1996 4wd tacoma first truck project
 

This is my 1996 toyota tacoma 4wd truck that I bought as a fixer upper for my first vehicle. Im 15, and about to turn 16 and have done all the work myself. I bought it for $800 and right now I have about $1400 in it. I plan on putting about another $300 in it and having it legal. The first thing I did was remove the bed and patch and redo alot of the rear frame. After getting done welding all of it, I samdblasted it, and then painted it.

It was just used as a farm truck before I got it, and it was all beat up. The hood was dinged up because they hit a couch on interstate. No that was not a typo. A couch came out of a truck on interstate and they hit it. I have a new hood now, and sjould get it and my new lights on today. After I got done with frame work I had to fix the rear brakes. The lspv was shot and so were the brake cylinders. Also pads and everything. New parking brake cable and assembly. All new brakes basically. I just put a manual proportioning valve on it this time. Yesterday I put the bed back and patched the big hole and a couple smaller ones. I bought a plastic drop in bedliner for it. I painted the front bumper, the headache rack, and the back bumper kubota orange. They turned out great.

Damn howd you get that thing for 800$??? that would go for 3k up in Washington

The frame was really bad and the body is pretty bad to. The frame is perfect now though, I put a bunch of time in it. But it runs perfect. Its a 2.7 5 speed. It has about 232xxx miles. Runs great though. Doesnt burn ANY oil. Im about to get it legal once I get the windshield in it. I have already had someone offer me money, and it aint even hardly left my shop yet.

Update: got the windshield in. Headlight holder should be in any day. Then I will be able to get it legal.

Got it legal today! Now tuesday I turn 16 so im goin to get my license!

Got it stuck in the back yard

Put a removable 2 inch reciever winch on it with the wiring and wired up a trailer brake control unit, salt spreader controls, and trailer lights

Also put some GREAT led work lights on the headache rack for the bed/ reverse lights

Here is my setup for salt spreading

Man, you've done well for a 15-year-old! Truck looks great.

Thanks! I have done everything right and took my time with it. I think it has all came out great. Especially considering I only have about 2000$ dollars in it, and get offers much larger than that all the time. It has been a great truck so far, and has earned me more than I paid for it already. My next thing is to start bodywork. I am dreading that, as that is one thing I have little experience with.

Dang nice job... wish I had a shop to work on my 84 in lol

nice truck im 15 and recently got my first truck

Thanks guys. Today I drove it the farthest away I every have. I took it on a 2 and a half hour round trip. It did great. I'm about to order new tie rod ends and an oxygen sensor. Hopefully the oxygen sensor will help my fuel mileage. I am only getting like 13 miles to the gallon even on highway. If anyone has a 2.7 please let me know what your getting fuel mileage wise. Or even what your getting with other motors. I have put new plugs and wires and a fuel filter on it recently to.

My cousin's 2.7 taco got like 20-25mpg

I recognize those from grass lick / Stonelick creek.

That's exactly where that was. I live in fair plane right across from grasslick. Here is a picture from by staats mill lake the other day. I actually bought this truck off a guy that lives on grasslick too.

Aside from the extra 300 pounds in the front bumper, if your tires are larger than stock that's not helping. It probably had 28's on it stock and got 22 ish.
My guess is it has 3.58 gearing and you have 31" tires on it. Plus your speedo would be slower than stock so that's skewing the numbers too.

I get 17 on the highway cruising at 70 and I have 35's and 5.29's. Plus mg truck is more overweight than yours.

:dj: