The more I see videos like this the happier I am to have held on to my18 yr old purchased new in 2003 SR5 v6 4x4 extra cab with now only 90,000 miles on it. Love bringing it into the local Toyota dealership for normal maintenance and laughing at them when they try to talk me into selling it to them.
I have had mechanics,people at work,and someone at a tire shop wanting to buy my Tacoma and I laugh also...I laugh even more when they offer a low price and they tell me "well it's a old truck with a lot of miles" and I just reply with "good luck finding one in decent shape for under $6K,at least not in California unless it's really run down and salvaged...even then people still sell them at high price in bad shape.
I literally got pulled over in Palestine, Texas this past Friday morning and the cop was asking me how many miles I have on my 07 Tacoma. I lied and said it has nearly 300,000 and he still wanted to buy it. When I told him no he rescinded his initial offer for a warning and issued me a speeding ticket. Not this truck Porky
@@dannyguerra1070Your comment is 2 years old so idk how much people wanted for these trucks then but now they're going for 10-15k in California, I'm looking to buy one but the price makes me rethink it.
Man, me too. I was too young when baby yotas and samurais were new. I wish I didn't live in the Rust Belt. I bought an old Samurai but man it's about gone. We're not allowed to have anything small and light and fun anymore.
Go ahead and get some SPC upper control arms. Your caster needs to be corrected, also allows you to run a 255/85/r16 tire for more ground clearance. Last thing is when your steering rack needs replacing (it will..) get some lockout style camber bolts. (You have to remove the steering rack for camber bolt replacement/ LCA bushings, do all three at once.)
You need upper arms to get proper alignment. The upper ball joints on stock arms bind and wear at that lift height. The ball joint shaft (WILL) wear through and break. I have personally seen it 3 times on 3 different trucks, and basically the wheel comes off and is Potentially DEADLY if driving. Lower it down 2.5 inches of lift and you should be ok or get different arms with a uniball joint like camburge.
@Joe Smith You also had a video person and the editor if it was different, I ex[ected they would drop my comment but maybe they have not seen it. I like Tommy and Kase and I have made many mistakes not trying to bash on him. It is always easier to be the proof reader than the writer I learned decades ago.
Great build. I've got an 04 DC. I run 235/85's on stock suspension, and the little truck punches way above it's weight. And is nearly unstoppable in the snow.
Nice Lift. I have a 2003 and went with OME Lift kit, Toytec diff drop, and JBA UCAs. One small comment- the area you mentioned under the truck is the actually the transmission pan, not the oil pan.
With over 100k mi on those rear leafs, you REALLY should have replaced the spring pack entirely. Tossing in an AAL only delays the inevitable. But you are absolutely correct in telling folk NOT to use blocks.
I agree but the whole point is a budget overlander rig so they're trying to cut costs wherever they can, I think it's a refreshing change from the 75,000 dollar trucks they are usually playing with
@@ShawDAMAN It's not cost cutting if you have to do it twice. An AAL is ~ $200 and a new OME pack is ~ $400-450. Yes, its more money, but you have also increased your carrying capacity. AAL don't increase carrying capacity and after a few thousand miles your leafpack will look like a "w" or the leafs will fail outright. If you're so limited on budget that you can't fit new leafs, then you SHOULD get a 2" block for $40 OR extended shackles for $100(a safer choice) and save up for springs. As soon as you start adding gear that most overlanders need/use (tent, stove, water, fuel, camp comforts...) and you'll see the rear sag out and it'll drive nose-high. When sitting empty, theres a reason it should sit high in the rear by 1-2 inches. And considering what they spent on the front coils they REALLY cheaped out on the rear. A budget front lift would have been Bilstein 5100s or a tophat spacer. Don't tell me you're going to spend $900 on front coilovers and then cheap out with AAL.
Spray the frame with a anti-gravel coating or some kind of protecting film. It helps a lot to prevent rust in the long term in a proper off road. Also try to install some proper inner mud guards in the back.
