Super Excited to Join the Taco Community (Long)

Hey Tacoma Community! I am going to try to introduce myself so here goes (long):

Intro: Since before I could drive I have drooled over the almighty Tacoma. Though I am far from it, I live near a pretty rich area. In my high school years I was surrounded by spoiled kid's whose parents bought them whatever they wanted. I would always see these crazy nice Tacomas (the SoCal rich-kid truck of choice). These kids didn't know anything about them except that their daddy paid $45,000 for it and that their friend has one. Though I worked I never had anywhere near the money needed to purchase a Taco, even used. So I had to settle for something a little less glamorous (see vehicle history below). As the years passed and I saved what I could, my dream of owning a Tacoma finally began to become a reality. I worked my butt off this past summer and this last week I was finally able to acquire my dream truck, a first gen Tacoma (more about the truck further down). I have big plans for this truck (like I'm sure we all do) but of course I am on an extreme budget. I am in university, so extra money is, well, what is extra money? Therefore my threads will be filled with many trips to the junkyard, Craigslist steals, and whatever I can find to work with. So if you like budget builds, or are like me and don't have much cash, then my threads will be the ones for you!

Vehicle History:

1. 1991 Honda Accord
   • Price: $800
   • Status: Daily
   • Trans: Automatic
   • Engine: F22A1 125 factory hp of pure Japanese power!
   • Drive train: FWD
   • Mods: mods? Does paint count?
   • Mileage: 227k and counting
   • Story: My first car, this has been the most reliable and un-killable car I have ever driven! It is so reliable in fact, that I drive it 60+ miles a day without a single hiccup. One of my good friends was selling this bad boy. I figured I would probably crash it being my first car and all and seeing as it was in my price rang, how could I pass it up? Not only did I not crash it, but it was my brothers first car too!
   • Pics:
2. 2000 Ford Ranger
   • Price: $2000
   • Status: Traded
   • Trans: Manual
   • Engine: 4.0l SOHC
   • Drive: RWD
   • Mods: Fabtech mid travel 6" lift, tires, rims
   • Mileage: 350k!
   • Story: Second car, this thing was so fun! Man do I miss it. I bought it from my girlfriend's dad's mechanic. He put about $3000 of work into it and the owner never paid him. He gave it to me just to get it out of his shop. This car didn't have a single blemish on it and I still wake up in a cold sweat wondering why on earth I got rid of it... I traded it for a POS Ranger becasue I needed 4wd (more on that next).
   • Pics:
3. 1998 Ford Ranger
   • Price: 2000 Ford Ranger
   • Status: Sold
   • Trans: Auto
   • Engine: 4.0l SOHC
   • Drive: 4WD
   • Mods: Tires, CB Radio, rims, power seats
   • Mileage: 260k
   • Story: Man I hated this truck. I traded for it because I thought I needed 4x4. The first week I had it I had to replace the cylinder heads. Then in another 4 months (among countless other things) the transmission pooped out. Got that fixed then immediately the A/C went out in the middle of one of the hottest summers on record (over 120°F!!). Then almost 300 miles from home on a camping trip the transmission went out AGAIN!!! Got that fixed again, then it went out one more time because f*@# me. After that I decided 1. I will never own another used automatic car and 2. I needed a Japanese car. Sold that thing as soon as it came back from the shop for $3900. I should have just done a complete 4x4 conversion and coil over long travel suspension on the 2000 Ranger. Would have been cheaper and I would have a pretty cool truck. Oh well.
   • Pics:
4. 1998 Honda Prelude
   • Price: $3400
   • Status: Sold for $4000
   • Trans: Manual
   • Engine: H22a4 200hp of Japanese precision!
   • Drive: FWD
   • Mods: Intake, Rims
   • Mileage: 175k
   • Story: Bought this after the Ranger because I needed something reliable to get to school. This car was so fun! It had hardly any problems (except oil consumption) and I made lots of great memories in it. I do feel sad about selling it, but it went to a good adult owner who will garage it and take care of it. Plus I was missing the truck life. VTEC YOOOO!!!!
   • Pics:
5. and finally, a manual 1999 Toyota Tacoma TRD 4x4
   • Price: $5500
   • Status: New Daily
   • Trans: Manual
   • Engine: 3.4l v6
   • Drive: 4WD
   • Mods: Lift, tires, rims
   • Mileage: 225k, basically brand new!
   • Story: After so many years and so many cars I was finally able to purchase my dream truck! I had worked quite a bit and after school expenses I actually had some leftover cash. With the help of selling the Prelude I was able to afford this beauty, and even in the color I wanted! His name is Frank (G.F. named him)! Finding a clean one with a small budget in SoCal is nearly impossible. Either they were $10,000, had 400k+ miles, or were pieces of junk. Also if you didn't jump on them as soon as they were posted then you would miss them. Though I spent more then I wanted to on the initial purchase, I think this will be a pretty solid truck! I bought it from the original owners son, and he only had it for a few months. I am very excited to start working on this beauty!
   • Pics:
   • Issues: First and foremost the previous owner smoked weed. Now I have nothing against that, but I personally don't smoke, so the weed smell has got to go. Next the power steering just went out, so a new pump is coming in this Tuesday, be on the look out for that write up! Then the front diff seals started leaking on it's first 4x4 trip in who knows how long (previous owner never off-roaded it). So new diff seals are on the way as well, look out for that write up too! And finally, the transmission needs to be rebuilt. It will grind in 3rd and 4th unless you shift like a grandma.
   • Plans: The long term plan is an IFS long travel suspension build, set up for over-landing, racing, off-roading, fishing, camping, all the fun outdoors stuff! Any advice, help, or tips would be greatly appreciated! This build will be slow, long, and overall CHEAP. I will do 99% of the work myself and with the help of my friends. I'm looking forward to digging into this truck and making it something for both you and me to enjoy!

Notable things about me:

1. I am in my 3rd year studying to be a Software Engineer. Life is pretty busy.
2. I ride motorcycles, A 2004 DRZ400S and a 1978 Yamaha XS1100:
   • 
3. I have a passion for the outdoors. I earned Eagle Scout in 2014 so camping, fishing, hiking, etc. is all second nature to me.
4. Bishop/the Eastern Sierras are my favorite areas due to their relatively low popularity and very outdoorsy lifestyle.
   
5. I am always looking for people to camp, fish, hike, off-road, or ride with. I live around the L.A. area.

Thanks for reading my long post!

 

Welcome to TW

 

welcome

 

Welcome to TW I know that you will enjoy the truck!!

 

Thank you!

That's how I feel that every day I'm glad to have a truck to work on instead of staring at my computer all day.

Nice mall crawler!

Thanks

I already am! Despite it's issues I have enjoyed driving it since I bought it.

 

Welcome to TW. Enjoy your truck.

 

Welcome to TW!!

 

Welcome to TW!

 

Welcome!

 

Welcome to TW!