RMP&O
Expedition Leader
Cool write up Kurt and nice re-visit to the truck. I am sure you will miss it from time to time. I really miss mine once in awhile. And then I remind myself how much more I like my Cruisers! 
Ours were very similar trucks and we have a similar story. I bought mine in 07 with 70k on it and had the S/C put on before I picked it up. So for me it was day 1 with the S/C. I had a ton of problems getting it dialed in the first year, TRD 7th injector kit was bad or wrong. Got a lot of codes and it was kind of a pita. But in the end it was dialed and worked super well. URD 7th injector kit, URD small pulley, Doug Thorley headers, Jardine free flow exhaust, cold air intake, LC Engineering TB spacer all really worked well on 5VZ-FE once dialed in. I do think I replaced the o2 sensors and the S/C heat sink issues fried my TPS sensor which unfortunately Toyota doesn't just sell the sensor, you have to buy the whole TB! I put 65k on the truck with the S/C, had compression tested before and during that mileage and it was good to go. After I put on the TB spacer and new TB, the next 30k miles I never pop'ed a code. Had I kept the truck, my next and final mod to the engine was going to be an intercooler. One last note about the 5VZ-FE and the S/C, TRD doesn't manufacture it, I don't recall the company that does off the top of my head. But they recommend rebuilding the nose cone or just replacing it on the S/C every 50k miles. Mine started weeping at around that mileage so we replaced the nose cone, iirc it was about $200-250 which I thought was a good price.
I drove it all the way to Panama and back twice. That was nearly 25k miles put on it in Latin America. I was also running 91 or better fuel that whole time. Never had an issue with this at all, in fact in Panama I got some 96 at the pump and got the best mileage I ever recorded int he truck, 16.5mpg! I replaced fuel filters on these trips 2x and both times they were clean. The myths about bad fuel in Latin America I think for the most part is BS, long as you buy from places that go through a lot of fuel, ie busy stations.
I also replaced the steering rack on my truck during the 65k miles. It was OEM from Toyota and I had zero issues with it. I agree lifted Tacos will need this replaced more often than stock. I got two t-case leaks during the 65k miles. One was rear output and other was on top, iirc the shifter. I replaced starter, alt, w/p and timing belt (at time of S/C install), wheel bearings and seals all as preventative maintenance before long trips. None of it had failed on me though.
I didn't have OME suspension, rather Icon in front and their reservoir shocks in the rear. I had no issues with the front even with added weight, the Icon fronts worked the treat out of the box. Only thing is they do need a rebuild every 75-100k and mine were getting there at about 65k on them. The rear shocks were also good with no issues, I adjusted pressure in them a couple times. Rear leaves though and air bags did cause some issues though until I got it all worked out. At first I had Deaver off the shelf rear leaves and Air Lift air bags. The off the shelf Deavers were to light duty and the Air lift bags had some built in major issues, in particular plastic breaking and then putting holes in the air bag. I weighed the truck, front & rear and sent this info to Deaver who then built me a custom leaf pack. I then put in Firestone air bags with a much improved mounting system. The Firestones don't have plastic on them, are much thicker and in my opinion the only air bag worth using on the Taco. Any ways, after doing this the truck was dialed in super good for suspension. Previous set up I had to run 75+psi in the air bags for the weight, new set up 20-30psi was perfect when fully loaded and the truck just felt much better in the rear.
My only real complaints with the truck was GVW and how heavy it got fast. I was around 6,000lbs packed for a trip and loaded with fuel! Even with a trans cooler I feel it was hard on the trans. I also went through brake pads way to fast and I had done the LC Engineering Tundra front brake upgrade. I also was not fond of the low seating position. Otherwise no complaints and it was a great truck that served me well.
The best mods I did were the S/C and an aux fuel tank. Even with the S/C and getting at best 14mpg I was able to get a solid 500 miles between fuel ups! 39 gallons of onboard fuel was sweet for long trips.
Here is mine, one of the few times I had it without a topper on the back.
And in Baja, playing in a canyon.
Apologies for mucking up your thread but I figured a little reflection on my Taco might help anybody with one too. They are great trucks! My only advice would be, try to not get to heavy and keep the weight down. If you want more power the S/C is a great mod. An aux fuel tank is sweet, even if not S/C'ed the stock 19ish gallon tank doesn't give great range, just soso. I think a trans cooler should be added it your add much weight to the truck. Rear frame plates are a must. I feel custom rear leaves and Firestone air bags is the only way to go for weight. I do like OME though and have been real happy with OME in my Cruisers.
Cheers
Ours were very similar trucks and we have a similar story. I bought mine in 07 with 70k on it and had the S/C put on before I picked it up. So for me it was day 1 with the S/C. I had a ton of problems getting it dialed in the first year, TRD 7th injector kit was bad or wrong. Got a lot of codes and it was kind of a pita. But in the end it was dialed and worked super well. URD 7th injector kit, URD small pulley, Doug Thorley headers, Jardine free flow exhaust, cold air intake, LC Engineering TB spacer all really worked well on 5VZ-FE once dialed in. I do think I replaced the o2 sensors and the S/C heat sink issues fried my TPS sensor which unfortunately Toyota doesn't just sell the sensor, you have to buy the whole TB! I put 65k on the truck with the S/C, had compression tested before and during that mileage and it was good to go. After I put on the TB spacer and new TB, the next 30k miles I never pop'ed a code. Had I kept the truck, my next and final mod to the engine was going to be an intercooler. One last note about the 5VZ-FE and the S/C, TRD doesn't manufacture it, I don't recall the company that does off the top of my head. But they recommend rebuilding the nose cone or just replacing it on the S/C every 50k miles. Mine started weeping at around that mileage so we replaced the nose cone, iirc it was about $200-250 which I thought was a good price.
I drove it all the way to Panama and back twice. That was nearly 25k miles put on it in Latin America. I was also running 91 or better fuel that whole time. Never had an issue with this at all, in fact in Panama I got some 96 at the pump and got the best mileage I ever recorded int he truck, 16.5mpg! I replaced fuel filters on these trips 2x and both times they were clean. The myths about bad fuel in Latin America I think for the most part is BS, long as you buy from places that go through a lot of fuel, ie busy stations.
I also replaced the steering rack on my truck during the 65k miles. It was OEM from Toyota and I had zero issues with it. I agree lifted Tacos will need this replaced more often than stock. I got two t-case leaks during the 65k miles. One was rear output and other was on top, iirc the shifter. I replaced starter, alt, w/p and timing belt (at time of S/C install), wheel bearings and seals all as preventative maintenance before long trips. None of it had failed on me though.
I didn't have OME suspension, rather Icon in front and their reservoir shocks in the rear. I had no issues with the front even with added weight, the Icon fronts worked the treat out of the box. Only thing is they do need a rebuild every 75-100k and mine were getting there at about 65k on them. The rear shocks were also good with no issues, I adjusted pressure in them a couple times. Rear leaves though and air bags did cause some issues though until I got it all worked out. At first I had Deaver off the shelf rear leaves and Air Lift air bags. The off the shelf Deavers were to light duty and the Air lift bags had some built in major issues, in particular plastic breaking and then putting holes in the air bag. I weighed the truck, front & rear and sent this info to Deaver who then built me a custom leaf pack. I then put in Firestone air bags with a much improved mounting system. The Firestones don't have plastic on them, are much thicker and in my opinion the only air bag worth using on the Taco. Any ways, after doing this the truck was dialed in super good for suspension. Previous set up I had to run 75+psi in the air bags for the weight, new set up 20-30psi was perfect when fully loaded and the truck just felt much better in the rear.
My only real complaints with the truck was GVW and how heavy it got fast. I was around 6,000lbs packed for a trip and loaded with fuel! Even with a trans cooler I feel it was hard on the trans. I also went through brake pads way to fast and I had done the LC Engineering Tundra front brake upgrade. I also was not fond of the low seating position. Otherwise no complaints and it was a great truck that served me well.
The best mods I did were the S/C and an aux fuel tank. Even with the S/C and getting at best 14mpg I was able to get a solid 500 miles between fuel ups! 39 gallons of onboard fuel was sweet for long trips.
Here is mine, one of the few times I had it without a topper on the back.
And in Baja, playing in a canyon.
Apologies for mucking up your thread but I figured a little reflection on my Taco might help anybody with one too. They are great trucks! My only advice would be, try to not get to heavy and keep the weight down. If you want more power the S/C is a great mod. An aux fuel tank is sweet, even if not S/C'ed the stock 19ish gallon tank doesn't give great range, just soso. I think a trans cooler should be added it your add much weight to the truck. Rear frame plates are a must. I feel custom rear leaves and Firestone air bags is the only way to go for weight. I do like OME though and have been real happy with OME in my Cruisers.
Cheers
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