1980 Toyota Pickup with 2TR-FE swap project

That is a killer looking black Tacoma!

 

Next up, I order an alternator. Once again, progress is slow because money is tight bear with me. J

Alternator was an easy install 2 bolts and it dropped right in. Makes it even easier when installing it on an engine stand! Torque spec for two bolts is 32 ft*lb

 

Next up is the power steering reservoir and pump. Purchased a complete one off Ebay for $90. Not sure what brand it is, but the OEM ones run beaucoup bucks! Looked all over junkyards here in San Diego and 2006 Tacoma junkyard parts are hard to find. Two bolts 32 ft*lbs each bolt. The best way tighten the bolts is to get a deep socket wrench with an extension and go thru extrusions on the pulley wheel.

 

As I the rebuilt motor did not come with a throttle, I bought a new one from Rock Auto. Throttle install was pretty straight forward, except for the bolts. I could not find the bolts in my bolt stash that were long enough and skinny enough to fit properly. I had to run around town but finally found them! There are qty: 2 (10mm bolts) and qty: 2 (10mm nuts) required. I also used locking and regular washers for the nuts and bolts. FSM torque spec is 80 in*lbs. There is also a gasket that you need to install before installing the throttle. I forgot about it until, I started writing this up. The gasket looks like this:

 

So, in the tradition of keeping it oooooold skool. I am not running the A/C unit. Rather than having an empty bracket and an extra pulley there, I decided to remove it and free up more engine space for god knows what else. I figure as the build progresses, it’s going to be one less clearance issue that I am going to have to deal with? Not sure, but just in case I change my mind, I’m going to keep this around. Removal was easy, just 5 bolts and voila!

 

Installed the serpentine belt. I got the one without extra length for the A/C.


ABH 7K735

AC Delco Serpentine Belt w/o A/C


Installing the belt was easy. Just one belt! Not like my old 22R motor. There were 3 belts. I got a 14mm socket and pulled counter clockwise on the “nut head” on the pulley tensioner. (nut head is hight-lighted in yellow) This is what the front of the engine looks like so far. As you can see I got a belt that fits without the a/c.

 

Good place for an air compressor

 

That's a great idea! Or maybe even a second battery?!

 

I had friends who rocked those truck mods in High School. I guess I'm showing my age too!

 

My 1st truck was a an 84 long wheel base exactly like the OP's. Good luck with your project, 2006 model engines are a bad year for head gaskets

 

Yeah, I read about those issues on a thread found here on the tacoma world site. https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/2005-toyota-tacoma-head-gasket-problem.520187/

But I figured I would roll the dice and no matter what if and when this motor goes bad chances are the 2007-2015 2TRFEs will be more readily available and cheaper???

 

I mean it's on a stand, why not just throw a new one on and be done with it??

 

True. But unfortunately, I read the head gasket issue after I got the motor. I would...if I had the money. BTW, after reading that thread, it seems that no one really figured out the root cause. Was it the coolant? the gasket material? or the iron not jiving with the aluminum?

 

My guess would be gasket material...if you try to order a gasket for a 2005-2006 on Toyotapartsdeal.com, it says part superceded by #dahdahdah, so my guess is bad gaskets.

 

https://www.toyotapartsdeal.com/oem...TRN260L-TRMDKA)&Location=cylinder-head,,11115

 

Thanks Nomad_Pilot. I guess I'm going to be the parakeet in the mine to see if this is the case. I will keep you guys posted once I get this thing running. I got many places to go with this truck! There is a brand new set of gaskets on this motor.

 

Oh and BTW, this motor was bought and rebuilt because it had a blown head gasket.

 

Honestly I wouldn't worry about it, it's an easy engine to do the HG on if it comes to it later on down the line. But I would replace the bypass coolant tube on the driver's side of the engine with the later model metal part to avoid it breaking and you losing all your coolant

 

Thanks Speedytech7
I still have to get that part. I will order up and post the install when I get it.

 

BTW, great tip! Seems like a pretty big problem, that plastic part looked "crispy" and "cracky" when I removed it from the engine.