Supercharged 1999 Toyota Tacoma Prerunner

[Down For Mobbing]

Picked up a 1999 Toyota Prerunner last weekend from a buddy. I don’t know a lot of the backstory on it, but I do know it was built by an employee at Dirt Designs out of Paso. The truck is TIG-welded bumper to bumper and all chromoly tubing. My buddy bought it, drove it three times in the dunes, then COVID happened and it’s been sitting on the side of his yard in Pismo Beach, so it got pretty weathered from the salt.

It’s got a TRD supercharger with a URD lightweight crank pulley, LCE supercharger pulley, and I was told the timing belt was done. Moving to the interior, it has carpet, A/C, heater, manual trans with manual 4WD, radio, PCI radio and intercom. All the headlights, dash lights, and blinkers work like normal, and the cage work is really clean considering how much OEM interior is still in it.

Each corner has King 2.5 coilovers, bypasses, and bumps. Up front is a custom long-travel kit (assuming Dirt Designs). Out back it has a custom fuel cell using the OEM fuel pump, 3-linked, Cone Industries sway bar, full-float rear, 2.5 hubs, and the bedsides are a little beat up.

Overall, the truck has great bones. Most of the work is just going to be prep, Scotch-Brite, and a few late nights. Goal is to have it back in the dirt by Halloween.

Bonus: the truck came with a DH mountain bike, a trailer, spare wheels and tires, and a pile of other solid parts.

Not sure on the plan yet. Might keep it, might fix it up and sell it. Raffle it off? Either way, I’ll give it the same attention to detail my Ford Ranger gets and have it dialed.

 

[Down For Mobbing]

Got the shocks off the truck and over to Downsouth Motorsports.

 

[UR_Mawm69]

FUCK YEAH MAN! Killer truck and work, it looks like! I bet it'll shine right up and sparkle like crazy with some elbow grease, scotch brite, and paint!

 

[4xFoorOffroad]

Probably could get AC going again - compressor’s still there and it looks like a stock condenser is still there or could be put back and some custom high and low pressure lines could make it work.

 

[Down For Mobbing]

Probably could get AC going again - compressor’s still there and it looks like a stock condenser is still there or could be put back and some custom high and low pressure lines could make it work.

You're 100% right! It came with a new compressor and was told the condenser is was new. Need to find someone to make a custom high and low side.

FUCK YEAH MAN! Killer truck and work, it looks like! I bet it'll shine right up and sparkle like crazy with some elbow grease, scotch brite, and paint!

I've been spending a few minutes a day hitting tubes with scotch brite here and there. luckily it all seems to just be surface rust. Something I tried today was wiping down all the tubes with white vinegar and it seems to eat away at the rust and only take light sanding after.

 

[Down For Mobbing]

Found some photos from the last time the truck was used.

 

[Down For Mobbing]

Having two prerunners might sound cool but I can officially confirm it’s a whole new level of stress. At one point, both trucks were in piles of parts across the garage. Definitely a humbling experience lol. Now that the Ranger is back together, I’ve been able to shift my focus back to the Toyota.



Got all the suspension pulled off, inspected, and ready to head out for sandblasting next week. I’m skipping powder coat this round, never been a fan since it hides cracks and makes upgrades a pain later. Going to hit everything with primer and spray it with paint out of a gun instead. Curious to see how it holds up that way.



The 3rd member’s out too. Getting rebuilt with 4.88 gears so the front and rear match. It’s got a Detroit locker, ARP hardware, and a Strange case, but I’m debating swapping the locker for a spool.



A few uniballs were missing clips and some need replacement, so I’ll be ordering from Probearing this week. Shocks just came back from Downsouth Motorsports too.

Next up on the list: sandblast, prime, and paint all the parts, replace the driver-side wheel bearing, install the 4.88s, paint the cage, replace a few uniballs, hang the suspension, mock up the 37s, bolt on the shocks, then spin the truck around and pull the motor.

 

[4xFoorOffroad]

Totally missed this is 4wd. Thats badass. Any idea on the axles - just extended shafts on regular 1st Gen Tacoma inners and outers?

 

[LoganB]

Reading this I thought the motor was good? Any reason for pulling it? Steve fyke does great work, I’m sure it’s a great lil truck

 

[Down For Mobbing]

Totally missed this is 4wd. Thats badass. Any idea on the axles - just extended shafts on regular 1st Gen Tacoma inners and outers?

To be honest I am still trying to figure what I have for the 4wd. The truck came with most the parts to do the manual hub conversion. I will update here when I get more info. I know I still need hub stud kit, aisin locking hub, genuine toyota wheel bearing nut and a special socket PN W1272

I am not sure I will do this conversation. I am not sure if there is a lot of value in doing it. or if its really that much of an upgrade?

