zacattack20's Matte Blue ‘98 to '02 Sport Edition - Not the normal build thread

[zacattack20]

Good choice man! Moving away from California has been the biggest mistake. I just went through and looked through your whole build and it is just down right awesome. Keep up the good work

Thank you very much.

And at least cost of living is more reasonable outside of California. I pay almost twice as much in renting a 2 bedroom apartment than my sister pays for her house mortgage in the Midwest. It's pretty stupid how high rent prices are.

 

[whoisjohngalt]

thanks for this extremely detailed build thread. youve completed some amazing work to your truck. im digging your antenna replacement but have come to find out its not so easy to replace. can you help shed some light on the model you bought and the installation process?

 

[zacattack20]

thanks for this extremely detailed build thread. youve completed some amazing work to your truck. im digging your antenna replacement but have come to find out its not so easy to replace. can you help shed some light on the model you bought and the installation process?

Thank you for the compliments.

Unfortunately I did the antenna almost ten years ago. I have no information about it specifically other than I think I got it from Kragen/O'Reillys or Autozone.

Also being so long ago I'm not too positive about the process. I do remember having to remove the fender liner to get to it and the clips can be a little difficult. Then having to trace the antenna wire to the back of the radio.

Sorry I can't be more help but if you do a search for Tacoma antenna whip mod then there should be some good information on how to change the antenna.

 

[zacattack20]

Had installed the Lotek gauge pod but now I finally wired the gauges. Top one is a cheap boost gauge from eBay. It was the only decent blue one I could find. Bottom one is an Innovate Air/Fuel Ratio gauge.

Not too happy with the initial fitment of the gauges in the Lotek gauge pod, I still had to trim the holes for the gauges to fit in. Also had to cut up the A-pillar trim so that the wires going to the gauges could fit.

 

[BrianSD_42]

Just re-catching up on your thread. Pretty awesome. Sorry to hear the engine and smog issues.

If you ever drive down to SD let me know. I'd like to hear that Borla in person.

 

[zacattack20]

Just re-catching up on your thread. Pretty awesome. Sorry to hear the engine and smog issues.

If you ever drive down to SD let me know. I'd like to hear that Borla in person.

Yeah the smog was pretty frustrating, even more frustrating than what I had wrote since I had time to have calmed a little on my frustrations.

Don't usually head down there but if it happens I'll let you know, or if you ever come up here. It's pretty loud though, but I'm becoming used to it.

 

[zacattack20]

Was able to sell my old engine for $200 as is.
I felt that was reasonable considering the condition.

 

[Tinigunner11]

Just read through the entire thread. All I can say is WOW. Excellent job on all the mods and making your truck look as modern as possible. I applaud you good sir! What happened to it?!?!

 

[zacattack20]

Just read through the entire thread. All I can say is WOW. Excellent job on all the mods and making your truck look as modern as possible. I applaud you good sir! What happened to it?!?!

Thank you very much.

I still have it. Still driving it. I had my third kid last year, she just turned one last month. So life has been in the way. Haven't done much to the truck and only been on here a hand full of times this past year until recently I have been looking around on here again. I have a few things to update when I get around to completely finishing them, hopefully within a couple of weeks but I'm also in the middle of moving so who knows.

 

[infamousRNR]

Thank you very much.

I still have it. Still driving it. I had my third kid last year, she just turned one last month. So life has been in the way. Haven't done much to the truck and only been on here a hand full of times this past year until recently I have been looking around on here again. I have a few things to update when I get around to completely finishing them, hopefully within a couple of weeks but I'm also in the middle of moving so who knows.

Dude! Glad you stopped back to your thread...

I always admired your build.. Then you disappeared!!!

 

[Suspect_U]

Just read through your thread. Many others have said it already but, I am so impressed by the quality of your work!

I'm also in OC and have been on the hunt for a 3rd gen (currently in a Mazda3) so I can start my own build thread. In the mean time I've been pouring through the builds here, and yours really stands out.

 

[fightman80]

Engine swap eh?? This build never ceases to amaze me! Nice work man!

 

[Trip_84]

i stripped all the carpet out of mine too the other day. Just amazing how new black carpet makes the car feel so much better. I am bummed though, couldnt salvage the back boards for the back seats on the cargo carpet. still trying to figure a way to keep the carpet up on the back of the seats. Might just use 2 sided tape. Nice ride!

 

[TanRunnerT4R]

I know everyone is saying it, but I just spent an hour reading through this whole thread and was impressed the whole time. As much as I love rigs with big tires and armor, this is as or more impressive. I got lots of ideas and inspiration after reading this! I don't know if you're still active but even if you aren't, thanks! I can't wait to use a lot of these ideas on my 3rd gen!

 

[zacattack20]

Small update. Like I said previously, just been really busy. Moving, going to school, working, three kids. So I have not done much.

First my door panels leather inserts starting peeling. I decided to purchase thicker gloss black plexiglass rods. My last idea didn't work to hold them up, so this time because of the thicker rod, I was able to drill holes and put screws in them from the back of the door panel.

Then I finally installed the side view mirror covers. I only wired the blinker and didn't do the flood lights yet. I plastidipped them and then used niteshades on the lens because it was too shiny and could see some chrome. Only picture I have.

 

[zacattack20]

Now with that. I am going to be getting rid of the truck. Runs great. But it's always little stuff that I never get done or things that I can never do because I don't have time. Always seems like I find a way to make a project more expensive by breaking something.

The paint has seen better days. It is very faded and parts of the hood have started to peel. Quite disappointing but was warned of this when I had it painted. It has been I think 6 years now since I had it painted, and with out it being covered, it bakes in the sun everyday.

California SMOG checks suck and I hate that pretty much anything to help performance is illegal and needs to be dealt with before having it smogged. I need quickness, I need speed and the truck drives so boring without it.

I am going to slowly start swapping parts and things back to stock and sell things. I want a new Tacoma but with three kids, we need to get a bigger car for my wife, hopefully this Fall. Can't afford two car payments so I am going to take her car for a few years.

 

[nchacon1984]

just read the entire thread, man oh man...you 4runner is awesome, but turned sad lol once I read youre going to sell. best of luck in selling her.

 

[infamousRNR]

Man, I wish photobucket didn't rob us of all our build thread pics....

I want this thread back to the way it use to be! :sobbing:

 

[vukos]

Man, I wish photobucket didn't rob us of all our build thread pics....

I want this thread back to the way it use to be! :sobbing:

Another good thread ruined by photobucket

 

[zacattack20]

Man, I wish photobucket didn't rob us of all our build thread pics....

I want this thread back to the way it use to be! :sobbing:

If I have time one of these days, I'll fix it.