2002 Tacoma for Autocross

Pretty much the same as buying any other truck. Rust, miles, if it's already had a c-notch put in, inspect the frame around the c-notch for cracks. Unless you're buying one already lowered, just buy a stock one even if the suspension is pooched. You'll be replacing it all with lowering parts anyways.

 

My tips? I tried to find one with the straightest body and least amount of rust I could for a good starting point. Don't be afraid to pay some extra dollars and spending time looking for a nice clean example, especially if you want to keep it for a while.

The engines and drivetrains are similar across the Tacoma ranges. "4 bangers" could be either a 6 lug Pre Runner 2.7 or a 5 lug 2.4, which is what mine is you see here and what you want if you are thinking of going with a lowered stance for the street. The regular cab is the most basic of models and normally is "stripped" down and comes with very few options (eg ac, power steering, floor mats). The SRunner was the factory extra cab sport truck, quite rare and would be a cool truck also to start a street build with in my opinion.

Hope this is helpful...

 

2runner said it better than I did

If you go for the second gen, you can get the 2.7 four banger in the 5 lug like mine. Or a real unicorn would be an x-runner...

 

We said basically the same thing at the same time there!

XRunner is a great suggestion too... saw a blue one that totally stunned me earlier today!

Also to note, I would have to say the major con for the regular cab mini truck may be the interior space unfortunately for some. If you are over 6 feet tall you may want to skip these and look into the extra cabs. I am 5'10 and feel like I barely fit with the seat back against the rear cab wall.

The 4 cylinder is not too powerful either of course, but peps up quite a bit with a manual transmission which was offered and I opted for. In California you can add the supercharger and pass smog up to 2001 on a 4 cylinder, which may be a consideration. If you ever think this could be in your future and/or depending where you live rules may be worth checking into. The v-6 superchargers passed for more years out here for example.

They do drive a bit like a small work truck stock as you may imagine, but when modified properly can be super fun and quite enjoyable to ride in!

Overall Summary: Get yourself the one you dream of and enjoy.

 

Since I run in Street Modified class I can run 100 treadwear semislicks, so I upgraded from my 200 treadwear hankook ventus semislicks to the 100 TW Toyo proxes RR. Man are they grippy. I don't think I broke loose at all this last event. Beat the only other car in my class which was a Miata, they had two drivers and I stomped both of them.

 

Awesome truck and tire upgrades, and sounds like you had a great time stomping the competition accordingly!!

Feel free to share some videos up here please. Pretty please!

 

Eh, I sold my GoPro because I never really used it. Don't have any good videos or I'd throw em up for sure.

 

I'm super jealous that they're letting you run semi slicks! I would've gone that route if I had been allowed it...

 

What class do you run in? The rule book allows it for Street Modified.

 

I'm in STU, but the safety chair of the club I run with made the decision to limit me at 200 tread. Without a rear sway bar I'm getting the front inside tire about 6-10 inches off the ground in some turns.

 

Ah, ok. With all of my mods I'm in SM anyway, so why not take advantage of all the limits? Lol

 

I absolutely agree. If I went narrower on my tires I'd be with you. I'm running a 295/40r18 on an 18x10.5 wheel. These Falken RT660's have a ton of grip for my stock 2.7.

 

Gaht damn! How the hell are you lifting the front wheel? It looks like you might have went over something on the inside of the corner which popped you into the air. That is nuts! Lol. I got told last event that I was lifting the inside rear wheel but I run a rear sway bar, my shit handles like a damn go-cart, it's amazing!

 

We think it's entirely because of my lack of rear sway bar. I did hit a bit of curb that helped pop it up for that photo, but even without the curb, I do carry the wheel about that high on tight turns if I can keep the front end grip. I'll link the in truck video from that run. In the video, if you watch the horizon line of my hood, you can see in some turns the "floating" effect from it picking up in the air.

edit: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=USSjmdbiLw8

 

Damn man, I wish my region had an actual track like that. Mine is on an old aircraft parking apron, so no road course style racing, which is what I actually want to do. I'm super jelly that you had time to go to third, lmao. I can't even think about going to third in 99% of the events I go to.

It does look like the track slopes down in that area where your front tire lifted, which probably helped pick that front wheel up along with you slightly going over whatever is in that area. It's wild to me that a truck is picking up it's front wheel in a turn, lol! Is your front sway bar stock?

 

This was the first time I've actually made it to a road course style track. I usually run on an airport apron as well actually! Also the first event I've ever gotten to use 3rd at, which was definitely breaking the insurance rules... I was tipping 85-90 coming into that chicane off the straight.

Stock front sway bar, Feal coilovers with stuck adjusters so I don't know where they're set at for compression/rebound. I did do a couple runs solo that day, and without extra weight in the truck I was lifting the front tire each direction change through the slalom before the long straight.

 

Does STU not allow the addition of a rear sway bar if one isn't factory installed? You might get away with it since the x-runners came with one...

 

I definitely can. I've got the x-runner rear frame brace to put in, and I need to pony up and buy the hellwig rear swaybar kit. Sadly I killed a rod bearing or two at that track day and need to refresh the engine first.

 

Oh damn... I had the hellwig on my 07 AC 5lugger, and it was great. I never got the x-braces but I did install the xrunner front billies and springs and the DJM 3\3 kit. I added QA1 rear single adjustable shocks and a prerunner leaf pack swap plus the block. But I never raced that truck. Never got into it until I got my first gen and my 07 has been gone a long time now, lol. I always wanted to but wasn't smart enough back then to find out how. It was also an autotragic trans...bleh

 

How did u like the ride with the front x-runner shocks and springs? I just installed a set of QA1 single adjustable rear shocks and love them. Just need to decide on the front setup now