Back in the [Land Cruiser] saddle...

[kwontumspeed]

Glad to announce that I'm back in the Land Cruiser brand once again, after a 15 year hiatus.
In my former life I was heavy into this brand, owning several models over the course of 15 years and even sitting chair for the regional LC Club in Atlanta. I must say that it feels really good to sit in the driver's seat in one of the most solidly built vehicles made. Flew to Seattle to pick it up and made it an epic trip back with my lady. Oh and she said 'yes' when I popped the question at Arches


2006 Landcruiser - Thundercloud with Stone Interior

 

[Ntrepid]

To channel Mars Blackmon "It must be the car" @kwontumspeed! Congrats, You and @ace10 have a lot to talk about.


Robert

 

[ace10]

#RoadTrippingInTheTimeOfCovid


Wow.
That's quite a journey. And a very nice hundy. A vvti in Thundercloud must have been a loooong search with a $pendy result.

AHC installed or no?


I've been looking for a 98-99 for about a year. Want to spend about 1/2 what you likely did. Just want it for a winter beater and dog hauler.

The sale of one of my 80's is going to be the death of me. So many bored men with dreams of owning a nice Land Cruiser, but either no money or no permission from SWMBO. Driving me nuts. I need somebody like you to come along and drive off into the sunset with her. lol I've never wasted so much time selling one single vehicle before in my life.


Congrats on the acquisition. Is she going to be a dedicated mall cruiser or something else?


EDIT: And Congrats on the engagement!

 

[ace10]

To channel Mars Blackmon "It must be the car" @kwontumspeed! Congrats, You and @ace10 have a lot to talk about.


Robert

My stuff is ancient, by comparison. Not a touch screen display to be found.

@kwontumspeed dealing with a positively-modern piece of machinery there.

 

[kwontumspeed]

You nailed it. It took a while to find it, the precise color combo I was searching for in VVTI; the only reason I would've considered flying and traveling during Covid. Seattle>Atlanta was hard to swallow but I was wanting to propose so it just made a lot of sense to bundle the whole trip. We took a LOT of precautions - even down to the flight's occupancy, seat selection, etc.

It does have AHC, pressures within spec and 12 graduations(!) between H & L with the fluid pink with a recent flush. I was originally wanting a non-AHC vehicle but finding that people are successfully lifting with AHC with spacers etc. and still keeping within the optimal range of the shocks brought AHC back into scope. This is strictly a weekender for the new cabin in the North Georgia mountains, but also trips across Appalachia and road trips all over the region (and country). So she's gonna get a lot of trail time and will be getting to know CDL & ATRAC very well.

I love 80s, too, live axles. Yum. My long term goal was to get into a US Spec 40 again, so needed to start the foray into LC world with something more modern.

 

[ace10]

AHC is such a two edged sword. Wonderful while it works, but then an albatross when it fails or you go to sell the rig to the next person who is scared-to-death of it failing. lol

We had an '02 LX we bought new. Dealer serviced the entire twelve years we owned it. The rust started to catch up with her and we decided to sell. The AHC failed about 2 or 3 months into the new owner's tenure. He actually came back to me and and wanted money to repair. lol

It's not even a big deal to go to a traditional setup. But it's always best if you can find one with great operating specs to begin with like you did.


My '67 40 FST got a clean bill of health earlier this year. She's totally original. Drum brakes and ball and claw front axle. No rust. A real treat to drive slowly around on a quiet day. My wish list for old Toyotas is too darn long, and I'm already stocked pretty deep with them currently.


Where did you find the listing for the hundy? There are so many eyeballs searching everywhere for clean ones these days.

Are you on Mud?

 

[ace10]

I wonder if @Dunnik got his LX sorted out?

 

[Dunnik]

Nope. Sent into summer storage with the issue unresolved.

Does appear to be getting better the more I drive it, but we'll see come next winter.

 

[ace10]

Nope. Sent into summer storage with the issue unresolved.

Does appear to be getting better the more I drive it, but we'll see come next winter.

I was watching your thread on Mud, but that was a while back. Were there many viable suggestions?

 

[Dunnik]

Yep, very helpful members, but nothing took. Pretty much have done everything except replace the heater core - but all indications suggest the core is working just fine.

Frustrating, since the vehicle is otherwise in perfect working order.

 

[kwontumspeed]

Found it on CL. I was searching once daily using tempest and it popped up. I saved the phone#(rare) on the ad and when I went back to the link a day later it was deleted. I called the guy anyway, and he said pulled the trigger too quick and there were a couple things he wanted to fix before selling it. Mostly cosmetic stuff and the CDL switch at the transfer which was acting up. Passenger hub was seeping a little so will need a repack but not bad enough that it would not survive the trip. Overall the guy was fretting about the slightest little things, a clear indication the 100 was babied. I lucked out big, to catch the ad the less-than-24hrs it was up...

Been on mud since '03 or '04 back when I was big on cruisers, etc. (And also on Pirate). Aside from Cruisers, I was also huge on 85 EFI Yodas and SAS Tacomas. Folks started to know me as the guy who dreaded IFS and would tear them out at first sight for an SAS. I dropped off both when I didn't own one but back on again = kwon-offroad.

 

[gsxr]

...made it an epic trip back with my lady. Oh and she said 'yes' when I popped the question at Arches

Went through Moab on the way back - that is epic! Nice photo at Arches. We went there years ago in a W124 (Arches, Canyonlands, plus a few others). We want to go back in the LR4. How busy was it?

And congrats on the engagement, btw!

 

[kwontumspeed]

Went through Moab on the way back - that is epic! Nice photo at Arches. We went there years ago in a W124 (Arches, Canyonlands, plus a few others). We want to go back in the LR4. How busy was it?

And congrats on the engagement, btw!

Thanks Dave!

The park wasn't bad at all. We got there around 9a and only 2-3 cars deep at the gate. A little bummed because we wanted to camp there but Devil's Garden didn't open until the week after our schedule. We posted up in Price Canyon the day before which was beautiful as well. We did run the offroad trail that runs on the western edge of the park, that was fun - definitely a must do in any 4WD.

 

[ace10]

Found it on CL. I was searching once daily using tempest and it popped up. I saved the phone#(rare) on the ad and when I went back to the link a day later it was deleted. I called the guy anyway, and he said pulled the trigger too quick and there were a couple things he wanted to fix before selling it. Mostly cosmetic stuff and the CDL switch at the transfer which was acting up. Passenger hub was seeping a little so will need a repack but not bad enough that it would not survive the trip. Overall the guy was fretting about the slightest little things, a clear indication the 100 was babied. I lucked out big, to catch the ad the less-than-24hrs it was up...
....

That stick-to-it-tiveness paid off. Gotta remember that and use it as inspiration. I've come close on a couple of them, but haven't found the right combination of price and condition yet. Really just want a decent, rust-free beater.

Regarding obsessiveness of PO. That truly is a great sign. I'm working with the third committed "buyer" on my '93 80, and he likes hearing about my insane investments in the rig and the condition, but he doesn't necessarily understand all of it. So it's a brutal process. I'm down to fixing the small things now. Just got my Gamiviti seat gears to work on the intermittent fore/aft adjustment on the passenger side. There isn't much left to do. She's driving great. Swapped on a set of 295/75s on her a couple weeks ago at the request of the previous committed "buyer" and don't regret it. It's an excellent example of a locked mid year 80 (only 95K miles), but the use case isn't there or me... too nice to drive, not nice enough to "collect."

....Been on mud since '03 or '04 back when I was big on cruisers, etc. (And also on Pirate)...

We joined Mud within a couple months of one another. I'm #3668 and you're #4561. Signal to noise was so much better back then. They're up to 172000 registered users now. Absolutely nuts.

Never joined Pirate. Too hardcore for me. Though I must admit, I do enjoy sending the snowflakes who complain about Mud being too harsh over there. lol

....Aside from Cruisers, I was also huge on 85 EFI Yodas and SAS Tacomas. Folks started to know me as the guy who dreaded IFS and would tear them out at first sight for an SAS. I dropped off both when I didn't own one but back on again = kwon-offroad.

I've been looking for the right solid axle pickup. Haven't found it yet. Love the early trucks.

Currenty own a first year Taco (95.5) that is my daily and a no-mile 03 that is in mothballs, as well.

 

[ace10]

Related, but unrelated...

I may had said this before, but I view classic and nearly-classic Mercedes and Toyotas as being very similarly aligned. Great engineering. Made to last. Generally not the prettiest or the fastest, but perhaps the most enduring of the Germans and the Japanese marques.

I also loosely affiliate Honda with BMW and Nissan with Audi.

 

[kwontumspeed]

Funny a friend who's been on mud just as long compared it to the old Rolling Stones (mag) versus the new, when there was actually good content on music and bands. Or like MTV back in the day. Ha!

On a tangent, what's the best spot for online OE parts nowadays? I usually like to build relationship with the dealers, they seem to work well with discounts, but sometimes (like now) it's nice to have it show up at your door.

