02 Tundra SR5

Felt obligated to put up a post here... lol
I just bought my first Tundra 2 weeks ago from a vehicle wholesaler... this truck has a flawless interior and engine bay... zero oil leaks and cleanest frame I've ever seen.... all the paint is original and the only thing I can see changed on this one owner truck is the headlights.... paint chips around them! It has 225K on the odometer... and just had the timing belt done by the Boise, Idaho Toyota dealership at 210K.... responds strongly on the accelerator and the transmission follows suit!! They asked 9K for the truck and I offered 8 and they accepted... I've put 8 hours detailing the exterior and matched the tint on the front side windows to the back ... and it looks like a totally different truck... Just got the Bilstein 5100 shocks for it and new plugs and fuel filter to be changed out soon. Also matching paint to be done soon as well...

I've owned a number of Toyotas!!! small trucks with 22r motors.... beasts!! I had one that the timing chain was so loose that I left off the accelerator on the Interstate and it backfired so hard it killed the motor (loudest boom I've ever heard).... coasted to the side of I-10 in New Orleans and waited a minute and turned it over and went to work and drove it home that night.... parked it and ordered a new timing chain, replaced it myself... My landlady looked in disbelief that I could fix it... lol challenge accepted. Took 24 hours of wrenching if memory serves me correct.... and it turned over when I finished... lol so satisfying... I drove it for another 2 years before I sold it... aside from the old school Toyos I had 2 4 cylinder Tacomas... and I can honestly say that the build quality on this Tundra is exceptional!!! 2 weeks in and I can say I'll never sell this truck...

Back story on buying this.... I played the stock market in 2019 and did well and was able to buy a new '20 Avalon Hybrid Limited... Put 60K on it in 2 years and really out grew my fascination with the hybrid scene.... I sold it to my local Toyota dealership for a premium and bought this truck later that day although it wasn't my plan and I also bought a low mileage 2011 ES350 Lexus the same week and still pocketed 5 grand.... I will miss the JBL stereo in the Avalon and also the blind spot indicators, but that is it!!!

The 2 cars I bought this last month will each on their own outlast that Avalon.... and I can wrench them both, but most likely won't!! Solid Japanese made motors from Toyota's best era!!!

I really enjoy reading this web site..... thanks for all the comments!

Idaho farm boy..... ;-)

 

Good find.

 

Welcome from LA (Lower Alabama)!

 

Welcome from NY.

 

Welcome, good looking truck there.

 

Welcome from Kansas. I have an 03 Twin of yours.

 

Thanks guys.... wow, big welcome here! Appreciate it!!
Update: (wish I did a before and after pic)
I spent about 10 hours on the paint... (washed) went over it with a rubbing compound (turtle wax) and (washed) then did one coat of Meguires liquid ceramic wax... used Mothers mag and aluminum cleaner on the rims with a green brillo pad... then cleaned the center caps real good and spray painted them with Dupli-color (universal Silver Metallic) Think I got the idea off this site.... (thanks!) very close match in my opinion... was pricing new ones and yikes!! lol so one photo has them as they were and other with the painted caps. The rattle can did 3 coats and still has enough for another 3-4 coats.... So I tipped it upside down and cleaned the nozzle good and will see if it works down the road when I need it again??

Not sure when the spark plugs was last changed or fuel filter? So I got the parts for those and will take care of that tomorrow....

And just ordered a PDR kit on Amazon... (Super PDR 93PCS Paintless Dent Repair Kit) for 110.00 probably less than I would pay someone to remove the dents on the drivers side... 1 biggie on the bed a 3 smalls on that back door... Learning from a guy in the UK goes by Dent-Remover (absolute pro)... breaks down his approach/technique... This something I've always wanted to try for a number of years anyway. If I feel good about it? might make it a side hustle?
Also got some touch up paint for all the chips... I estimate this to take me around 15 hours so do it on a high level... lot of YouTube videos on it...

