01' Single Cab Advice & Insight

Purchased this gem after I stumbled across it driving in TN. 188k miles 2.7L with a immaculate frame and minimal rust. Previous owner (old man) coated the front bumper I'm assuming to resist rust. OG Rhinoliner. After driving back and forth to work a few days I've started to keep mental notes of potential upgrades that are practical. The reason for this post is I'm looking at options for simple suspension upgrades. Wouldn't mind adding an inch maybe two replacing shocks ect non lift kit. I owned a 95' where the previous owner had replaced the rear shocks for minor hauling which gave it a better stance. Just curious who has upgraded their single cab set up. Are any TRD suspension components interchangeable? Would love to see pics, know options and thoughts. Thank you in advance

Plans/Progess..
1. Replace steelies with 4Runner/ Tacoma TRD takeoffs. In Western NC if anyone has any..
2. Suspension - New Shocks
3. Replaced Muffler to stock tone (10/10)
4. Coated frame with Berkebile PFC

 

If you are 5' 11 or over you might not be comfortable driving for long periods as the seat only tilts back so far... I took my slider rails off the seat frame and welded a few washers between the rails and the frame for some more tilt... didn't do much for the seat back but changed the leg angle. Not perfect but an improvement, at least for me.

 

Thanks man, yeah thats me. Thought about that when I test drove it. Luckily I'll just be driving it back and forth to work. About 20-25 miles a day.

 

Read through my build thread below,
You will surely find something there.

 

If you want more leg room and head room,
I installed LG1 seats, they are non suspension seats and are a lot thinner and 100 times better than stock.

I gained 2” in leg room and headroom.
Here is a list of fun stuff that I did,

Added grey TRD supercharger in 1998, rebuild it each 150,000 miles, now has 600,000 miles on original supercharger
Added all Gates belts including Gates supercharger belt
Added SUPERCHARGER emblems tags to top of rear bed of truck
Added snow injection methanol progressive kit, July 2017, 526,000 miles
Added green light on boost guage for when methonal when spraying + Amber for low fluid
Added "METHANOL ONLY" windshield cap made of brushed aluminum inscribed in red paint
Added "METHANOL INJECTED" timing cover emblem made of brushed aluminum inscribed in red paint.
Added a 4Runner hood scoop that was cut into the original hood as functional
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...into-1997-tacoma-for-trd-supercharger.452234/
Added hood struts, red line,
Added KN cold air intake, (have not bought an air cleaner in 525,000 miles)
Did the air intake elbow conversion which actually makes a nice difference for the KN system to work better for the supercharger
Added air conditioning to the truck
Added Smitty built front push bar
Added viper alarm system with electric locks and remote
Added H4 glass Hella lens
Added HID bulbs
Added HID resistor for working hibeam indicator
Added 2.050 steel supercharger pulley,URD pulleys are made old soft metal and last 25,000 miles before they wear out and belt will slip.
Added URD supercharger tension pulley
Added DENSO IK22 531
plugs
Added TRD alloy oil cap
Added dick cepek rims and locks
Added Dyno pro ATM tires 31x15LT(Last 100k miles)
Addead boost guage on pillar of truck
Added fixed gps garman on top of steering column
Added gentex rear view 453 mirror with, temp, compass, auto dim function, Homelink
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...mp-compass-auto-dimming.553041/#post-17999152
Added Honda 76810-TK8–A01 windshield spray pattern nozzels
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/windshield-sprayer-upgrade.542571/
Added 4Runner dual console over head lights
Added LED bulbs for over head console
Added 2004 door mirrors
Added LED back up lights
Added 4Runner speaker pod for tweeter
Added Alpine head unit with satilite reciever
Added 300 watt sub amp
Added 12" kicker sub speaker and kicker enclosure
Added polk audio split speaker, tweeters in doors and tweeter pods
Added Corbeau LG1 seats with sliders and new seat belts
Added Leather TRD shit knob black
Added black 4Runner low range shift knob to match black shift knob
Added Tinted windows all sides
5 speed standard transmission
Added Amsoil Extreme oil for diff and transmission, original trans and diff at 530,000
Added magnet phone mount
Added Door sills covers
Added chrome side nerf bars
Added 4 Cadillac horns, no more beep beep
Added red top optima battery
Added spray in X-LINER for the bed
Added TRD fender extenders(1st style, made of fiberglass)
Added class V towing hitch for towing double axle enclosed 20 foot trailer
Added electric towing brake module
Added, add a leaf springs for towing
Added stainless steelhitch reciever and ball, no rust to deal with
Added 600,000 miles since new
Added Tacoma rubber mats
Added Tacoma cloth mats
Added Bilstein TRD shocks front and rear
Added drilled and slots 3600 grade high carbon rotors
Added green stuff EBC 7000 series brake pads
Added 2012 rear tail gate TACOMA badge
Added cat back exhaust
Added free flowing exhaust muffler, nice little rumble sound
Added SS exhaust tip
Added TRD Stainless steel skid plate
Added wheelskin steering wheel cover leather red stitching
Added Raised exhaust flush with body line by the exhaust tip
every exhaust pipe line should be nice and tight like this
Added TRD battery hold down bracket
Added

