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Modifications Tips?

Discussion in '1st Gen. Tacomas (1995-2004)' started by kmac1701, Oct 15, 2017.

  1. Oct 15, 2017 at 7:38 PM
    #1
    kmac1701

    kmac1701 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Kevin
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    Hello all,
    I recently bought a 2wd '98 Tacoma PreRunner Ext cab with the v6 3.4L engine. I was wondering what mods I might be able to do for both performance and style points, besides tires and sound systems? It's simply a daily driver, but I want to mod it to look good, perhaps perform better as well, and have no idea where to start. Any and all suggestions appreciated. Thanks.
     
  2. Oct 15, 2017 at 8:29 PM
    #2
    2BeersPlease

    2BeersPlease Well-Known Member

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    You could try doing a little research first. This question is asked frequently by new members. Using the search feature, you'll likely come across several threads with similar titles. Look at those threads for a preview of yours. The same questions will be asked.

    Good luck with your quest for performance and style points.

    Carry on. :hattip:
     
    kmac1701[OP], Steven G and Sicyota04 like this.
  3. Oct 15, 2017 at 8:38 PM
    #3
    2BeersPlease

    2BeersPlease Well-Known Member

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  4. Oct 15, 2017 at 10:44 PM
    #4
    03 NIGHT TACO

    03 NIGHT TACO Well-Known Member

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    Jack
    Eastern Washington
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    My advice would be to read up on here and do tons of research before you jump into things... it's going to save you a ton of time and money if you do it right the first time rather than buy something and then soon after decide that you would have rather done it differently.
     
    kmac1701[OP] and Sicyota04 like this.
  5. Oct 15, 2017 at 10:44 PM
    #5
    jbrandt

    jbrandt Made you look

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    Justin
    El Dorado, CA (NOT El Dorado Hills)
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    Kings, J59's Total Chaos UCAs Custom skids Sticker mod
    Or there’s the “what have you done to your 1st gen today?” thread.
     
    kmac1701[OP] and Dalandser like this.
  6. Oct 16, 2017 at 6:29 AM
    #6
    v5ensx

    v5ensx CARB legal is not CALI legal

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    Do whatever you like, why follow the flow of everyone else's? It's your money and your truck.

    Maintenance before mod/performance
     
    Last edited: Oct 16, 2017
    kmac1701[OP] likes this.
  7. Oct 16, 2017 at 6:29 AM
    #7
    Dalandser

    Dalandser ¡Me Gustan Las Tacos-mas!

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    Downey
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    Empty Wallet Mod
    Check these out. With a 19 year old vehicle it's a balance between maintenance and mods when it comes to your budget. Case in point: the $1k you just spent on mods may feel like a bad idea when one of your lower ball joints that are original to the truck fails and forces you to sell your fun new parts you just bought at a loss to finance rebuilding the steering components. If you're smart about how you go about modding and maintaining your vehicle, the chance of situations like the one I mentioned will be minimized.
     
  8. Oct 16, 2017 at 7:35 AM
    #8
    kmac1701

    kmac1701 [OP] Well-Known Member

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  9. Oct 16, 2017 at 7:35 AM
    #9
    kmac1701

    kmac1701 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    I see, thanks.
     
    Dalandser[QUOTED] likes this.
  10. Oct 16, 2017 at 7:46 AM
    #10
    tomtraubertsblues

    tomtraubertsblues Well-Known Member

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    I was going to say Ball Joints. Dalandser beat me to it. Make sure the vehicle is in great shape maintenance-wise before mods. That's what I've always done with my vehicles. I finally have a Tacoma and that's what I have done/am doing.
    I have a LBJ that is shot. About a half an inch of play... It was fast tracked to the first item on my list.
     
