How much ($) into your 1st gen from start to finish

This year:
$3,000 for paint job, headlights, taillights, bumpers, and toolbox.

$3,400-this week
Detroit Trutrac
OEM lower ball joints
Shocks front & back
Alternator
Valve cover gasket
Spark plugs, wires and fuel filter
All fluids changed
Front brakes
And some other stuff

$600 last month for a set of 4 runner rims yet to be installed.
I plan on having windows tinted again and bed sprayed again plus new tires soon.

 

Built it for my son who turned 16 last week:

$1,700.00 - 1995 Extended Cab V6 5 speed 200,000 miles
$1,200.00 - OME lift
$1,000.00 - Steering rack
$1,100.00 - Maaco Paint job
$1,000.00 - 32/11.5/15 BFG KO2's and black steelies

One kick-ass first truck!

 

Sooo like how much where those leaf springs and did u stay stock height or got lift?

 

simplest question ever asked... they are NEVER finished!

 

NEVER!

 

These last 4 weeks alone....about $6500. Over the course of 23 years? Probably a couple thousand. Not including tires and basic maintainance. My truck has been the most reliable vehicle I’ve ever owned.

 

I originally paid $1,200 for my truck, and over the years I’ve put a lot into it. Here’s a breakdown of what I’ve done:

• Full repaint – $8,000
  
  
• OEM rear bumper – $400
  
  
• New rear receiving hitch – $200
  
  
• OEM BBS Toyota wheels (off a Tundra) + powder coating – $800
  
  
• Tires (off a 2025 Tacoma) – $400
  
  
• Full coolant system refresh (radiator, hoses, water pump, and all belts) – $1,000
  
  
• OEM valve cover gaskets – $80
  
  
• NGK spark plugs, ignition coils, and wires – $200
  
  
• New headlights – $130
  
  
• New lower bumper blinkers – $60
  
  
• Fender flares (not installed yet) – $400
  
  
• Lower ball joints (done twice with OEM parts) – $350
  
  
• K&N intake – $55 (got it for free, just paid shipping)
  
  
• New gauge cluster (from a 2001) – $140
  
  
• Oil cooler seals and hoses – $90
  
  
• Pioneer head unit – $500
  
  
• Brakes – $250
  

I’ve had the truck for 12 years now, and that’s everything I can remember off the top of my head. It’s definitely been a project, but one I’ve loved building over time.

 

you probably got that taco at near the very bottom of the depreciation curve, before that curve turned and the depreciation stopped on these

 

I’m actually really good friends with my neighbor—he’s an older guy—and he was buying a new Tacoma (a 2016), so he gave me a great deal on his old one. It only had 130k miles on it when I got it. On the first day I was driving it, a 16-year-old ended up hitting me. Ironically, it kind of worked out—her insurance paid $6,000 for repairs, so I decided to throw in an extra $2,000 and get the whole truck repainted. They really went all in: de-trimmed the whole thing and even removed the bed to do it right.

 

I’m finished. I can’t think of anything else to add

 

Ive got a little ways to go, but not sure ill be ever finished with it

 

About $12,000...



... on the front suspension.

 

Including cost of truck TT&L to JDM engine added new tbelt w/pump, plugs, wires, motor mounts, fluids, incidentals for install, 3 door handles, 1 TG latch, alt, front & rear bearings, upper/lower ball joints, shocks 4600's, front brake kit both sides, tires walmart cooper A/T, window tint, new painted front fender, craigslist front bumper original OEM, carrier bearing, seat covers, ebay factory radio, fuel pump and not including daily upkeep and gas. GRAND TOTAL plus or minus $8.5k. That's me doing all work except tint and tires. I'm sure I forgot something oh, that stupid little plastic piece you grab to adjust seat back, $24.50. Will never finish a work in progress.

 

my truck is pre runner soooon it will be a 4wd and manual and locking rear diff

 

Cool beans dig deep in your pocket best of luck

 

i allready bought a 4wd tacoma that has frame rust and im swapping everything over!

 

I looked at adds in my area for a couple of months. All I wanted was a simple two door four banger stick. I could not believe how many poor condition very high mileage trucks were out in the world for $7000+. So I bit the bullet and bought a very clean 160,000 mile 04 base for $10,000. This is the SF Bay Area price. It needed tires which the dealer said he'd provide. I paid an extra $50 per tire to get good ones. The clutch was OK but at the end of its travel so again I paid for the best parts rather than the cheapest. I think that was $300. I shotgunned my dash bulbs with dealer bulbs, around $120. Sixteen or eighteen, I think it was. It got a $75 leather shift boot as the vinyl was torn. I ended up having to get a charcoal canister and assorted valves, probably $300 in parts. Once again OEM. The stereo and speakers were replaced with a modest $400 JVC Bluetooth and USB unit. Bought a massive thumb drive a friend loaded up. $25. The biggest outlay was my much loved BakFlip bed cover. $1400 installed. Add the $225 clean bill of health from a mechanic's two hour inspection, and yes, I've spent around three or four car payments for say a $25000 truck. Oh, forgot the two Husky bins, one for a toolbox, ropes, bungee cords and shop microfiber towels, etc., and one to keep empty for grocery bags and such, then the $30 cargo bar.

But I spent a decade admiring 1ST Gen Tacomas for their small size. I had no need to pay four or five grand more for four wheel drive. It is a marvel and was comfortable on the six hour drive I took to LA, and I was loaded coming and going. Nice ride with three hundred pounds in the bed. I think if they could make this truck new for $25k they would sell a bunch. And no, I'm not adding it all up. I've been having too much fun.

 

ugh. Don't want to think about it. All I know is if someone offers to buy, it better be at least $20k or I shall laugh

 

That’s a third of what I would want for mine if it was for sale….

 

Over 14 years ownership of a '00 single cab 2.7L that I bought for $7800 in 2011, I calculated $33,600 all in (purchase price, maintenance, gas, ins., minus the current value). Driven an average of 8,000 miles per year totals $2400 annually, all in. 0.30 cents per mile.