Tacomas Built My YouTube Channel - So Here I Am

What's going on everyone?! My name is Dart and it has definitely taken me FAR too long to create an account here.

I am an automotive YouTuber (youtube.com/dartbproductions) and I have been creating videos for about a year now. I aim to create a mix of cinematic, action, and DIY content. I'll be honest - some of my videos have been absolutely awful. However, my ultimate goal is to become the absolute best videographer and cinematographer that i can be and make content that will appeal to lovers of cars and trucks everywhere.

I earned my Tacoma in April 2018: a beautiful 2001 V6 PreRunner SR5 formerly owned by my grandfather (check it out on my Rewind 2018: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dx5Ps-KtMvI&). To earn it, I had to achieve Eagle rank in the Boy Scouts of America, a journey that I am extraordinarily grateful to have experienced, as it has built me into a hard worker with a firm conviction of the importance of quality work, no matter what it is I am doing.

I have become an avid DIYer in the past year, learning how to detail cars and change oil, sparkplugs, clutches, power steering pumps, mufflers, and more.

When I first got my Tacoma, I could barely change my oil. However, it's an 18 year old vehicle, and so I have been able to greatly expand my knowledge since it came into my possession. First on the list was a light detail since it had been outside for a month or so since my grandfather bought his 2018 TRD Sport Tacoma. I washed it using a Meguiar's wash-wax soap, shined up the fender flares with a scotch-brite pad, and cleaned up the headlights using some clear plastic polish and 3000 grit wet sandpaper. She looked absolutely gorgeous...

Shortly afterward I installed the stock wheels from my grandfather's 2018 TRD Sport Tacoma after he had a 6 Inch Pro Comp lift and 35s put onto his vehicle. The 2018 TRD Sport wheels fit perfectly onto my 2001 with no rubbing or contact even at full steering lock. At this time I made my first video review of Grandpa's truck that got tons of views... but it was terrible and gives a lot of people a poor perception of my channel (I have since made a newer video which is much better - see https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T7BM5MUkQWs).

However, my truck wasn't perfect yet. I had a mysterious driver's side water leak inside the cabin. So I replaced the driver door weatherstripping and hoped for the best. That didn't work, but it didn't rain for some time so I didn't know it yet.

Over the summer my video production died down somewhat, but I learned how to do basic welding (again thanks to my grandfather) and made a video talking all about my truck and why I loved it. It was a spur of the moment decision to film this video and definitely not my finest hour in terms of quality, but it has attracted substantial views so I can't complain too much.

Once school started up again, I started driving the Tacoma more than I had during summer and a few things came up. I had a headlight go out, so I replaced the bulbs with some OEM spec halogens for maximum lifetime (also I think that white halogens look strange in OEM spec housings). The big ticket was the leaks presented themselves once more. At this point I was exasperated with them, so I did some searching for similar issues online and found that some people had tried sealing the pinch weld beneath the windshield wiper cowling. I took this off, used a garden hose to put water into the trough, and sure enough the pinch weld was leaking into the engine bay and through a hole that my Sidewinder keyless ignition system was running through. The brilliant individual who had installed it did not use a rubber gasket around the wire, instead just running it through the hole.

To solve the leaks, I used some sealant to completely seal the pinch weld and prevent water from getting into the engine bay and I created a gasket of sorts by completely filling the hole with the wire with sealant. No leaks since then, and it has been about 4 months and rained frequently.

About November I started wanting to do a more ambitious DIY project - swapping out my stock exhaust system for a performance unit. However, the price tag on trusted brands was off putting and I wanted to apply my barely coherent welding skills to a project. So, I talked with my grandfather and he agreed to let me use his welder to install a Flowmaster Original 40 Series 2.5" Offset Inlet/Offset Outlet into my stock piping. The muffler fit almost perfectly - with a little bit of pinching the outlets fit directly over my pipes with less than a mm all around and I was ready to weld. Not wanting to waste Grandpa's argon I attempted to use FCAW welding, and suffice it to say that the results were hideous. The muffler stayed on but leaked fumes TERRIBLY (hangers were pretty good though). We took it to a shop and they solidified my welds, but leaks remained. I drove the truck three hours home and the muffler stayed on, but I wanted to eliminate my leak issues. So, I got some Original JB Weld and slapped some on. After two coats of the stuff my leaks were gone, and the muffler has stayed on for the past two months and continues to make my V6 sound like a V8 while held together by JB Weld and hope.

The one region where my truck isn't quite what I would love is its transmission. An automatic works great for a daily driver, but when it comes to enthusiasts a manual is what many of us dream of. I am no different. However, I learned to drive manual recently using my friend's Mustang GT (IG: Specter_4.6) and I finally feel that I can proudly proclaim myself a true car/truck guy.

Hope you enjoyed getting to know me and learning about all my adventures so far!! Make sure to subscribe to my channel and look out for me on the forums as I continue my Tacoma adventures.

Dart B

 

Welcome to TW

 

welcome to the site

 

welcome

 

Welcome!

 

Wow!! Thanks for the warm welcome everybody! I'm excited to get more into the Tacoma culture and hopefully you guys will enjoy the videos that I share here.

 

Welcome to TW!!

 

Welcome to Tacoma World. It’s about to get expensive lol

 

Welcome to TW

 

Welcome!

 

Welcome aboard!

 

Welcome, always looking for good Tacoma channels on youtube, good stuff.

 

Welcome to TW!