Hello getting old taco road (and off road) ready

Hello everyone I’m Alex, an old geezer but still a kid at heart lol. I’m a proud new owner of a not so new Tacoma and newbie here, I joined to get knowledge from all you veteran taco gurus.

I had another thread in the new member section and someone suggested that I post here in the 1st gen section to get more replies…
So my good friend had this truck sitting in his back yard for many years and had to get rid of it, so I took it off his hands because I liked the truck. I’ve been fixing everything I could find that needed fixing, all new suspension, shocks, heavy duty leaf springs (Rancho adjustable coil overs up front, which I am really diggin!) upper and lower control arms.
I flushed and replaced all the fluids, installed all new filters and spark plugs…
I’m trying to think of anything else that I should do before driving it daily. I believe this truck has a timing chain not a belt? Is there anything else you guys can think of that should be done?
Thanks

 

What year, motor and trans does your new Tacoma have? That'll help us answer your questions

Regarding the timing belt vs. chain, that'll depend on the motor. The 2.7L 3rz's were timing chain motors, and the 3.4L 5vz's were timing belt motors. If you've got the V6 (5vz), then yes a timing belt and water pump should be your next maintenance item to check off the list.

 

Oh and I'd do upper and lower ball joints for peace of mind. Only use OEM Toyota for these

 

100% check the lower ball joints and replace them with OEM ones.

 

Yes ball joints are all new Thanks
It’s a 2.4 standard cab 5 speed manual transmission

 

this is after I did some body work and painting and blacked out all the chrome and wheels, but before I did the suspension and swapped out the frame, which was completely rusted out! But the body is in great shape with almost no rust at all.

 

I found out that there was a recall on the frame, so I took it to the dealership to get it replaced, but they said it was too old and the recall had expired (I didn’t realize that a safety recall could expire) but I was lucky enough to find a frame that was in good condition, so I spent the better part of the past year swapping everything over to the new frame.

 

The recall was open for 15 years from build date, or something like that, which is actually a very long time for a corrosion concern. Nobody is going to warranty against rust forever. Also, it may have been more of a customer satisfaction program and not a safety recall.

 

Yeah I understand, that’s ok, the service manager explained to me that he would do it for me if he could but all the necessary parts needed are no longer available. I got the truck for free and got a new frame installed so it’s all good I only have a couple thousand into it (so far lol) and imo it’s much better than having a payment every month. I’m trying to upload some more pics but it seems to be just getting stuck. I’m old school and not very computer savvy haha I’ll try again later.
so anyway can anyone think of anything else I should service check or replace?
I just did the transmission gear oil and differential oil with 75w90 Valvoline full synthetic

 

With 6 lugs you should have a 2.7l, which is also timing chain.

have you checked valve clearances? How many miles on it?

 

Not bad for free! Hard to believe the previous owner had it sitting. Was it also not driving? I like the blacked out wheels. That was one of the first ‘mods’ I did to my 07.

 

Didn’t realize that 6 lug was the 2.7 I’ll look into that. I hope it is a 2.7! thanks

I haven’t checked valve clearance or anything inside yet. I want to get it tuned and running the best that is possible. It does have 320k miles! But it still runs good. I did replace the engine idle control valve thingy located on the bottom of the throttle body. I plan on driving it until the motor is totally worn out (which I’m hoping is a good while knowing Toyota) then getting a new motor.
Is there an easy way to see if it’s a 2.7? It has 16” wheels which I believe most are 15” oh wow looking under the hood I see right on the sticker 2.7L sweeeet

 

Yeah it was just sitting in his back yard for like 5 years! It had a broken leaf spring and a few other things and my friend had another truck so it was never driven or even started. I popped a new battery in and she started right up immediately with just one bump of the key, Amazing! lol first thing I did was drop the gas tank and clean it out really good and reseal the inside. Get some new good fuel in and added some BG injector cleaner restorer stuff …

 

I would consider pulling injectors and having them sent off to be refreshed.

 

Definitely check the valve clearances..you may be in for a burnt valve if they’ve not been kept up.

 

As @0xDEADBEEF said, look into adjusting your valves, and I'll add do them as soon as possible. The 3rz is rock solid but tends to crack heads and burn valves. Toyota recommended every 60k checking and adjusting valve clearances, and people neglected that advice by and large (and it probably played a large role in all the cracked heads and burnt valves).

https://youtu.be/f0zzsBhs3iA?si=8BmzbCIIHKqsdQf_

 

Good advice thanks. I work at a shop, we do auto body as well as service and general repairs. I’m an auto body tech and painter by trade. But the head mechanic here does a lot of performance work and has a special machine that cleans and flow matches and tests the injectors. I’ll get him to check mine out as well as check out the valves. Thanks everyone for the good advice, I appreciate it! Anything else?

 

Getting ready for the frame swap. The old frame was rusted out so badly that the rear bed section was literally breaking off with the front cab part on jack stands lol.

 

This is after the new frame and suspension

Now I need some bigger tires to fill that gap!!! Any recommendations for 33” all terrain tires that look cool and also ride good on the street?

 

The rear sits about an inch higher than the front but I plan on getting a camper cap for the back so hopefully it will level out nicely with the added weight on the rear