The Chicken Truck

Well finally made it into my own Toyota.

I come from the land of boxer motors.

I owned two VW Bugs before I was old enough to drive (73 then a 69). Learned the basic wrenching skills on those. I learned how to drive a manual trans between those and my dads 86 Toyo pickup. Drove the 69 all through high school and into college.

When I started looking for a new car, I was originally looking at Tacomas, but even then the Taco Tax was real. My friend introduced me to the Subaru WRX. Still had AWD as I would go to Tahoe frequently (we live here in Northern CA just outside Sacramento) and would just throw a rack on for my snowboard.

After owning the Bug for 6.5 years, I sold it and bought a 2002 WRX. Loved that car and did a ton to it. After owning it for just over 7 years I sold it and bought an utterly clean 2005 STi. Did even more to the STi (full motor build, large turbo, injectors, E85 tune etc etc) and rarely drove it lol.

The STi was my fun weekend car as I had a 99 Honda Civic 5sp as my daily driver - I have/had a 60 mile round trip commute to work (pre covid times as I get to WFH now). After owning the civic for about 2 years, I sold it and bought my first brand new car, a 2018 Subaru Crosstrek as a new daily.

I cant leave anything alone... I had wanted a Crosstrek for many years and already had a pile of parts waiting in the garage when I ordered the Trek.


Back to the STi, after owning it for almost 7 years I had only put about 28,000 miles on it as it was my fun weekend car I decided it wasnt worth it to sit around colleting dust and paying insurance on it. So I sold it last March.

Now to the Toyota! Unfortunately my grandfather just recently passed away, my final grandparent. He was the original owner of this very clean 2002 SR5 AC 4x4 Tundra. It is a few hundred miles shy of 78,000 miles and was garage kept 95% of its life thus far.

I already have some plans for it, because I cant leave any car un-modded haha.

Maintenance is the first priority.
-timing belt/water pump
-engine coolant flush
-lube propeller shaft/drive shaft
-transfer case fluid
-front/rear diff fluid

Planned mods as of right now
-some window tint
-remove OEM step/running boards outside
-replace head unit with a bluetooth unit
-needs new tires, but want to get some rims and slightly larger tires.
-light/mild lift to fit slightly larger tires (looking at Dobinson 2 inch). Will search for recommendations

I dont plan on using this as a wild off-road rig, maybe years in the future.. Fun fact, this is actually the first automatic transmission ive owned, other than my wifes cars.

Ill start a build journal to document everything ive been doing. I do this with almost every car I own. Mainly to help me keep track of what/how I did something, but I can help others along the way too lol.

EDIT: Link to build journal - https://www.tundras.com/threads/chickens-truck.81575/





Current Trek



STi right before I sold it


Summer setup


Winter setup


WRX



Feel free to ask me anything! Looking forward to learning from the boards.

 

Welcome from SoCal sir

 

Welcome

 

What part?
My wife grew up in Riverside and her parents are still there (up the hill from UCR). Her aunt/uncle live in Studio City and we're there at least once every couple years.

 

Welcome from Maine.
I'll be honest, I have chickens (My husband calls me the Chicken Tender) and expected to see a photo of a Tundra with chickens in it and feathers flying everywhere. Disappointed

 

Sorry to disappoint! hahahha

It was my very first email account in grade school. Kinda just used it on almost any forum ive been a part of since 07

 

Welcome from NY.

 

Welcome from Oregon

 

Welcome from LA (Lower Alabama)!

 

i live out in the IE area also lots of members out this way always trying to romp around in the dirt let us know when come out here

 

Welcome from VA.
Same here with my 2013, first automatic that I've owned. My first car was a 70 something Fiat 131. Even my 4wd isuzu troopers were manual. It took my left foot about a year to figure out it didn't have a job anymore.

 

I had actually planned on buying a new car mid/late 2020 as a new DD that would be an auto. The 33 ish mile commute one way could take as much as 1.5 hrs on a really bad day. But since covid and working from home... didnt see any point in buying a commute car when my new commute is walking down the hallway

 

My wife used to live in Carslbad for a couple years while in grad school. We both love it down there.

 

Carlsbad is a fantastic part of San Diego. Many a time I wished I lived there.

 

I had a commute like that in the 80s and 90s. It could be a pain with the manual.
Your current commute is easy, I have to walk down stairs to get to work.

 

Welcome from Ohio

 

Welcome from an ex SoCalifornian!

 

That crosstrek looks sweet!

 

Welcome from WA!
Sorry about your gramps, that's tough.
Wait till @Professional Hand Model lays his eyes on this cherry 1st Gen. Can't wait to see more of this truck.

 

RIP to your Gramps!
Looking forward to seeing the upgrades and your cross trek is sharp.

 

Welcome! Nice looking Subies! I'm a Subaru fan also. I had a 07 WRX wagon that was modded. I loved that car, regret selling it. I also had a Forester XT, upgraded sti turbo, intercooler etc.

Nice looking Tundra also. Looks almost new!

 

Thanks for sharing your life story and showing pics of your past girlfriends. Welcome from Seattle! trucks looks great

 

Welcome from Pennsylvania

 

I also came into the thread hoping for more focus and dialogue on poultry, preferably pullets/hens, care of, love for, etc.
Still hopeful....

And very sorry for the loss of your grandpa.

 

Welcome from Florida! That is a very clean truck. My 2018 already have more miles than that!
Sorry to hear about your grandfather, but good to see that you can have his truck to build good memories and keep him close.

 

Welcome from Wyoming.

Had a WRX myself for a couple years. Still miss it sometimes, but such is life. Also, hands down the manliest looking Crosstrek I've ever seen!

 

Welcome! Nice truck, very clean.

I also have a WRX and still have it.

I like your 05 STi, those are becoming collector’s.

 

Welcome from the wet side of WA.
That's a beautiful Gen 1 truck!

 

I live in Corona and have a place up in Big Bear, some good trails up there, I'll keep an eye out for your truck!