Tommy has no idea what a transmission fluid pan looks like, just pray he doesn't dump any motor oil in the trans dip tube "oil pan". It definitely needs a re-gear esp w/the 4 cylinder and being an auto, even w/the stock tires, and throw in lockers front and rear while getting the re-gear. Sliders and rear wrap around bumper and your set after that.
What about upper control arms in the front? I know the installer said it was ok to leave stock, but I thought it was advisable to change whenever you lift front by more than 2" ? I am no expert, just trying to educate myself, but it seems foolish to me to not spend the extra $ on uca's to get the most out of those expensive coil overs? Installer said the ride quality would he better with aftermarket uca, but won't the whole suspension system, and your tires, last longer as well if you try to maintain the factory geometry ?
@@joeetlinger3423 its just going to put a slightly sharper angle on the cv's and ball joints. You are also loosing down travel with this, so you are right but its not necessary depending on the wheeling your doing.
@@lk6912 thanks, that makes sense. So the cv and ball joints will just wear out slightly quicker, depending on driving conditions. Even the paved roads suck where I live, nevermind the washboard dirt roads and old logging roads I drive during hunting season, so I think I'm going to just do the uca's while it's on the lift, and get as much life as I can out of the other components. Thanks again.
Very entry level. It is also weird how so many car review channels and automotive journalists know so little about vehicles mechanically or evwn which components are which
Funny how this Yota could still outlive and keep up with the Raptor. Not speed, but everything else, while its 18 years old and 1/8 the price. (Im a ford guy too but no bias. These little trucks are tough)
@@MikeLaRock88 I hate Ford and am a bit of a Toyota guy (I have an 01 Tacoma and 4th Gen 4Runner). The Toyota does not keep up with the Raptor in terms of speed, off road performance, towing, comfort, handling, or safety, as well as many other things.
My buddies dad was in the car business and my buddy got what I think was a brand new first gen Tacoma. It was a four cyl auto 4 by reg cab with some bilsteins. Nothing special but man, that was a great truck. We took it all over Redington in Tucson and it did great. We never took it to Chiva Falls but in all our drunkin camping adventures it was amazing
This truck is a great candidate for a 5 speed swap. If you were to keep the auto, you would want to re-gear the differentials. I pushed around 33's with a 5 speed swapped 22RE truck with the 4:30s and it did fine so i dont see this 3RZ having any issues.
Love those earlier Toyota pick ups (especially standard cab) and Four Runners. I like the look of the lift/tires but hate the rag draped over the bed. I promise not to mention it again until the next video.
Nice looking truck! I'd second those who are recommending upper control arms- spc makes affordable adjustable ones that ride well. I'd also do lower ball joints, they're prone to sudden failure that you don't want to happen on the trail. Lastly, I'd really recommend going up at least 1" in tire size to a 265/75/16. Even with the 4 cylinder that truck's light enough to perform ok, it will look much better with the lift, and perform much better off road.
That lift really make Baby Yota look like it should have to begin with. I was also impressed with the affordable cost of the lift system. Nice job, guys.
Excited to see he progress with the bumpers. My question is doesn't that amount of lift require different upper control arms? Is there no castor on the front wheels?
Hopefully you guys put spacers on the front diff to lessen the CV axle angle. Otherwise you're going to be wearing out the boots pretty quick with that lift.
Did eventually change the upper control arm ? normally when you install aftermarket performance coilovers you would want to upgrade the adjustable and durable UCA. When I installed my Icon coilovers I changed the stock one and installed an SPC UCA.
Nice job to start! I look forward to more modification on this Tacoma I do like that 'canvas' top over the cargo box area, it adds a certain 'toughness' to the looks of the truck. I did laugh to myself, when I watched him trying to remove the rear spring center bolt,.. I wonder why no cutting torch or mini grinder? Oh well, to each his own I guess.
I have a Toytec lift on my 2000 Tacoma PreRunner and I’m surprised they didn’t say anything about angled axle shims for the rear. The rep at Toytec that I spoke to said that the shims would keep the stock angle on the driveshaft/rear diff. Either way, love my Toytec lift
The lift looks good. Thinking about doing something similar on my Colorado. How much harsher did the add-a-leaf make the ride? The cost which I assume included the installation and alignment sounded reasonable.
