Gen 1 owner for 16+ years - SoCal

Hello there from SoCal. Original owner of a very reliable 2002 AC Limited 4X4 which is just about to turn 150K miles. It was my daily driver for the first ten years of ownership, but these days, she's mostly just a tow vehicle for my 20' Center Console fishing boat. I tow with it at least 2-3 times a month.





It's been a few interesting places, including the Sierras, Baja California Sur, and many road course tracks in CA, AZ, and NV back when I used to race VW GTI's.



Like most Tundras, it's been very reliable, but she's starting to show her age. I came pretty close to selling it a few months back, but after looking a new trucks, I just couldn't do it. I don't need all the fancy stuff, and new full-size trucks a just too big for what I do. I also don't want to drop the small fortune on something new when I really don't have to. So I've decided to spruce her up, and I'm going to be asking some questions. (After searching the archives, of course - I'm a veteran of many automotive and other types of forums)

My immediate plans are to get the paint looking respectable again. I'm going to start with a clay bar, some compound and a good polish. I don't need a showcar shine, so that should do the trick. This weekend, I polished the Mickey Thompson Classic II's with some White Diamond aluminum polish. They were heavily oxidized and I couldn't get it all off with just a Mother's PowerBall, but they are at least back to a shiny state.

Before:



After:




I also shined up the bumpers with some Quick-Glo. That stuff works great! The interior needs to be shampooed/extracted and detailed too. I really let her go to long without some TLC. The headlights have of course, yellowed, and need to either be replaced or restored and sealed. Not sure which route I'm going to go on that.



Beyond that, I have dreams of upgrading the suspension, and getting a little bit of lift. My stock shocks were shot, and I just replaced them with Bilstein 4600 series (HD's) all around. Had I done a little research before doing so, I probably would have gone with the 5100's and maybe some OME coils springs. I like a very firm, controllable ride, and even with the new HD's, it still wallows a bit, and makes some weird noises. Maybe I need to look into replacing ball joints or bushings. I'd like to firm up the rear end a little more for towing as well. It squats a fair amount with my 4200lb boat and trailer attached. Never felt unsafe, but it sometimes scrapes my spare tire when I enter/exit parking lots. I've already got my hitch flipped upside down to raise the ball as far as it will go.

It's going to be a fun process. I spent a lot of my youth modding cars, so I know how addicting and expensive this can be. But I don't think I'll be going crazy, just getting the old girl back in fine form so I can enjoy driving it for years to come.




Then:



Now:

 

Welcome to the party!!!

 

Welcome aboard fellow first genner! Beautiful original Tundra. Keep it forever.

 

Welcome! What about that GTI?

Nice truck.

 

WELCOME

 

Welcome! Had my '02 (original owner) for 16 1/2 years until last month when I traded it in for an '18.

 

Welcome from Texas

 

Welcome from San Diego East County!

 

Welcome from NorCal.

 

Nice to see that you want to spiff up your 1st Gen AC! Low miles too. Not into the new nannie tech on the new trucks. My 07 nannies are bad enough which is my keeper at 93K. If I could disable them all I would. You already have a perfect project truck!: Have fun.

 

Welcome from NY.

 

Welcome sakana,

I like that you are keeping your '02, and freshening it up a bit. I also think you did the right thing with the shocks, and no lift. My 4WD '02 rides on 4600 Bilsteins, with stock rear leaf springs and TRD Off-Road front coils. She rides nice and smooth with almost 160k... I did add a Hellwig rear sway bar, and that makes her handle so much better... I would add an Air-Lift system if I towed anything.


I once looked at replacing her with a 2nd Generation Tundra - but I couldn't part with her, so I bought myself a well used '07 for cheap and made it my toy / daily driver.

 

Welcome from NC! Beautiful 1st gen you have there!!!

 

Yes! Original owner Gen 1!!! Welcome!

 

Nice to see a original Tundra driving the streets. I agree with you, keep it simple, it'll likely outlast you.

 

The GTI was my most involved project car, and the one that pretty much "cured" me of that disease. I'm not sure I can even remember all that I did to it. A 1998 GTI-VR6 - bored out to 3.1L with 13:1 CR, 288 cams, Quaife 6-speed tranny, H&R coilovers, roll cage, Recaro SRD's, Euro Bumpers and Fenders, Hella Duals, and a lot more. I sold it in 2004 for a 1st gen R32. The guy who bought it has kept it in pristine condition, and takes it to shows in the PacNW. It was way too raucous on the street, but it was wonderful on the track.

 

Nice! I've wanted an R32 since they first appeared in VW Trends magazine maybe 20 years ago in a pre-production review. 3 years ago I settled for a 2005 1.8T, love it even with the gremlins. Ill admit I wish it had that VR6 exhaust note.

 

Welcome from East Tennessee. I have a 2000 limited TRD access cab with 368,000 miles.they are very reliable! My starter is beginning to act up but I can't complain. I leveled the front suspension.removed the converters, installed 2 1/2 " exhaust pipe and stainless steel racing headers with k& n cold air box.recalibrated the computer.It still runs strong! I went the.cheap route on the front struts and now I am paying the price.when you upgrade components,go with the best you can buy.It pays off in the long run.

 

This is the old girl!!

 

Welcome from Ohio!

 

Welcome from Colorado

 

I need to look in the 1st Gen portion of the forum.. Lol. Love it.

 

Welcome from San Jose