Finally Got My Taco!! Now, What to Do to It?

Elite Offroad bumper:







Rooftop tent:



I mean if you have a couple buck to throw around do it

 

I'd say a 3" lift for around 6-700 (the stock leaves on 1st gens are weak so you could spend a little extra and buy a whole new pack instead of just aal) if you and your friend can do the work yourself, and 32" or 33" tires. 33s look so dang good but rub without cutting and I would imagine they take a chunk out of your mpg. Like someone else said earlier, these trucks look so good lifted. I've seen so many before and after pictures, it definitely completely changes the look of the truck. You better be careful though, we love to spend your money for you on this site lol. I'd hold off on a bumper until you get some suspension that will handle the extra weight.
Congrats on the taco!

 

rear bumper!

 

Hey everyone! Sorry for the absence. Like I said before, it's starting to get crazy at work and I'll probabaly only be around on weekends now, or later at night (East Coast time) during the week. Between going in early and leaving late everyday, plus all other after work activities, I've just been beat by the time I get home and crash early.

Anyway, I got it! I've got a few pics on my phone but I don't think I can post them from my phone here, so it'll have to be sometime over the weekend cause tonight I'm going out to unwind after the crazy week, not gonna be near the computer. So here's the story on how crazy it was trying to finalize the deal:

She left me hanging that Friday like I detailed before, then Monday at 9:30am calls me to tell me it passed final approval and to call back to come in. I call back 10mins later when I got the message and of course, right to voicemail. Leave a message, she calls back at 2:30pm and says she has an appointment at 3 and is taking the day off Tuesday so can we do it weds? Now I kinda lost it, cause I told the seller is be there Friday/Saturday. She caused it to be Monday, now it's gonna be WEDS? I wasn't concerned for myself, I'm pretty laid back, I understand "sh*t happens", but I was getting mad because it looks bad, and kinda embarassing, to have to move the day I'm coming with the money back 3 different times. Almost a week since te day I made the deal (last weds, and I picked it up Tuesday)! It was a CraigsList deal, which is notoriously unreliable, so I didn't want him to think I was stringing him along and him sell it to someone showing up with full cash while I'm still waiting for bank check cause of the flaky loan agent. So she tells me she'll see if her 3pm appt can reschedule to Weds since they were just applying and I had already been approved & just needed to do the closing paperwork. This was 2:30. Guess when I hear back? 5:13pm (still have voicemail). She said "sorry, I couldn't reschedule and didn't realize I didn't call you back"....professional. But she said she was going in Tuesday instead kf taking it off so we could close, because I told her I can't keep seller waiting. So I call at 9:05am Tuesday to get a time, voicemail. Leave a message, get a call at 11:30. "I just came it at 11 so let me get started on paperwork, I'll call you when it's ready. She calls back at 3:30pm....But I went there, signed it all, got the check and went Tuesday night to pick it up. On the way, my ride's radiator hose blew, so im thinking "SERIOUSLY?!?" haha. But we swapped it out and I showed up 1/2hr later than planned, but I got it.Just registered it yesterday (fitting the DMV into the work hecticness was pretty fun haha), and so it's officially mine and legal. Payment for the bank loan is super low too, like over $140 under what I originally budgeted for the payment (saving a bunch of $ in bank for "downpayment" is awesome haha), so I'm pretty damn happy!

I L-O-V-E it! Already blasted through some mud, got my first splatter of mud up on the mirrors, and tool a pic of it like a proud parent haha. It's just a little drip (it had just started to rain, not much mud yet), but I didn't care, it was the first, so it was documented haha.

I've gotta fix the eyesore of a rear bumper though. Major chrome/rust flaking on an otherwise clean truck. Anyone have a good source for replacement bumpers? Depending on price I may just do the front one at the same time. It's got a little of the flaking/rusting on both front corners.

Also, there's 2 stickers on the tailgate. What's the best way to remove them without damaging the paint? Heat gun (not a torch, a heat gun like a hairdryer, but the shop version haha) and then something like "Goo Gone" residue remover?

