1999 Tacoma SR5 TRD Imperial Jade Build, Sweat and Tears

Drove back to LA then back to PA. Had no issues at all except drive line vibration.

Was kinda burned out dealing with this thing. Ill and some updates.

 

On my way back to LA I didn't really take photos just wanted to get back.

I stopped at 2 junkyards in Nebraska that had tacomas but nothing I needed.

Stopped off at my favorite sandwich place, Leger's in Park City. They were nice enough to open early for me.


I found a Jason camper shell in Salt Lake. It was in so so condition for the money, but I picked it up anyways because the green is kinda hard to come by. The sliding window was broken out, the trim
all the way around was missing, the shocks were worn out and the keys were missing. I slapped it on there with some ice tongs.




I then raced over to Arcteryx and loaded up on a bunch of stuff.


Stopped on the Salt lake.




Was driving along the Salt Lake on the highway and seen something coming up in the right and I was thinking what the hell is that. It was an Alien fishing.

 

On my way back to PA, leaving CA the winds were insane, it was blowing Semi trucks over like nothing. I seen at least 10.

A bunch of photos coming up are actually on film so the quality is going to be a little different.

 

Found a skate park in the middle of no where.


Stopped in AZ for a few days.













Found a gas station in AZ where the pumps dont shut off. There were puddles at a few of the pumps. The girl at the register had me already pissed off.
I stood at the register trying to buy water for almost 5 min while she was telling her co employee some lame story. Then claimed she gave me too much change after. Mean while the pump in pumping gas on the ground.
They wouldn't refund me so I turned their ass in to EPA.

 

Drove out of my way to 4 corners and damn thing was closed!









So I did my own 4 corners, although by the time I figured out it was closed I missed taking a photo of the AZ sign.

 

Some other stuff along the way.

 

Moon was crazy

 

Went through Colorado this time so I could stop at the Arcteryx stores. Ended up buying a crazy amount of stuff.
Special thanks to Summer at the Denver flagship for hooking me up.





Also stopped at another Arcteryx in Chicago.

 

As I was getting back into PA it started snowing like crazy.

 

So Im almost back to my destination in PA and its around midnight, I see 2 different people spun out off the highway into a ditch.
Even though I had been driving 12+ hrs I figured what the hell, lets see if this thing is any good in the snow. So I go to the next exit and head back.

I pull up to the guy and ask if he wants to see if I can pull him out of the bank, he said sure hes been there for an hour and half with his girl friend in the car.
So I go to open my bed to find a strap and a PA state cop pulls up. First fucking thing this asshole does is get out and read our plates over walkie then goes to sit back in his car.
When I heard him start reading off my plate I immediately ask him wtf are you running my plate for. He didn't reply. Pissed off I asked again loudly and he said because I was involved.

If there any cops on here let me help you understand why people hate you and will always continue to do so.

When someone is spun off the road helpless and they freezing and you come to the seen to go fishing instead of actually helping you can go fuck yourself.

Im out there trying to help this guy and you're trying to catch me on something. Mean while Im in shorts hooking this guys car up after driving over 12 hours at midnight and your such a pansy that you have to sit in your
cruiser till dispatch gets back, then you drive off. Fuck you.

 

Pulled the shell off when I got back to add the gasket and hook up the 3rd brake light.




Added the gasket and put in a piece of acrylic where the broken sliding window was.


Ran the wires to the 3rd brake light on the shell.


Also the 3rd brake light was leaking water, so I fixed that too.

 

Also kind of tired stopping for gas every 280-300 miles.

So I started mocking up a tank.


Trying to find a spot to put a filler.

 

Got a good bit of info off the cardboard one. I ended up going a little bigger to gain more volume.
Should be about 10 gallons. I didn't want to go to big. I just wanted to extend my range another 150 miles.

Then started with the real stuff.
I have a bed liner in my truck so I had to account for the tank not wanting to sit against the walls of the bed because the bed liner is so dished out in the corners.

 

My truck didnt come with a clock so that was a good place for the switch and gauge.
Also relocated the alarm light.





I bought the correct size sending unit to fit the tank. Tested it to make sure it plays well with the gauge of a different brand.

 

Tapping for sending unit.



Working on getting gauge and switch hooked up. Lots of connections.





Cut the shell for the filler. Went a little higher than I wanted.


Pressure testing for leaks on the welds. Too many welds. Found 5-6 leaks.

 

Some where is the middle of all this. I replaced the shocks on the camper shell / cap and got a set of keys.

Then I got some trim. It really didnt want to go on. It wasnt sicking at all and the memory of the trim being balled up in shipping didnt help. So I had to use a heat gun.


Was a little worried about using a heat gun for the trim near the tank, but I figured this life is getting kinda old so I did it anyways.
As a side note, the black line on the tank is the baffle inside. I didnt get a picture of it.




The tank hook up is almost done. I need to finish it tomorrow. The hose I ordered for the filler neck isnt big enough so I have to figure that out, need to run the vent, hopefully into the
factory vent line and mount the filler door to the shell.

So far its all working. Its setup as a gravity feed and has a solenoid to dump it. Did a test dump into a jug and it
seems to work pretty good.

 

Nice Job on that tank, very impressive!

 

Thanks. I need to pull it out tomorrow because I forgot to put the clamp behind it for the camper shell. Ill take some better pics when I pull it.

 

that oil must be 40 or so years old!

 

@GQ7227 it definitely aint synthetic