SantaCruz Scotty gets a project 1st Gen Taco

Figured I would introduce myself since it is the right thing to do. I bought a 2000 Tacoma Regular Cab (2 seater/6' bed) recently. This thing looked like an Ogre. Cosmetically it was challenged. But under the hood, it was clean with no mechanical or electrical issues. Miles were 211K. 2.4L engine w/auto transmission. Plugged in my OBD and no codes. My wife, bless her heart, saw the potential and we bought it. Drove it and it drives as straight as an arrow. Accelerates up hill smoothly. Brakes are ABS (stock). Passed smog (CA) and my mechanic gave it a thumbs up.

Now to look for parts.

The entire interior was pretty much non-salvageable. Maybe a few things here and there, but definitely a mess.

In the quest to find parts, I found out that the 2000 has a unique body style that is different from other 1st Gen Tacomas. The body style (at least the front I think) only covers from 1998-2000. So that helped me narrow down my search.

Now I am on eBay and car-part and I see lots of Tacomas and lots of them with pretty parts. Except for on eBay. The larger the part, the more the shipping. Most people on eBay will strip a vehicle in the yard and sell it personally. Kind of a bummer since I am essentially competing with this cottage industry.

On car-part, most of the pictures you see are of the truck when it first comes in. Then it gets stripped and the photos don't get updated. A lot of phone calls to lots of junkyards. No biggie, but I think it will take multiple trips to get multiple parts. Part of the journey....I have a plethora of parts places and with the internet, it seems like we will be fine. I got good problems

So now I start a quest on trying to find a "parts car". I figure it would be easier to get a Tacoma for parts then spend lots of time driving around looking for them.

I set up a craigslist search and VOILA....a local truck (1998 Tacoma) shows up with a fully stock interior in really good condition. The exterior has some body parts that are perfect (doors, front quarter fenders, etc). The engine has a cylinder 3 misfire. So the owner swapped out the fuel injectors to see if that would remediate the issue. This was his "project car". I show up to look at it (1 mile away from my house). And it is a 98 Tacoma regular cab 2 seater with a 2.4 but it is a standard transmission. The interior is "OAK" as opposed to the gray in our current one.

We drive it and find that it is leaking oil really bad and I am hesitant on paying much for this vehicle. But I explain to him what my plans are and he accepts my lower offer.

Now I have 2 Tacos!

Now my kids are interested (one is 17 and the other is 15 1/2). So now we are a "project team".

So this is the beginning. I will start my thread on 1st Gen Tacoma and update the thread as I swap things around.

 

Welcome to TW!

 

Looks like a Good project…looking forward to seeing the transformation

 

Welcome I have an appreciation for folks who envision 'what could be' and take steps to make it happen - respect keep us posted on your progress.