What have you done to your Tacoma today? 1st Gen Edition

My son bought an upgraded GT Karakoram off Craigslist. I agree, the brakes are very nice, as is the fork and the ability to lock it out. But what I have is fine for now. I am my own mechanic, I like things done right.

When I drop about 60 pounds, I will treat myself to a nice (for values of nice- I am NOT Ned Overend or anything like him on his worst day. Pretty sure even when he was hospitalized with giardia in the late 80s, he could have smoked my ass on a trail) full-suspension bike. I already have two road and two mountain hardtails, no sense in going crazy with buying new gear right now.

 

Exactly my point. If I'm spending thousands, it's going to be on something much more substantial.. like mods to my truck.

 

I was thinking more on the lines of this

 

Damn you!

I JUST got finished talking about not buying bikes- and you have a 'dale that needs a good home (always loved them).

 

Oh yeah, lol. But theres really no need for downhill/enduro bikes in the south east unless you like driving a little ways for a ride.

 

End of the day, if it gets you out there riding, it's the right bike.. so long as you don't wind up impaled on cheap bars or the like.

My son started talking about wanting to get into cycling a few months back. I made him promise NOT to buy a bike at a big-box store. Then I started trolling Craigslist and the Internet at large for something reasonable for him. When we saw the GT Karakoram, that was pretty much the end of the hunt.

 

Pinkbike. That's where I get a lot of stuff.

 

Yeah, just discovered it. A bit late, oh well. Maybe I will find a decent price on a 1" threaded steerer tube suspension fork- my white Caloi rigid could use some sproingy goodness up front.

 

I need to do this..

You know your truck weighs more than that right?

 

Broke the passenger quarter window lock assembly this morning.... clipping it back in and just snapped on me.

"No worries, cheap fix"... $45 part. God damnit... haha.

 

Did the whole lock break or the little piece that connects the window to the lock?

 

Just the little piece. Can you remove the pin and just replace the little arm thing?

 

You betcha
https://www.ebay.com/ulk/itm/283336115678

 

$9 Dewhel Black 2x Aluminum Rear Window Latch Hinge Pivots For 95-04 Tacoma 00-06 Tundra Xtracab

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07BF6YMKC/ref=psdc_15709811_t1_B006M65YG6#customerReviews

Nice. Thanks!!

 

...We also found an ammo box - something we initially thought must be a geocache, but instead turned out to be a congratulatory note from the National Park Service, letting us know that we'd found a secret ruin - one of many throughout the monument.
One of many you say?

Challenge accepted.

See how and what we encountered in Ruining Around Utah 5 - Canyoneering Natural Bridges National Monument​

​

Ruining Around Utah 5 - Canyoneering Natural Bridges National Monument​

Read the whole story
[part 1] [part 2] [part 3] [part 4] [part 5] [part 6] [rig review]​

 

You have a 2003, so it will be a lot harder and more expensive to convert. The 2003/2004 5VZ has the ETCS-I electronic throttle system which means you can only use 2003/2004 transmissions with the ETCS-I system. That or you can do a valve body or output shaft swap.

1995-2002 is much easier since it’s a mechanical kickdown cable. All you have to do is swap the correct transmission and drivetrain in.

I paid around $1,500 — however for a 2003/2004 you’re going to be paying more for that special ETCS-I transmission unless you do those aforementioned modifications.

 

I believe @mechanicjon is currently working on an ‘04 conversion.
I’m waiting to see his write up.

 

It's a pretty easy job.

 

Just got done putting new pads and rotors on the front of my 98 2wd. Done in the driveway. Really could use some concrete.

 

I feel you, I have an old driveway that was built in the mid 1900s and hasn't evidently been restored or repaired much since then. It's concrete but has a gravel strip going down the middle of it which makes it a royal pain to work underneath the truck on. One time the wheels on my floor jack broke down into the concrete about 2" while lifting the truck, scared the crap out of me.