Dads old 2003 Tacoma rebuild.

Good day all.
I wanted to start a new post on my upcoming project. I recently flew out to Nova Scotia and picked up my father's old 2003 Tacoma.
The truck is: 2003 Tacoma
2 door access cab, 2.7 liter 3RZ-FE 4x4. 455000 km on the clock. I'm told that 2 cylinder have low compression. My best friend and I were able to fly off to Nova Scotia for a few days and drive the old truck back. We had some bets to see if it would make it or how far! I didn't doubt the old truck at all ( the first few hills in New Brunswick gave me doubts). The old truck worked hard to get up to 80km/h but once there would cruze nicely in 4th or 5th. Luckily for us, the truck is a 5 speed manual transmission so we could work the gears to keep the revs up. Truck is now parked in my garage in Ontario. My plan: I'm am currently starting my retirement after 29 years in the Canadian Armed Forces as an Infantry Sergeant Major. I have lots of time on my hands and want to tear into my father's old Tacoma and keep it as my daily driver once rebuilt.
I currently have a 2008 Tacoma that I have had since new and love it, but don't really need the 4 doors anymore (recently empty nesters) or the 4 liter fuel consumption. I sold my old travel trailer when the kids moved away and don't need the big 2008 Tacoma. I hope to fix my father's old 2003 Tacoma with the 2.7 liter 3RZ-FE and keep it as my daily driver. Give my son(also an Infantry soldier in the CAF)my 2008 Tacoma as he may need the 4 doors in the future.
My father loves his old truck and I must say I've also liked the 1st Gen Tacoma's best. My father after 2 hip surgeries and a failing older 2003 Tacoma got a newer 2014 one that is automatic for his hips and age! After his 2003 Tacoma sitting in his yard for a year my mom told me to come get it and fix it up or it would rust away to nothingness. My father would never sell it and is a bit of a junk collector. So if you have read this post to the bottom, you are now up-to-date of where things sit.
I want to slowly take apart the engine and rebuild as cheaply as possible doing all the work myself. Any ideas out there in Tacoma world are welcome. Truck will be a daily driver as I already have a HDJ 81 for my fun offroad rig if needed.

 

You mention wanting to get into the engine, but what does the rest of the truck look like, particularly underneath with the frame, suspension, body, etc.? Looking rough in the engine bay and appears the rocker(s) & door panel(s) are rusting out in the photos they're shown in.

 

Being from Nova Scotia, that’s considered a clean Tacoma from 2003. But yes the frame is the big one to make sure about.
Edit: looking at the brake lines coming out of the brake junction I’d say it had a new frame at some point.

 

Yes, the truck is in a rusty state. My father did have the frame replaced about 4 years ago, but was also the last time the truck was cleaned. He just had the clutch replaced before parking it. Rusted floor panel under driver seat, leaking transfer case. I must admit; knowing my dad and his relationship with the local Toyota mechanic I thought the truck would be in better shape. Once home I took stock of what I had to work with. I grease this truck for the first time in years (not good) low diffs, low, transfer case and transmission, and just some lack of TLC. My father loved this truck, but just didn't show it by washing or taking care of it.

 

Yes. New frame. Needs some work, but the time I spend working on it will be therapeutic. Hopefully!

 

Very cool story and project. Best of luck and enjoy!

 

Figure out why low compression on 2 cylinders. It could be a fairly simple fix that did not require a full rebuild

 

Good luck with the rebuild. Both of my Tacomas were my dad’s. It’s my dream one day to do a 4x4 conversion and engine swap on the 1st gen as it was dad’s favorite.

 

Thanks, wish I could take you up on it. Have zero mechanical skills and nowhere to do it. If I still lived in PA I would take you up on it.

 

Bad/good news.......

Bad....I think the undercarriage rust is gonna eat your lunch.....
its gonna be an up hill battle......were're talking 455K....

Good news.......its only 2003.....you can get anything you want for it....anything....
its not like the 95's thru 97 with rare parts.....

You got the cash...they have the parts.......


That 2008.....I'd clean/repaint the frame, differential, leafs, every few years....chassis epoxy...

 

455Km is only 283,000 miles.

 

living in Nova Scotia, it’s more the time and what the truck is exposed to than the miles at this point. Our climate is harsh on vehicles. Either way around here 455k KM is a lot and you don’t see it very often.

 

Working on the truck a little this holiday season. World juniors Hockey on the TV in the garage and fire burning hot. Life is good.

 

A few more photos .
All 4 spark plugs burnt. Number 3 had coolant on it when pulled and 4 was extremely burnt.



Leaking front diff. Was low before I filled it. More jobs upcoming

Leaking transfercase. Was low before i filled.


Broke a few parts. Including the bolt for the accelerator cable spring thingy.

 

As a pull each part, I have been trying to clean, oil and then put a little rust paint on each and bag or reinstall.

 

Nova Scotia and New Brunswick red mud, salt and lots of rust. Header bolts are a treat!

 

Your making a mistake......

......buy another one that rolled.....and hop the body over.......


When a crispy Taco becomes a rolled taco... insurance advice needed | Tacoma World

 

Sorry about your beautiful Tacoma. This truck has some sentiment reasons for keeping. But really the tear down has cost nothing so far. Eventually I will have to start buying parts to reassemble. And this tacoma does have a new frame.

 

Kinda catch 22.
Tough to put a truck on a frame machine before you buy it, yet I wouldn't buy a truck that rolled over 3 times and assume that the frame is straight.

 

More progress on the tear down. But I broke the throttle assembly. The nut and bolt that holds the spring on that attaches to the throttle cable. I've looked on a few sites and haven't been able to see the part I broke. Is this broken bolt and nut holding the throttle cable onto the throttle body? Do I have to purchase a new throttle body complete?
Thanks for looking.