Another great video guy’s. Good job guys!
The more I see videos like this the happier I am to have held on to my18 yr old purchased new in 2003 SR5 v6 4x4 extra cab with now only 90,000 miles on it. Love bringing it into the local Toyota dealership for normal maintenance and laughing at them when they try to talk me into selling it to them.
I have had mechanics,people at work,and someone at a tire shop wanting to buy my Tacoma and I laugh also...I laugh even more when they offer a low price and they tell me "well it's a old truck with a lot of miles" and I just reply with "good luck finding one in decent shape for under $6K,at least not in California unless it's really run down and salvaged...even then people still sell them at high price in bad shape.
Exactly. I still have my 1991 toyota 4x4 22re 4cylinder bought new and now has 151,000 miles. Great trucks.
I literally got pulled over in Palestine, Texas this past Friday morning and the cop was asking me how many miles I have on my 07 Tacoma. I lied and said it has nearly 300,000 and he still wanted to buy it. When I told him no he rescinded his initial offer for a warning and issued me a speeding ticket. Not this truck Porky
@@organicandy200s5😂😂awesome
@@dannyguerra1070Your comment is 2 years old so idk how much people wanted for these trucks then but now they're going for 10-15k in California, I'm looking to buy one but the price makes me rethink it.
Love the yota project. Miss when toyotas were small
Man, me too. I was too young when baby yotas and samurais were new.
I wish I didn't live in the Rust Belt. I bought an old Samurai but man it's about gone.
We're not allowed to have anything small and light and fun anymore.
Even the non taco were the best. You could get the made in Japan version or the American version just by looking at the bed
Some would argue that my gen 3 taco is still small hahaha
I miss when the yota was affordable. Like all other trucks they are overpriced
@@thejuiceisloose8703 OMG I know, high priced new and even with 100k miles, what a pain
Loving the “smaller” Tacos getting some build love. I always liked the concept of the smaller engine/short wheel base as an adventure rig.
I have a 99. Great size. I'll spend $10,000 to have everything rebuilt before I'd buy a new one.
I hate their size and that butt ugly front.
What you pointed to and called the “oil pan” is actually the transmission fluid pan. Best not to confuse them.
Yeah that part hurt my brain 😑
I was going to say the same. 🤣
Did that once,ended up draining the transmission fluid. Luckily i noticed lol. (Im not an idiot i was just very tired)
@@kelleyjustice8752 you sold that vehicle didnt you?
Otherwise you would have already been replacing the trans.
Grow up
Go ahead and get some SPC upper control arms. Your caster needs to be corrected, also allows you to run a 255/85/r16 tire for more ground clearance. Last thing is when your steering rack needs replacing (it will..) get some lockout style camber bolts. (You have to remove the steering rack for camber bolt replacement/ LCA bushings, do all three at once.)
You need upper arms to get proper alignment. The upper ball joints on stock arms bind and wear at that lift height. The ball joint shaft (WILL) wear through and break. I have personally seen it 3 times on 3 different trucks, and basically the wheel comes off and is Potentially DEADLY if driving. Lower it down 2.5 inches of lift and you should be ok or get different arms with a uniball joint like camburge.
At 3:56 Tommy and Kase that would be the transmission, oil pan was under the front skid plate.
@Joe Smith You also had a video person and the editor if it was different, I ex[ected they would drop my comment but maybe they have not seen it. I like Tommy and Kase and I have made many mistakes not trying to bash on him. It is always easier to be the proof reader than the writer I learned decades ago.
Great build. I've got an 04 DC. I run 235/85's on stock suspension, and the little truck punches way above it's weight. And is nearly unstoppable in the snow.
Baby yota, yes. Baby raptor, not even close. Needs a long travel kit up front with deaver leafs out back. But for a lifted taco it should look good.
That frame would clean up real well with a bit of time and good paint . I really like this little Toyota .
