TKGN1 '98 build

Going to start on a moderate build on my new/old '98 Tacoma.
Basically a virgin stock truck with exception of wheels and tires and K&N air filter.
Has 210,000 miles and still on original timing belt.
My to do list over the next month or two:
timing belt/water pump done
front struts (5100) done
rear shocks done
upper/lower ball joints done
rear axle seals (leaking on one side) done
rear main seal (leaking) done
valve cover gaskets (leaking) done
plugs done
02 sensor (maybe?)
fuel filter done
change ALL fluids to royal purple (motor, front diff, rear diff, trans) done
possibly brakes done
I believe that should get the truck back up to par.
I am looking to find a set of late model stock wheels or just go back to the original alloy wheels that came on the 98 model. done

Any thought or forsight that might be helpful I'm all ears.
Thanks
Todd

 

Does anyone know if the rear shocks from a second gen will fit a first gen at stock height? I have some stock Bilstien take-off's I will give you if they work.

 

Thanks
I have been wondering what will interchange between the 2nd gens and the 1st.

 

Got most of the work done this weekend. Waiting on plenum gaskets to finish up. Hopefully the oil leak was valve covers and not rear main seal, I'll find out when I fire it off again.
I replaced cam seals, crank seal, (tb)idler bearing, (tb)tensioner bearing, water pump, thermostat, belts (3), tensioner bearing, upper/lower rad hoses, and flushed out and cleaned out radiator while replacing the timing belt. This was the first time for me to tear into a Toyota, seemed really easy and straight foward on everything (easier to work on than my 87 Buick!)
Replaced the rear axle seal, 30 minute job, way easy. Wife helped bleed the brakes.
Drained rear end fluid, replaced with Royal Purple, easy.
Replaced the fuel filter, easy job as well.
Replaced valve cover gaskets, pcv, plugs. Waiting on upper/lower plenum gaskets, cleaned the hell out of those as well as the throttle body (inside).
The plugs evidently where still the originals with 212k miles on them, they were gone!
I'll update when I find out if I have to replace the rear main seal (I hope I don't)
I also started cleaning the interior, had to pull the console out to clean it, nasty!
Anyhow, still have the suspension and wheels to do as well as a few other items and fluids.
Hoping to come across a deal on the struts and a set of wheels/tires.

Will post later with pics and more things done.

 

Good job, sounds like you got a lot done. When will your intake gaskets be coming in?

 

Man, you got a lot done!

 

Yea, I meant to take pics along the way but left my camera at work this past weekend.
I also removed the pin striping and started cleaning the interior up yesterday afternoon.
I'll try to get some pics this week before I close everything up.

 

Got the timing belt and such finished up, cranked it up and still had an oil leak. Sooo, started pulling the tranny last night. All in all, not too bad, cussed the wiring harness and all the associated plugs trying to disconect those. Should have it out, seals replaced and back in possibly this weekend.
Also had a check engine light and wouldn't drop below 1500 rpm after running for about 15 minutes when I cranked it up. I'll run a codes on it once I get the tranny back in to find out what the hell is causing that.
After the drive train is finished up I will start on the suspension and tires.
Possibly a mild lift with some FJ wheels.

 

Good luck with the transmission, I would be glad to come & lend a hand with it but I'm afraid that I am going to be watching the kids most of the weekend.

 

Eh, no biggie, just another tranny pull. Don't think I'll break my 45 minute record on pulling the one out of my Buick though!

 

Got the tranny pulled, rear main replaced as well as the front pump seal in the tranny. Everything is back together and NO oil leaks! High idle issue is fixed, turned out to be the IAC, cleaned it real good and idles normal now.
Found a nice set of FJ wheels (set of 5 actually) with Nitto terra grapplers for a good price and put those on yesterday (thanks Matt).
Now that I have the wheels on, I believe I might put a little lift on the truck, maybe 2" or so. Only things left on my to do list are the upper/lower ball joints and mainly the front struts/rear shocks.
Here are some pics:
thats 212,000 miles on the plugs, burnt to heck, .080" gap!!
rear seal before and after

 

Wheel pics before and after. Going to cut a 2-1/8" hole in the front center caps for 4wd hub access. I'll get pics of those when they are done.
Definately think the truck will look better raised a few inches..

 

That rear main seal was definatlly leaking ehh...

The wheels look great! Nice find!......Now you need some 5100's to lift it just a little.

 

Pic of the center cap machined out for hub access:

 

Finally found some Bilsteins, had to purchase the fronts and rears from two seperate places (thanks Downsouth for the fronts and Toytec for the rears !!!) I was getting to the point that I might have to get a different brand of shocks/struts.
I will say that shockwarehouse was totally useless. I screwed up and ordered the heavy duty shocks rather than the 5100s from them to begin with, called them back to exchange for the 5100s only to have them tell me 5100s where not made for the first gen. WTF? Ended up paying for return shipping and a 20% re-stock fee, lesson learned on my part, I should know better. Buy from supporting vendors!
Got AALs from Wheelers and picking up ball joints today, should finally have the truck ready for the road this weekend and start driving it.
I'll post some before and after pics after its done.

 

We used Robs shocks to compare difference between 1st and 2nd gen shocks, completely different, can't be interchanged. HTH

 

Thanks, I owe ya one.

 

Ha, I give him hell every chance I get!

Thanks, I'm ready to finish it up and start driving!

 

Alright, finally got everything on the list done (minus the rear shocks, UPS screwed something up).
Rear AALs from Wheelers are on, simple job. Raised the rear 1-1/2" just as stated.
Moved on to the front, upper ball joints where a b!tch, I did them on the truck. If anybody does uppers, get Toyota parts for those, will make life easier! I used Moog upper/lower ball joints, good quality parts but are made a little different which made install on the uppers a lot tougher.
Lower ball joints went easy enough. Pulled the struts and replaced those with 5100 Bilsteins at the full 2-1/2" lift (thanks AlienXtx for the compressor), fairly easy job as well.
Well that pretty much wraps up the first of the series of the build up.
I might add a locker to the rear later on as I have already found a mud hole the first day I took it out driving, went hog hunting with my daughter. But, this is what I bought the truck for!
Anyhow, heres some pics after the lift: