Dadjazz: A build thread

Got myself a 1st gen not too long ago knowing it needed some TLC and hoping I might be able to build it up in the future. Fixing technically started around 6/14, realized I am a bit of a bull in a china shop with a bit of know how, PDF of a repair manual, and a ton of coffee. So as of today, I have finally got to a point where I am going to put a more articulated approach on this build now we have some of the boring details out of the way.

When I got the truck I was aware of several things;

1. Cracked Windshield
2. Broken Glovebox handle
3. Squeak from firewall area

Truck looked pretty clean otherwise, Engine bay looked fantastic, body looked fine, frame looks good. Figure I'd drive it for a month, get a feel for My First Truck™ and how it drives, listen to the motor, do some reading, catch up to speed on what I need to know.

First thing I wanted to do is get some basics, nothing fancy, wasn't worth starting this thread yet. Realized that my 265/70r17 Tires are rubbing something awful at full lock, planning on lifting it later, figured I would get some SpiderTrax spacers as well to make it drive-able in the interim rather than rush the process.

Those parts are as follows;

6/14/2021

• Headlight bulb
• Wiper blades
  
• Wheel spacers
• Removed Trunk Liner

Went out to get some coffee and a wash one morning only to hear a squeak at low speeds when rolling through the drive-thru at the local coffee place. Hoped on Google and tried my hand at some digging. Found that squeaking at low speeds might be related to a failing water pump, seems like it should be coming out around 100k any way. Didn't want to rip open the motor yet but that is fine. So the quest to replace the water pump begins. Grabbed a replacement kit from 1A auto, Read, Re-read, Read again, watched some videos, read one more time, bought some LEDs to replace every light in the vehicle, read up on replacing the pump again and I am ready.

Now the following was replaced;

8/2/2021 (this date is actually about 2 weeks off I will explain that below) - 1168XX Miles

• Water Pump
• Timing Belt
• Idler arm
• Tensioner Pulley
• LED Tail lights
• LED Cargo Lights
• LED Reverse Lights

Got the engine put back together and she fired right up. (Snapped a water pump bolt in the process along with 4+ runs to autopartsstores.) Fantastic. Went for a short lap around the block and 2 things happened. #1 Still squeaking #2 CEL (fuck). I was now humbled by my eagerness to work on this truck and decided to get it in the hands of a professional before I blow a motor because I made a stupid mistake. Got it in the shop, they held the truck for 2 weeks with no updates on work being done or even getting a look at it. They finally got it in the shop, fixed the shit timing job I did the first time (still not really sure what I did wrong but, another day) and they told me that I needed to have my driveshaft rebuilt. Growing impatient with this shop I called around, found a trans and motor shop that would take it in next day and happily look at it for a potential rebuild.

More fun. Get a call about 4 hours after I drop it off. Confirmed CV axles & drive shaft needed a rebuild and was A source of the squeaking. In addition, lower control arm bushings were torn, power steering was leaking, and so was the strut on the front passenger side. I can't weld and they should be able to get me out of the shop tomorrow with a fixed power steering rack and some new lower control arms and eccentric bolts as well as a repaired drive shaft. Decided to hold off on the struts, lifting it around spring time any who.

As of now we have the following replaced

8/13/2021

• Lower control arm and joints
• Power steering

Wait, no drive shaft?

Yeah the rebuild was a bust, needed to rebuild it again. Shop was great about it, told me what was what; tech wasn't happy with the build after a test drive, said it was solid for me to go drive a bit, just a bit noisy, bring it back next week. This week was the week that finally got rebuilt.

8/20/2021

• Driveshaft rebuilt

As of now I finally have a pretty solidly functional truck and I feel alright about starting this thread. Got some to-do's on the list now.

• Glove box - Toyota part 555600C010E0
• Window repair - Scheduled
• Window Tint
• Bullet Liner
  
• Locking lug Nuts
• Replace missing cover on windshield wiper bolt - Toyota 85192-12800
• Recommended spark plug: DENSO made
  $9 SK20R11 Iridium Spark Plug, Pack of 1
  SK20R11 / NGK made IFR6A11
• Radiator / Radiator fan / Radiator hose (I made an oopsy when installing the radiator and that got chewed up)
• Suspension
• Upper Control Arms
• Tie rods
• CV joints
• Sway bars
• Leaf springs
• Thermostat
  
• Serpentine belt
• PCV - Positive Crankcase Ventilation
• Smog - Secondary Air Pump

No pictures worth while yet. I'll update as we go along. Feel free to add suggestions for the more knowledgeable, I am but a nubile when it comes to the way of the truck.

Thanks for stopping by.

 

Well, welcome aboard! Pictures are always enjoyed by the members, so when you get to that point..

 

Sad that there are so many stories about having to go from shop to shop out of incompetence. Suspension rebuild should be fairly reasonable for DIY, especially with YouTube assistance. Congrats on the new ride and good luck with the build!

 

Sweet avatar.
Why are secondary air pumps on your list? Are you throwing codes for the air system?

 

I have a bunch of things lower on the list that are "replace for peace of mind so I don't have to later" Thermostat, Radiator, and smog pump being 3 examples. But I had a laundry list before that I have cut out because it just wasn't needed at all and it won't be either. Just things I keep my eye on in the future while I save some pennies for a suspension and some armor.

