How many miles are on your 1st Gen Tacoma

130k

 

Advance kit front and rear. Really wanna spray the whole truck black on black. Thoughts?

 

Fixing to trip 196K on the 2003

 

That's good to hear! On mines with 259k, I've been considering having the automatic transmission inspected (possibly even rebuilt) and the valve clearances checked

Here's why:

 

That looks more like a rear main issue than a trans issue.

 

178,500 miles on my 2001

 

309k

 

2001 SR5 - Just hit 239,000. Bought 'er in '08 with 80,000.

 

Arb bumper? What ur suspension setup?

 

2003 just rolled over 150k!

 

One of the best 1st gens I've ever seen!

 

Yeah. I figure I didn't consider the expansion of trans fluid when it gets hot and added too much trans fluid last time I drained-filled it :/

 

OME lift with 881's & dakar pacs and ARB bumper

 

Wow...thanks. I am 55 and this truck keeps me young.....it does everything I ask it to from work to play.

 

Kristi with a K, that is one fantastic looking red truck!, it looks better than mine are those wheels powdercoated?
i am amazed at the exterior condition of it considering the winter climate it is likely subjected to, you must have OCD about taking very good care of it, where do you wash yours during the winter?
this is the ghetto wand wash where i routinely hose the nasty slop off of mine for over two decades now, sometimes in sub-freezing temps with near frost bitten frozen fingers
and i am still desperately trying to figure out the best way to wash it with the new-to-me FF fluid film applied in various areas that need hosed out (wheelwells basically)
so far nothing is really sticking and durable lasting,
it basically washes right off which is VERY confusing to me and have had to reapply it in spots with temps at NEAR ZERO
i just do not understand how the major majority of FF users on TW do not seem to have the issue with easy washoff of the product like i have been experiencing so far.
its extremely frustrating and gives me major high blood pressure....

 

Just hit 90k on ol Ladybird. She’s growing up fast haha

 

Just rolled 420,000. What a glorious day.

 

Ha-ha! Thanks! I laugh cuz while I do have OCD, my poor truck has actually suffered some serious hall of shame neglect over the years. I'm working on changing that & hoping I'm not too late. This includes (all DIY or DIM - did it myself) a 50 footer spray paint job. Used to be the maroon "red". The topcoat was faded & peeling in spots. The rims are rust primered & then a couple of coats of matte rustoleum. I also did the plastic, the grill, wheel well covers, bumper piece with the matte paint.
I too struggle with the fluid film. But moreso in keeping up with the rear end. The FF just doesn't hang on there as well. I also just got the spray tube nozzle thing to get the inside of the frame. Well, I got it a couple of months ago, so have done it once. This is where I have gone wrong in that I did not do this sooner. I also decided to go with wool wax being thicker & you can get it in black. Helps to see spots that are being missed.
My understanding is that there is not a need to wash it unless you are doing a thorough FF job, top to bottom, starting off fresh, that kind'a thing. I am sure there are varying opinions on this, but I read how people do it once per year, so I can't imagine they clean it off at the car wash. I have a container of it hanging around with a chip brush sitting in it & grab it every time I am under the truck, which seems to be a lot lately. Don't need to put a cover on it or wash the brush. Just grab & go.... Anywho, the idea behind the FF being that it seals out the elements that contribute to rust, water & O2.
My suggestion & again, I hope someone corrects me if this is bad advice, as long as it is coated, don't worry about washing the the undercarriage & wheels wells until salt season is over. Lots of people do their once a year coating in the fall. It also makes sense to me to do it in the spring, especially in the rust belt. Anywho, again, the idea why you wouldn't wash it is that the FF should seal out the water & O2, so even if you see salt residue, that will not be able to have an affect on the metal.
Oh, & I am horrible at washing my truck. I typically do the 5.00 tuesday wash we have here at FL Roberts. Bad suds I guess, but on the other hand, the 5.00 wash does not include the undercarriage. I have a ghetto one down the road I think I may start using in the spring, especially after I fix the droolage paint patches. (A result of my impatience.) Cuz then I'm gonna top coat & should probably use a better soap than what's at the drive thru washes....
I totally get the high blood pressure thing though. Seems above all else, the rust is the Tacoma Lovers nightmare. I have already had to weld on a small frame patch & I am afraid the spot near the leaf spring is looking iffy. That's the "I hope I'm not too late" bit about getting the inside of the frame. I swear every time I am under it with my trusty container I am finding something I missed or worse so, seeing the same seam spots show up & know that means I got'a get the inside better. Just one of the many ways that between my yard, house & truck stuff, I amuse my neighbors. Some stop & ask what my latest thing is & that's cool cuz it makes for nice chats.
Oh! & I got'a "say", there's nothing shabby at all about your truck.... Looks pretty darn good to me!

 

if you do NOT thoroughly wash out the roadspray inside the wheel wells and fender liners, (i have wheel arch molding not the flares), routinely they will MOST LIKELY rot and perforate in time if it just sits there baking away, or so my understanding of what i see locally all the time in trucks of all kinds at a certain age!
i tried to spray FF up inside on the metal parts where they clip in and it just does not stick, and so far nobody on TW has proven that it does properly stick
so i spray it out often with the spot-free rinse so it does not turn into this nightmare, a 96 with similar mileage as mine at a local salvage lot


the tailgate area is also a great concern to keep an eye on

 

I hear you. I do have a patch on the front passenger wheel well. This is also typical cuz of the covers which hide when the rust starts. I cleaned it up & sprayed the crap out it with rusty primer, painted it good & thick & Fluid filmed the heck out of it with the stuff in the gal can. Every now & then I take the brush, reach up under there & slop & hefty dose on it. The thing about the stuff in the gal can, I believe it is much thicker. I bought it at advanced auto using the 25% off, order online, pickup in store offer. Ended up being 30.00 or so.