Also got a full set of Bilstein 5100 shocks for this last week... not sure when I will tackle that? Have a couple buddies excited to help... so we may tackle it in the next month? Need to dig up torque specs and get a general overview first.

Anyway it's been a fun little journey thus far... this is my drive to work truck and for camping... thought I would share just to give something back to the forum.

 

Just purchased Led lights on all four corners tonight for my truck... about 400 dollars on eBay. Fairly reasonable and give it a better road appearance for safety.
Side note here: My '20 Avalon had Led Lights and when I was in traffic I was noticed immediately rather when I had them turned off and it took more time for drivers coming from a side road turning into my lane... they do make a difference... Not sure if their retinas are burned out from their cell phones or what? lol Not sure if this makes a difference? but the Avalon was white... which I would think would be in the middle for recognizability? It was a noticeable difference from me... and I clocked 55k miles on that in 2.5 years....

 

Replaced rear diff today, the oil I dropped out wasn't all that bad... ended up using Valvoline full synthetic

$39 75w-90 GL-5 Limited Slip, Ultra Long Drain 500k Miles, Manual Transmission, Gear/Differential Lubricant (1 Gallon)

75w-90 - all Walmart had....
Replaced fuel filter (OEM)- the gas I dumped out of the old one was brown.... really needed it!!!! reminded me of one I changed out on 240 Volvo with 350k on it... lol nasty!
Also changed out the spark plugs today (OEM), was needed....
Thought about doing the Transmission fluid today but the color is a decent red... I may hold off till spring.
Noticed the top of the radiator has seepage all away around it.... and I have read all the warnings on this site, about them breaking and causing pink foam in the tranny... So I ordered a new radiator (Denso) from RockAuto and also new hoses - top and bottom as well as radiator cap (gates) and a new thermostat (aisin).....
Guess I'll research a good coolant system cleaner unless someone responds with an idea here? should I use the cleaner in old fluid or run distilled water with it?? and then rinse out again?? I was planning on doing a straight distilled water on the system for 10-15 minutes before I put new fluid in....

Still haven't installed my Bilstein shocks yet.... this other stuff took precedence!

 

Okay here goes!! I took advice here on the site and went with it....
Special thanks to Shifty aka (national Tundra heirloom), BFVWRE, BMF4069, KW4Bores for input!!


Needed to flush coolant and many advise against using a cleaning agent and I agree totally in afterthought with older seals!! although the distilled water wasn't as distilled as I like... it did leave a very light film of white chalkiness in the old hoses maybe old residue in the cast block?? lol I do know the heater core wanted to cook me out!..... what I did was drain via the petcock about 6 or 7 times and refilled and ran the truck at operating temps to get everything moving around and ran the interior heater also while going through this... left the windows down obviously!!
Then drained Radiator and right side engine block and put new Radiator (also cap) and upper and lower hoses as well as new thermostat... Ran 1.6 gal Toyota 100% strength coolant and then topped off with distilled water!
Then did transmission fluid for a drain and fill and as I backed out the pan bolt... it seemed very reluctant, and I told my friend that it was maybe crossed threaded as I removed it... assumption correct!! literally 1 thread on that bolt.... so now! (slight leak) my thoughts are that the pan may be in good shape to reintroduce a new bolt and have it take??
After I run the new fluid for a bit and maybe top it off once!?! Just want to get a full cycle out of the fluid!
I also did YouTube videos on competent Tap and Die sets and came across a tool guy by 'project Farm' who does extensive reviews on numerous tools! Craftsman rated really well.
So I guess if the original Toyo bolt doesn't take? I'll will just retap it and hope for the best... torque spec is relatively low.... new pan is $210.00 from Toyota!


So thus far I've changed motor oil, rear differential, Transmission drain and fill, Spark Plugs, Fuel filter, Shocks! (Bilstein 5100's), air filter (k&n), Coolant.... just need to change out the LED lights on all four corners, maybe next spring, until then sit in my office? so far this thing runs like an absolute champ....

Wanted to share to the community..... wealth is knowledge and knowledge is from a multitude of counselors!

 

Welcome from So Cal.