There is an often overlooked way to get that brand spanking new look out of your old-school mini. The task we're talking about is a bolt-on front end swap. With this beat-down, old-school Taco front end ready for the scrap heap, along comes Cal Mini Truck, Perma Cool, Dan's Hoods, and S&S Motorworks to make some magic happen and update the old front end for late-model flavor.
Starting with an outdated '97 Tacoma front-end we can greatly increase the aesthetics by updating the front end with brand new '04 Tacoma parts from the pros at California Mini-Truck Dismantler. With parts in hand all we needed was a reliable shop to make the transformation. With the right tools this swap can be accomplished in your own garage in a matter of a day. So what are you waiting for, get on the phone now!
1.With the front end pulled...
1.With the front end pulled apart, the Taco is ready for a fresh new look
2.Using a spot-weld remover,...
2.Using a spot-weld remover, the core support is untacked from the inner fenderwells.
3.All of the plastic clips...
3.All of the plastic clips are carefully removed for reinstallation at a later time. If you break some, don't worry. Your local dealer is your best friend.
4.Here is the front of the...
4.Here is the front of the truck in all of its naked glory. We would leave it if we were going for the rat-rod look, but we think we'll continue to spice it up.
5.The brand new front fascia...
5.The brand new front fascia is ready to be bolted on to our monster mini.
6.The new core support is...
6.The new core support is lined up with the inner fenders via the mounting holes and is retacked into place.
7.With the core support welded...
7.With the core support welded into place, now the fun begins: dressing up the Taco with shinies.
8.The bumper will be the first...
8.The bumper will be the first piece on to line everything up off of. The bumper brackets are tightly secured.
9.The bumper and valance are...
9.The bumper and valance are secured tightly, as to not be lost while dragging.
10a.The bumper is installed...
10a.The bumper is installed via the factory push-clips. Then the bumper is flipped over and all necessary clips are put into their perspective areas to keep our beautiful bumper in one piece.
10b.
11a.The foglights are installed...
11a.The foglights are installed with two screws, one on each end. The wire harnesses are retained and reused from the last debacle.
11b.
12.Here's a look with the...
12.Here's a look with the fog lights freshly installed. Not bad not bad at all.
13.The new fenders are put...
13.The new fenders are put in place and bolted on with all of the factory mounting holes.
14.The headlights are butted...
14.The headlights are butted up to the core support and securely fastened (to be adjusted later).
15.The hood wouldn't last...
15.The hood wouldn't last too long without this trusty hood latch, which was salvaged from the last front end. Or is that rust-colored paint?
16a.The grille snaps are installed...
16a.The grille snaps are installed in the core support, and the brand new chrome grille is just a snap away.
16b.
17a.The corner lamps are ready...
17a.The corner lamps are ready to go to their home next to the headlights, and oh so easy it is. Slide them in place and a couple of set screws.
17b.
18.The Dan's Hood is ready...
18.The Dan's Hood is ready for some road rage.
19.The Dan's Hood custom fiberglass...
19.The Dan's Hood custom fiberglass hood is bolted in utilizing factory mounting locations.
20.To make sure the latch...
20.To make sure the latch is perfect, Germain and the S&S crew tweak it to perfection.
21.Perma Cool was nice enough...
21.Perma Cool was nice enough to kick down a 2,950-cfm, high-performance, 14-inch electric fan.
22.For initial setup, double-sided...
22.For initial setup, double-sided foam tape was applied to the fan corners and the fan was pressed into location in the middle of the radiator.
23.Then T-zip ties are slid...
23.Then T-zip ties are slid through the radiator and locked into place. We use double-sided foam tape here also to protect the radiator.
24.Then, a standard car-audio-style...
24.Then, a standard car-audio-style relay is used to activate and deactivate our mega cooler.
25.An inline fuse holder is...
25.An inline fuse holder is added for maximum protection.
26.The temp switch will activate...
26.The temp switch will activate the fan when the going gets tough. The temp switch should be mounted in a convenient location to be able to adjust the correct temperature. The fan is usually good to be kicked on at about 160-175 degrees.
27.Hook up your power and...
27.Hook up your power and ground and you are ready to go pimp your freshly hooked-up Taco.
Bam! Now, that's a Tacoma...
Bam! Now, that's a Tacoma.