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

Old head off, time to strip it down and rebuild the valve cover



New head is here! Transfer studs and brackets


Cylinder hone looks like new so time to set down a new Toyota HG.


Torque it all to spec


And start putting it all back together




Installed a new exhaust manifold, new thermostat, new coolant (of course), cleaned the MAF and it runs like a champ! Here's to another 20 years of trouble-free service.

 

I hear ya. I

i would rather have the family time than work on my truck right now. I work too much. But I do have a fun job.

 

Got the the big ass exhaust tip and Just made a lifted Tundra move out of the fast lane on a hill”. I was getting gas before that

 

Technically I didn’t do this to my Tacoma “Today” but over the last couple days...
Anyway ‍♂️

I was having some trouble with my truck misfiring and throwing codes. so I called a retired mechanic friend who came over, checked it out, and said I likely had a bad ignition coil.
So I replaced the one he said was problematic with an aftermarket coil I got at oreilly for 96$. It ran smooth for about half an hour, then the trouble resumed, jerking and bucking like a sum bitch.
After I did some research here on TW, I read a few posts about how aftermarket ignition coils don’t function as well as oem Denso coils so I decided to replace all 3 with oem.
I parked it for a couple days while I tracked down some Denso coils, Not so easy in a small tx town. I ordered 3 new Denso coils from Autozone, after they ordered the wrong coils twice in a row I said screw it and ordered them from a Toyota dealership.
Normally I wouldn’t go to a “stealership” because everything is 150% more expensive than anywhere else, but “Loving Toyota of Lufkin TX” did me very right! They price matched their 140$ coils for 100$ each!!
Thanks A million guys!!

Since I was replacing all my ignition coils I also got some new NGK platinum dual tip spark plugs and new spark plug wires.




Out with the old, In with the new^^

After ALL THAT..
While removing the spark plug wires on the slave side of the engine, 2 of the electrical fittings that connect to the spark plugs broke off in my hand.
Problematic much? ^^


So long story short..

400$ in parts might not have been totally necessary...
Just needed a 40$ spark plug wire set ‍♂️
But it’s done and it’s going to stay that way.

 

Looks killer man. I had to tub tf outta the inner fenders but i'm still running uncut with OEM flares. Tire smacks tf outta the flares when I tuck it but it looks good so meh

 

Looks like you may want to address your oil leaking problem. That's quite a dirty engine.

 

Lol that tip is worth like +6.75 horsepower

 

Replaced this seal where a distributor would be mounted on a 95-97? 3RZ. I’m pretty sure this has been leaking the entire time I’ve owned the truck (10 years). The seal is hidden behind the mounting brackets for the ignition coils, so you wouldn’t know it’s there unless you unbolted it. This only applies to 98-00 3RZs since coil on plug started in 01.

I drilled a hole in the center and it pulled right out with a pick that I had. I was prepared to tap the hole and try to pull it out that way, but it just came out so easy. I put some FIPG in the hole prior to tapping the new plug in, which was a much tighter fit than the original. I did it this way because I didn’t want to pull the valve cover since it wasn’t leaking and I didn’t want it to start!

 

Today I replaced the spark plugs and the rear shocks...front shocks will have to wait...had to order a new bushing set from wheelers

 

Finally got around to fixing my coolant leak.

New upper radiator hose and clamps...


Cleaned up all the leaking coolant and installed new thermostat housing, thermostat/gasket, lower radiator hose and clamps...

 

What’s going on here?

 

Studly. Way to think it through and realize 'by the book' isn't necessarily ALWAYS the best option. The 'book' way will always work, but being able to think for yourself is invaluable. Nice repair man

 

Makes me warm and fuzzy that you stuck with the original style constant tension clamp for the radiator hose. Wise move.

 

Bought a 3D printer a few months ago and I've been looking for potential projects with the Tacoma. I made a few failed attempt at making an adapter for a cabin air filter, but unfortunately I wasn't able to fit the finished part into the cowling void without having to start cutting.

Today I designed something a little simpler. I'm wanting to touch up the paint on the mud flaps. I figured making a template would be a cool project. I scanned the mud flaps, digitally cleaned the letters up, converted them to an SVG and then extruded that object in a 3d modeling program. It will probably take a bunch of test prints to get the size right, but I learned how to convert a 2d shape into a 3d model.

 

Factory cross brace welds my man...

Yeah, I use ONLY OEM parts on my truck. Needless to say, the guys at my local dealership parts counter know me by name.

 

Went ahead a traded in my folding shovel for a real mans shovel! Ready to dig to China now!

 

I took the truck to work and drove over whatever I wanted.

 

If I turned in anything welded like that for QC at my work I would probably be fired. But this is good to see on here, when I prep my truck for LT this spring I'll consider stripping the frame near welds and touching them up or continuing around bends.

 

Replaced the aging Mega-tron II with a NorthStar thanks to the group buy.



Terminals wouldn't sit flush so picked up a spreader from Napa...

 

Fixed that squeaky clutch pedal. So satisfy. And so awkward.