Rebuilding my Taco..

2005 Prerunner, 225k miles (right now)..
2.7 2TR-FE, Manual.

I bought this truck when my son was a couple of months old, he rode home in it with me in his 2-piece car seat, I buckled the base into the passenger seat and snapped his seat onto it for the first drive in the truck... He's 13 now. He knows he's getting a vehicle when he gets his license in a few years, and I asked if he wanted this truck or something else.. He is adamant that he wants this truck, so he will get it... But, this is a 20 year old truck, and I want to make sure my son is safe, even though I figure there's a good chance he wrecks it. At least the truck will protect him, and he's what's important, right? A vehicle can be replaced, a child can't.

To that end, I'm soliciting advice.

In a previous thread, I had a spark plug fall apart, I couldn't find part of it (ground strap) when I pulled the head, I put it back together .. and immediately had to take the head off again, finding it this time:
There's something in there... | Tacoma World

As can be seen, the head is beat up pretty badly. I know it will work for me for another year or so, but I'm not giving it to my kid in this condition. I also had a water pump bearing completely fail and let the impeller shave some aluminum off the timing cover. Again, it's not bad, it still works, but for my kid? No.

I'm debating replacing the head and timing cover when I rebuild this, in addition to getting the bottom end rebuilt. Has anyone done this? Would it be easier (Well, I know it would be easier, but..) or cheaper to get a complete rebuilt engine? To that end, does anyone know a place to get a decent, reliable rebuilt 2TR-FE?

I'm also having the trans rebuilt (unless it's more reasonable to get one complete again?), inspecting and rebuilding (o-rings and seals) the power steering rack, replace the u-joints in the axle, have the diff rebuilt, all new brakes, new seals in the power steering pump.. You get it. It's going to be a new truck with 275k miles on it.

I'm also pulling the whole interior, so I'll replace the heater core because I'm there, along with replacing the carpet, etc. etc.

All of the tie rod ends, control arms, suspension, etc. in the front will be replaced, along with everything in the rear except the leaf springs, I just got new ones thanks to a recall.

I'll also be inspecting all of the welds on the frame, fixing any that are questionable and adding gussets anywhere I feel like one maybe should be.

I guess I'm throwing it to the masses: I don't know if it's worth it to restore a 2005 prerunner, but my kid wants it so I'm doing it. That isn't changing. Crate engine or rebuild the one I have? New trans or rebuild the one I have? Any reliable places that do good work to get an engine or trans from, if I replace them instead of rebuilding mine? Anything I may not have considered that should be repaired/rebuilt/replaced while I'm working on this? I have a pile of things I plan on doing and didn't mention all of them here, but suggestions are welcome, even if it's something I already had in mind.

Thanks! I'll have another thread when I actually start this work, but for now this truck is still my daily driver, I need a new daily before I can take this one out of use.

J

 

Regarding engines:

https://209yota1.com/

 

I've gotten a lot of parts from 209yota1.com, but the 2TR-FE says, "This product is currently out of stock and unavailable."

 

i can recommend Clearwater Cylinder Head..... have purchased multiple heads for toyota's from them and happy with quality and service

https://www.cylinder-heads.com/?gad...MIvNzQwtLqhgMVzGSRBR3iCAmpEAAYASAAEgJW0vD_BwE

 

How's the frame holding up? On that note I heard that the 2005 & 2006s have a common issue with the engine mount perch cracking, might want to check that. I just saw this thread yesterday and someone with a 2005 had that issue.

 

Has anyone done a rear disc brake conversion? Is it worth it or more hassle than it's worth? I just like discs more than drums, but it's not a high performance beast, it's for my kid for his first truck..

 

The frame seems fine, but I'll be sandblasting all of the weld joints on it, and potentially the whole thing, including the engine mount perches. I'll be fixing any cracked welds.

I'm not in an area with lots of rust problems, and I don't tow stuff into or out of salt water.

 

What's actually broken on the truck? You're talking about replacing:

• The engine (or rebuilding it)
• The transmission (or rebuilding it)
• Some frame repair potentially
• All the suspension and steering components, with the exception of the rear leaf springs
  
• Heater core
  
• Interior

I read your thread about the engine so I see why you're looking at doing something there but does it need everything else to make it safe and reliable?

Personally I'd start with the most critical items and work my way down the list, that way if you run out of money, time, or just get burnt out it'll be good enough to give to your son.

 

Normal things, really. Steering is getting a little loose, but not dangerous yet. Transmission rattles a little and could be a little tighter. Not sure on the diff, but I don't know them that well and I'd at least like someone that does to look at it, if not rebuild/replace it.

The interior is 20 some years old, the carpet is worn down, the door panels are worn. The heater core might be good but I'm taking the whole dash off anyway to clean everything and get rid of 20 years worth of dust, so I'll replace it while I have access to it.

Same with the steering rack, it's working fine but the seals in it are 20 years old.

There's nothing specifically wrong with the truck (other than a beat up head..) that would keep one from driving it, it is still my daily. I just want to make sure I'm not forgetting anything that I should do while I have it down.

 

To clarify, I've had it for 13 years.. Some things might not be original from 2004, but they're at least 13 years old right now, older by the time I'm working on this.

 

To start I'd just preform all the regular maintenance and along the way you'll probably find some things that need attention. Not sure when the last time you did any of this but if I bought a 2005 with 275k mi on it here's what I'd do, a lot of this is obvious but I'll list it out anyway:

• Oil change w/ filter
  • Send an oil sample to Blackstone Labs for analysis
• Compression test the engine

If both those results look good ^ I'd probably just stick with that engine until something broke.

• New spark plugs (sounds like you just did this)
• Replace the brake fluid
• Replace the clutch fluid
• Replace the gear box oil
• Replace the diff fluid
• Replace the power steering fluid
• Replace the coolant
• Grease the driveline, I think there's three zerks on the pre-runner
  
  • Front u-joint on the drive shaft
  • Mid u-joint on the drive shaft, next to the carrier bearing
    
  • Rear u-joint on the drive shaft
• Check the frame for excessive rust, especially the engine mount perches since it's an '05
  
• Inspect anything rubber and replace it, after 20 years it's probably dry and rotting
  • Belts
  • Bushings (this lends itself to your point about the steering being loose)
• Replace the brake pads and maybe disks/drum brake sub assembly
  • I saw your comment about a rear disk conversion, I wouldn't bother personally unless you're towing a lot or something
• New tires including the spare (depending on condition)
• Clean it up real good and look for any leaks

Hard to say on the interior since I don't know what it looks like but the first vehicle I had I could see the pavement through the floor board so unless it's terrible I'd just detail it as much as I could, maybe put some seat covers on and some new floor mats down.

Keep in mind a 16yr old will be driving it and probably won't be gentle. Also if he does wreck it insurance will pay you out for an '05 Tacoma, they won't care if it has a new engine, transmission, interior, or anything else you did to it and that stuff won't make it any safer in a crash anyway.

If/when something breaks, that's a good opportunity to spend some time with your son and teach him how to work on cars.

 

All good info.

This is one of my plans, he's going to be doing all of this with me so he knows his truck inside and out.. That's another reason I'm doing more than may necessarily -need- to be done. I want him to know every part of his truck, and most of the general information he learns will be transferrable in the future as well.