Let's see your first gen - photo thread

I've got a lot of contempt for black and gunmetal wheels, but I love bright silver, bronze, and on very rare occasions, brass/gold. I'm still not deadset on migrating away from my OEM 5-spok splits. I'm going to get new tires first, see how I feel, maybe do some photoshopping with the new lift, see if it sways me, and wait for a killer deal.

 

This is how mine is looking these days.

 

Very nice sir!

 

How it started....



And how it's going...


Just got this 2004 AC in November 2022.
Installed factory fog lights, window tint, new headlight assemblies and Tacoma TRD wheels so far. Plus a nice exterior detail

 

SCAR-H?

 

Correct sir.

 

I knew all those years of COD would pay off one day.

 

Lmao.

 

Whereabouts are you? I see more of them for double cabs than I do regular cabs and access cabs within a 180 mile radius of Atlanta. I'm in southern AL right now, and there's a couple under $500 in the FL panhandle, one looks to be for AC, the other for DC.

 

Thank you. Yea, it took almost a year and a half to find one that was in good shape and color matched.

 

I am from Arizona!

 

2001 Tundra LTD

 

Looks nice!! Did you have it re painted?

 

I got the truck in 2020, it had been sitting in my friend's yard not driven from 2015. I got the the truck shipped to me from TX to NC. the paint was shot on all top surfaces. I started working on it in my yard and had a body shop spray it for me.

 

It looks great! I just started that process on mine
Bed liner on shell was a booger. Dug a little deep but I'm going to sand and prime hopefully tonight. Other spots in just taking to bare metal pulling dents and doing bondo. Going to maaco to spray it when I'm done. Probably going to do the urethane coat. Can't decide if I want to keep the color go silver or the dark gray pearl color

 

I also am in nc. Where are you located? I am in Durham

 

Uh oh, we might have access cab twinsies down the road from each other!

 

I thought about changing this color also, but the way the doors open showing so much of the jambs and rocker, I thought it would look weird if it didn't match. I was just too lazy to prep and paint all of the interior areas. By the time I got the outside ready to paint I was not having any more "fun"! I was ready to finish. I didn't like the color when I got the truck , BUT it looks great when it restored to the right shine. My paint, when I got it was so flat and peeling clear coat, I could't see the right color. It will look good when the shine comes back. Keep at it! it was a lot of work. I just took one panel at a time to prime and then moved to the next one. the photo above it the day I drove it to the shop. I pulled the light and remaing trim at the shop

 

Cornelius

 

Okay thanks that is helpful. I don't think I'm going to prime it all myself because it's included at mAaco spray. They sand, prime, seal, and spray. How much did they charge you? How many coats did you get and how many coats of clear?

 

That color is actually one of my favorites. But it's two-stage paint, unlike my white truck, and clearcoat fail is just a sad reality on these trucks if they came with any of the metallic paints.

Used to be, back in the day, Maaco would add-on clearcoats too. It was $100 per layer of clear shot.

They get you with the prep. If you get all the prep done, and get it done right, the job costs a hell of a lot less.

 

My plan was to just strip the shell and top and do the body work to the best of my ability. They were going to charge me a fortune for that part

 

Not anymore haha. I saw some of the one stage paint in the back though and it did look pretty good. Just not the same level of shine

 

Yeah, the only way you'll get great the shine is when you find someone that truly knows how to cut and polish single-stage paints, which nobody seems to know these days. I'm no slouch, but my dad knows a guy south of St Pete in FL that's a damn wizard. Even with someone like that, it'll still never have that "wet" look 2-3 base coats of clear gives off, though.

I think throwing in a little pearl powder in with the recoat could look really cool, at least when you pop the doors, it wouldn't be such a stark color contrast. I wouldn't go with a different color though, not unless you're doing jambs, inside the engine bay, taking the bed off and hitting those back walls, etc....

 

I am retired so time was on my side. I used to be in the business (body shop). I already have all the BS tools and an air source. I saved a ton of money by prepping my self. I am also LUCKY to know a friend with a BS. I paid for paint materials and gave his painter some cash to spray it for me. I am too old and don't have the proper safety equipment for this new paint to spray it myself. I also called in my brother and cousins for final prep help! (cost me some beer and lunch) Yes its 2 stage (base / clear ) Total Materials cost about $1500. (paint, primer, tape, plastic, plastic, and cleaner etc.)

 

That's a hell of a deal, you're lucky to have those resources. Easily a $6,000 paint job right there. Looks amazing!

 

Thanks! I was lucky to have the help! I am very happy with it!

 

What rims are those? Big fan

 

a lady near by me, bought a 20 4Runner and replaced the stock wheels with TRD. I bought all 4 17" OE's for $200