Ole Red - 1999 Toyota Tacoma Xtra Cab 2.7L 3RZ-FE 4x4 SR5 All Manual Build

X2

 

Hmmm... all toyota OEM. Looks legit from what I can tell. It would be nice to have everything in one place.

Absolutely, I plan to show a before and after video.

 

This guy's videos have been helpful and seems to be the only person who makes quality videos for this 2.7 3RZ-FE engine, although its in a 4Runner. Take a look at his stuff.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oy0uBD8YBhs&google_comment_id=z13pxvxpkrqne3hov04cfxfrfurpifep0lc0k

 

I assume you are talking about grime that is on the block and head,,Yes?.

If so, the easiest method is to grab a can of foamy engine cleaner at the parts house and run down to a pressure washer car wash or the same style of U-wash-it Commercial truck wash (they usually have a really hot high pressure rinse) and blast the majority off before you start work on your project. Some of those places have a enviro friendly engine cleaner/tire wash that you can select,,which means they usually don't work so good and eat lots of money. The Commercial truck washes are usually quite a bit higher pressure at a bit more cost. Only thing I had to use for years,,until I found a good pressure washer at Costco and Castrol Super clean made it's debut. Still make a pass down there and plunk in my $6 for a hot wash to get PNW pitch and junk off the hood, grease blobs that get whipped up on the side of the truck, built up spray wax, goobers in the bay and on the motor, ect. Don't shove seals inward with that blast,,use your head. Water and electronics don't get along to well either.

Since we are past that (?) and everything is apart,,,scraper, rags, dead toothbrushes, spray cleaner of some sort, picks and diggers. Cover up the open valvetrain with a big towel and get grubby. If you want, you can wait till you are done and assembled and do the car wash thing, which is what I would do,,if it's really bad. If it's not so bad and you can live with it,,then don't touch a thing till the engine comes out.

 

Update:

Got the new header, new catalytic converter, new exhaust system, new valve cover gasket and spark plug tube gaskets, new PCV valve and grommet, new headlights, new parking lights, and new tail lights all in.

 

Everything looks sic! I love the way that valve cover came out! How's the new exhaust sound and run?

 

How much did the exhaust + cat converter cost you?

Also what brand headlights? Better or worse output?

 

Nice work. Looks like it should.

Muffler clamps and the other exhaust connect points will need a re-tighten or at least checked after a few hot and colds(old or new hardware).

Any codes?.

 

Check engine light cleared itself after 3rd crank up and drive.

I plan to double check all the bolts, clamps, etc. after a couple days driving.

I bought it all together. If you look up prices on LCE website, knock off about 15% or so and that would be about right once you add back the cost of shipping.

Headlights, parking lights and tail lights all came in a group purchase off ebay. I am very pleased with the purchase considering the price and the upgrade. Here's a link:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1998-2000-Toyota-Tacoma-4WD-Black-Headlight-W-Corner-Dark-Smoke-Tail-Light-/331268249719?fits=Year:1999|Make:Toyota|Model:Tacoma&hash=item4d21205877:g:b20AAOSw1ZBUwFaf&vxp=mtr

Thanks man!! I am very pleased with the exhaust. Overall:

1) I got rid of the cracked header, fixed the code, and have all new & good quality products that I don't have to think about changing for a loooooong time.
2) I am happy with the sound it has. Warm on bottom and not to raspy (ricey) on top, nice little rumble on idle, and no annoying hum while cruising at low to mid RPM down highway or interstate. Its well balanced from bottom to top. Some may want more, but I am happy right where it is.
3) restored/ slightly improved performance. It never was a powerhouse of any sort but I am downshifting less often and able to pull up long grades in 5th with little to no speed loss. I definitely notice mid range improvement and the bottom end is ok. Mostly this is because I am no longer leaking but I do think there is improvement above what it was before the cracked manifold.

 

BEFORE:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VO4mBGkQh20&feature=youtu.be

 

AFTER:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GbVOSIuE-7I&feature=em-upload_owner

 

Thanks for the replies and for posting those vid clips. Very helpful. I've been deciding on where I want to go with the full exhaust or not. I've been thinking about doing the header and cat and building my own cat back. Have you been able to drive it a highway speeds yet to get a feel for the cabin noise it creates? My reservation is it screaming in my ear at 3k rpm's on the freeway. My Integra with a full type R exhaust already does that so I'm wanting something quieter at 75mph

 

No prob. Like I said in my quoted reply, when cruising down the highway and interstate it DOES NOT have the annoying hum. It tames out and just purrs along. I am very happy with this fact. I have been up to 80 and still not annoying at all. Its all behind me, nothing in the cab to complain about at all.

 

Sweet. Thanks man for the info. Hopefully this summer. Gotta save up now that I'm getting close to finishing up my re gearing project

 

Great info in this thread.
Can't wait to see your progress.

 

Yes, thank you all for your input so far. Its been very helpful.

Here is some more helpful info from another thread.

 

Still happy with the purchase. Overall things seem to be running much smoother. Regaining gas mileage has been a nice add. It's still nice to here the crank up and slight purr. I've gotten a couple compliments and funny enough had some people ask if it was a 6 cylinder.

Took it for a long ride up in the mountains this past weekend. Ran some seafoam and non-ethanol 93 octane through it to clean out and shake off some dust since its been a secondary vehicle for the last year or so. Idles great and pulled up the long grades better than it ever has.

I do have to make adjustments to get the heat shield around the catalytic converter out of the way. Certain low rpms cause the exhaust pipe to ting on the heat shield a little but it will be easy to fix. It hasn't bothered me enough to do it yet but I'll probably knock it out this weekend.

Overall, I would do it it again for sure. Since I installed it myself, it was totally worth it because the cost wasn't much different from going with an OEM mini header and LCE sent every part and piece I needed to install it.

 

My heat shield on my mini header also tings a bit once in awhile. Not enough to be bothersome and I know everything is tight. It's a seasoned truck.

 

Fo sho. Interestingly enough, it tings more when my wife is riding shotgun. Ha... She only weighs 120 lbs so its even funnier to make her think she's causing the problem. Big smile, laugh, and a WHATEVER...

 

lift and tires first!