What have you done to your Tacoma today? 1st Gen Edition

Nice!! It was a great winter though.

 

Too much engine vibration in cab or what?

 

Black out the radiator while you’re up in there.

 

There is that - but kinda to be expected with solid mounts.

Main issue being they'll drop your engine an inch. I just went through a big headache with them, and ended up cutting them apart and modifying them to get the engine at the proper height.

 

Would it be worth it to add an inch plate where it mounts to the frame?

 

Yeah I plan on hitting the condenser eventually but making sure there are no leaks are higher priority for me than aesthetics.

 

That won't work as they mount at an angle and you would also be moving it in.

I would just get new OEM mounts and save the frustration.

 

Thanks, I greatly appreciate the input. I would hate to have them installed and hate life.

 

I like the cage/rack around the back. Is that something you built?

 

I was able to use a bearing separator and some all thread to remove mine. I'll see if I can find the picture.

 

2019-03-26_02-25-09 by Ryan Heintzelman - Flickr2BBcode

Still need a press. I tried once to do them by slamming the axle on a block of wood and all it did was bend the backing plate.

 

Update on my coolant leak: checked all the heater core hoses again as well as the coolant lines that run near the back of the intake and to the IAC. Didn't see any leaks there, unless its hiding under something I can't see. The leak is present when the truck is running and when it's not. Freeze plugs on the side of the block aren't leaking, but they could be on the back, just not sure if those are located above or behind the trans bell housing. Took some pictures as well:

Driver's side of bell housing:


Further up on the engine, near the head gasket:

It's very wet with coolant where I circled. Is it possible that the head gasket is leaking externally? No coolant is mixing with the oil and there's no smoke from the exhaust, so I don't think it's leaking internally.

Looking in from driver's side wheel well:

Stumped on this one. Leak just started about 2 days ago, before then everything was fine. Just replaced basically the entire cooling system; rad, hoses, thermostat, and coolant a few months ago. I'm thinking it's either the freeze plug(s) on the back of the engine, head gasket leaking externally, or one of the coolant lines closer to the intake that I can't see. Any help would be appreciated.

 

I had a great winter, looking forward to the next, if everything goes to plan it should be a ball

 

Thanks. Looks like it's time to bribe my diesel mechanic buddy with a handle of liquor.

 

Yes sir definitely a one off.

 

Just got home and the brown truck left me some presents. Took a little longer than I hoped, but the stainless Budbuilt skids have finally arrived...





Now I need to find some time to get the stock skid mounting brackets beefed up and get these 4xInnovations sliders installed.

 

https://www.ebay.com/itm/3-Row-RS-C...-00-01-02-03-2004-Toyota-Tacoma-/332572043446

Can anyone confirm this is the correct Champion radiator? Pretty sure it is but just want to be 100% before I order it now

Edit: nvm found it in the write-up!

 

Repaired an issue with my driver side rear lamp one of my 95 models. Someone I know was following me a few days ago. When I had the brake pedal pressed (brake lights on) and hit the LH turn signal, brake light got weak and backup light started flashing, also weak. No turn signal.
If you've ever had your rear lights apart, you pretty much know the moral of this story. All 3 lights share a single ground. Not only do the sockets rust, if one ground connection to a socket gets weak, it pulls form the others. In this case, the socket and grnd for the B/U lamp was really corroded. Cleaned everything, including the W/H connector prongs from the grnd, and all is well.

 

Who says there's no place to put switches in a 1st gen?

 

Boy oh boy, look at all those over land points