Figured it's a good time to start a build thread, started out with a 1996 tacoma lx. 3rz & 5 speed. Both with 146k on the clock. Picked her up for 900 few years ago. Had some pretty good body damage from the last owner. But alot of new parts.

 

I promptly started body work being that it ran fine. This was a fiasco. But had to start somewhere​​​​​. First off i needed a half axle to get her on her all 4s again. Then yanked her home with the work truck. Bed was toasted. And front grille support was orety hashed. would have just replaced the bed but those aren't cheap and I wasent sure what I wanted to do with the truck. Trail? Or daily driver light build. It was my 2nd yota. But 3rd mini truck.

 

Started getting some done. Cleaning up slowly. Drove it for the first time that day on a road vs onto a trailer deck. Shifts good. Wasent used to the 3rz tho. My last yota was a 92 yota with 22re. Throttle response was WAY different.

 

Got the fron end patched together with the parts I had. Dug up a junkyard headlight bracket bezzle and bulb. Put the classic toyta exclusive zip tie and bailing wire grille
Fastening system on her. Works for now. Then took her on a camping/firewood trip. Also wrapped a set of 33x10.5x15 KM2s on the factory rims. There a bit snug without a lift. But wheels amazing. Also attached a picture of the interior. Little sun backed but not to bad overall. Had a funny smell to it when I first got her.

 

With a few days of 110 + weather windows didn't cut it. Didn't like buying pre fabricated doors being me working as a welder. But the price was to good to pass up. Next was a toytech 3"lift. Cleared up my 33s nicely, picked up a set of spacers from a guy in town off of his 06? Taco don't remeber. But they didn't quite fit so I brought in the front spacers to the shop,chucked em in the lathe and took off material untill they cleared my hubs. Little bit of die grinder work after and they fit snug.. I liked the look that the truck was getting. Left her this way all summer and treated it like a jeep. Light trails and commuting. Awesome little driver

 

Dangit

 

Truck is looking great, can't believe I missed this thread earlier. LOVE the early single cabs! How does the Toytec Lift ride?

 

Well I think the times getting closer to where I wanted the truck to be before I started an sas build on the thing. I wanted the front end to get a bit wore out.and some other major stuff to start showing her age. It's about there but I figure I should catch the thread up a little.

 

Well put the doors back on and straightened put the dents as much as I could. Turns out I lost a lot of photos I thought I had. But reapired the headache rack and had a small toolbox in bed. Worked great as a computer. Just with mud tires then I scored a shell for it from a neighbor. He asked if I wanted it and whit it was Goin on. I told him about my taco and he saw it. Thought it was rad and just gave it to me. *fist pump* had 2 busted windows tho. Oh well begets can't be choosers.

 

Well winter came around and I scored a set of powder hounds to toss on the truck. Also snagged a roof rack of a 4runner that I ravaged and made fit. ISH. But heck. The rest of the truck was already rough. Tho drilling holes In the roof made me cringe. Definitely measured a few times before poking a hole in her. Made a bed insert for the back so I could ski bum it in the sierras. Make a sad spare tire holder that folds down. That's currently long gone. Served it's duty well for one season. Also too it out to a few fishing holes and camped out. Which was pretty rad.

 

Few shots from the winter. Definitely miss that area. I ended up trading states and now reside in Wyoming. Swapped mountains. Went from the Sierras and there "cold" days of 15 degrees. To Wyoming where cold is -30 and blowing wind hahaha better snow tho.

 

New meats. 305/70/r16 amazingly no rub thanks to spacers hah

And how it currently sits. Awating. Bumper. Oh and did an 03 front end face lift. I think thats what Toyota guys call it. Except the bumper.

I'm hardly on here and wish I was more on top of it. Lots of work planned for this little hunk.

 

Oh and this happened

 

Workin the bed off the thing. Amazing how light things are compared to a full size pickup.

Well. Thats off. Now just to pull the cab. Cut the frame and extend it to recive the new extra cab.. oh and that head gasket thingy.