Taco'd

[Poorboyota26]

I've been lurking here for a LONG time even before registering. I love the builds and trips that I have followed. You all do great work and I admire each and every one of you for your skills. That said I have been working on some things over the past few years and a recent project that landed in my lap is one I never saw comming and it's just too good not to share.

My father-in-law, who manages a Body shop, called me up a few days after Christmas and says,"I just bought a Tacoma for $600, can you come and look at it and tell me if i got a good one?" without hesitation I offered him 1k sight unseen over the phone. Then I started asking about it: Year, 2 or 4 wheel drive, color, cab, etc. I was going to part it out and make some much needed money. I'm in school at 30 yrs old and things are tight.

Here is my new truck.
These first few images were taken by my cell phone sorry for the quality.
It was hit by a Dodge pickup dead centered on the passenger frame rail. "pinhead in a Dodge"

Needless to say the frame is toast.

 

[Poorboyota26]

So I went to the gettin place and bought me a frame for $150

Here it is on my trailer that I built for camping/utility. I'd say it's being used more for utility.

It's an Extended cab frame, save for the rear cab and front bed body mounts everything is exactly the same.

The next day I went to the body shop and started taking it apart to see what else I needed to purchase/fix.

It was cold and snowing and full of the suck.

 

[Poorboyota26]

I think it's the EVAP canister, have to find a new used one they are spendy.

Pics of the cab after bed removal. Shouldn't be too hard to pull out.

I haven't been able to get the rear drivers door open because of the damage.

 

[Poorboyota26]

That was a Wednesday, fast forward to Saturday.

The frame is in the garage waiting for parts.

Sunday
Got the Tacoma up here to Denver so I can start on it.
Pics of it loaded. I drove it right up on the trailer no problems.

And a couple of it's new home for a while.

I got three doors pulled (I can't get the Drivers rear because of the damage)and the rear axle is ready to come out. The front suspension is soaking in PB Blaster and I pulled the rear seat and trim to have a look see what the rest of the damage is. Not bad for 3 hours I think.

 

[Poorboyota26]

It's a roller!

I got the grill off, the oil, ps fluid, front diff, brakes, and radiator all drained. Ready to pull radiator before it gets dinged up.

Rack and Pinion is ready to come out, just have to undo the high pressure line.

I was in the middle of pulling the front end parts and realized the truck was balancing on the forward jack stands I only have the two and then two of the tire jacks that came in the Tacoma and my 4 runner.
So I made some extra ones

They are pretty ghetto but they do the trick, and they are only wider than the frame by 1/4".

The frame I bought from Russ had a problem with the passenger lower control arm....It wouldn't come out. So we had to torch the sleeve out. It was the only way. Melted all the rubber bushings and what not too. So I got a little carried away with the cutting and now I have to fill in the control arm mounts.

It'll buff out.

Here's where I was at 11am. I'm going to use the rear housing for now. I can't afford another one at the moment. I think it will be ok. I need to pull the third and push out the dent then weld a hole shut where gear oil is seeping through, but it doesn't look bent. I put a straight edge on it as best I could to check it and it seemed straight.

I'll put the rack and pinion on tomorrow and push it over to the car wash for a quick spritz

14hours in.

 

[Poorboyota26]

I've been cut and pasting these from COTTORA so the progress is taking a little longer than the 15 min it takes me to post.

more.
Lot's done today!!!!

Big thanks to:

Brian (TheFatkid)
Erick (Eaarac)
Troy (RedrunnerTC)
Nate (00Regcab)
Brian (Ashaman)
John (Chilitoy)
Eric (Red Brewer)

I wouldn't have been able to do it witout you!!!

I would also like to thank my wife who has a 100 temp right now, for cooking all of the delicious food (washing her hands and keeping her germs out of it of course). She got sick half way through the day and after lunch went to bed where she is still.

PIC'S!!
Getting started figuring out a plan. From left to right: Eric, Brian (works for a toyota dealer and a great friend to have, Troy)

I welded casters to the frame so we could wheel it out, it didn't work they were too damn weak and one flopped over.

it would have worked if I had actually got the right casters instead of using what i had in the shop.

ORIG Frame and cab ready to come out.

Up in the air with it!

Motor and tranny going on new frame.

One big step towards and even happier Kevin. That's me on the right.

 

[Poorboyota26]

Ok so before I show you the next picture, I have to tell you that there was only an hour between the last and the next. There is also a story as to why it only took us an hour.
Here comes this old lady stompin up a storm from down the way. She is pissed. "what the hell do you think you are doing?, I am speechless, you can't be doing this here this is soo against HOA rules and regulations. who lives here do any of you live here blah blah blah blah for 15 min like this. I pipe up and tell her who I am and what is going on and that it is a one time one day thing and that we will be done before dark. "I don't care you stop that racket NOW. She even went after Troy who was grinding on the frame and yelled at him.
She said that we have an hour, even looked at her watch and said "It's 2:59 right now I'll be back at 4 and all of this had better be cleaned up and out of here. I want it out of here NOW"
SO.....

Cab is resting on frame right now and the old frame is getting cut up.

hastily back in the garage!

The old frame

All back in the garage and on the new frame. Just a little bit o work to do (frame mounts still have to be welded on thanks HOA *****).

She was a lot less pissed off when she saw that we were done and cleanning the drive, when she came back.

 

[Poorboyota26]

So this is wher she sit's I have been sick and haven't had much time to work on it with school starting back up and all. I have to work on getting the Rack and Pinion bolt out because it didn't fit in the new sleeve and I pounded it in anyway. OOPS!

I would love coments and suggestions. I would like to build some kind of shelving system in the bed when I get a new cab on. I've been researching tires and different setups suspension wise for weeks now and think I'm down to one.

 

[czenkov]

Wow :Wow1: looks like a great deal. Should have a sweet truck when you are done. Very cool.

 

[RU55ELL]

Should have had the lady arrested for harrassment.

 

[dustboy]

You sir are a determined and resourceful man of the highest order.

When I first saw that you were doing this work in the driveway of a complex, I knew you were going to have some cranky neigbors..Ta hell with 'em!

While you got the body off would be a fine time to add some plating to stiffen up the frame...

 

[Poorboyota26]

Thank you very much!!

I am renting a Town house and the land lady is one of the best out there. I didn't read the HOA rules and reg's before starting this project so I'm totally at fault. But she could have approached us in a different manner. A little sweet goes a lot further than a lot of sour.

 

[laxtoy]

this has to be one of the coolest things i've seen. gotta say, wish i had the body shop hook-up! def be following this.

 

[heeltoe989]

Hats OFF! :Wow1::Wow1::bowdown::beer::beer:

 

[Poorboyota26]

this has to be one of the coolest things i've seen. gotta say, wish i had the body shop hook-up! def be following this.

I have never had a nice looking rig. They are too utilitarian for me. You have to use the truck and in using it sometimes you get scratches and dings.

So I figure what the hell it's allready got dings.