All I can really find of substance is this:

Shop OEM Toyota Parts Online | Ourisman Toyota Parts

Find Genuine OEM Toyota Parts and Accessories When You Shop Online. This Toyota Parts Catalog Includes Discounted Quality Parts You Can Trust To Perfectly Fit Your Vehicle!

toyotaparts.mcgeorgetoyota.com

 

[ace10]

I use Mcgeorge in Richmond. Now that we pay sales tax on internet stuff, they're as cheap as anyone and ship times r better.
Also.
Sparks in SC. Sometimes Olathe.
There's a dealer in AZ that's supposed to be okay too.

 

[ace10]

I put a deposit down on a 2004 hundy earlier today. High miles, but clean. And cheap. Just what I have been seeking.
Hopefully will be coming up from GA on a truck early next week. Mudder posted it two night ago, and I was on it quickly.

How have the first 3 weeks been with yours?

 

[kwontumspeed]

Nice! The one from Macon? That's great for the price.

Ours has been fantastic. We named her Lucy. She's the cabin commuter for now, if we go. Otherwise in the garage at the condo in midtown so I can go over the punch out list. On deck this weekend: F/T/R diff fluid with 75w90 M1. New rear OE springs to lower my rear pressures (Purple/Brown). Heater T's replacement with brass ones. That should keep me busy as I'm also doing the rear brakes and e-brake adjust on the 036 and replacing the steering wheel on the 092.

Let me know how that hundy checks out when it's in your possession.

Here she is at the cabin this weekend, showing off the new Ironman awning to set up the makeshift workshop; building the paddleboard pulley system and swinging platform bench.

 

[ace10]

Yeah, the one from Macon. Low risk, so I went for it. I will deliver it straight to my LC specialist once it arrives. Hoping he doesn't find too many urgent to-do's.

Were you nervous about the Tees on the trip back from Washington?

 

[kwontumspeed]

Were you nervous about the Tees on the trip back from Washington?

I packed the brass ones and the clamp tool just in case...picked up a gallon of pink at the dealer we met at to transact the sale. So I was ready for the worst.

 

[kwontumspeed]

Good news and bad news. Replaced the T's, good. Apparently the PO had already done them, they look brand new, good. Looked inside the hoses and found a couple of pieces of the old T that must've broken off and not properly removed, bad. Crossing fingers now that shrapnel isn't floating around the block and clogging up a cooling path. SMH.

 

[LWB250]

Like the plastic tees on the W140s. Those things would fail at speed and you could potentially dump the whole cooling system before you could get to a full stop.

Dan

 

[kwontumspeed]

Like the plastic tees on the W140s. Those things would fail at speed and you could potentially dump the whole cooling system before you could get to a full stop.

Dan

Well luckily I will never know what it's like in a LC since they are now metal and should not ever fail.

 

[ace10]

Like the plastic tees on the W140s. Those things would fail at speed and you could potentially dump the whole cooling system before you could get to a full stop.

Dan

Apparently the 2UZFE in the 100 Series can do that trick too... All four gallons of it.

 

[ace10]

Good news and bad news. Replaced the T's, good. Apparently the PO had already done them, they look brand new, good. Looked inside the hoses and found a couple of pieces of the old T that must've broken off and not properly removed, bad. Crossing fingers now that shrapnel isn't floating around the block and clogging up a cooling path. SMH.

That really sucks.

I'm anxiously awaiting the arrival of my truck in a day or two. Fingers crossed I can make it the 45 mile drive to my mechanic. No known issues, but this is one of those things you cannot overlook.

 

[kwontumspeed]

That really sucks.

I'm anxiously awaiting the arrival of my truck in a day or two. Fingers crossed I can make it the 45 mile drive to my mechanic. No known issues, but this is one of those things you cannot overlook.

Definitely not. On a positive note, driving 2500 miles and nothing nefarious occurred. That pic was the larger of the two pieces wedged inside of the Ts that were removed and they were in the input line to the heater so hopefully everything will get trapped there instead of them being found in the return like back to the block.But still now forever in my sub-conscience. Ugh.

There's definitely a coolant flush in my near future. Pulling the thermostat, removing both plugs on each side (not just unscrewing), and running distilled through the system.

 

[Allgonquin]

My '98 LC has about 325K miles on it. Second owner, bought it around 2001 with 70K on it. Bought originally for my wife, it has now suffered through seven years as the college car for two sons, and now the younger of them has it as his vehicle. It still rides and drives really well, but the tinworm is nibbling here and there, and she's pretty well dinged up, paint oxidized, leather needs help, etc. No doubt the best vehicle I've ever owned. Wish it still lived with me so I could treat it to some TLC.

 

[ace10]

Our new 100 arrived today.

Better cosmetic condition than any 1/4 million mile SUV has a right to be in. TBD on the mechanicals. Everything that I tried works. Even the power adjusters for the steering column and the power antenna.