Builds ROTW: lathamb (1 Viewer)

Well, Its my turn so here goes...

I've been in to land cruisers for about 4 years now. I bought a couple of 40's to combine back in 2003. Only after venturing over into the 80s forum did I start to want an 80 Series. The 40 is still making slow progress.

I got my 80 back in '05 with 92,000 on the clock. I was looking for a low mileage 96 or 97 with lockers. It was my second Land Cruiser purchase in a couple of weeks. The first one was a cherry '97 white with 114000 on the clock. I bought it from a dealership, took it home, changed the oil and a bearing knock immediately showed up. So back it went. The dealer said he forgot to tell me about it.

So then I find this 96 from a private owner. Not quite the color I wanted but it was not a common color scheme and real clean and lower miles. So I drove it (I actually showed up for the test drive in the 97) and was sold on it.

I have added:
blue top optima
CDL/Pin 7
John Deere HIR Lights
2.5 OME Medium Lift
ARB Bull bar
new stereo/satellite radio/mp3 player adaptor/input switch
Cup Holder
Goodyear Silent Armour 305/70R16 Tires
Garmin GPS 10/PDA GPS Unit

Right now it serves me well as a very capable daily driver. You can't stop this thing in the snow. I don't get out to wheel much here in PA. I've been to Rausch Creek a couple times (sorry, no photo evidence). I am amazed how easily this thing cruises through obsticles. I'll be making the trek to CM08 for my first big wheeling trip.

I added a Garmin GPS 10 Blue Tooth reciever to my PDA. It works pretty well, but I still only have it mounted (wedged) in between the stereo and the ash tray.

I also added a switchable Sirius satellite/mp3 player adaptor (headphone plug in) to the audio system. One day I'll have all this hard wired into a fuse box.

I have to say that the amount of info available on this forum is amazing, and so are the members. (Thanks CDan for all the parts).

Now that I have some space to work on it maybe I'll get some of the rest of my to-do list done...on to the pics (mostly poseur in nature)
1. After I brought it home
2. Posing after the OME Lift
3. How she looks now in my driveway

4. Inside view showing my GPS, Stereo, Sirius
5. Inside view showing the drivers seat
6. My sweet new TLCA badge

Thanks for lookin!

That's a cool color, IMO; one thatyou seldom see. I have only seen one other like that in person, here in Houston.

Thanks, and thanks for the Birfield video. While I haven't performed the work yet, I have watched it and it will proove very helpful. Something anyone doing birfs for the first time should watch.

I did find one of the cruiser in "action" camping in Acadia.

I really like the color scheme! That is one sweet looking rig, and I hope you have a lot of fun with it. Hopefully you don't have the same luck as with the first 80 you owned!

Your rig looks great, that camping looks fun!

You got ripped off! You are missing the wood grain inside.....

Yeah, some evil do-er snuck in and ripped it all off, he left some of the adhesive though!

very nice rig! camping is the best. i go often with my 80. good family time! thanks for the write up!

Looks good man!

TK

Nice ride. Thanks for the contribution.

Nice truck! Thanks for contributing . . . makes me think I should volunteer for this ROTW thang...

BTW--did you see the thread about possibly wheeling Rausch the end of December in the ALCA forum?

Lugboot said:

BTW--did you see the thread about possibly wheeling Rausch the end of December in the ALCA forum?

Click to expand...

Thanks for the heads up, but I'll be in San Antonio watching my Aggies beat the hell out of Penn State.

Next time...

Great color scheme! Looks like our truck were separated at birth.

here is mine:

Ruadhrigh said:

Great color scheme! Looks like our truck were separated at birth.

here is mine:

Click to expand...

Nice! Running boards definitely coming off next!

ahh.... the good ole acadia campsites... we go every year! except last time i was there my rear heating lines exploded because they were rusted through...