I'm going to be going back through all the posts and reading them as the weekend goes on, so I'm sure I'll be quoting and replying to a bunch. Also, pics will be up at some point, whenever I use the laptop again. And thanks everyone for following and showing interest in my plight, that's pretty cool to me that so many people have read/watched/responded in my threads, and with genuinely friendly posts and really helpful info advice. Can't say thanks enough, I've learned a bunch. Apologies for disappearing lately, just a busy schedule, nothing personal

 

That bumper (and taco in general) is SICK! It's awesome that you have the mesh grill as well, because Im really considering doing that to mine as I love it on the 2nd gens, but wasn't sure how itd look. It looks BAD*SS, especially with the bumper!

What wheels/tires are those? They look super aggressive, I like it a lot

I was just about to head out after writing my update and I saw your pictures, I HAD to comment.

**EDIT** Just realized they were just image examples, haha. I forgot yours was white (even though we had a convo about it not too long ago) until I relooked at the pics and saw your sig and icon haha. Long week....

 

flush all the fluids, do the steer rack bushings & tie rods, do a full synth oil change, change the air filter & cabin filter, test the battery for voltage, flush diff, check A/C blah blah blah....first thing is I would've done a leak down & compression test. Go from there. I'd also throw in a tank of Hi Oct gas & some

$25 BG44K BG 44K Fuel System Cleaner Power Enhancer 11oz.

BG44K to shit out whatever guck is in the motor & exhaust system.

after all that, do some good research on the 1st mods u'd like to accomplish.

Happy trailing!

 

Glad you got your truck and love it! Ya sorry for confusing you... I wish I had that truck though!
Heres a link to buy a satoshi from homer taco: http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/homertaco/193803-01-04-satoshi-grill.html

Here is if you want to make your own: http://www.yotatech.com/f2/progress-possibly-only-tacoma-satoshi-mod-81720/

Good luck!

 

3M decal remover wheel for your drill.

It's basically like an eraser and, unless you're a mongoloid, you won't do a thing to your paint.

 

If you're going to do Elite bumpers (or any plate bumper for that matter) you will want to get a new suspension to compensate for the weight.

 

Whats the best inage hosting site to use nowadays (i cant even remember the last time ive uploaded pics to a message board haha)? And are there skze requirements? I emailed em to myself from my iPhone and they tend to come out big.

And any suggestions for a muffler? Theres a small hole in this one and a noticeable noise increase under acceleration. Its not brutally loud, but noticeable. So thats the first thing. Im not necessarily looking for performance with it, but a little extra power wouldnt be a bad thing. I just dont want "performance" in the way that its gonna make this thing loud/race-y. My car had a full header-back exhaust setup and while it sounded badass, like a NASCAR car, it was impossible to drive without turning heads. I dont want a crazy loud "monster truck" haha.

 

http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/faq.php?s=&do=search&q=upload+pictures&match=all&titlesonly=0

 

I had a Harley-Davidson badge on my tailgate when I got my truck. I ended up using toothpicks to get all the glue off. The wood is softer than your clear coat so you can scrape and dig with it all day without harming anything. Kinda tedious but it works.

 

Love the story behind the buy...I need to find a deal like this! Nice Truck

 

So we still don't have pics of this truck? Pics or you're lying.

 

So thats the first thing. Im not necessarily looking for performance with it, but a little extra power wouldnt be a bad thing. I just dont want "performance" in the way that its gonna make this thing loud/race-y. My car had a full header-back exhaust setup and while it sounded badass, like a NASCAR car, it was impossible to drive without turning heads. I dont want a crazy loud "monster truck" haha.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

get a Magnaflow...

the only way to get maybe a bit more HP is to add a catback, even then, you really don't get much except some more butt cheek noise, ie, sounds louder so it must be faster and more powerful...you would get some significant HP by replacing everything from headers to tailpipe tip...

but then you may run into sensor problems...

just do a quick search on exhausts here, you will be busy reading for awhile....

 

:::::::I am with Yamaha Dave on this one:::::::



Seriously, you have an Iphone, already have taken some pictures and sent them to yourself according to your own post, you asked how to post/host them and were directed to the upload instructions.............

But still nothing after all the drama....interesting to say the least....

Did you really get the TACO or what? LOL.....

 

strange that pictures have not been posted...

so bumpity bump for pics.....