Fixed up my totaled truck, now I need to get it to the inspector, any advice?

My 2006 double cab was totaled and I didn’t really feel like it was that bad(drove it home 60 miles after the accident). I recently was in another crash that totaled my sprinter and so while injured I’ve been fixing this truck(which has been sitting for 3 years) as I haven’t worked in 8 months and can’t afford a new car right now.

Did the timing belt and water pump, thermo too, new master cylinder and radiator. Drive belts and tensioners.

It was a front passager side accident, so bent out the hood, new headlights, and frankly it was cheaper to put in and after market bumper than to go stock.

the brakes are still a little soft even though I’ve been bleeding them, then driving on my drive road with lots of hard stops, then bleeding them again. Truck brakes fine and I’ve been all over the forums chasing the soft pedal issue.


Anyways, anybody rebuild a first gen and get it inspected? Just running out of money and really need to pass this inspection. My wife and I’s marriage may not survive sharing a car much longer

thanks

 

Paging @koditten

 

It depends on your state.
I rebuilt my 2013 Highlander. New hood fenders, radiator various front bumper stuff, etc. Here in WA state they needed all receipts and invoices to ensure it wasn't stolen, chop shop stuff. The state patrol inspector looked over the car but not a true "safety" inspection and was good to go.

 

You rang?

 

Thanks MDL. I’m in the California desert, so I’m sure that it’s a bit more strict, the inspection costs around $400 and there’s only one shop within 90 miles. DMV says it’ll be a break and lights check, but when I dig into on the web it sounds way more intense.

I have the report for the collision shop and it mentions nothing except body work, no frame stuff so I’m hoping that is the case. Going to bleed the breaks again just in case

 

Did the title ever leave your hands?

Did the truck ever leave your possession?

Have you been issued a salvage title?

Was the truck paid off and no lein on the title from the bank?

But yes, I've bought several 1st gen Tundras that had salvage titles.

 

Kokitten,

have the salvaged title. All paid off. Only time I’ve not had the truck is when it was at the collision shop and a 1/8th a mile down my road at a neighbors (he has pavement and my yard is dirt). Legally it’s all mine. Bought most of the parts online, so I have receipts.

 

Then you have to do the whole process.

After the truck is put together, our police department inspects the vehicle to make sure it's not stolen and to make sure all safety features are present. They will look at the parts reciepts to make sure no stolen parts were used. They do not test drive it.

Then the vehicle has to go to a mechanic that does inspections.

In Michigan, we can have no dash lights lit. The inspection mechanic has to take it for a test drive, he may hook up to the OBD to make sure pending codes are not present. Mine didn't. I think he knew most peeps unhook the battery to work on the vehicle, so looking for codes is pointless.

 

Did you bleed the load sensing proportion valve? I can't remember if a 1st gen has one.

 

Koditten,

I’ll look that up I. My manual. Thanks, surprised that the DMV here said nothing about a CHP check, but I’ll go in and ask them one more time. Funny that there’s only one inspectors in my area, but DMV is right down the block

 

Good luck with it. A lot of insurance companies will no longer insure vehicles with salvaged or totaled titles. I went through this with the daughters car here in Fl.

 

I did it in a bit creative and slightly more time consuming way: got the same model, same year, same color, cheap donor in a bad mechanical condition, swapped all of my power/drive-train, suspension, undamaged parts of interior and exterior. Wrecked one was sent to junk, and I drive basically the same car, without insurance taxing me for my own idiocy I did in the woods. Cost me only $2200 for donor, $300 for new radiator and $80 to send the wreck to JY. I kept most of the good parts as spares and keep using them as needed.

 

Welcome from LA (Lower Alabama)! Best of luck getting it approved and insured.

 

Thanks all. Just talked to the inspectors and since I have a crack in the windshield and now need to replace that too. Going to try and repair it anyways (as the rainx kits is 12$). Geeze though. You’d think that they’d want more people to reuse thinks rather than junk them.

it’s such a weird car to get parts for in the first place. The bumper was $950 to my door and the was the cheapest option I could find. Not many of these things at the pick and pulls in my general area, and once I make the 2 hr drive there, the parts I want have been gone


Anyways, thanks all for the advice

 

Just for anybody trying to do what I am…….

got the low down from our inspector technician and they say it’s a 5 hour check where they make sure there’s no dash lights, all mirrors are good. No cracked windshield, the suspension, ball joints, and brakes are all to spec. DMV doesn’t seem to need a law enforcement check for stolen parts, and smog is not included in the $400 inspection. Tires need to be good, and very little play in the steering….

just thought I’d try and contribute something if anybody in CA is trying to do this. I’ll update how insurance goes….

 

Where in the desert are you. I ask because in el Centro, smog wasn’t required, and every time I went to dmv I was cheerful and very nice to the counter people. I got hooked up with all kinds of stuff that should have been harder because of being friendly. Just food for thought.

Small towns are awesome for dmv stuff.

 

I have a printout that the DMV gave me requiring smog, but I agree, in fact, part of small town living here is having people drive an hour and a half to go to the local dmv rather than the city, sometimes I pass city dmvs and there lines out the door…. “Thank God I’m a Country boy”. Although I do miss making more money sometimes

 

Welcome....Good luck with inspection.

The folks in our 1st Gen Forum here will be glad to assist if you need help with mechanical, electrical or most anything when it comes to 1st Gen Tundras.

1st Gen Tundras (2000-2006) | Toyota Tundra Forum

 

Thanks. I’ve had a 2006 4Runner with the 4.7 and bought it with a salvaged title, put 250,000 miles on it(while not doing as much to take care of it except tires) and it ran like a top until my friend borrowed it and crashed it while trying to be a rally car racer in the desert when he borrowed it one night. The 2006 tundra has always been my dream car, and when I bought it during covid, I overpaid, but still just love the truck and am so syked to get it back on the road in time to start my summer job as a fishing guide. I’ve been working on it as money allows for 4 months and feel that I’m just so close.

 

I've done it in Ca but don't remember paying 400. It is essentially a brake and all lamps inspection.
They didn't check any alignment, nothing.

 

Welcome from NY.

 

Welcome from NC