New Tacoma owner

Well, she's mine!

Good thing I took a full half day. I stood in line at the DMV for an hour. Luckily I had friendly folk around so we passed the time cutting up.

Took her for a shakedown The first thing I need to address is the driver side seat belt. It won't latch. I had a similar issue with my Chevy, it was a simple fix. I hope that is the case here as well.

AC blows cold. As in, freeze your nipples off. That alone will be worth the price.

Engine has some ticking at cold idle. I checked the oil, a quart low, and added stabilizer. I am debating running that for a while and then putting seafoam in the oil (1oz per quart capacity) as a cleanser and running for 100 miles. The stuff is about as close to a miracle in a can as I've seen. This isn't a bad tick, it's pretty much the nature of Toyota engines and others with hydraulic lifters. It's just that I like to clean things out so I know they are good to go. I can definitely see installing a bypass filter on the oiling system as well (something I do to anything I intend to keep).

Definitely need to install a filter on the hydraulics... Ie, power steering.

Looked for the oil dipstick for 10 minutes. Front of the engine... Lol.

Looked for the transmission dipstick for a few minutes too... Duh, it's a manual, dingus!

Trans shifts well. I haven't tried the transfer yet. Soon!

The fiberglass topper isn't the nice one I was hoping for. But if it fits, might be worth keeping. It will make a good test subject for smooth Durabak, however. I am strongly considering using that on the entire truck since this thing will see trails and treelimbs, and the paint has already had clearcoat failure on the roof and hood. If I don't do something, the tin worm will.

I'm putting her to work tomorrow morning.. Lots of yard waste and an old appliance that needs to be recycled. How stupid is it that I'm actually excited to go to the dump?

 

Good Morning and Welcome to TW

 

@burntkat

 

Well done!

Not at all. You’re excited to put your truck to use!

 

Yessir. Like the commercial says, (deep southern drawl-OK basically my normal voice) let's go do truck stuff!

Anyone got input on the seat belt issue?

 

Not sure. Mine latches just fine. I guess the previous owner really liked to rip it off in a rush whenever they reached their destination. I would tell you to try to disassemble and have a look, but every time I do that to a seat buckle, I have to get a new buckle cause I can’t get it back together.

Be sure to post up some truck pics when you can.

Also, you may want to update your vehicle in your bio to include this one.

 

Welcome to TW!

 

Welcome aboard!

 

Why? It's already there...

 

OK, posting from my phone, let's see about pics.. .

 

More...

 

Sweet Truck! What a score!

 

Welcome,and enjoy your truck.

 

Ordered some parts. I found the intake hose was broken at the plenum, and I have been getting random shut down at stoplights, as well as have a few misfire and oxygen sensor codes set in the computer. These could all easily go back to the big hole in the intake upstream of the MAF sensor, so it will be replaced before I investigate those.

Also, the driver's seat belt buckle doesn't work No amount of fiddling with it will fix it, have tried for hours. I bought a replacement part for 50 bucks new off ebay. Also the intake hose, all told 73 bucks and will be delivered by Friday.

I am having another problem, but it's wetware based... I keep forgetting to take the parking brake off. Smoked the rear brakes twice today. The owner's manual says there ought to be a light, but I can't find it. What I'd like to do is tap off that wire for a warning buzzer, same idea as the key in ignition buzzer. If the engine is running and parking brake is on, sound a buzzer, or even an intermittent chime. Anyone have ideas? Even a big LED on the dash would work. Just anything to say 'hey dumbass, make this thing stop. You do that by putting the parking brake to the off position, remember?? "

Yes, I've been spoiled by automatic transmissions and living in the flatlands....

 

Replaced the intake tube today. It's like I dropped a brand new, entirely brand new, engine into the truck. Smooth idle, smooth running, no more misfires, skads of power.. Awwwwyeah.

OK, I replaced the spark wires on the driver's side as well. Since they were right there and I suspected they may have been OEM. Didn't replace the plugs as I had no idea what kind I should use. I don't think I need to.

Replaced the driver's seatbelt buckle with a NIB Toyota unit from Ebay. It's grey instead of tan. I don't care. It's safe, and I don't feel constantly "off" now that I am not driving sans restraint. Also, I am not in danger of being pulled for a moving violation. (eyeroll).

I have gotten into the habit of really yanking on the parking brake now when I set it. "Set it like you mean it", like the wise old guy said. Makes a hell of a difference.

I have a leaking LSPV in the rear of the truck. I am losing roughly a reservoir of fluid in a week of commuting and running about. I am going to delete that part and put in a manual PV on the driver's firewall. Why? Because 1- it's an expensive part- $300. But more importantly, the way it is actuated has to do with the height of the frame to the axle. My plans for this truck don't involve a lot of towing, and what there will be, will be assisted with airbags in the rear (I have the bits literally laying around doing nothing). This would defeat the LSPV on its own, and in addition I am going to do a SAS on this rig which will involve a 4" lift (again defeating the LSPV, although to be honest if it suited my needs I could simply fabricobble together a new link/actuation rod).

 

@burntkat you still local to Charleston? Met you back when I had my 2000 XJ in ‘05ish. Think I still have a rasp bit of yours when I picked up a set of spring spacers from you!

 

Wow, small world! Yes, I'm still here. Where are you, now?

Edit: Charleston Read, dummy

 

Pics of the unistrut load system
Detail of the bed rails. They stand about 1/2" proud of the floor convolutions

View back to front. I'm going to add a rail to the back of the box as well

Side view, oblique right