Nice Lift. I have a 2003 and went with OME Lift kit, Toytec diff drop, and JBA UCAs. One small comment- the area you mentioned under the truck is the actually the transmission pan, not the oil pan.
Adding front rear Diff Lock and it will be perfect!
With over 100k mi on those rear leafs, you REALLY should have replaced the spring pack entirely. Tossing in an AAL only delays the inevitable. But you are absolutely correct in telling folk NOT to use blocks.
I agree but the whole point is a budget overlander rig so they're trying to cut costs wherever they can, I think it's a refreshing change from the 75,000 dollar trucks they are usually playing with
@@ShawDAMAN It's not cost cutting if you have to do it twice. An AAL is ~ $200 and a new OME pack is ~ $400-450. Yes, its more money, but you have also increased your carrying capacity. AAL don't increase carrying capacity and after a few thousand miles your leafpack will look like a "w" or the leafs will fail outright. If you're so limited on budget that you can't fit new leafs, then you SHOULD get a 2" block for $40 OR extended shackles for $100(a safer choice) and save up for springs. As soon as you start adding gear that most overlanders need/use (tent, stove, water, fuel, camp comforts...) and you'll see the rear sag out and it'll drive nose-high. When sitting empty, theres a reason it should sit high in the rear by 1-2 inches.
And considering what they spent on the front coils they REALLY cheaped out on the rear. A budget front lift would have been Bilstein 5100s or a tophat spacer. Don't tell me you're going to spend $900 on front coilovers and then cheap out with AAL.
@@f1y7rap makes sense
@@f1y7rap completely agree. Rear AAL was an odd choice.
@@ShawDAMAN then they could have gotten $600 bilstein 5100s + coils
Great addition. Love my Yota. Unstoppable!!!
Tommys funny "ive done nothing" lol
Project is awesome!! Tacomas are great trucks. I have a 1999 4Runner and it will outlive me. Great trucks!
You must wash it every hour
@@Welcometofacsistube lmao wow
Love the 'mighty car mods' channel logo at 5:14 someone there is clearly a fan.
Love all the Toyota off road content. Hoping to see some Seqouia and GX460/LX570 toys in the future.
Love Toytec!
I've put their suspension on 2 different Tacomas. Great people, easy to work with and awesome products!
@MightyCarMods CHOPPED - 5:14 Marty and Moog would be proud
@ 1:53, the Easy Mac. LMFAO
great video guys, btw, loved the @mightycarmods “cameo” at 5:14
@5:22 I do like the humble honesty lol
Great video! The shocks are looking great.
Great to see Tacoma content! This is not a long-travel kit, and on stock bumpstops. Try not to jump it. :)
Great job. Love these old Tacomas!
Man I cant wait to see what kind of new shoes you guys are going to put on that cool little truck!
Baby yota has a leafy sandwich!! Should have put on front end arms for the extra lift added but in all looks good. You have a good mechanic there.
Spray the frame with a anti-gravel coating or some kind of protecting film. It helps a lot to prevent rust in the long term in a proper off road. Also try to install some proper inner mud guards in the back.
My first truck was 1995.5 Tacoma with the 2.7L 150hp. The first year they came out and they had their fair share of issues.
Would love to see you guys add lockers to Baby Yota!
At least a lunch box locker in the front.
Now now, we don't want to create a tank, do we? 😂
@@kapilratilal4039 Yes, we definitely do! 😁
Awesome! I hope to do this soon but on my own. Not a pro but I will make it work!
Hi Tommy the baby yota don't need a new upper control arm for the new height? Also I will say that a 32" tire it's better for on and off road
In most cases going over 3in is a good idea to upgrade the UCAs. Not sure why they didn’t
Great Job. The old girl looks like a million bucks!
Very cool truck! Well done 👌🏼
What a great build. Really enjoying this one. Thanks!
Tommy has no idea what a transmission fluid pan looks like, just pray he doesn't dump any motor oil in the trans dip tube "oil pan". It definitely needs a re-gear esp w/the 4 cylinder and being an auto, even w/the stock tires, and throw in lockers front and rear while getting the re-gear. Sliders and rear wrap around bumper and your set after that.
