Build Thread: Street Taco - Another black Tacoma

Maybe it's an addiction? I swore I would never buy another black vehicle. I have had my 2018 Tacoma since March and keeping that thing clean is a near impossibility. I was in the market for a older single cab Toyota pickup for about 6 months as just a beater, errand runner, dog and bike hauler and daily tool around truck. I wanted a 22RE but the market right now is so nuts. I drove a couple of 80 series as well, but ultimately I wanted something a little more fuel efficient for daily tooling.

Up pops this 1999 Tacoma, prerunner with 205k on the ODO and a salvage title. This was my first time purchasing salvaged title but I knew at least some big no-nos to look for while building my 2018 it was also only about 25 miles from my house so being localish made it much easier to check out.

The frame is immaculate, hardly a spec of rust on anything, the one major visible issue I found was a loose body mount bolt so I talked them down $750 to $5000.

Now I had some qualms about buying salvaged but... The Carfax said that it was purchased new in 1999, and totaled by the first owner with 34k miles in 2003! So this truck has made it through another 3 owners and 170k miles... I think it's okay

 

Salvage title or not you can that truck has the potential of being the last truck you will ever own. Good luck with it.

 

Told the girlfriend I wouldn't mod it... I swear it's just a few. Any who, this will be a budget build but serve as many purposes as you can with a 20+ year old truck.

It came with takeoff wheel/tires from a 2017 Tacoma, can't say I'm in love with the style on a 1st gen, or that they are 17" wheels on a small truck but the extra inch in tire gives it a nice stance.

Mechanically here's the Todo and dones:

Took it to a local shop because while I want to do most of the work to it myself, I'd like a good baseline to start with. I also just wanted some piece of mind that I wouldn't be throwing money and time into something that looks like it's going to self destruct as soon as I start changing things out.

Mushy suspension:
Front shocks replaced with new KYB ✓ ~$250
Rear shocks:
Shopping on FB/CL for a used deal on OEM height

Fogged Yellow headlights:
Resto-kit/polish/re-clear coated with 3M product✓ ~$30

Faded black grill:
Clean/Sand/buff and Plasti-dip ✓ $8

Install 2" hitch receiver for bike carrier✓ $120

I shopped around for a good deal on a fiberglass or aluminum shell.. there was a couple of deals on some things that needed some TLC but ultimately I decided to keep it light and modular and bought a Softopper. I had one on my 3rd gen in it's previous build life and it served me well for 2 years so I was well aware of the pros/cons. ✓ $800

Removed S#@"&_#TY tint that previous owners put on the rear window. It was purple peeling and so dark and hazy that looking in the rear view mirror I could see in the reflection of the tint, the passenger side mirror and it freaked me the hell out on multiple occasions. Took about an hour with a heat gun, razor blade, and about 1/5 a bottle off goo gone. ✓$3?

I have some small rock chips on the windshield, bought some rainX repair stuff but haven't gotten around to fixing it yet. $10

Next I'll move to the interior and probably replace the crappy wiring/wiring job on the aftermarket stereo. There are a couple of fan fins that are busted. I bought a couple of replacements from a TW member part out. The bucket seats have no tears but could use a shampooing. I have secretly been enjoying the old tobacco pipe smell that it has though, it adds to the nostalgia The plastic trim on the driver seat is sort of mangled and popping off which I'm not 100% sure on what to do about yet.

I think I'll be 3M velcroing an ultraguage left of the steering wheel.

Inb4 pictures

 

Before

After

 

I wasn't totally sold with the look of the 17" wheels on the tiny taco, but after finding out they were only 26lbs it was difficult to justify replacing them without the right combo.

Found some Facebook marketplace junkers from the Limited 3rd Gen 4Runner (Which I realized after I bought them were the same wheels I had on my old 3rd gen) and according to sources were only 22lbs; pretty hard to beat for a 16" and some of the best looking wheels of the era.



Definitely in need of some TLC but the price was right. After about an hour of elbow grease, degreaser, sand papers and soft wire wheeling... I had not made much progress other than a giant mess so I sought some professional help. Got a deal with some friendly powdercoaters on peanutshell blasting them.

Came out purdy, chalky white and the faces looked pretty good. Grabbed 2 cans of duplicolor graphite Wheel paint, 1 can of self etching primer, 2 cans of filler primer and 2 cans of clear coat.


Probably spent the better part of a day in 5 minute increments and waiting 10 minutes to an hour in between to let things set and cure and yada yada. I didn't realize the clear coat was supposed to go on while the wheels were wet, so I ended up waiting a week for the paint to fully cure before applying the clear.. Didn't turn out factory or OEM feeling but they look great and I think it should last for this trucks needs.



Waited for the right deal on new rubbers and presto chango.



I might go back in and hand paint some black in the centercaps but it looks damn good from an arms distance if I do say so myself. I also downsized the tires just a smidge, which are probably words nut uttered on this forum much. 255/70/16 which was just a touch over 30" Falken Wildpeaks. Keeping it pretty light and easy for this 2.7l 4 banger to turn. Still averaging over 24mpg in my ownership

 

Those 3rd gen sport wheels did not look good on the 99. I'm liking what you did. Those look great on that body and the color is perfect.