96 2.7L 4X4 regular cab restore

I guess old toyotas all have a story to tell. This was my brother-in-laws truck originally. I bought it from him a year or so before he passed away and for my daughter. She drove it once, choked the 5 speed down a couple times on the way back home and was done with it then and there. It then became mine, a farm and hunting truck for the last7 years. I'll never part with it.







My son then learned to drive it and can drive anything as a result. I've kept maintenance up on it but probably treated it a bit rough. Broke a leaf spring hauling wood, replaced them.



I've put in new shocks, LED headlights, new cat (old one was brick type and broken and the rattle drove me nuts. New OBD sensors also when I did that. Fixed oil leaks/valve covers/distributer etc, a new radio with back up camera and speakers. Just a fix here and there mostly till this year when my son went off to college. Figured this would be my "new" truck for the next few years so I'd better work on it.

Yanked the old bed cover to find the bed in pretty darn good shape for a 26 year old truck that had been parked outside it's entire life.


Finally talked a friend into painting if for me. Clear coat was going and plenty of scratches all around. The before picture just doesn't show all the wear and flaws.
Before:

After:


Also ordered James Dean decals and my friend help install them.


Then I worked on detailing it painting the windshield wiper arms, grill trim, marker light trim, side mirrors, the top of the steering column shroud since it was faded, the peeling back sliding glass window frame, even the jack behind the seat. Everything was sanded, prepped and adhesion promoter where needed. Waxed everything and used Meguiar's back to black on everything plastic. Used compound on the instrument cluster glass to polish it up and removed a pile of scratches. Painted the heads of screws and bolts in the cab. Did some painting on the frame and fender wells as well.






Then I cleaned the seats, door panels and carpet. Side by side pics are before and after. Only left with one small slight stain on carpet. The seats were beyond use due to sun, fabric weak on the drivers side and cracked vinyl trim on the passengers side.





I also cleaned the seat belts, soaking them in detergent then sorta wringing them out with a split plastic pipe trick I found online, The gunk that came out was substantial. Then I sprayed a little silicone in the spring packs. The belts are now soft and retract for the first time since I've owned the truck.

Next I put in a 7 coat Bully Liner bed liner and bed lights.





Then I worked on the rims. Used aircraft paint remover to strip the old crusty clear coat. Used Meguiar's wheel polish to work on the rims for a noticeable change, repainted the center caps. Waxed everything when finished.
Before:

After:


Put on a Wheel skins steering wheel cover since it was starting to crack a little and Wet Okole seat covers.


Then I ran up on a post about cracked exhaust manifolds on these old trucks. Checked mine and sure enough, cracks forming. So after doing a bit of research, checking junk yards for used parts and finding none, I opted to replace it with OEM parts, '02 steel pipe mini header style and all the fixings to install it. Tackled that today and it went well for a nervous wreck old redneck. I just took my time with it and thankfully nothing seized or stripped.






Noticed a few cracks on the vacuum lines ends today so will probably replace those soon and maybe detail the engine bay a little while in there. Gave it a wash after the work today and made a few final pictures.





For some reason it just drives better now. Got a lot of info off this site. Thanks for those that have shared some.

 

Awesome truck man . She's good for another 20 years! Great job on the wheel restoration by the way. They look so shiny and new.

Only thing I think you could benefit from, is the steering wheel mod that helps with sturdiness. Considering you did the exhaust manifold.. this would be an easy job for you, and it's probably the one of the best mods I've done to mines. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xsOptgpfshg

 

Thank you. I will check the steering wheel mod out too.

 

You've done a dam fine job fixing up that Truck!

You're hired, when can you come and do mine

 

Great job on the at home restoration. I’m doing some of the same work on my truck. I saw you had some satin and some matte black spray paint in the photos. Which one did you use on the grill?
Also, any details on how you did the touch paint on the frame would be appreciated.
Thank you

 

Beautiful!

 

Thanks fellas. Cleaned and then used grey scotch brite to scuff everything and wiped down with 91 alcohol. Then a couple light coats of rustoleum adhesion promoter (on the plastics) per directions. Then the rustoleum matte black on all the trim stuff, grill, marker light trim, windshield wipers, steering wheel column cover and back glass frame. Rustoleum adhesion promoter and aluminum paint and clear coat on the wheel center caps. Used the satin black only on the jack. For the underbody I used rustoleum rust reformer and after I had soap/water/brushed cleaned up the underside. Didn't really have rust under there, mostly just figured I couldn't go wrong using the stuff. Dries quickly and is flat black. On the side mirrors I used plastidip. Waxed everything after it cured and installed. Time will tell how well it holds up. Truck is garage parked now and will be going forward. Hope all that helps. Good luck with your project.

 

Curious what size your tires are? Fitment looks great!

 

31x10.50R15

 

Thanks alot!

 

wow, great work! Thing looks brand new.

 

Looks great,

replace those LBJ if you haven’t already,
And make sure the rear axle vent valve is clean and working.

 

Awesome looking truck. I love the standard cab 4x4 and especially that color.

 

That's a gorgeous truck! I have a 96 also, but it's an extracab V6. I wish I had the single cab 4 cylinder. I had a 98 in that spec but it had a rotting frame since it was from Maryland; yours must be from the south since it appears to be rust-free!

 

Engine bay detailed a bit, well cleaned up I guess. Before and after below. Replaced a good many hoses with some from siliconeintakes.com.

 

Nice truck...But Im more interested in how that wild turkey tastes. Do you have to do anything to it because of the game taste. Or is it just like Thanksgiving

 

We usually cook it in a fish fryer for family gatherings. Fillet the breasts out, cut anything white out, silverskin etc., cut across grain into medallions or strips. Wife double batters in buttermilk and doctored up flour (salt, pepper etc) and I deep fry 350-357 till golden brown. A mature tom feeds about 8 people with left overs for all if you have side dishes. Have also grilled breast strips after a good italian dressing marinade. Thighs/legs are better in a slow cooker. No game taste, just have to be sure to prep as already mentioned. If you don't then you get "a tough old bird". Otherwise, it's awesome.

 

I've got the '96 Xtracab "Oak" my mom bought new in '96, when she was 67. 4cyl, auto, bench seat. The radio has a cassette player. I've talked to her. She's never owned a cassette. So, one has never been in the radio. Isn't that a hoot? Its sit outside for 26 years. Never a coat of wax or polish. original tires were replaced about 3 years ago, because they were rotted. 55,000 miles now. (2200 miles a year). Drove it to the grocery and doctor's office. Was never out of Houston until I moved it to where I am. Lots to do. One little blister of rust below the driver door where there's also a boo-boo that the metal is pushed in like a scar. She said about 3 years ago, it lost a lot of power. I found was running on only 3 cylinders. On plug or wire was bad. Replaced all. Cigarette lighter is original, never used, 'cause never worked. Fused type outlet never worked. Didn't even take it back to dealer, 'cause didn't smoke. Probably has never seen 60 mph. Couple of bottles of injector cleaner. And replacing hoses to get rid of leaking vacuum hoses. Might paint it red or black after she's gone.

Trying to find best way to replace the outside mirrors. Don't want same little ones. Ideas and links to others' success welcomed.

 

Sick truck dude!

What color did you go with for your we okole seat covers?

Also, what color for the wheelskins cover?

 

Nice buck...workin class rig..heck ya..buddy