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So after flipping my 96 4runner about 5 months ago, ive finally found a replacement 96 Tacoma, but it is in sorry condition...


The guy knew nothing about his truck, he told me it was a 2.4 liter and i go out to look and its the 2.7! So as i get to inspecting i go to pull the dipstick.... and see that its covered in what appears to be black sticky sand.
After about an hour of head scratching i put 4 quarts of oil in it 4 QUARTS! Note: he had been driving it on 1 and 1/2 quarts of dirty sand oil for as long as he had accidently got the hood stuck shut, which was 6 months ago.

$400 dollars in well overdue matinence and a couple of seafoam cans later, i think this truck is breathing a sigh of relief. I know these engines are bulletproof from experience. I rolled my 4Runner with the 2.7 at 45MPH, flipped it over and hooked up some cables, tightened the alternator belt and drove off with no complaint from the motor to this day.


Well I think $3,000 was a steal for what ive got.

Heres a list of pros and cons (So Far)

Pros-
127,000 miles
Manual
Interiors decent
Bodys straight and not dinged
New tires and wheels (thanks 4runner)
Manual Hubs
CD/Stereo (also thanks to the 4runner)
Tow Package
SX Package

Cons-
Leaking front shocks
Cracked Windshield
Bent Hood
Maybe bent core support
Exhuast and header rot
No matinence preformed
Ran dry on oil
Stupid push bar on front which samashed front end
Do it yourself tint
Needs brakes
Might need Rotors
Kinked CV Boot (not broken)
Some kind of godawful wiring in the dash to stupid green dash lights
bolt on bedliner AKA rustblanket

I have taken a few pictures when i first got it home, ill be keeping this thread up to date on bringing this thing back to respectable Tacoma condition!






With My BFG MT's AR Mojave

 

ohh yeah.. thats you!!

glad to see you got yourself another yota, not a bad replacement.
I hate dumb-dumbs that dont know how to take care of a vehicle.
At least your on the right path.

Congrats

 

glad to see you got a new toy!

 

waaaay better with the wheels and tires! looks like a great starting point.
post some pics of that wiring nest. im sure a few fellas need a sunday morning laugh

 

Ok heres some pics of that wiring mess that im really trying to avoid messing with, but i know that wont last long...


He put in some kinda button that changes your dash from blue to green, but when you hit a bump it turn your dash off


Using the gas pedal as a ground probably isnt a good idea... oh and neither is forgetting to tighten it back down


CB radios are cool and all, but what the hell is the giant mess of wires below it, and to the side, and behind the seats!

 

seems like the p.o was scared to cut and splice wires and put them under the carpet..

if the bolt on the gas pedal is used as a ground and is loose..
you might have bigger problems.

go through that rig from bumper to bumper

who knows what else is loose.

besides some screws in the p.o's head

i got my laugh in.

 

Wow, that's a clean nice looking truck from the outside, after you fix it up, it's going to be sweet. I need to get myself a tacoma.

 

Nice wheels!!!

 

Heres a picture of the front with the brushguard removed and the hood re-fitted, i only got the drivers side flush for now cuz the neighbors said i was being too loud...

 

I change mine every 5,000 with Mobil 1 synthetic and it always seems to come out as good as new... I tend to be very meticulous about maintenance. Nice truck, it sounds like you got a great deal! I know what you mean about the neighbors complaining... We run our air compressor 24/7!

 

looks like a nice tacoma, thanks for rescuing it!

 

So today i fixed the sticky gas pedal by cleaning out the throttle body. I changed the plugs and found the old ones where gapped at .040 (which is right for the 3.4, not the 2.7) instead of .031. I changed the oil and ran seafoam through the new stuff, drained it after 25 miles and put in some full synthetic. I also seafoamed through the PCV. The truck runs like a champ now!

Now for the body. i took out the bedliner and the toolbox, removed and cleaned front and rear skidplates and am currently using something call FLITZ Polish and WOW this stuff works like a dream!! This might be a little bit expensive, but its well worth it. My paint had no shine before, even after being washed 3 times. rub on rub off with this stuff and it shined like new. ill get pictures tomorow

 

So the BrushGuards off, finally.

I took out the bedliner and the toolbox and am planning on throwing some bedliner down soon.

Should i go with the fender trim or without??
Without




With




Cleaned up nicely

 

Nice Taco, definitely go with out the fender trim...

 

Daaaayum! that is coming along nicely! i say go without the trim, even though i like it on my 4runner, it looks much cleaner without on your truck. maybe just add a little bedliner to the inside lip of the wheel wells to keep the rock chips at bay and avoid future rust problems. just my opinion, i'll be experimenting with this next spring i think.

Love the Tacoma, wish i could find a nice diamond in the rough like you. you've definitely resurrected that beast!

 

Thanks for the compliments!

I got the front windshield replaced today and im looking into shocks/struts and new calipers tommorow.

I plan on getting a bedliner when i get the funds, and maybe doing about a 1/2 inch overhang off the side of the bed

 

Great score. Love all the work you have done..Glad you were able to rescue this great truck from that dumb ass..

 

Poser pics!!!!

i found a foot tall rock and drove on it hahaha, just pics of how it cleaned up after all said and done.

PROBLEM

My hubs are incredibly hard to lock in, i had to get a stick and force them back into free... my friends 89's hubs where way easier. Is there something i can do to fix that? I rolled the truck forward and everything. They are Aisin hubs

 

so on tuesday im getting NEW

brake pads
discs
calipers
wheel bearings
Rancho RS5000 front and rear
$$

then i should have a reliable DD that will get me up to the mountains and down in the creeks.

And once i finish paying off all the repairs, i will start saving for some trail mods

 

yeah, aisin hubs are fairly easy to repair...pull them apart, clean everything, repack with fresh grease and they are great. this is a fairly comprehensive article:
http://www.off-road.com/offroad/arti....jsp?id=399668

i like the truck...ever think about taking off the decals? nice work and good luck.