Dropped my truck off for the frame replacement

UPDATED WITH PICTURES ON OCTOBER 8TH 2010 - POSTS # 25 and 26


I dropped my 2001 off today for the frame replacement. They get started tomorrow. Talked to the service manager and he was ready for it. He let me check out the new frame, and we discussed specifics.

They're taking off my tow hook from the 2001 (the new frame comes with a tow hook), so I can keep that. I'll have them throw on 5100's on all for corners, with the front set at 2.5" and a 2" ToyTec AAL in the rear.

Can you guys think of anything else to have them save/remove?

For any of you looking for more specifics, here's a link to the frame replacement manual -
http://www.tacomaworld.com/out.php?url=http://www.scribd.com/doc/12126044/TCPZTH

And a YouTube link to some videos an auto tech posted about the replacement. Pretty interesting stuff -
http://www.tacomaworld.com/out.php?url=http://www.youtube.com/user/redyrleber

Here's some pictures:




Both are taken on the passenger side, just in front of the rear wheel.

 

they just did my uncles and they forgot to tighten up the front drive shaft.. He went to hunting camp and tried to shift it into 4x4 and it messed up all kinds of stuff under his truck.. not saying all dealerships are the same but make sure they do a good job. I would def crawl under the truck and check it out before driving away.

How does your exhaust look? brake lines?

 

Ya I've got confidence in the dealer. It's their first frame replacement, but they're ready for it. They'll have two guys working on it. We bought the truck used from them, and have bought most of our vehicles over the years from them. They're good people.

The exhaust is pretty beat up...Don't have any pictures of it, but you can see some of the muffler in the first picture. Brake lines are probably fine. The service manager drove the truck into the shop area and said the brakes were a little 'touchy', so they'll take a look at 'em. I'm just used to the way they are.

 

Good Luck on your swap. Mine has spiraled out of control. It now leans significantly to the driver's side with all new springs and shocks/struts. Initially my dealer gave me the run around about "oh that's just the way they are..." Once they started looking at other trucks, others leaned the same amount. They ended up measuring the frame in their body shop and found issues. The engineers at Toyota are currently fighting over whether or not JB Hunt bent the frame in transport or whether the replacement frames have a manufacturing defect. Thus far all of the leaning trucks have been dbl cab pre-runners. That tells me defect but what do I know. It's been in the shop for 2 weeks this time and it is the 4th trip to the shop counting the swap.

Good luck and look carefully at your truck on level ground. Mine isn't noticible from the front but looks wrecked from the rear. See the first post in this thread for a pic.
http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/1st-gen-tacomas/113393-frame-replacement-fail.html

 

I remember seeing your thread when you posted it. That PreRunner Double Cab theory sounds somewhat plausible.

When I talked to the service manager earlier, I mentioned that I had heard that some of the beds went on 'crooked' or not level. Being his first replacement, he didn't know what to tell me. I took measurements of frame height and wheel-well spacing before they took it, and also have receiver hitch heights as well. I'm sure they'll do a good job. Got to give them the benefit of the doubt until I have a reason to otherwise suspect.

 

Good luck bro. Luckily us out west dont really have to worry about that. Especial Southwest.

 

Ya man I hear ya. As much as I don't like the fact that my truck is being almost entirely disassembled, I'm still glad to know I'll be getting new parts. I really needed new leaf packs, so it's nice to know I don't have to go out and buy those. But ya, let's just hope it works out - the first time.

 

I bet it will work out fine. Its nice that they are putting on those leaves and 5100's also. I hope it is just as good if not better than before. I hope the dealer is reputable also and does good work!

 

You'll get new brake lines in the frame swap for free
and emergency brake cable.
I'd recommend a new exhaust if the old is borderline.
The labor should be free as they'll have to remove and replace the old one.
A new exhaust will speed up the process and if a toyota exhaust, it becomes lifetime (parts and labor) replacement.
After the inital muffler was replaced, I've enjoyed a number of free replacements.

Maybe get a new fuel filter.

P.S.
I already had my frame replaced.

 

^ sounds like a good deal to me!!!

 

Ya it's real nice that they'll do it. They might as well, considering they'll have it broken down. Not to mention, my shocks that I've got now are the originals.

Good points. He did mention the brake lines. All the new parts are listed in the manual above. Any other insight on what to ask the dealer about/for?

 

Here's some updated pictures from October 6, 2010.

The cab


New frame with engine, transmission and various other components installed (ToyTec AAL's are in the box in the bottom right)






Old frame


The bed and bumper with the receiver hitch


Another rust picture...this doesn't show the severity at all.

 

very cool pics. Looks good.

 

Soooo glad to be an AZ truck and not have any rust issues.

 

I was talking to a buddy of mine that is a tech at a local toyota dealer (he's master tech, team leader, best tech i have even seen in my life, period) he said toyota warranty is paying 40hrs labor for the frame swap and he has done so many he can now bang them out in 2 days!! (16ish hours!) wow. He also said they havent come accross any unlevel issues that others have talked about after the frame swap and from experience working at this dealer, I know we didnt screw any customer like the horror stories i've read about. So I know he isnt bullshitting me.

 

Yup, a good mechanic can whip them out.
My mechanic did my truck in four days but I was the first. Top notch work.
Mine was early in the dealerships program and he was paid 60 hours.
Guess they aren't doing the 60 hour thing any more because they know a good mechanic can whip them out.
He loved doing the frame replacements.
He said he was given a how-to guide with 63 or 64 pages.
Lots of info.

My truck came out with no problems.

 

thanks man. i'm ready to have her back though.

Ya it would be nice to not have to worry about it, but on the plus side I do get the frame and leaf packs, amongst other things. So it's not all bad.

That is good to hear man. This is the first frame replacement the dealer has done, but they got a good man working on it. They said Toyota is covering 60 hours of labor - maybe that is just for the first replacement.

Only four days? That's good news. 60 hours labor for this mechanic...must be because it was the first swap. Ya I took a look at the manual. Very detailed and interesting.

 

My mechanic evidently talked to other dealerships for hints before he started.

One hint that saved a lot of time was to mark the floor with tape, showing where the wheels lined up on the old frame.
This way, he was able to position the new frame w/wheels to correspond with the cab in the air to be in the proper position when lowered.
He said it saved a lot of time.
Cab dropped down nicely onto the new frame.

 

Good call. I'd mention it to the mechanic, but I don't want to make it seem like I know more than he does. You know what I mean? I respect him too much to even suggest to him what to do this late in the project.

 

Here's more pictures from 10-7-10. The mechanic started on 10-5-10, and is making great progress, considering this is the first replacement.

5100's came in today.


2" ToyTec AAL has been installed. Shocks will be installed tomorrow.


From the front


Side


Side again


Here's a view of the frame from the wheel well