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

Painted the hood, installed new hood insulation, and literally bolted the grill on. Progress. Now I'm waiting for more parts, lower ball joints, sway bar end links, and ditching the stock super lame front bumper. Aftermarket ones are ridiculously expensive, so I'll be building my own.

 

Bled the brakes.... holy crap!

1. LSPV took about 20 minutes, started greenish like algae color and ended near clear (10MM brake line wrench).
2. Rear pass took 10 minutes, started less greenish algae color and ended near clear (10MM brake line wrench).
3. Rear driver took 8 minutes, started less greenish algae color and ended near clear (10MM brake line wrench).
4. Front pass took 5 minutes, started less greenish but within 5 pump/loosen/tighten & repeat, it was nearly clear (5/16 closed end wrench - Tundra calipers).
5. Front driver took 2 minutes, started less greenish but within 3 pump/loosen/tighten & repeat, it was nearly clear (5/16 closed end wrench - Tundra calipers).

Simple job but I learned a bit:
1. its a two person job unless there is a bleeder checkvalve thing (anyone got a link on these?).
2. buy more than one quart of brake fluid, I used one quart exactly.
3. light is your friend - used one of these ARB magnetic jobbies

 

http://www.speedbleeder.com/

I didn't buy direct from them, think I got mine from summit.

 

I haven't gotten around to doing the seat jackers yet. The more I think about it, the more I think they are just guides. Those big boltsl at the back would be what holds it all together in a crash. If I have time I'll get them done this morning, but I'm also going kayaking today so I gotta get that all sorted out first.

I think road noise is reduced, but I didn't take any measurements. Still can hear plenty engine noise. I've got about 3 hours to drive today so maybe I'll have a better feel for it tonight.

And yeah its always that one bolt that turns something small into something huge I ended up drilling the stupid thing out and then using the die grinder to erase it from existence. There's a new bolt there now.

 

$25 RUSSELL/EDEL 639560 Speed Bleeder

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000CPCOAM/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_glt_fabc_KRXZSBZR3YWQBYSXN52E?_encoding=UTF8

$23 Russell 639570 Speed Bleeder

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000CPCOB6/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_glt_fabc_CZ03177YPN8861G1ZQ0H?_encoding=UTF8

I can't recall which is the front and back.

You could also use a Gatorade bottle with a hole drilled in the cap and a hose stuffed in it. Make a small pin hole in the cap to let it vent. Poor enough fluid into the bottle to cover the tip of the hose. Then push it on to the bleeder nipple and bleed. The air should get pushed into the bottle and on the return stroke pull up fluid.

I use both the bleeder and the bottle. The bottle keeps it from making a mess.

 

The brake fluid from O'Reilly's is green in color out the bottle

They had em at my local autozone

 

Lifted the truck yesterday.
The pic doesn’t do it justice but I’m tired af lol

 

32oz Gatorade bottle and some tubing is my go to brake bleeder method. Chris fix on YouTube has a pretty good video on how to make one and another video detailing how to use it.
Clear hose is recommended but this is what I had on hand

 

What lift did you use

 

Starting the big 3 upgrade, as my negative terms I am broke yesterday. Y’all replace the starter wire? Looks like 2 gauge already?

 

I actually used Bilstein 5100s for the front that were designed for the tundra. The reason for this is because it gives you additional notches to increase height. I believe there are 4, I went the highest possible.
The coil was the original Tacoma replacement, mine were new so I ended up keeping them but you can upgrade if needed.
The rear is a add a leaf as well as a Bilstein 5100 designed for Tacoma year and model.

Budget lift cost me less than $500

 

Glue? Double-sided tape?

 

Little dab of black RTV and purposely didn’t clean the shine off the dash, pops rite off if I want to move it.

 

Took the dog box out so I could move home in a couple weeks.


I also lost a blinker housing at some point this weekend, what’s everyone doing to move them up into the marker light housing?

 

Scored this leer shell today, was/is absolutely filthy from sitting under a lean to for 4 years but i cant complain for the price.
Clear coat is in bad shape so I dont feel bad about repainting it

 

Anybody that installed Doug theory headers. We’re you able to get a torque wrench to all the nuts, especially on the driver side?

 

New to me rear bumper. Made by STOUT Equipment. (No longer in business)
This bumper is stout. No pun intended.
The Shackle brackets are 1-1/4" thick, 1" Eyes

It still needs a little tweaking, then I'll figure out the lights and license plate.

 

Nope... just did it by feel and never had a leak in 4 years.

 

Have you driven your Tacoma in the last 4 years though

 

No. It held up till I tore it apart. That’s what I was implying