  11. Oct 16, 2017 at 7:47 AM
    #11
    MagicMexican

    MagicMexican Well-Known Member

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    Pueblo, Colorado
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    1998 Tacoma Xcab TRD 4WD 5-Spd
    Aftermarket Wheels
    Personally, I'd try and catch up on maintenance. The previous owner probably bought into the 'Toyota's last forever, totally bulletproof' and never replaced anything except the oil. Your suspension is probably pretty worn out, I'd look at getting a set of 5100's (you could add a lift there), leaf springs, ball joints, bushings that are worn out or close to it, grease up zerk fittings, the steering wheel 'slip joint' mod, new spark plugs and wires (dual electrode), timing belt and water pump, trans and diff fluids, stainless steel brake lines (and/or tundra brake upgrade), 'deck plate' mod (if you want, read about it first).
     
  12. Oct 16, 2017 at 8:35 AM
    #12
    2BeersPlease

    2BeersPlease Well-Known Member

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    Now why did you have to ruin the fun of asking complete strangers what shiny trinkets and doo-dads we should bolt on our trucks by bringing logic and reason into the conversation?



    Excellent point though.
     
  13. Oct 16, 2017 at 8:45 AM
    #13
    2BeersPlease

    2BeersPlease Well-Known Member

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    OP would be wise to follow this advice, as would I.
     
    kmac1701[OP] and Dalandser like this.
  14. Oct 16, 2017 at 8:51 AM
    #14
    tomtraubertsblues

    tomtraubertsblues Well-Known Member

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    It's tough. Shiny and new is much more fun. It is a balance though, you gotta do the fun stuff to keep motivation up sometimes.
     
  15. Oct 16, 2017 at 9:01 AM
    #15
    Dalandser

    Dalandser ¡Me Gustan Las Tacos-mas!

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    Empty Wallet Mod
    The way I look at it is it's more fun to drive a stockish truck that never breaks down compared to a half-assed trail rig that leaves you stranded or becomes a lawn ornament. The previous owner of my truck got lucky when he sold it because it was about to implode from multiple issues and I guess I got lucky because I get to learn a lot about my truck as I bring it back from the edge of destruction lol. Most guys (like both of you) on here start out with a much better foundation than I did with my truck so balancing maintenance and mods is probably a little more difficult since the trucks drive good and there's not as many immediate red flags to make you open up your wallets and let money fly out just so you can avoid problems that aren't currently affecting you.
     
  16. Oct 16, 2017 at 10:42 AM
    #16
    2BeersPlease

    2BeersPlease Well-Known Member

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    I'm often distracted by shiny new. It's a disorder I've dealt with all my life.
     
  17. Oct 16, 2017 at 11:01 AM
    #17
    2BeersPlease

    2BeersPlease Well-Known Member

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    My practical, sensible side agrees with you. I only wanted to do just enough to get me to the places not as accessible to the general public. I think I've achieved that with some modest, relatively inexpensive upgrades. It's really a little overbuilt for my purposes, which was part of my plan also.

    And yes, my truck came to me having lived an easy commuter lifestyle. I didn't really have to deal with worn parts before upgrading. My mechanic said my LBJs were good when I had it in a few months ago. Still going to replace them before next spring though. I think they are the weakest link in the reliability chain at this point.
     
  18. Oct 16, 2017 at 3:06 PM
    #18
    jbrandt

    jbrandt Made you look

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    El Dorado, CA (NOT El Dorado Hills)
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    Kings, J59's Total Chaos UCAs Custom skids Sticker mod
    As far as the maintenance over mods thing, just do like I do: use the maintenance as a (not so) silly excuse for "mods".

    For example: My coil coil springs have been needing to get replaced for a while now, and it was probably time to replace the ball joints (they were fine, but it's been 6 years since I did them). Why spend $500 on OEM replacement coil springs and ball joints when you could spend $2000+ and get some King mid travel units, total chaos upper control arms, oh, and new LBJ's, poly bushings, etc...

    My worn out leaf springs are next. Which, of course, will involve some sort of upgrade (all-pro, dakars, chevy 63", who knows...)

    Or... If you're married, just tell your wife that you did the math on having the dealer replace the coils cost just as much as getting Kings and doing it yourself... lol
     

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