Taco-Bell’s Ext Cab Daily/Adventure Build

CURRENT



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Figured I might as well start a build thread to kind of keep a log of everything I’m doing to my truck.

Bought the truck Nov of 2018 because I was sick of my Ram 3500 and wanted something small, commutable if I had to, and just reliable. Tacoma fit the bill perfect.

Few pics from when I bought it:




First thing I did was paint the grille and flares with bedliner, and clean up the headlights. Love the look, didn’t do a great job so it’s shitty in some spots and chipped off already in others.

No photos of the process but this is what the truck was looking like for a few days during. I fixed some rust forming under the fenders with rust paint. Got funny looks driving it around like this to and from work.



Got 1.25” Spidertrax spacers and am now running 15x8” Pro Comp Rock Crawler 51 Series rims, wrapped in 31x10.5r15 BFG KOs I got used for a steal.

Few pics:

Spacer (and my ghetto jack setup)


Initial fitment, I wasn’t too pleased with it to be honest. The tires stick out way too far for my liking but I didn’t want to get a 1/4” spacer and then have to extend my studs. The 15” rim rubs on the front calliper and not a chance was I grinding any part of my brakes...



The poke is nuts lol


How it’s sitting now


It was a HUGE bitch to trim and bang the pinch weld with a BFH lol, but it’s all done. I have 1” spacers ordered to level out the front and I’ll have no rubbing issues even when flexed at full lock.

Bad photo of my salty undercarriage and shitty temporary rust paint coverup of the weld on the drivers side.


This weekend I’ll be pulling the bed off and painting POR15 on the frame after I degrease and clean it up. I’ll probably be doing a bit under the cab where I can reach.

Will make more posts as I mod the truck.

 

Update time.

Whole lot has happened since I put the 31’s on.

Took the bed off to paint the frame rails, was a bit sketchy doing it by myself but it worked out in my favour.




Turns out that the dealer was not completely honest when he sold it to me. The frame of the truck was bent due to a collision that wasn’t reported to insurance. Go figure lol. Damage is on the frame rail right near the spare tire crossmember, drivers side.




Confronted the dealer that sold me the truck. Exchanged some words (some not so nice). He pointed me in the direction of the shop that did the bodywork to get the truck in working order for him.

Contacted the body shop owner and he claimed responsibility. Sent it in and he’s agreed to clean up the frame and fix the frame no problem. Agreed to paint it in POR15 for me too as I had planned.

Went to visit it the other day and this is the current look



I get the truck back Monday and hopefully everything is sorted and I can continue working on it.

Next up is the gray wire mod, removing the lower bumper valance, sliders, bumpers and a bed rack for a possible RTT or ease of carrying my canoe on the truck.

More updates coming.

 

Seen your ad on Kijiji about the bed. Now I know why you were asking about the flatbed lol.

 

Yep, beds support rails are all janked up so it doesn’t sit even. Figure I might as well just go full rock crawler on the thing, gonna run the current bed until I figure it out tho.

Never a dull moment

 

Bet ur glad you took the bed off lol. Good thing it went in your favor and the dealer made it right

 

Very very glad. Dealer and body-man were 100% not expecting me to take the bed off.

 

yeah had all of this last year. Reason I went to my flatbed was because of a damaged original bed. Allowed me to do some reinforcing on the frame which is always helpful.

 

Yep, if I do go with a flatbed or a tray I’m gonna bob the c-channel and fully box the rest of it.

 

Got the truck back! Back half of the frame is lookin noiiiiice





Very very happy with it.

Except for the painting of the shocks, not sure why he did that lol. Just glad my frame is straight now.

More updates to come.

 

Took the truck on a rather long haul yesterday. Drove it 700 kms, did well.

Got it Krown rust protected in the morning and immediately went north to visit some family.

Today I took the lower valance off the front bumper, re-wired the turn signals to the marker lights. I got a new flasher relay module in to fix the fast blink, and then I attempted the gray wire mod.

