Just picked up a 1st Gen. V6 auto

Hello Tacoma world,

I’ve owned a few Tacoma’s / pickups in my life mostly when I was in high school and early college.

I picked up a 1st Gen. 1999 3.4 L V6 automatic with about 226,000 miles on it, has some front end damage but I was able to pull out the front and fit a new radiator in it and get it running again. (few photos in link below) It’s an automatic and ideally I would want a manual transmission but the price was right and I enjoy a good project.

I’m joining Tacoma world to share the journey of getting this truck back on the road full-time. I’m not sure if I’m gonna keep it or sell it but either way it will be a fun project.

I had three packages delivered yesterday,
-Full OEM water pump, timing belt, thermostat kit (eBay $180)
-New cooling fan as the one with the truck had a couple broken blades, ebay ($30)
-New to me grill and headlights from a 2000 Tacoma (up-cycled) ($100 shipped from a nice guy on facebook market place)
-driver side door handle $9.50 (ebay)

There is a little bit of front end frame damage that I’m hoping it’s not too serious, once I get it up and running on the road I will need some new tires as I live in the mountains of Colorado and there’s traction law in effect for the winter months.

I have not decided which direction I’m gonna go with a bumper yet. I may do factory or I may do a solid steel ARB or something like that.
I also picked up some relatively low usage/mileage suspension from a neighbor for $100 cash (stock stuff with 3inch spacer on the front shock / strut)

I got the truck running just fine once I put the new radiator in. Unfortunately I decided to fill the truck with coolant from the radiator cap instead of filling from the upper radiator hose (filling the block with coolant) and I think I might’ve burned up the water pump? The truck is not overheating but whenever I shut it off it leaks coolant. (Not a ton but enough to warrant an inspection/concern) I believe the leak is coming from behind the timing cover. (any other suggestions welcomed)

That is why I went ahead and purchased the timing belt water pump kit. The front end is pretty much disassembled so it should be pretty easy to access and get the timing belt / water pump knocked out hopefully this weekend.

Anyways - excited for the journey ahead!

I added some photos here - https://www.tacomaworld.com/media/albums/work-in-progress.56721/

- M

 

Cool project and welcome to TW!

 

Welcome aboard

 

Welcome to TacomaWorld!

 

Welcome to TW!!

 

Welcome to TW!