Almost complete on my build (First Gen)!

I come here not to boast but to enjoy some time with people who understand the struggles of owning a first gen tundra, constantly being asked, what year tacoma is that? Oh they made tundras back then? Oh no way, those tacomas have V8's in them?!

I had the chance to buy this gem a few years back. It started out with a tan bed and green body with all the clear gone. I was just going to bed line the entire thing and beat it. Well, working as a manager of a collision repair facility, that led to far more. I had the entire truck torn down, bed off and worked the dents on the whole thing. Coated the entire underside of the cab and bed in POR 15. Put new drum brakes on the rear (which SUCKED with fabricating a jig to press it out). Changed all fluids. Put a new dual exhaust from headers back. New tailgate, front and rear bumper and grille. Also filled in the holes from the body side moldings on the doors. All new brake components up front, new tires and wheels. Bed lined it. New Flares from rough country. Cleared the lamps. New Rad, condenser and trans cooler.

Coming up is a complete overhaul on the front suspension with a new front diff.

 

Welcome! Nice rig! That green is beautiful and the gold wheels go great with it.

I've definitely fielded those same types of questions from idiots lol.

 

I have had probably 2 people actually realize what they were looking at. I just tell them it's a cyber truck now hahahaha

 

Nice looking truck. PO must have been similar to the PO of my truck. Skinny. That's a pretty pristine leather driver seat.


A guy I know who was threatening to sell me his '72 FJ40 for a while has a large Toyota sticker on the windshield. I assume because he got sick of hearing "nice Jeep!".

But that's a more understandable mistake than thinking a Tundra is a Tacoma.

 

A lot of people have told me they thought I drove a Tacoma. Oh well. That is one nice rig sir, love to get mine repainted.

 

That looks great!

 

It was recovered. Note the typical wear/creasing/wrinkles and texture on the passenger seat. Driver seat is the right color, but different leather.

 

https://www.instagram.com/reel/C_EybWRPm7k/?igsh=cmNyamQ5a2Jrejh2

 

I matched with this chick on Tinder and when we met she said she loves Tacoma’s.

I went on to show her how big the back seat is on said Tacoma.

 

Yup, front seat was re done. Passenger is original!

Just got done this weekend swapping out the shift ball bracket that is plastic and blew apart and swapped over to a threaded rod and metal alternative.

 

nice one

 

You definitely dont gotta do it, but i think the LIMITED decal on the rear side door would look pretty tits, either black or color matched.

 

I don’t want to ask but I have to, how bad did the paint job hit your wallet? I have the same color truck and want that done so bad. It looks great

 

I threw those out when I de badged and kind of half regretted it. Black would look REALLLLL good, I may have to find a set.

 

It didn't cost me a thing since I manage the shop but a full repaint at my shop is costing people 12-15,000. That is to fix all dents and scratches as well as an rust. Just a paint job with nothing else is going to be in the 8,000 range since we tear everything down first before painting to ensure we can offer a lifetime warranty.

**It took me 9 months of every lunch break and some weekends to do the work so I wasn't on the clock for any of it so I could save on that.

Toyota offered 2 variants of green on these first gens. I swapped it over to the second variant that they never really sprayed from factory so it's a different color and has more metallic flake in it to make it pop a bit.

 

I even considered a retro orange/yellow/brown type look for a decal on the bed that says tundra but I wasn't sure it would turn out to gaudy.

 

Welcome to the forum! That's likely the cleanest 2001 I've seen at this day and age! Take care of it!

 

I'm actually considering selling. It's honestly too nice and I am scared to do truck stuff with it hahahahaha or just getting another truck.

 

I think I’m going to poppy’s patina mine lol

 

Never even heard of this! Stuff seems pretty cool, especially for rat rods.

 

If you wanted to sell, you could probably sell it for a fair amount being in such good condition. I'd put it on Truck Trader, or somewhere where'd you'd get better quality responses.

 

I'm thinking bring a trailer or cars & bids if it actually comes to the point where I want to part with it.

 

Here we go

 

This is a new revelation as the wife needs a second bathroom because of the 4 kiddos.

Im gonna try to basically find the same truck just not in such a nice condition HAHA

 

you’ll just be tempted to polish it up like this one. The one that got away

 

My Tundra isn't in great shape body wise, but it's reliable and works for my needs.

 

That's a beautiful "tacoma" lol. it damn near looks like mine I just redid. They could pass as twins. Also shaved my molding holes and antenna hole. Mine was black when I got it 7 years ago. Lots of hours and swearing involved over the years, especially doing the headers. Never again. mine is called dark jade metallic and just single stage paint just to make it look better than primer spots and paint is ridiculous anymore, and because first gen toy. Also running 35/15.5s or 34s with the 20s

 

That truck really looks awesome. One thing I noticed (and this is just an observation, NOT knocking your truck): why do so many seats rip in this specific spot??


Mine is like that too. Also- what is that switch that’s cut off in the photo? Do some have power lumbar? Mine doesn’t have that.

 

Mine was ripped there when I bought it. In 2005. Still looks the same