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Cool Uncle “Build”

Discussion in '1st Gen. Tacomas (1995-2004)' started by YotaOwner, Jul 5, 2025 at 8:33 PM.

  1. Jul 5, 2025 at 8:33 PM
    #1
    YotaOwner

    YotaOwner [OP] Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Oct 26, 2013
    Member:
    #115282
    Messages:
    141
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Zack
    Western North Carolina
    Vehicle:
    2000 Tacoma Reg Cab
    This thread will document the process on my current Tacoma, it’s a 2000 Reg Cab 4x4 with the 3RZ.

    I bought the truck from a friends dad May 2024, luckily I knew about the truck and I was persistent enough and serious enough that eventually he decided to part ways with it and I was the first and only phone call. The truck was supposed to have a blown engine(got a couple different versions of when/how it happened), it didn’t matter because the year prior I had purchased a 2001 Access Cab truck that ran and drove but was rusted in half and I happened to save the engine/harness/ecu for a different project.

    Short story long, I got it running with the original engine, it sounded fine, took it for a short drive and the oil light started flashing, then it sounded bad, very bad. No worries I bought it assuming it was blown up and already owning the engine to put in, well that turned into putting a new oil pump and pickup tube in it and freshening the gaskets and seals then putting it in. Since it wasn’t a necessity to get the truck on the road I only worked on it when I felt like tinkering, because if this it took me a year to get the engine in and bolted to the transmission, get the exhaust connected, reinstall the accessories and get it on the road.

    Yes it took me 1 year to do what most do in a weekend, and I actually did the work in 3.5-4 evenings so it’s not like I worked on it often at all and it was done mostly in a Wednesday afternoon after work, then had it running a couple hours after work the next day then Friday I got it legal and been driving it since.

    This is all the “boring stuff” nobody really takes the time to document, but I plan to do all the repairs to have a stock truck, then start doing mild and tasteful mods to make it a cool daily I can hop in and go anywhere and be prepared for anything.

    If you’ve made it this far you deserve some pictures, so without further adieu…

    The day I brought the Regular Cab truck home
    IMG_4325.jpg

    The day I brought the parts truck home, it was sad to see one like this because aside from the obvious this old man had really taken great care of his truck and I made sure all the usable parts went to good homes.IMG_9333.jpg
     
    t0p_d0g and Red_03Taco like this.
  2. Jul 5, 2025 at 8:44 PM
    #2
    YotaOwner

    YotaOwner [OP] Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Oct 26, 2013
    Member:
    #115282
    Messages:
    141
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Zack
    Western North Carolina
    Vehicle:
    2000 Tacoma Reg Cab
    Some pictures from the “swap”
    IMG_4326.jpg IMG_4349.jpg IMG_4374.jpg IMG_4383.jpg
    IMG_4772.jpg

    Once I got it running
    IMG_9412.jpg

    Swapped the seats for some grey ones I picked up from a semi local guy last year that came with a center console for a DC truck
    Before
    IMG_4551.jpg

    The replacements, I’ll get some after pictures tomorrow
    IMG_4549.jpg

    Tonight I reinstalled the AC compressor, and charged it, best “fix” yet
    IMG_9540.jpg
     
    Red_03Taco and surfishjoe like this.
  3. Jul 6, 2025 at 7:05 AM
    #3
    YotaOwner

    YotaOwner [OP] Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Oct 26, 2013
    Member:
    #115282
    Messages:
    141
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Zack
    Western North Carolina
    Vehicle:
    2000 Tacoma Reg Cab
    The new seats and console, these are the second best repair I’ve done. AC is still first.
    IMG_9545.jpg

    Now we’re all caught up. I’m on the hunt for a black drivers side fender and door, then I’ll do small lift, tube bumpers and sliders, a nice 32” A/T tire (I’m a fan of the Wildpeak AT3). I’d love a camper shell for the bed, but that’s something I’ll only buy if I get a smokin deal on it.
     
  4. Jul 7, 2025 at 9:28 AM
    #4
    YotaOwner

    YotaOwner [OP] Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Oct 26, 2013
    Member:
    #115282
    Messages:
    141
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Zack
    Western North Carolina
    Vehicle:
    2000 Tacoma Reg Cab
    Basically free take-offs from a 3rd gen 4Runner. The tires it had on it were awful and they shook/roared terribly, not to mention one was plugged in a spot that was impossible to seal so it leaked down. These will get me around while I finish repairs and ordering parts for the build.IMG_9561.jpg
     
    Red_03Taco likes this.

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