Reading this I thought the motor was good? Any reason for pulling it? Steve fyke does great work, I’m sure it’s a great lil truck

The cage is pretty rusted and its tight up agent the motor so it would be hard to paint. Just want to do it right. pulling the motor would allow me to paint everything correctly. I know, sounds stupid.

 

[4xFoorOffroad]

Alot of the stuff can be found on RockAuto, but the spline count for the ADD hubs and the manual hubs is different so you would need manual outers. That's why 3.5 kits for 1st Gen Taco's would often use 1st Gen Tundra CV's as the spline count was the same as ADD hubs but not compatible with the manual hubs. Here's more specific information:

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/winkle99-build-thread.511998/page-5#post-25878987

This guy has a lot of parts for manual hubs too.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/for-sale-4x4-manual-hubs-spindles-knuckles-and-cvs.709082/

 

[Down For Mobbing]

Alot of the stuff can be found on RockAuto, but the spline count for the ADD hubs and the manual hubs is different so you would need manual outers. That's why 3.5 kits for 1st Gen Taco's would often use 1st Gen Tundra CV's as the spline count was the same as ADD hubs but not compatible with the manual hubs. Here's more specific information:

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/winkle99-build-thread.511998/page-5#post-25878987

This guy has a lot of parts for manual hubs too.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/for-sale-4x4-manual-hubs-spindles-knuckles-and-cvs.709082/

talked with Yotamasters about what parts I have and what I still need.

They said getting the right outer CV can be hard so sometimes it is easier to buy a whole new CV. Looks like I will contact zippsub9 for some CV for this truck. Thanks for sharing his info!

These are the parts needed to finish off the conversation.

I do have the Aisin locking hub, but I am missing the internal locking parts and the outer locking face plate for it so I guess I'll have to buy a whole new unit since they don't sell those parts separately.

 

[smokeysevin]

I grabbed the DTA "brand" taco axles from ebay when I did the manual hub swap on my truck. They fit up with the oe tundra axles no issue.

Make sure you use oe tundra inner joints, they use a 6 ball cv and not the tripod joint used on the tacos. Also trim the inner shell for more travel. Total chaos had instructions on that at some point.

Sean

 

[Down For Mobbing]

I grabbed the DTA "brand" taco axles from ebay when I did the manual hub swap on my truck. They fit up with the oe tundra axles no issue.

Sean

Do you have a link to them? Didn't see them on eBay just found "axle pros"

I was just looking at these from Napa https://www.napaonline.com/en/p/NCV...jtsp7EVHgeW13qtEAHHBUiYeeb6_NDuvcItL7bKfXAPBN



To be honest the rabbit hole you can go down with these trucks is crazy and somewhat overwhelming lol. So many ways to modify the motor and suspension. I have been learning a lot and have much more to learn on. The Ford Ranger is so straight forward and easy LOL.

 

[smokeysevin]

Do you have a link to them? Didn't see them on eBay just found "axle pros"

I was just looking at these from Napa https://www.napaonline.com/en/p/NCV...jtsp7EVHgeW13qtEAHHBUiYeeb6_NDuvcItL7bKfXAPBN

View attachment 44283

To be honest the rabbit hole you can go down with these trucks is crazy and somewhat overwhelming lol. So many ways to modify the motor and suspension. I have been learning a lot and have much more to learn on. The Ford Ranger is so straight forward and easy LOL.

I bought these, they are regular manual hub axles, not the extended travel ones.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/271107750348

Sean

 

[4xFoorOffroad]

Here’s the instructions for trimming the 1st Gen Tundra cv’s I grabbed before the old website went down. Trail Gear makes outer hubs for about $100 less per side for Tacomas.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/1st-gen-long-travel-chat.750980/

 

[smokeysevin]

Make sure you use oem wheel bearings and seals. Don't cheap out here. I did use aftermarket whell hubs because all the used oem ones I found were roached and had damaged studs/pin holes.

Use the aisin lockouts.

Its hard to find some of the parts now, the brass/bronze bushing on the outer face of the hubs are gone afaik.

Sean

 

[SByota]

I have a first gen Tacoma with TC long travel, I added 4wd drive using parts from a 4Runner and Tundra.

I did mine the most simple way, J-Shift manual transfer case, OEM Tundra CV shafts with the inner CV retainer things cut back and 930 CV boots. I locked out the front diff ADD collar and just let the CVs spin 100% of the time.

In 4 years and lots of dirt miles, I have blown up one CV shaft and it was 100% my fault. Way too much throttle in low range.

This setup allows my to quickly swap between 2wd and 4Hi by just shifting the transfer case on the fly. 4lo requires N or P.

The different spline count on the CVs pushed me away from the manual hubs. Sure it would be great to not spin the CVs all the time, but it wasn’t worth all the parts chasing and swapping. It’s a desert truck, not a commuter.

Looking forward to see this thing back in the desert.

My shitbox.