I took the plunge!

Nice truck, pretty low miles for it's age!!

 

So a 110 horse .....22re......
.....on steelies........nice....

Thinkin about finding one.......
.....I need some strange.....

just no 3vz or 5vz......strange, not pain........

 

One of my fringe benefits at work.....there is always garden hose with a spray nozzle on speed dial....
by time I boogie hours later....every thang is dry and toasty......

but still caught 'rusty nipples'......

 

Scotty says when you park in warm garage.....you carry in a fresh batch of acid wash each nite.....

seemed to suggest the ones left outside may of faired better over the years....

I've got 4 or 5 coats on my frame......so I've way over thought it...

I'm fluid filming the leafs right now.....crack rust......
.....with everything else painted its like a flashing lite.....


I'm just lucky I live where it only snow 2 or 3 times a year.....
my frame had no rust when I bought it...except little surface on differential and drum dust shields....

 

And be careful of toyota after market parts....

.....They can rust the worst........

I keep thinking about my rusty nips on my napa caliphers.....

 

We have an entire 5 lug forum that might be helpful to you. https://www.tacomaworld.com/forums/5-lug.114/

Don't get too enthused with much of the aftermarket stuff you see, because much of it won't fit our beloved 5 lugs. While mine is a 2nd gen and a 2.7, it does everything I need it too. And likely a bit more than I ask of it.

I think you'll find that 2nd gen 15 x6 wheels will fit. They come stock with 215*75 tires.

I bumped up to 235*75, still on 15x6 wheels, but I don't think you have space for that. Point of the pic is to show what you can do with a collection of 'spare tire' wheels if you like a retro look that's very budget friendly.



Find some bucket seats in good shape. You'll like the result. Don't seek color, because seat covers can solve that.

If you ditch the tool box it's likely you can stand a couple of bikes in the bed w/o problem

 

if you ever want to sell a rim or two I could use a spare to match.
Edit: I just noticed yours are 5 lug. never mind

 

I've seen a ton of these rims in pics.....

these and a keyless remote must of been No 1 upgrade dealer add on's out the door.....
and they are all this exact wheel......1997 to 2000.....

I actually need one of the center caps.......was missing when I bought the truck....


Too bad no one bit on the undercoating while at the dealer........'No its a toyota, dont need to baby it'......




Same on that diamond plate truck box.....they are all the same......
.....only difference is some have one mid handle.....while most have two handles little off center.....one locks....

 

Welcome to the forum

 

Wife and I managed to make room in the garage for a third vehicle!





Considered removing the Husky box to make room for bikes, but don't really have a spot to store it right now. I can store the bikes in the bed...

RF T2 bike pad just came in. I won't install it until the rain subsides, but that'll keep things a little better organized.

I'm still waffling around on wheels and tires.
14" selection is pitiful, and tires are puny anyway.

15x6 Vision Turbine @ $145/ea? 15x7 Method 301 at $230?
215/75 Grabber A/Tx @ $160/ea? 225/70 Cooper Disco AT3 4S @ $186/ea?
For some reason Discount isn't showing the Grabbers in that size, but Tire Rack does.
Wheels will likely be silver. I think Bronze would look great on the red, especially with tan interior, but are hard to find in the small, 15" sizes. I'm not a big fan of black wheels. Visions look really great in Gunmetal w/ Machined, but I'm not sure that's an option in 5-lug 15.

Now I'm just spitballing, but I think I found some bronze Voxx wheels, 15x7, with the right lug pattern for under $140/ea. The Monte? Trying to envision those on a Taco.

 

Turns out the rear tires have been on there since 2011.
Need new ones sooner than later.
Local Discount / America's Tire was able (with some prodding) to track down the LT27x8.5R14 Grabber A/TX's. His data shows that 5" is the narrowest acceptable wheel width for them. So I've got a set on order!
Couldn't get an installation appointment until January 20, so pics and impressions after that. I should have the T2 bike pad in place by then, too.

 

I love my little guy and I'm sure you will too.

 

Replaced tailgate cables, and windshield wipers; performed headlight restoration.

 

Installed 27x8.5R14 Grabber A/Tx on stock steelies.
Got oil, diff, tranny, brake, steering, washer, and coolant fluids changed.
It’s like a whole new truck.

pic to follow once the Sun comes back up

 

Introducing: The Powerful, The Pleasurable, The Indestructible Mushu.

Full exterior detail. I am certain this one had never been caressed by a clay bay before, and probably never seen an orbital polisher.
I was pleasantly surprised that no red transferred to the buffing pad, even with cutting polish.

All shined up and ready to get muddy!
Also installed the RaceFace T2 tailgate pad / bike holder:

 

I have that truck, a 1999 2.4L auto, 2WD, single cab, 6' bed, w/ about 180K. Got it about 9 years ago w/ 140K on it. Very reliable. Speedometer reads about 10% under real speed, above 40mph.

Mine needs tires. I might go with those General Grabber A/Ts, they look good. Sometimes I need to go on dirt roads. Right now I have highway tires on it which are at their last 20% of tread wear.

Your clean & polish work looks fantastic, nice job.

 

Thank you.
If you’ve still got the 14’s, I recommend these grabbers. There aren’t many that fit, they’re rated very highly off-road and in snow (perhaps slightly less-so in serious mud) but I can’t find a downside for road use. They’re smooth, quiet and responsive. Way better than the off-brand 195 touring tires that were on there.
But it isn’t General’s cheapest size.

 

Tried to get it muddy, but the goop only stuck to the bike:



I did manage to fix the body cancer.
Not perfect, but the metal is no longer exposed:



Loving the truck for doing truck things.
Moving a queen sized bed in a couple weeks. Expect to remove the tool box for that.