First Tacoma (FINALLLLLLLY)!!!

Howd'y! I've been perusing Tacoma World for a number of weeks looking for mods for the Taco I bought back in December. So many ideas!

For starters, it's a "totaled" (soon to be rehabilitated) white 2010 V6 4x4 auto extended cab base model (photo). Frame is torched, so my mechanic is doing a frame swap for me (donor truck is a 2006 2wd Prerunner). After some excitement and mod recs from him, we're giving her a 2012-2015 face lift and keeping the diff lock from the prerunner (this is what I was going to miss the most when getting rid of my 4runner) Still searching for the odds, ends, and upgrades, including switching the flares and bumpers to white, hopefully doing a TRS projector upgrade, and maybe a lift? I'm thinking about driving it at stock height for a while to see if I like it (plus it's easier to load my dirty sport :] ).

Some history: I'm a Yota girl, born and bred. I currently have a 2000 T4R 3.4L Limited that I lifted - Bilstein 5100's+OME 881's (front) and OME shocks (firm)+OME 891's (rear). She's been decent to me, but the Taco dream never dies. I had considered dropping a 3.4L in an '89-'95 Toy PU V6, but I really wanted something I could count on to take me on long road trips (not that it wouldn't be dependable, but it's more likely to have issues than something newer). I'm a bit of a weekend warrior - rock climbing, mountain biking, skiing, dirty biking...I'm sure I'm forgetting something - so it's important to know that my truck's going to run at the top of its game whether it's snowing or blazing hot out.

All that said, I'm super excited to finally be a part of the Taco World community!

 

Welcome to the family sis. It will be like new when you finish!

 

Wish there was more women like you!

 

Welcome to Tw love the white AC

 

It looks like it may have a little lift on it already and the wheels aren't bad at all

 

Thanks! When I looked, the suspension appeared stock, but, now that I think about it, I didn't check for spacers. She's been sitting at the shop, so I haven't had much time to investigate. I'm thinking there will be a steep learning curve once the frame swap is done!

 

Welcome to TW Stephanie!

 

You should start a build thread or use this one and take pics to chronicle the build yu already posted the before pic now keep us posted with progress. You never know what suggestions or Ideas you may recieve along the way. As a body man/ fabricator I can appreciate the scope of work and exspense facing you and your mechanic. It would be neet to see the progress. Some things you'd like to do would be a whole lot more productive to get done during this process instead of getting it done and then going back and re-doing stuff. Just an idea. For example while upgrading the front end, if you have a desire for a plate bumper why spend the money now on stock and then replace later?

 

Ouch!!!
Welcome to the group.
But great plan for the build. Keep the pics updated.

 

I will do my best to keep things updated! I was considering building a bumper, but I decided I wanted something low profile. Every sheet metal bumper I've seen on the '12-'15's are huge, so designing something in SolidWorks that met my desires would be a rough task. I really like tube bumpers, but they don't look particularly sexy on that front end.

 

Welcome! Looking forward too seeing it all fixed up!

 

Welcome to the club and looking forward to the build you look at hybrid bumpers? I think I'm going that route with mine

 

Yeah, but I work in San Francisco, so the shorter the truck, the better. Maybe I'll get bored this weekend and draft something :] I'm having a terrible time finding a white bumper cover!

 

Woot woot! Drove to LA over the weekend, scored some front fenders, a tailgate, headlights, and (if they find it) a grille surround

 

your getting there hopefully you find all the parts you need soon

 

GL with project! And welcome aboard.

 

Congrats.....I'm a new member as well, this forum is awesome. ....lots of actual useful info. Whatevr i can do to help...dont hesitate to ask...be safe, and great day

 

Finally making some progress! The donor frame has been stripped and my truck is partially disassembled. I spent Saturday swapping the leafs from one truck to the other - my truck had the recall replacement leafs - and installing an AAL and Bilstein 5100's. Cab and bed are supposed to be transferred today (we will see if it actually happens). I also bought the adjustable height 5100's for the front :]

 

r you going to pwer wsh the frame and coat it before putting everything back on?

 

I wasn't planning on it, just gonna clean the oil off and call it a day...