1995 Rebuild

please no plastidipping. mainly because it's a waste of time/money for such low quality. you're better off finding an auto paint shop and seeing if they have any inexpensive single stage flat/matte paints. single stage is 2-5Xs more durable than stock paint since both the paint and the clear are mixed together and then hardened. OE only hardens the clear. or maybe check out summit racing's line of paint

or go by an auto paint store and see if they have a finish 1 and a color chart to see in person. or check out their chart online, you just can't notice the metallic paints. those prices range from 150-350, hardener included. I sell them at my parts store as a heavy duty alternative to normal paints for farm, rock quarry, landscape, and heavier duty customers. they work and look great.

 

Thanks for the info - not sure if my wife is going to want me sinking any more money into it, so paint is probably going to be put off for some time. We are actually contemplating selling it when done, construction projects are winding down and I can just get a utility trailer when I do need to haul materials.

 

Replaced the front suspension today. Got the new starter in and replaced the PCV valve and air filter. Will flush the radiator, change the oil and replace the fuel pump tomorrow.

Also road tested it today

 

Got the new exhaust welded in. 250K miles on the truck. Sounds better than my GMC with 24K miles.



Will post some more photos of my progress in a bit.

 

Today I got the new body mounts welded on, the exhaust welded in and repaired some minor frame damage. Now ready for the bed to go back on.

 

AMAZING Work, thank you for sharing

 

Subbed for more! Amazing work so far, and I've definitely gotta give you major props for showing this much love to a first (best) gen!

 

I wanna know how you repaired the front half of the chassis with the cab still on. or was there no damage?

 

There was very little up front - only a few holes on the bottom of the frame. It was probably unnecessary since it was so minor.

 

Holy crap does the build bring back some memories. Look like you had rust in the same spots as I did.

 

Great job. I really have a soft spot for this truck because I had it when I was 18, same year, color and it was also a manual! It's the reason I bought a new Taco, but in the near future I hope to buy another taco just like this, same color.

 

This is a list of what has been done so far:

• New Starter
• New Fuel Pump
• New Fuel Filter
• New Leaf Springs
• New Leaf Hangers
• New Rear Struts
• New Front Springs
• New Front Struts
• New Wipers
• New Washer Pump
• New Spark Plug Wires
• New Plugs
• New Rear Bumper
• New Hitch Wiring
• New PCV Valve
• New Air Filter
• New Muffler
• New Cat
• New Downstream O2
• New Exhaust pipes from the upstream O2 back
• New Brake line from LSPV to rear end
• Radiator Flush
• Oil Change w/ Filter
• Used LSPV
• Used Fuel Tank (Painted)
• Used Tank Skid Plate (Painted)
• Used Rear Mudflaps with Hangers
• Back half of frame stripped and coated with Chassis Saver
• Various frame issues repaired with 3/16 plate including the removal and re-attchement of the driver front leaf mount (PITA!)
• Used Body Mount Supports were welded on. Old ones rusted off completely
• Bottom of Bed Coated and Sprayed
• Front half of frame wire wheeled, rust converted and painted
• Front skid plates degreased, rust converted and painted
• Wheel arches coated with bedliner
• New Parking Brake cable (from the hand pull in the truck to the lever under the truck)
• Interior cleaned and upholstery shampooed
• Drive shaft wire wheeled and painted
• Drive shaft greased
• "YO" on the tailgate

 

Yep sounds like my build... Lol

 

Looks good, glad you are keeping her alive instead of sending her to the crusher like most people would. They're getting rarer and rarer each day, we need to keep the survivors on the road to remind those silly 2nd and 3rd gens who's boss!

 

damn you truly love your taco.

 

Will you do mine next?

 

It's back to hauling! Almost done. Got the bed on yesterday. Did it by myself.

Just needs the mud flaps installed and the body and bed need to be leveled.

 

I applaud your work and great name for it. Always loved the look of the front end of these trucks out of the all 1st Gens.

Excuse my ignorance but were you out of luck for a frame replacement?

 

Yep - it was extended to 2010. The day it was up the original owner sold it. He had it inspected multiple times before it expired and it passed each time. I get the suspicion that he took nice care of it and that is why it passed inspection.

 

The truck passed NY State inspection last Sunday. I took it up to Boston on Monday and it came back to Long Island last night. Overall between the trip and my road tests I put about 650 miles on it.

It has developed a pretty good vibration that get amplified when I apply the brakes. The vibration is there at all speeds.

I also never got to Fluid Film it before I left and as luck would have it I snowed up in Massachusetts on Tuesday. Roads were covered in salt and now my frame is white.