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

A little modification and I think it will fit, lol.

amazing craftsmanship @RelentlessFabrication

 

This weekend I was able to get outside and spend some quality time with old Trudy.

One of the more annoying items about the truck since I had bought it was the worn out seat belt. It had lost mostly all of its re-tractability tension so was most often found dangled across the floor. The clip that holds the buckle in place was also missing, so every time I got in and out of the truck I was fishing for the buckle to put it on, and also trying not to get the loose belt caught in the door as I closed it shut!

Well I figured I had had enough of this and decided to replace the entire seat belt with a brand spanking new OEM belt (PN 7322004130B0 for my 02 reg cab in charcoal). Turned out the job was pretty darn easy and well worth it for convenience and the added safety of a new belt of course.

First I removed the 4 screws holding the door scuff plate trim in place, then pulled it up and out of the way.


Then lifted the carpet slightly and removed this bolt holding the seat belt to the floor pan. Notice that darn buckle right at the floor as usual..


Simply pulled gently inwards on the side trim panel and seat belt cover to release the clips and remove the panel.


Popped out the center trim piece around the seat belt passing through the panel and pulled the old belt through.

Then removed the upper seat belt height adjustment trim cover by prying from the bottom up and out. Then removed the bolt for the height adjustment.


There were just two more bolts holding in the belt assembly, this one up top. Also unplugged the yellow harness.


Then another bolt below, here it is removed so you can see.


This step is not optional in my mind, I had to clean up this covered panel that had never been cleaned since the truck was new more than likely!


Also cleaned up the connector with some electrical contact.


The assembly is simply reverse the steps of course, but I found one tip that worked great for me: Remove the metal clips that hold in your side trim panel and mount them to the plastic tabs on the part first so they are in place as you push the trim piece back in as straight as feasible into the holes. Only two captured in the pic, but I think there were 4 total to grab.


I was certainly excited to see some more brand new OEM goodness in my 02 regular cab, especially since I have to use the darn belt every time I get in and out of the thing! Here it is all shiny and new..


It has all the tension of a brand new belt of course which is so much nicer to use, and can't forget to mention the buckle always going right where you need it when you grab the belt and strap it on!


Things just keep on getting better when your living in TacomaWorld..

 

Added a little color to the front end...

 

UPS “Merry Christmas.”

 

@Kiloyard
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLUdzuNFw-6nlCcguzhKhFyHgQ6PEud5o1

 

Installed some rago fab bed stiffies

Was gonna make my own, but they were a good price for black Friday and it's hard to beat a single piece of powder coated bent stainless steel with proper hardware.

 

Twinsies

 

Very ready for my pickup to start going back together. Drilled a bunch of holes yesterday The winch solenoid is going to go in front of the abs controller since the light bar will take its place on the bumper. I drilled another hole on the bumper for the winch remote socket I got from warn. The snorkel was pretty straight forward. Beat the metal on the inner fender to make the tube clear. Still rubs a little, so will probably wrap it with another hose. Paint is going to have to wait until I get back home from my next rotation. The holidays and trying to spend enough time with the lady friend to keep her around set this project back a bit.

 

So what non LED headlight bulbs are everyone using? Plug n play

 

sylvania silverstars, from walmart. They're good enough it seems.

 

They’re probably all the same thing in a different box I guess

 

Eh, i dunno. I think the big companies each have their own versions- phillips, sylvania, osram, etc.

 

As I finished replacing my seat belt (seen above), the last step was to mount the door scuff trim plate back on.

My screws were all crusty and almost white, so I did what any good citizen of TacomaWorld would do..

Got some new OEM screws (PN 90164-50049) to top off the job and get one step closer to full showroom floor restoration!


You do see these things every time you get in to your vintage Tacoma after all..


You gotta love your first gen Tacoma, and treat her accordingly!

 

Pics from last month. Finally did a suspension refresh. New TC upper arms, OEM lower balljoints and tie rods, stainless brake lines, rebuilt manual hubs, new wheel bearing, new OME coils. Rear end got rebuilt custom Deavers I originally got in 2004, new 5100s, wheeler shackles, and stainless lines. Steering rack, CV axles, and brakes were done in the last couple years as well. Like a new-ish truck! Although doesn't auto center correct after the alignment still...

 

I bought some 100w Osrams. Expensive though and not plug n play. Haven't tried them yet. Still need to get new housings.

 

I’m trying some ferrite filters first, see how they work tonight.

 

Painted the throttle body and replaced all of those crap Phillips head with new stainless.

Also painted the valve covers before install.

Long way to go.

 

OSRAM H4 9003 HB2 Offroad Super Bright Premium

$10 62204SBP Premium Off-Road Super Bright H4 Headlight Bulb Vibration-Proof Technology, Yellow

62204SBP 100/90W

 

With a Hella headlight harness.

 

Needs cleanup, but with any luck it's stronger now.