Joining the Imperials Build Thread

I sold my 2018 DCLB TRD OR and joined you surly bastards in the 1st gen world. Was looking for something simpler that I could enjoy and wouldn't loose a ton of money on if I want to sell it in a few years. I drove about 4 hours down to NJ from MA after having a hell of a time up here getting my hands on anything decently clean. This is a 2003 DCSB SR5 with the Locker and Off Road package. 128xxxk miles, and a new frame and springs etc... in 2017. I picked it up for $9800, but brought it right to the shop and between some mid exhaust replacement, a gasket, some belts, including the timing belt and flushing every fluid in there plus a few other little things...and I'm down another 2500+ tax. So realistically somewhere around $12,500. Breaks, suspension and everything else is in great shape. The inside is super clean and the only thing I need to track down is a new flip lid to the arm rest console. Mine has cracked.

I have all my sound proofing stuff in the basement ready for a warm day. Will do the entire truck, except front doors for now. I might do some speakers and don't want to have to redo things.

I plan on taking the bedliner out and line-xing it. I am also going to tint the front windows to match the rears and install AVS in-line channel vents on all windows, and probably the little mustache on the front.

I need help picking out some wheels, but I want to go polished/silver or whatever they are calling the chrome looking stuff these days. I might do a small lift, but that is lower on the list.

 

Looks good!

 

Green is my favorite color wish I could have found a green machine.Nice Ride and for rims I’m digging these MKWs for when you get her up.Im gonna eventually get some in black.Probably my favorite wheel they have out right now,look sick.I know they ain’t chrome so sorry ha

 

Honestly I think American racing rims or any companies that make Baja style rims look really good on any Tacoma.

here’s what I mean

https://m.tirerack.com/wheels/Wheel...!3!72322455733!!!g!151548920653!&gclsrc=aw.ds

of course they have other styles but they’re a really good rim company and they also look good on tacos!

 

Good looking Tacoma and a great model to own. Hang on to those steck rims and caps. Good luck finding a center console cap. Most here get an upolstery business to make one.
Looking forward to Future posts.

 

I don't mind a grey wheel, but I think I'm going full chrome/silver!!

These are on my short list, there are also some in the "star" pattern I like alot as well. The smaller holes look nice, but I tihnk more work cleaning. Still undecided on this! But I think my final two or three are Ultra and American Racing wheels, and are all sort of similiar. Just will depend on backspacing and whatnot.

Yeah toyota will only sell you the entire console, so I've been sending messages to people with trucks that are being parted out. So far no luck yet on that end either though!! Mine isn't bad enough to be a big issue right now, but I want to look now so I can have one ready.



Thanks for the input and kind words guys!

 

Ultra Type 164 wheels look sweet if you looking for the polished look

 

Yeah there is a set of ultras, could even be the 164's that I really liked and have a -6 offset or something where it won't change much from the stock and should fit no problem.


Just ordered about $200 worth of leds from superbrightleds. Going to change out all the rear and interior stuff. My dash has at least one of the 4 lights out right now, so will replace those and the map light too. I ordered some resistor stuff for the blinkers and front hazzards, has anyone found they have to use them? I'd prefer to just plug in the bulbs .

 

She is a beauty!

Nice to see no rust on your drivers side seat mount bolt...somethig I always look for and shows care from previous owners.

 

Clean looking ride. Nice purchase.

 

Besides the obvious amount of maintenance I did when I got the truck, they guys working on it told me it was in great shape and they could tell the previous owner took care of it. I spent a month searching and hours driving around looking at trucks until I saw this one and convinced my wife we should drive 4 hours to jersey asap so the more signs that show I didn't totally mess up after spending all that time looking, the more reassured I feel.

I'm sure a few more things will pop up, but I'm going to do my best to get everything 100% over the next 6months-1 year.

 

Very nice! I just picked up a DCSB here almost two weeks ago too. Yours looks prettier than mine tho

 

I told the wife she better not let me do too much more with it or I'll have to beat the babes off with sticks

How many miles you have on yours?

 

As far as wheels go Id look for a set of 4Runner 5 stars. I had mine powder coated but the silver that they usually are looks great too.

 

Nice truck! I like those wheels and they are similar to the aftermarket ones I was looking at. Good call.

 

The best part is you dont have to worry about offset or anything with them. Its the same as stock on the 1st gens.

 

Nice clean truck, congratulations.

The great thing about the 1st gens is there’s a point to where it doesn’t matter the miles you add,
It’s still worth x amount. It’s about the maintenance.

Doesn’t matter if I put another 200,000 on my truck the value will be the same and no payments for 20
some years,

 

it'll be a total chick magnet whether you like it or not! I just rolled 130k on mine! it was just shy of it when i picked 'er up. heres a couple pics. She is a little beaten on the outside but its pretty clean on the inside!

These are the wheels i want to swap too! i would like to get em powder coated a dark bronze to go with the red.

 

Great looking truck! I noticed that about price, well maintained trucks don't get under 8k around here and a lot for more than that, doesn't matter if its 100k or 200k. That was a huge appeal to me. The dealer said there was one with 500k in there when I picked mine up from a check up the other day.

That looks good! I have a few tiny dings and paint that needs work too. What's going on with your seats? Is it a leather from factory or seat covers? did you switch out?

 

I think dings and scratches give a truck character, so i dont mind them much lol. And honestly not sure. They have some little embossment on the back of the front seats but i dont remember what it says right now. I know people could special order from the dealer for it to have leather back when these trucks were released. I think i found a rare one but if they are aftermarket, they are very nicely fitting.