What about upper control arms in the front? I know the installer said it was ok to leave stock, but I thought it was advisable to change whenever you lift front by more than 2" ? I am no expert, just trying to educate myself, but it seems foolish to me to not spend the extra $ on uca's to get the most out of those expensive coil overs? Installer said the ride quality would he better with aftermarket uca, but won't the whole suspension system, and your tires, last longer as well if you try to maintain the factory geometry ?
@@joeetlinger3423 its just going to put a slightly sharper angle on the cv's and ball joints. You are also loosing down travel with this, so you are right but its not necessary depending on the wheeling your doing.
@@lk6912 thanks, that makes sense. So the cv and ball joints will just wear out slightly quicker, depending on driving conditions. Even the paved roads suck where I live, nevermind the washboard dirt roads and old logging roads I drive during hunting season, so I think I'm going to just do the uca's while it's on the lift, and get as much life as I can out of the other components. Thanks again.
that toytec spring adjuster looks great, much better than a typical sports car coilover tool.
Just picked up a 2004 and these tips will help - thanks!
"mini raptor"
Well you're about 400HP off but at least you have an entry level suspension...?
Click bait at its finest
Very entry level. It is also weird how so many car review channels and automotive journalists know so little about vehicles mechanically or evwn which components are which
@@sam_s_ bc they know viewers dont care
Funny how this Yota could still outlive and keep up with the Raptor. Not speed, but everything else, while its 18 years old and 1/8 the price.
(Im a ford guy too but no bias. These little trucks are tough)
@@MikeLaRock88 I hate Ford and am a bit of a Toyota guy (I have an 01 Tacoma and 4th Gen 4Runner). The Toyota does not keep up with the Raptor in terms of speed, off road performance, towing, comfort, handling, or safety, as well as many other things.
I just found your channel. Nice job and very informative. Gave me incentive to keep my 16 double cab Tacoma, TY.
Nice lift and suspension upgrade!
Saw a "Mighty Car Mods" fan...
Nice tape I spotted on that wrench. Glad I wasn't that only one
That suspension upgrade will make a huge difference on and offroad.
Put the tires on!!!! Every video we hear that it needs “beefier tires”
Probably at end of series
They have to have you keep watching until the end to make more money.
I love your truck! I have nearly the same one, 2001 single cab 2.7, MT, 4x4. Looking forward to more updates!
Loving the Mighty Car Mods tape at 5:15
My buddies dad was in the car business and my buddy got what I think was a brand new first gen Tacoma. It was a four cyl auto 4 by reg cab with some bilsteins. Nothing special but man, that was a great truck. We took it all over Redington in Tucson and it did great. We never took it to Chiva Falls but in all our drunkin camping adventures it was amazing
This truck is a great candidate for a 5 speed swap. If you were to keep the auto, you would want to re-gear the differentials. I pushed around 33's with a 5 speed swapped 22RE truck with the 4:30s and it did fine so i dont see this 3RZ having any issues.
00:33 bottom right corner....
Love those earlier Toyota pick ups (especially standard cab) and Four Runners. I like the look of the lift/tires but hate the rag draped over the bed. I promise not to mention it again until the next video.
Nice looking truck! I'd second those who are recommending upper control arms- spc makes affordable adjustable ones that ride well. I'd also do lower ball joints, they're prone to sudden failure that you don't want to happen on the trail. Lastly, I'd really recommend going up at least 1" in tire size to a 265/75/16. Even with the 4 cylinder that truck's light enough to perform ok, it will look much better with the lift, and perform much better off road.
Really enjoying this build guys!
saw the red and automatically was like it’s toytec haha. i had them on my 2003 tacoma. hella good suspension for the price fs
Go with a 265/70r17 Nitto Ridge grappler in SL load range and when off-roading disconnect the front sway bar its a amazing difference!
Thats going to look dope.
That lift really make Baby Yota look like it should have to begin with. I was also impressed with the affordable cost of the lift system. Nice job, guys.