$152 ScanGauge - SG2 II Ultra Compact 3-in-1 Automotive Computer with Customizable Real-Time Fuel Economy Digital Gauges , Black , 5"

Scanguage II
Added Volvo MAF tube non restrictive swap
Added DESNO quick change port with Volvo MAF
Added stainless steel brake lines LCE
Added Innovation digital combo boost and AFR Gauge.
Added Custom made aluminum Extruded design radiator
With 170 thermostat engines temperatures are 175 to 180 now
Added wireless tire pressure and temperature remote kit
Added having the throttle body bored out for more air flow
Added having the supercharger ported inlet and outlet, (nice power difference)
Added 105 amp alternator,old one was 60 amp
Added wireless tire pressure and hear sensors kit

 

The only issue I may have with that is this truck has a the bench seat unfortunately. LOVE your build man! Your build page is a great resource

 

Bench seat, ok, save your money, that HAS to be the 1st thing to go, if your spending any time in your truck.

 

Thanks for sharing this. Somehow I need to get the front of my seat up by 2".

 

The 1st gen is peak Toyota Tacoma and the regular cab is its purest form. My favorite vehicle I’ve ever owned. This one’s my forever truck.

 

With that many miles it would be good to check on your suspension parts. A failed lower ball joint can really put a damper on your day.

 

Love the rig sir! Read through your build, great stuff.

So starting out and I apologize for being elementary in my knowledge here. If were to start out replacing suspension components, do I start with shocks front and back and a quality set of coils? Bilstien 5100s seem to be the most common on here. Im not going to be getting too crazy just simply because of the 2.7.

 

Yeah the more I drive it understand where you're coming from. What options did you look at when replacing?

 

I had 4runner seats before which work very well, but wanted seats that hugged me, so went with LG1 seats

 

There are some good looking regular cabs in this thread!!

For practicality, 35s.


Just kidding. You cannot go wrong with OME all the way around (including leaf pack) and Wheeler's Superbumps if you wheel your truck. If you are mostly on the street, the Bilstein lift is economical and would be perfect for you.

Call it after that. If you do find yourself being overly cautious about breaking or bending something like a skidplate once you're on the trail, you should probably upgrade it at that point. But I wouldn't bother with anything like that unless you feel that way.

Another popular one is the deck plate mod.

 

Here are photos of both for comparisons.

You can also look for bucket seats out of a SR5 Tacoma that should fit directly in without dealing with the 4th leg modification of the 4 runner seat. You can find these depending for 200-400
Or LG1 for 1000

 

what lift did you get with the 880? I'm a little up in the air about 880 or 881.

 

I got a ton of lift with 880’s on my regular cab. I bet 881’s would be too much.

 

Should I have any concerns having the 2.7 if I do 2-3" of lift?

 

Not one bit. It is going to be an up size in tires which will kill you. Lift doesn't really have much of an impact. It technically does, but so minimal you wouldn't notice it.

 

I took a bit of a different approach with my truck. I have a 98 Single cab 2.7 5MT just like the others posted in the thread but due to living at high elevation and that limiting the power of the 2.7 I stuck with the 31x10.50s that came on the truck from factory, however I did do bilstein 5100s, rear OME Leaf pack minus a mid leaf and an overload leaf, ARB Bumper, Warn 9.5 XP-S, repainted the factory 15s, and have focused more on the small interior mods that make this truck super nice to drive on my 4 hour trip home every couple weeks. Even living at 8000' I still find the 2.7 peppy and it does have enough power to get the truck up to 12,000' or even 13,000' if you are patient.