky you can swap in a new engine, for a little while I was planning to swap in a V6....which escalated to a 1UZ . In 04 toyota started storing the vin number in the ecu soooo if I swap in a different engine the vins won't match when it's time to smog . Back to reality

 

You mean you couldn't swap to a 1uz? If you swap in a Toyota engine that was available in a Tacoma I think you can legally do it?

 

The 1UZ was never available in the tacoma, it's a lexus v8. Great engine. I believe I can swap in a 05+ tacoma into my truck and I'd be fine from a legal stand point; along with any other newer engine I imagine... I think the vin being in the ecu kinda prevents me from putting in a older engine... unless you know there's a way to flirt with the ecu and change the vin stored in there somehow... although I'm sure I'm missing some details here. It's been a while since I've looked into it

Just need to make some AZ friends and register the truck out there

 

.... Whatcha ever do with that front glass anyways......

 

Yeah my bad I was trying to say if you did the 3.4 swap into your truck. You'd need the ecu and wiring harness for the cab and the engine bay so your smog check would work out. Picking up some 6.5" front glass this weekend - still got the 4" glass. Thinking about it?

 

Thinking about it.... got a space issue at the moment. The wheels rub the ucas when making tight turns.... let along the issues when flexing or drifting off road. As a result I need to throw some wheel spacers on... which leads to the wheels hitting the fenders. Wonder if front glass would relieve that last issue.

 

Yeah you wouldn't have any issues with fiberglass, although depending on your tire size and lift, you may not need it.

 

Got a pic of the glass, I'm gonna be throwing long travel on in the next couple months so I might be able to use them.