wreckedrex
New member
So I just picked up this '96 and I'm planing to do some minor mods to set it as a camping rig. Nothing nuts, and probably nothing that hasn't been seen a million times so far, but I figure I can use this thread to track progress and maybe have some more experienced eyes than my own point out anything really stupid. It's going to be my daily for a few years and the off road use, while probably somewhat frequent, will be fairly light duty trail running. 31-32" tires are more than adequate, no armor required.
As purchsed:
A bit of info on the truck; it's a 3.4/auto 4x4 with ~148k on the clock. Total stripper, near as I can tell. No sunroof, no flares, cloth... Real basic.
The good:
AC is cold
Stereo is decent
runs like a top
shifts smooth and quick
The bad:
The paint is toast
Drives seat is destroyed
Tires are shot
shocks are shot
15" wheels (only bad because I want to do the tundra brake swap.)
And the to-do list:
Maintenance:
I didn't get any reciepts other than for a recent plug/wire/coil pack replacement so I am going to have to go through it from tip to tail. Not really a problem, I'll feel better about it if I know I have had my hands in there. Good way to get to know a new truck anyway. Initial list:
air filter
PCV
coolant (clean and fresh, leaving alone)
Oil (looks peachy, but I'll change it soon anyway)
diffs
trans fluid/filter (probably try and do an aux cooler at the same time)
tcase
hit the zerks
Rear axle seals (drivers side drum is a mess, it's time)
Valve cover gaskets (nothings hitting the ground yet, but it's pretty grimy in there)
Timing belt (PO said it was done @120k, but I want to at least get the covers off and take a peek for myself)
Repairs:
Drivers seat. (Dear god, a new drivers seat! Should i be looking for anything specific? which trucks had the best seats? Had STI seats in my old pickup, I guess I could do something like that again.)
Center console. (beat up around the shifter, not critical. little indicator tick mark doesn't work, rattles a little. WAY down the list)
FM Antenna. (power one that's on it is broken off. Thinking about deleting it and sticking a small powered one under the dash. Pretty cheap, and the one in my brother's truck seems to work fine.) Done, used a $25 Metra part.
Fun stuff:
Mild lift. (OME 880/906 + shocks and a diff drop on order at Toytec. Normally I'd wait on this, but the stock parts are roached and it rides like crap)
Tires/wheels. (Already picked up a set of taco wheels (pictured) and was planning to throw a set of 265/75 TA KOs on them, but it seems I may have a backspacing issue... I dig the wheels, and it seems that some folks have the tires I want work without spacers, but it looks real close. Thoughts?)
Lights. (thinking halogen here, like Hella 500? not a ton of $$ to spend here)
Traction (thinking elocker conversion based on price alone... Not exactly a need, but I want one)
Sound deadening (Cruiser Crap's Quietcrap most likely, can by in bulk since my brother and I will probably do both our runners at the same time)
Sleeping platform/storage (probably something really basic here, for now I'll just be folding seats and throwing down my camp mats.)
Tundra brakes (I know how and where I drive... Based on what I've read so far I'll be needing this upgrade in short order.)
CB (easy and cheap enough, ordered an antenna brkt with the suspension parts.)
Running board delete (easy, probably do it this afternoon...)
As it sits:
It's replacing my '93 pickup with a softopper. Loved to hate that thing, amazing little truck ruined by the 3.0.
As purchsed:
A bit of info on the truck; it's a 3.4/auto 4x4 with ~148k on the clock. Total stripper, near as I can tell. No sunroof, no flares, cloth... Real basic.
The good:
AC is cold
Stereo is decent
runs like a top
shifts smooth and quick
The bad:
The paint is toast
Drives seat is destroyed
Tires are shot
shocks are shot
15" wheels (only bad because I want to do the tundra brake swap.)
And the to-do list:
Maintenance:
I didn't get any reciepts other than for a recent plug/wire/coil pack replacement so I am going to have to go through it from tip to tail. Not really a problem, I'll feel better about it if I know I have had my hands in there. Good way to get to know a new truck anyway. Initial list:
Oil (looks peachy, but I'll change it soon anyway)
diffs
trans fluid/filter (probably try and do an aux cooler at the same time)
tcase
hit the zerks
Rear axle seals (drivers side drum is a mess, it's time)
Valve cover gaskets (nothings hitting the ground yet, but it's pretty grimy in there)
Timing belt (PO said it was done @120k, but I want to at least get the covers off and take a peek for myself)
Repairs:
Drivers seat. (Dear god, a new drivers seat! Should i be looking for anything specific? which trucks had the best seats? Had STI seats in my old pickup, I guess I could do something like that again.)
Center console. (beat up around the shifter, not critical. little indicator tick mark doesn't work, rattles a little. WAY down the list)
Fun stuff:
Tires/
Lights. (thinking halogen here, like Hella 500? not a ton of $$ to spend here)
Traction (thinking elocker conversion based on price alone... Not exactly a need, but I want one)
Sound deadening (Cruiser Crap's Quietcrap most likely, can by in bulk since my brother and I will probably do both our runners at the same time)
Sleeping platform/storage (probably something really basic here, for now I'll just be folding seats and throwing down my camp mats.)
Tundra brakes (I know how and where I drive... Based on what I've read so far I'll be needing this upgrade in short order.)
CB (easy and cheap enough, ordered an antenna brkt with the suspension parts.)
As it sits:
It's replacing my '93 pickup with a softopper. Loved to hate that thing, amazing little truck ruined by the 3.0.
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