[MatosTaco]

Here is the latest on the clutch/transmission series. Unfortunately, I have not been able to finish it due to a broken pivot bolt for the clutch release lever.

I actually ended up ordering the same bolt on eBay from a Toyota dealership in California since it was taking my local place too long to get it. They ended up getting it just before the eBay one arrived, so I picked the local one up yesterday and the eBay one came in today. Hard to believe the entire truck is useless without this one, tiny bolt
IMG_20220402_173414536_HDR by Jose, on Flickr

 

[MatosTaco]

In the interim, I have devoted more focus to my steering wheel wrap. I think this one came out quite good. I started stitching it, but I decided the string was too thin for my liking. I am awaiting the arrival of some proper steering wheel thread I ordered so I can finish it.

IMG_20220402_205316985 by Jose, on Flickr
IMG_20220402_205324971_HDR by Jose, on Flickr

I'm beside myself with joy at how well this thing fits. If you want it done right, clearly, you have to do it yourself!

 

[MatosTaco]

Well, my transmission is back in and the new clutch is nice and soft. It is rated for less than the previous clutch (300 vs 350) yet it feels way softer. I'm talking factory clutch pedal softness vs the other one where I was doing an awkward leg press every shift lol. Unfortunately, my ECU did not like being disconnected this whole time and now struggles to fuel the truck on startup. It normalizes once the truck is warm, but will struggle to start and struggle to idle once it cools down again... the eternal battle smh. Check out the video below:

 

[MatosTaco]

On another note, I discovered that my Brake Booster pin was not adjusted correctly. I had not set a sufficient gap between it and the master cylinder. While driving, the truck struggled to move forward and I thought the new clutch was already bad. Turns out that the brakes were engaging once the brake fluid warmed up. I ended up resetting the gap and driving the truck three times before I got it right, but it's finally acting right. Now, if I can just figure out the starting issue, this thing should finally be road worthy once more!

 

[MatosTaco]

Thanks to Enola Gaia, I was able to figure out why my truck had trouble starting. Turns out, I broke my coolant temperature sensor or ECT that feeds a temperature signal from the back of the head over to the ECU. Without this signal, the ECU attempts to start the motor as if it were warm and those fuel trims clearly don't work on a cold motor. This is why it runs and starts perfectly once the motor is warm. The sensor is between the head and firewall, on the passenger's side, just above the bellhousing. It is easy to find because there is an electrical connector coming off the main harness that goes straight to it. In order to remove it, unplug the connector. From there, you will need a rig consisting of a couple of extensions and a flex joint. A deep 19 MM socket is the size you will need for the sensor itself. It goes without saying, there is coolant on the other side of that so it should only be changed when the motor is cold... and with the motor off...

My setup
IMG_20220418_181142440_HDR by Jose, on Flickr
IMG_20220418_181148720_HDR by Jose, on Flickr

Here is the broken sensor, I probably broke this while tightening down the bolts on the upper bellhousing
IMG_20220418_181325478_HDR by Jose, on Flickr
IMG_20220418_181640989 by Jose, on Flickr

I ordered two OEM replacements just in case one comes in first. One on eBay for ~$35 (38.52 after tax) and one off Toyota for $24.35($26.05 after tax). It is part number 8942235010.

 

[MatosTaco]

I ended up with the wrong part from Toyota, as I had ordered the wrong part number. I corrected the number in my post above. In any case, I was able to get a sensor that works at my local Autozone. It is part SU4007, I chose the Duralast one. I am happy to report that the truck is now working beautifully! Check out the how to below:

 

[MatosTaco]

I finished my extra steering wheel project a while back and I forgot to post it on here. As you know from following this thread, I made the leather wrap from scratch; fitting, cutting and stitching it all myself. The airbag cover is also lightly customized. It started as an IS cover but I've added a 3D printed and resin filled Toyota emblem and blacked out the lower strip (originally silver). This has to be the best fitting wrap I have had on a three spoke to date and the leather also feels fantastic in the hands! I've posted this one for sale on Offerup, but can sell it here as well if anyone is interested.

IMG_20220418_193133028_HDR by Jose, on Flickr
[ Jose, on Flickr
IMG_20220418_193053628_HDR by Jose, on Flickr

 

[MatosTaco]

Not really Taco content, but I hit an autocross this weekend in the Camaro. It was a lot of fun and I definitely plan to take the truck out again.

 

[MatosTaco]

Got another steering wheel done. This one with red stitching
IMG_20220727_173122302_HDR by Jose, on Flickr
IMG_20220727_173142612_HDR by Jose, on Flickr
IMG_20220727_173205383_HDR by Jose, on Flickr

IMG_20220801_211803044_HDR by Jose, on Flickr
Disregard the silver marks, that's left over leather pen which I remove with a q-tip afterward.

 

[MatosTaco]

Here's an update on how my carbon fiber wheel is holding up and also some detail on two leather wrapped wheels that I did.

 

[Flippy02]

Here's an update on how my carbon fiber wheel is holding up and also some detail on two leather wrapped wheels that I did.

Are you selling these wheels? Or doing work to rewrap wheels?

 

[MatosTaco]

Are you selling these wheels? Or doing work to rewrap wheels?

Right now I am only selling them. In the future, I may be open to work on wheels provided by others.

 

[MatosTaco]

Not a Tacoma, but I needed to get this new toy useful so I could move the Tacoma into the garage for the next project!

 

[MatosTaco]

I failed miserably at doing a new wrinkle finish valve cover for my Tacoma. However, I did gain some good lessons learned that will make it perfect next time. Stay tuned, in the meantime, enjoy watching my fail lol!

 

[MatosTaco]

Since I have to sand down the valve cover anyway, I went ahead and unmasked it all and added an oil cap to see what it could look like. It looks pretty good from this angle
IMG_20220912_103050653 by Jose, on Flickr

However, once you look up close, you see the issues with it
IMG_20220912_103124008 by Jose, on Flickr
IMG_20220912_103117157 by Jose, on Flickr

 

[MatosTaco]

See post below. Not sure why I can't delete this.

 

[MatosTaco]

I'm surprised I hadn't posted on these sooner. I hit up the Toyota parts online site and ordered some TRD goodies for my truck. I got another oil cap since mine was faded, a shift knob, and a radiator cap. I ended up just using the oil cap. The shift knob did not look good on the truck shifter and is honestly best suited to a straight shifter car like an Altezza or AE86. The radiator cap did not fit. Apparently, older Toyotas use an "S Type" radiator cap whereas the newer ones use an "N Type." The S type caps that work on the first gen Tacoma are discontinued and I can't seem to find anyone selling one. TRD | AIR VULVE CAP gave me the breakdown. So, I plan to do a giveaway on my youtube for both the shift knob and radiator cap. I will be announcing that soon. I also got some new lug nuts because I was tired of the scratched up blue finish on mine. I got the same Muteki nuts, but in a black oxide finish that reviewers said lasts a long time.

IMG_20220916_145507262_MF_PORTRAIT by Jose, on Flickr

I'm definitely going to try and finish the other valve cover so I can take this one off and paint it

IMG_20220907_161859842_HDR by Jose, on Flickr

I really, really need to wash these wheels. High performance pads are way too dusty lol
IMG_20220907_161812372 by Jose, on Flickr

IMG_20220907_161821017 by Jose, on Flickr

 

[MatosTaco]

Here's more detail on these parts:

 

[MatosTaco]

I got to work on a third gen truck this week, my dad's new work truck.

 

[MatosTaco]

Put some more work in on the 2022 Tacoma, this time a tonneau cover.