 

Yeah, I was pretty bummed when I threw the code, but it's always good to show some humility rather than blowing my motor.

 

Soon! So far all the stuff done, outside of the LED's, are all mechanical and not pretty to look at. I have an album of a headlight restore on my profile but the drivers side is too far gone, just going to slap in some new housing in the future.

 

Come on out and throw some pics down. *before/after* pics are more helpful than expected.

 

Sirfive, your request will be granted tomorrow. I found some pics of the before repairs, just need to go take afters.

Went out for a bit of an adventure after all the fun with repairs, figured it would be nice to stretch the legs a bit. On the way back, realized that the serpentine belt tore the lower radiator hose because it was installed upside down... twice. I just picked up a new hose this morning and going to replace that tomorrow morning before it starts heating up.

Pics of less than fun things coming tomorrow. Til then, here's fun things.

 

That is an amazingly clean truck and it's surprising since those regular cabs are typically used for a lot of work. Nice find!

 

Looks good! Love RCLBs! Post over here if you haven't.

Meanwhile, firewall/dash squeak, check this if you missed it. The 10th reply may be interesting to you.

Paint and body condition look amazing on that thing. I'd skip the SAIP. Otherwise, sounds like you'll have a like-new driver once done.

 

Thanks! The guys doing the drive shaft were trying to see if I was selling. This truck came into my life when I was looking to buy a beater race car to throw a ls in. Think the guy who owned it worked construction but got hurt and stopped driving. Currently sitting at 117k miles. Couldn't be happier while driving this thing.

I will pop into that RCLB thread! The dash squeak fix will be going straight to the top of the to do list. Huge fan of that. And yeah they for sure look like dicks

Thanks for the info!

 

Good looking rig. Yeah those 4Runner wheels have a different offset from Tundra wheels. That's definitely gonna cause some rubbing on the frame. Spacers should help. Kudos for trying to tackle some big jobs. I threw a CEL after my timing belt job too. Cam shaft position sensor. It was loose. Also was leaking coolant on my serpentine belt, causing it to slip on the pulleys causing the power steering and alternator to not work. Back in the shop to redo the thermostat housing seal and fix the loose cam sensor. Second time was a charm.

 

Thanks Knabores, Sounds like we have some similar woes with the timing belt, the shop that fixed mine wouldn't tell me what I did wrong but frankly I just wanted the truck back. I can't say I trust that tech too much after pulling my leg for 2 weeks.

Got some before/after photos of the lower front end and all the work there. I didn't put it up on jacks so I couldn't get too intimate with the suspension. Replacement lower hose is in, noticed a bit of a quiet serpentine belt squeak when I fired her up that cleared up after about a minute, so I will keep my eye on that.

Leaking suspension will be replaced sometime around spring, I don't know how to offroad well enough to trust myself in the Rockies solo in winter so it can wait a season.

Lowers

Leaking power steering

Leaking strut

Rebuilt Power steering and New lower control arm



And the story of the hungry serpentine belt

 

Nice Cuticles, Heather would be proud

 

If you’re gonna do bushing, might as well do em all. Ive found em seperate, but i havent found a ‘kit’ yet.

 

Decided to take her out to the mountains this weekend for some camping. Changed the oil before I went out. That suspension does not love rutted mountain roads but at least it was nice out.

 

Pretty picture. Those blown out shocks will not love any roads. Or braking hard. Or steering over uneven terrain. You'll be amazed how nice it rides, drives and handles braking with some new shocks. On a plane leaving Colorado now

 

We'll miss ya, come back soon. The blown out shocks do NOT like breaking down mountains that's for sure. Gets a bit squirrely in the front. That suspension can not come soon enough

 

It's been some time; about a full year later. I have since needed to replace my LCA's (warranty thankfully) and I have finally pinched enough pennies to rebuild some parts of my suspension. I have some smaller things that I would like to do soon but for now, I have been slowly working toward getting the main, larger, items crossed off the to do list.

The recent work done:

New parts:
TTBOSS-TUN06-ALM - Toytec Aluma Series Boss

SPC Adjustable Upper Control Arms - 25485

TT-MINIL14 - Toytec Progressive add-a-leafs

2245 - Firestone Rear Air Bags ('00-'06 Tundra)

DBF17T - DuroBumps Front Bump Stops

New LCA (dont have current part number)

Front/Rear diff fluid
Trans fluid

Decided I am working towards a 4 wheel camper, don't know when or what; that's for next year dad to decide.

Til then; New brake's and wheel bearing coming in late September.

Before
After

 

You'd mentioned before the ride sucked on rutted roads, is it better now?

Is it correct above, you said you were running 265/70/17 and those were rubbing? Those look more like 275, but I dunno. I assume the new lift resolved that also.

 

Haven't been up to the mountains just yet but all driving and steering has been worlds better. Just checked, 265/70/17 is correct, I was mostly rubbing at full lock in reverse since I got the spacers but as of now I don't notice any rubbing. I do feel the loose wheel bearing a bit but that's getting resolved soon.