'04 1KZ Unicorn Tacoma | Build Thread

Welcome to the Unicorn Tacoma Build Thread.

This is my fourth Tacoma, and it is by far the best. It is the best of the four because it is a Unicorn Tacoma, and it's a unicorn because it's the Tacoma that doesn't exist.

This build was started by someone else, but due to unfortunate circumstances it was put up for sale. After an accident claimed my dog, my third Tacoma, and almost me as well, I was looking for another truck to purchase. When I first spoke to the seller we connected right away, and it quickly became apparent that they were looking for a buyer like me (and like so many others on TW as well, to be frank) who would continue to enjoy the absolute shit out of this truck.

The previous owners purchased the truck from the original owner in 2005 with close to 10k miles on it. They commissioned the 1KZ-TE Diesel engine swap in 2011, which was done by Import Performance in Bend, OR and completed in January 2012. In May 2012, the engine top block cracked and had to be rebuilt. When I was looking into buying this truck, the risk of overheating the 1KZ motor was something I read in to. Since an air-to-liquid intercooler was added at the same time that the engine was rebuilt, I surmised that the risk had been sufficiently accounted for.

I bought the truck in SLC at the end of summer 2019 and drove it back home to Vermont. It came with a whole host of goodies and mods already, but as you know that didn’t stop me from diving into it further and making it my own.

Thanks for following along on the build thread. Hope I can be exciting enough to keep you all engaged.


(Somewhat updated image)


(1KZ-TE engine bay)

 

Specs:
2004 Xtra Cab
4x4 | TRD Package
5spd manual
I4 turbo diesel

Armor:
ARB Bull Bar
Rock Sliders Rear Bumper
RAT Products Skid Plate Set
CBI Frame Reinforcement Plates

Wheels/Tires:
Level 8 MK6 Wheels
255/80/17 Toyo AT3
(REPL 04/21) 34x10.5R17 BFG KO2
Matching spare rim & tire.

Suspension:
ToyTec Ultimate Coilovers
Deaver 8-pack Leaf Springs w/ AAL
OME 60062 Shocks
SPC UCAs

Engine:
Toyota 1KZ-TE 3.0L Turbo Diesel (JDM Hilux Surf KZN-185)
Intercooler | Air-to-Liquid
Koyorad Aluminum Radiator | PN VH010665N
Hallman Pro Manual Boost Controller
Coolant Heat Exchanger | For hot water

Drivetrain:
Hilux Surf 3rd Member
3.56 Gearing (Stock Hilux Surf)
Rear Dif Breather Extension
Tom Woods 1-piece Driveshaft

Electrical:
Bussman RTMR | Tacomapros.com
Headlight Services wiring harness | Power-switched w/ disabled DRLs
IPF 968 DCG Lights
ARB Air Compressor

Interior:
Toyota FJ60 Inclinometer | Aussie-spec Toyota OEM
Gauges | Boost, EGT, Coolant temp
Alpine Head Unit
Paranoid Fabrications Switch Panel
12V Guy Clock Winch Switch
Tuffy Universal Center Console
CoverKing Cordura Seat Covers
Weather Tech Floor Mats

Exterior:
(SOLD) Dino Cage
(SOLD) Tool Hammock
ARB Awning | Quick-disconnect mount
Safari Dorkel
Warn VR10-s Winch | Synthetic Cable
Curt 2" Hitch Receiver

GFC/Bed:
GoFast V1 Camper
Fridge slide/Kitchen drawer unit | DIY w/ 8020 framing
Drawer unit | DIY w/ 8020 framing

Extras:
Tool Kit (w/ all of the things)
Milwaukee M18 1/2” Impact Driver
Recovery Kit
48” Hi-Lift Jack
Fire Extinguisher
Yakima SpaceCase Roof Box
CVT Mt. Shasta Rooftop Tent
Kuat NV2.0 Tray Rack
Kuat Swingout
(SOLD) Wildernest Cap

Misc Freebies:
Grey Wire
Defrost w/out AC
Fuel Door "Diesel" Sticker

Punch-List Maintenance
Wire-brushed & painted rear half of the frame.
Clutch & Solid flywheel conversion (Thanks Green Mountain Customs for the work!)
OEM Steering rack & ITRE/OTRE
Fixed Cruise control ('96-'99 module & actuator retrofitted with 1KZ-TE install)