Price is relative to quality
the existing wheels and tires looks great, glad you’re not changing much there!
No upper control arms?
Had a 2003 just like this. Shorty with a bench seat. Sold it for my 2012 TRD Sport. Wish I had kept it somehow after seeing this video!
I like the wheel/tire combo! Are those steelies? What kind are they and what offset are you running, 15mm?
Now that is how you do a Toyota video! Not a TRX mention anywhere!
Tommy and Case have it!
Excited to see he progress with the bumpers. My question is doesn't that amount of lift require different upper control arms? Is there no castor on the front wheels?
Enjoying this build!
Baby yoda is gonna look sweet! Can’t wait till it’s on tlfbids.
Hopefully you guys put spacers on the front diff to lessen the CV axle angle. Otherwise you're going to be wearing out the boots pretty quick with that lift.
I used Toytec on my 2018 Tacoma. Great stuff. Truck looks great
I got a RUST FREE 1996 XL 4X4 220K IN OREGON.
Nice Yota. Those Alumas are nice. I was going to choose those last year but I went with 6112s and 5160s
Loving this build! Looks great.
Love the trance-y music starting at 4:55. They used it before, when working on one of the trucks (Gunsmoke?) at the yak ranch.
The truck is looking so awesome!
Did eventually change the upper control arm ? normally when you install aftermarket performance coilovers you would want to upgrade the adjustable and durable UCA. When I installed my Icon coilovers I changed the stock one and installed an SPC UCA.
Thumbs up guys, great content!
Please go with Grabber ATX for a proper budget alternative to the KO2s! Baby Yota is looking great!
Upper body strength of a gerbil, LOL!
I'd replace ball joints just for good measure. Nice vid guys!
Roman already had it in for them.
Nice job to start! I look forward to more modification on this Tacoma I do like that 'canvas' top over the cargo box area, it adds a certain 'toughness' to the looks of the truck.
I did laugh to myself, when I watched him trying to remove the rear spring center bolt,.. I wonder why no cutting torch or mini grinder? Oh well, to each his own I guess.
How does bby Yota riding on stock upper control arms thats nice
Looking good keep them coming
Baby Yota gettin' swoll.
Love the channel, love the Tacoma project. Think lifting it looks a little tippy, but love the Yoda foundation.
Beware of torn cv boots now that you changed the angle. Old boots don't like new angles. I wold suggest a high angle boot.
Morning Tommy and Kase!!... Happy Saturday!!😎
I have a Toytec lift on my 2000 Tacoma PreRunner and I’m surprised they didn’t say anything about angled axle shims for the rear. The rep at Toytec that I spoke to said that the shims would keep the stock angle on the driveshaft/rear diff. Either way, love my Toytec lift
Was raising the bracket hard to do? What kind of steps did that take?
It always cracks me up to see Tommy’s crazy long fingers
I really don’t like the “baby raptor” in the title.
Yes, it is more capable. Yes, it is better riding. But it ain’t a raptor. Not even close.
Yeah the only way they could call it that is by going going long travel front and rear lol
yeah they did't even change out the the upper control arms. It has the same wheel travel as stock
@@SuperBlackhawkdriver leaving stock UCAs with a 3" lift is really lame.
Click, meet Bait.
@@mambi74 darn you, internet!
Cool truck... how much was the installation?
The lift looks good. Thinking about doing something similar on my Colorado. How much harsher did the add-a-leaf make the ride? The cost which I assume included the installation and alignment sounded reasonable.
Thanks for including the price of the kit. Seems like a lot of channels fail to include that information.
We guys need to add lockers and this truck will be awesome!
Its a good build, but I feel that a brand new leaf pack and after market upper control arms would have made this a lot better
Awesome video guys!! Makes me want to do that lift to my 3rd gen 4Runner!
You guys should place a billboard ad on Tommy's mammoth jacket..🤣
Loving this series.
What is the name of the bed cover you are using?
coveting that soft topper ...
Looking really good. I'm looking forward to upcoming videos on the baby Yoda
Why wouldn’t you get new upper control arms?