What have you done to your 1st gen Tundra today?

I just spent $8600 on repairs for my 2000 with 293k miles. It's like a new truck.

 

Today I added some stickers, installed a wearhertech bug deflector, weathertech all weather mats, and installed a grill emblem as the truck was missing it when I bought it.

 

I have not been keeping an exact figure of all expenses for the work I've done on my truck.

My ball park figure for mechanic jobs: 2-2.5 grand. One of those was a RUSH job before my forum days.

My ball park for things I've done on my own?
Leafs were $800 + shipping. Ball park $1k
Front coilovers were ball park $650

Leds? Probably $400 for everything. Internal, external. Light bar was $50-ish.

Current Bed job? Including paint, grinding wheels, other various items: I probably have over $100 in used paint not including my spilled gallon of POR-15 .
$40 in drill bits. Another $40-50 in materials.
Another $50 in loose items.

These trucks will reward you. Do not give up now. Granted, I have sentimental reasons to fix mine up.

I like to think I fall into the therapy section as @Professional Hand Model does.

I use all the time I'm wire wheeling, grinding, painting, buffing, torqueing, or anything else im doing as time to think of the next step.

Also, take into consideration that I did not "buy" my truck it was sorta passed onto me from pops. We never spoke about it, nor was it discussed at any point in time. I kinda sorta gravitated to it, and here I am. Its kept me safe for 6 years now, and if I've got my way about it. I will drive this truck the rest of my life.

 

I have! I put together an excel when buying the truck.

So far with purchasing the truck and having it shipped I'm at $23k in one year 4 months of ownership.

almost $2k in gear for camping that goes inside it..

And another 3 to 5k planned.

 

Still cheaper than buying anything new off the lot. No monthly payment either, right?

 

My ls460 is my car payment haha but I don't regret it at all. Building a camping rig and it's what I wanted! Just excited to get it finished up!

 

I'll drink to that!

Cheers!

 

im at ~ 7500-8k invested into my truck. thats counting mods and everything.. including purchase prices. I'd say the deal i got is hard to beat.


I actually think this truck will be with me for the long haul, so i MIGHT order a frame for it if my current stock of flip cars sell for a good profit.. If i do, the frames getting coated and the best humanly possible and all the holes except drains blocked before it even sees the road

 

Knowing you, I think the frame coating was a given...

 

If I buy a new frame..
Seriously it’s crossed my mind.

 

I mean, if I had a shop, and quite a bit of time/money on my hands I might have gone that route also.

I have a driveway, and limited stimulus.

I like to think I'm doing a good job with what I have.

Regarding the time issue... I have no way of knowing when/if work will call me back. They canned the other 3rd shift fella. Leaving just me. If they even have a 3rds due to the rona...

IF they call me back they may slap me on 2nds.

 

New frame my cost is ~2500. Not cheap by any means. But it would make my truck practically new.


The only reason I consider it is because I did straighten the rear rail. That’s all that worries me. We’ll see what happens
A frame swap on that tundra would take all of 2 days at work. I could pull the motor and did headers and what not super easy too... it’s just tempting... and the old frame could be stored away and modified... (or used to cut up and make a regular cab short bed 1st gen....) that’s honestly the best use for the frame because of where it was bent, cut and make a custom short bed reg cab

 

Neat-o. It would take me over a week to do the swap by myself. I have no help here.

 

ive done probably 50 frame swaps in the past few years... its... easy once you do it alot.. lol its daunting sounding.. but not bad at all

 

I would still dive into it with ferocity as I did this job I'm currently working on.
The plan I had went out the window, along with the time frame I had. As my projects always do. I always end up finding more work than what I expected.

Frame swap would eliminate some of the areas under the cab/front that I have no idea how to repair.

 

Before we dive too far into the new "How much did you spend on your Tundra" topic,
I wanted to sincerely thank everyone who has encouraged me to keep going and keep giving TLC to the TRD. (New motto?)

@Festerw , @FirstGenVol , @imDementeD , @bmf4069 , @rock climber , @Professional Hand Model , @04DCTundraMan , @Tundra2

~

As one who's only been here a short while, I'll be honest: sometimes members on this site just wanna shoot the crap about exhaust, wheels, or lifts---but countless times you guys are a fine ole' crew, providing ideas and informative help. I feel welcomed and strangely a small part of a niche community. That's the mission of Tundras.com.

The 1st Gen is still my dream vehicle. Is mine my dream vehicle? Time will tell. Probably so. I've simply put in too much time to turn back.
I chose this rig to become the base for my unique camper build---a reliable, powerful, and long-lasting truck that could handle all my adventures. She was neglected through the years by previous owners until she reached me, determined to get this truck into good shape. I've learned so much so quickly in the mechanical realm the past year of ownership. Although I've given up blood, sweat, and thousands in repairs and upgrades, I haven't given up hope.

 

Glad that we could encourage you, and that you have learned much.

Not much to be learned from me, as I'm just a dumbass muddling my way though copious repairs.

I am here for moral support, and bogging down threads.

Your truck will REWARD you with plenty, as has mine.

 

A short bed single cab sounds really awesome. Please do it

 

Yeah. I’m at the tail end of major expenditures on the truck at this point, unless something happens to the transmission. If that happens there is a guy close by who will rebuild it for $3500 better than new.

Going in to the total reinvestment I drew the total line at $6k, but because of sweat equity and the therapeutic nature of the gig and Stemillus I’ve gone over the line a bit.

Also going in to the ‘reinvestment’ I’d been giving her 3 year blocks intervals before deciding to keep her again. I’ve decided early in this interval to keep her. Like @theblurry1 there is no turning back.

 

No prob! Keep going, you wont regret it. I get complements on my truck all the time. Had a ups guy talk to me for 30 mins about how these Tundras are better than any other trucks out there and last forever...he had 2 and wishes he never sold his last one. I dont keep track of how much ive spent on my truck...Ive accepted this truck will be with me forever and i hope my kids (6 & 4) will learn how to drive in this truck. Any money i put into it just extends the life. I personally dont think my truck is halfway through it's full life (miles wise) and has plenty more to go...currently researching painters to spend another couple thousand to make her pretty again...but thats a spring project.

 

I second that.

 

Checked my front diff fluid because I’ve never changed it and it looked brand freaking new. It’s crazy how it doesn’t build up much heat and deteriorate if your not in 4x4 a lot.

 

Who needs harbor freight when you’ve got cinder blocks. Taking the rims to be refinished today, they need them for two days and it’s in a sketchy part of town(more so than others) so I’m just taking them the rims

 

As long as you keep taking care of it, it’s typically cheaper to just keep it running and use it till it’s finally unfixable

 

I'm in Denver if you ever need a second hand (I don't mind driving down to the springs)

 

Put it to work. 2 totes of slab wood in the bed and the trailer with 6-6x6x12, 20-2x6x12, 11 roof panels, and a couple bags of cement.


Turning this


Into this, finishing up the roof panels, rafters, and electric hopefully tomorrow.

 

Hell yeah! Take pics and keep updated. I love seeing stuff like this. Keeps my lazy ass motivated.

 

Katanas arrived. Wondering if the drivers are built in? The original Katanas had a separate box. These just have plugs. I’m Pucking out right now!

 

Dropped the bumper off to be powder coated today. I went with a mostly matte black with texture. I'm excited to see how it turns out. If they do a good job I'll probably have them do my sliders too. Those are supposed to arrive early July.