Planned:
Dual Battery | Optima 34/78 & Optima D51 or Odyssey Group 35 + PC1200
GFC-mounted reverse light pod
Upgrade bumper aux lights to LED pods
Troubleshoot rear locker

 

These are the four 1st Gen Tacomas I’ve owned. You’ll notice some similarities.
’96 3RZ-FE | 4x4 | Xtra Cab | 5spd Manual | White

(On the right)

’01 5VZ-FE | 4x4 | Xtra Cab | 5spd Manual | White


’03 5VZ-FE | 4x4 | Xtra Cab | 5spd Manual | Burgandy



’04 1KZ-TE | 4x4 | Xtra Cab | 5spd Manual | Silver
Picking up the truck in SLC...


...and stopping shortly thereafter on the drive to CO to take a picture, with a huge shit-eating grin on my face.

 

Things Discovered Along The Way:

• Oil changes cost more - about $75
  Filter | OEM Toyota: ~$25 (18-19 GBP)
  Oil | Rotella Synthetic 10w30: ~$40 ($20/gal jug)
  For reference (as you probably know), the 5VZ oil change costs about $4-6 for an OEM filer and $30-35 for a 6-pk of 5w-30 synthetic from Costco.

• Timing belts cost less, and MUST be done every 60k miles.
  The 1KZ is an interference engine, unlike the 5VZ. Plus, the cost of engine replacement or a rebuild is much more than I want to think about.
  Kit costs ~$100 (74 GBP) + shipping to US.
  Install takes significantly less time than a 5VZ timing belt.

• Flywheels are EXPENSIVE to ship from Europe.

• Wiring, even when done in a competent manner, is still not the same if you weren't the one to do it in the first place.

 

Awesome truck. What's going on with the hood? Is that for heat ventilation?

 

The seller said it was for heat ventilation. I upgraded the radiator and swapped the hood back to the OEM one instead. If the exhaust gas temps end up higher than I want them to be driving around this summer then I'll put it back on, but so far it seems fine.

 

Really awesome truck! Super-jealous of the 1KZ-TE and 5 speed. What kind of MPG do you get?

 

If you do a straight average of miles driven and gallons filled, the direct calculation is about 21 mpg.

But with 3.56 gearing and 34s, it works out to about 24-25 mpgs actual I think.

 

Replaced tires. 34x10.5R17 BFG KO2s are way too expensive ($350+ per tire at time of posting), so I went with 255/80/17 Toyo AT3 instead (approx $210/tire). They were a bit tricky to track down, but glad to have them on there. Green Mountain Customs did the mount/balance flawlessly.

 

GFC has been installed! Drove out to Belgrade at the end of April to get it put on.

It's one of the last V1s built, which hopefully means that all the little things for that design were all sorted out. The V2 looks nice and it makes sense why they updated the design, but I have no regrets on the V1.

I've spent the last few weeks cruising around the western states, visiting folks and taking the new rig on adventures. It's a fantastic platform for the truck.

 

Oh man. My dream is to have import performance do a 1KZ swap on my 03’ Tacoma.
They can also do a veggie oil burning system at the same time. I’m a chef and have access to a huge quantity of used fryer oil.
But I’m in CA and smog makes it next to impossible to pull off. So, the plan is to move at some point.

 

To be honest, I'm not completely impressed with the execution of the 1KZ swap by Import Performance. They didn't fuck it up or anything like that, but there are a number of places where the better way was almost as easy as the way they did it, and for the price I would expect them to do better. That said, I love this truck and it's so much better than a 5VZ-powered 1st Gen, so h/t to them for completing it in the first place for the previous owners.
For smog, is there an age where the vehicles become exempt in CA? VT uses the emissions standards outlined by CA for inspections and whatnot, but all vehicles 16 years and older are exempt because there are many fewer ones on the road total (maybe because road salt kills them all...), so my truck isn't subject to any checks. This is important, since it does not have a catalytic converter nor any DEF system- just straight through a muffler and out the tailpipe.

Love your built-in camper, BTW. Very clean job and it looks like a lot of careful work to execute. Nothing I could manage myself!

 

That’s good to know about Import Performance. CA is 1975 and older for gasoline engines. 1997 and older for diesels.

Thanks, the camper has been a lot of fun to build and use.