By attempted I mean it’s pointless because turns out that my diff lock isn’t working in the first place... damn thing won’t actuate even in 4lo after driving back and forth trying to coax it in.

Not sure if I’m gonna try to fix that soon or put it on the to do list for when it’s nicer to work outside (and the thing is not covered in oil)

Also been contemplating different tire sizes. Been thinking of going straight to 35s and tubbing the firewall. But I also want to just go to skinny 33s so I don’t have to regear.

Also looking into buying a trail gear bumper. Just gotta nut up and bite the bullet on one, damn expensive.

 

For tire sizes I think you have more options since you can fit a 15” rim. You may even be able to find a skinny 35. I had the 255/85/16 before whichwere a 33x10.5. Re-gearingfor tires ks super expensive. Plus if your going to go to the trouble of regearing you may as well lock it front and rear....

 

Yeah I really would rather not re gear, I honestly don’t need larger tires right now because I don’t really snow wheel and will probably stick to easier trails this coming season. I just have 31s at the moment and they’re leaving me wanting a bit more.

I’ll most likely get skinny 33s, probably Wrangler MT/Rs. Only tire I can find in 35x10.5r15 that’s easy to find are interco swampers, and those are terrible on road for a daily.

 

Rare step side model. Nice

 

Thanks! She’s a unicorn for sure

 

Said fuck it and took the diff lock actuator off. I should NOT have done that.

Found the problem though!




Ordered a new one off eBay, 500 bones

More to come I guess.

 

Been a while. Haven’t done much, but I installed a Daystar level kit so now the truck is sitting nice and I have no rub even when flexed. Rides kinda nicer too which is super weird.



Still have to install the diff lock actuator. The shaft from the previous one is stuck in the diff housing and I may have to take the third member out to get a drift in there and punch it out. Might have to wait for summer, I’m in no hurry.

Bought a trail gear bumper, one with the stinger on it. Coming in this week, will metal-etch prep, paint with por-15 then finish with bedliner for looks. Starting to think about making square tube sliders too, going to call my local metal yard to see about making an order.

 

Put a new Trail Gear Rock Assault bumper on the old girl. Wish I took progress pics but my buddy bailed on me and I was pissed off and wanted it done.




Maybe more suspension upgrades (OME 883) and a winch in the future. STILL need to get that diff lock actuator in. I also need to slow down on spending loads of money. Shipping off to school this September so I'm trying to save...

 

Great looking step side you have. How were you rubbing anywhere running 31's?
While I was IFS, I ran 33's with 1/2" spacers and didn't need to do the pinch weld mod... just curious.

Nice truck.

 

Thanks man, I have 1.25” spacers and 3.75 BS on the wheels so it’s sticking out pretty far, that’s why I think. My suspension is also old and hurtin pretty bad. It’s fine now with my 1” level on. Would like to get 33s and put them on the stock wheels. Or go full yee yee and throw 35s on and tub.

Love your truck man, would love to go SAS but don’t have the skills or money right now. Maybe in the future!

 

Been a minute since I updated. Slow year, not much done to the Taco except what I just did today. Previously all I changed was back to stock 16" wheels and got Pirelli Scorpions in 265/75. Also got a new exhaust that isn't held on by hopes and dreams, so no more CEL. Oh and 20k more kms on it!

Swapped the stepside box with a regular box today. Was sick of it, buddy said he was up to trade. Badda Boom Badda Bing.



I'm always squinting in just about every photo taken of me... need some shades



This bed was in the same condition as mine rust wise so it was no downgrade nor upgrade. Typical rust belt shit, its unavoidable for 18 year old trucks.



And she's a completely different rig!

Next up is building a little sleeping setup in the back. Got some bilstein 5100s and OME 883s on order too. Later on who knows, I still need to get my diff lock fixed, maybe get some use out of the truck and see what breaks. I want some bigger meat in the future, and a new rear bumper... chrome don't get ya home ...