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

Set out to install some new seat covers today and had the project sprawl a little (in a good way).

As a bit of background, when I recently upgraded the stereo, I went to a 10-inch sub in a Stinger box. Not my first choice, but there’s limited space in the 1st gen ACs, so here we are. It’s been riding on the rear passenger floorboard, which has limited how far you can push the passenger seat back.



So onward to today. Pulled all the seats out to make life easier and give the carpets a good scrubbing.


While things were out, I got to eyeballing and mocking some things up. “Self,” I said, “that box is shaped an awful lot like the driver’s side seat cushion.” And I was right.



A little tinkering later, and I’d deleted the seat bottom entirely:


A lot better use of the space, but I wasn’t thrilled with the aesthetics. Then I remembered, “Self, if the speaker box is roughly the same size as the seat, you have a new seat cover that will fit it.” Amazingly, I was right again:







So not a perfect seat replica, but a pretty good imposter. I never have passengers in the rear seat, and unless you open the access cab door and fully inspect it, it’s nearly indistinguishable. Much better use of space, and a nice stealth setup. I’d like to claim that I had this all planned out, but this was simply a fortunate accident.

 

All this jibber jabber and no actual details of what you've done? What if I want to do that too?

 

A picture tells a thousand words?
I changed my rear diff oil for the second time in 8 days due to some strange clutch vibrations from a stopped turn. With some recommendations and a nice article from ECGS(east coast gear supply, if you’ve not heard of them) about gear oil, I popped off the filler plug with a 24mm 6 sided impact socket attached to a 1/2-3/8 adapter on a 16” ratchet. I then opened the drain plug(same 24mm) into a pan, I then chocked the front wheel and jacked up the driver side rear axle to get every last drop out. I then lowered the jack and told my son to stay clear, then I cleaned up the drain bung…..hole and I happened to find a new crush washer on a zip tie with other assorted sealing washers, cleaned what little magnetic debris* was on the drain plug and torque it to 36.8 pound foots….
I then squirted the lsd additive, then 3 qts of 85/140. Torqued the full plug and got some brake clean and sprayed her down so I can tell if anything is leaking in the future. That’s pretty much the gist of it, I’ll link a write up as well

 

A layer of Foam on top of the speaker box and it will be a usable seat in a pinch

 

Nice work! 85-140, my man.

 

Tested out the 3/4" wheel spacers. Seems like the way to go for me.
Found the leak in my air manifold, slowed it down but need a new part.
And 2mm zip ties work really good as push-to-fit locks...

 

Agreed. Those Wet Okoles are pretty foamy themselves, so it’s got a little paddding. It doesn’t make for Princess and The Pea cushy, but I’ve sat on worse. In the last 15 years, I may have had a passenger (other than the dog) back there twice, so not a huge deal. I was just pleased how closely the dimensions matched up.

 

That's pretty slick!

 

Those seat covers look fantastic. I'm sure they cost a pretty penny which is what makes my cheap ass just keep a towel in the seat all the time.

 

Thanks! I hear ya on the towel. In my case, the rear seats were still in good shape, but both fronts had tears in them down to the stuffing. It was time for an upgrade.

 

can that tonnopro hold 350lbs?

 

But where did you get the diff juice? And what'd you do with the old oil? And the old bottles? Shitty write up. 0 out of 10, would not recommend.

 

Nah, soft top. Probably caps out around 30-40. I was able to stand on this thing to change a light bulb in the garage last night. Not that I'm a raging fatass or anything, but even if I was, I think it'd hold me.

 

Yea, a tonneau wouldnt work for me 75% of the time. But if i got one strong enough for me and a amazahn, i could see how to make it a good alternative to a cap for tent camping. I think i’ll hold out for a ladder rack i can fit the bike under.

 

I mean, with the bakflip, no reason you couldn't throw a rollout mattress on top and sleep on it, then use the bed for dry storage. Because the unit I have doesn't cover the stake pocket holes, no reason I couldn't craft up a simple 4-post tent system above it for bug/rain prevention. I probably won't do any of these things, but none of the above was true w/my old one.

 

Thats the bonus, leaving the stake holes available.

 

Got to right at 300 miles on this tank, was trying to see if the low fuel light works. Lost my nerve and decided to fill up finally. Bad news is, I"m only showing 12mpg on this tank. Fuel injector cleaner made it shift much better, but the mileage has not improved. Guess an O2 sensor job is in my future.

 

You already cleaned the throttle body and MAF?

 

Believe your gas light is inop. Just like mine.

 

Lack of overdrive being on might do that on the highway I would imagine if it's been off for the entire trip.

 

Indeed. Coils look good, plugs are new iridiums. New air filter. This hookers still thirsty

 

Agreed, was actually waiting for this comment. I had it off when cruising the neighborhood for chicks. Only about 20 miles of the tank and at low speeds. Overall driving was mixed hwy and city on this tank

 

I'm pretty sure it is. Took 25 gallons to fill her up. Glad I tapped out when I did

 

Sluts for life

 

Install hopefully going down next week!
Any tricks or tips??

few questions for those who have done it.

• Do I have to remove Brake Lines from the drums to get the axles out? Can I get around just loosening middle brake line brackets so I don’t have to bleed brakes? I know the Tacoma can get away with it…
• OEM Gasket? Or Gasket Maker? I picked up an OEM gasket but want to hear from others.
• What torque did you use on the bolts around the bulkhead? 18lbs?
• Type of Diff Oil? I plan on going with non-synth 85w140… anyone else running this?
  
• Anyone running the Single ARB compressor? Do you regret not getting the dual?
  

 

Started project remove bed to get ready for paint.
2 of the 4 bed bolts needed heated, hopefully the nut is fine because these bolts are. Fubar. Probably gett 6 new bolts just for the hell of it if I gotta buy 2. Any tips or tricks for bed removal?
Thinking boards under bedaid rail and an engine hoist to lift it after everything is free.
Going to clean up any rust after I get it back from paint before bed goes back on.
POR-15?
Frame is grease rubbed...PHM (RIP) method.
If not POR-15, grind down any rust, paint with etching primer then black Rust-Oleum or ospho then Rust-Oleum?

 

Did you use an impact to get the bolts out or were you cranking by hand and needed the heat to break the rust bond?

Also, I’d go with POR-15. I’ve been using it for years. Matte black or grey to better match the bed.

 

Upgraded the cluster and HVAC lights to LEDs. Came out great.

 

Agreed. Make sure you prep the surface well per their instructions. I used it on my frame where that brace is.

Before/after shots:

 

Put 2 turns on the coils and gave it a bath. I gotta do something with that tonneau…