1994 New Driver's Ride

[Kagin]

Hello. I am just found this site when I started researching on how to make the old land cruiser more off road capable and "cooler" for my son who will be driving soon. I am happy to have found such a great resource.

I bought the truck about 10 years ago for my older son to drive in high school. It was big, slow and safe. Since then it has been the DD for another teenager and my winter ride when my now sold 335i couldn't handle the snow. I has taken out 2 deer and 1 car over the last ten years that I know off and I suspect it has been involved in some low speed impacts I wasn't informed of. It has always started even after sitting for awhile and has been an all around great truck.

I have a 15 year old son who want to do some work on it in anticipation of being the next driver. I am open to any suggestions, but so far I think we are going to try to fix the growing rust problem and remove the steps. He is not really worried about how clean it looks but wants beef it up some. We will also use it as a weekend camper and it will see some mild off road stuff. A lift kit and rear spare carrier are also being considered.

 

[Kagin]

 

[retrofive]

Cautious side of me says don't do a lift with a new driver on the fat pig the 80 is. Keep the COG low. Armor, sure. Good tires in the snow, sure. fix the rust, of course. But would think twice about a lift with young driver. IMHO.

 

[GW Nugget]

Welcome.
There is an enormous amount of information on this forum about all kinds of subjects.
The 80 series is a solid platform & is a great 1st vehicle as you wrote big & slow.
He make good memories in it.
Have fun.

 

[Kagin]

Thanks for the suggestions.

 

[120mm]

Make sure all the mechanicals are up to snuff, such as the phh and other under hood rubber bits.

My vehicle has stock springs and shocks on 285/75-16s, and it's not bad off road. I think you can go slightly bigger than 285s which will net you some more height.

If it were my rig, I'd get a real bumper and winch on the front, and put some sliders on it. Lockers if you don't have them, at least on the rear and then wheel it until it doesn't wheel any more before thinking about a lift.

 

[Wayne]

^X2 what 120mm said.

 

[MDarius]

Having just lost mine to a teenage driver, I'd say:
1. mechanicals and fluids. Make it reliable and safe, predictable and easy to drive.
2. Armor. A good bumper might have kept my 80 on the road with my teen drivers. Plus it scares other drivers.
3. A little lift won't hurt. 2.5" or less makes it cool and keeps it still pretty low. 285's aren't bad on that lift. You'll need shocks and Springs with armor. Plus the right shocks will make it handle better and add stability. Promise.
4. Body work to seal it up.
5. A not too good stereo. My teens blew the stock speakers.
6. Wheel it with him. Teach him where the corners are and how to avoid obstacles on the trail. A sharp rock is no different than a Volkswagen. Missing it by an inch is the same as missing it by a mile.
7. Mine overreacted to a pile of slush pulling the wheel from him on the freeway. Spend time with him in adverse conditions when the weather changes.

 

[landtoy80]

See my post https://forum.ih8mud.com/threads/rear-seat-rust-warning.912931/
If yours is rusty like mine and there will be kids riding in the back with your young driver, better make sure the seat belts will do their job when needed.

 

[Kagin]

 

[Kagin]

 

[Kagin]

I have been working on getting the LC in better shape. Using this site as an excellent guide. Removed flares, fixed exhaust, replaced brake lines, line-x on the roof and hood, started painting the wheels and had the large rust spot fixed. I also decided to replace the stereo myself. Ordered a Pioneer from Crutchfield used the Scosche TA02B harness. I also replaced the broken antenna with a CB antenna with a spliter. Everything is wired and installed the radio is working but now the truck won't start. It cranks but that's it. There was an old alarm system that was removed a few years ago that was installed by some PO.

I checked the connections everything seems fine. Disconnected the negative terminal and re-attached it in case I tripped an anti-theft guard. At this point
I have no clue.

 

[landtoy80]

Look at the EFI fuse under the hood. Its a 15A fuel.

Did you unhook the battery when you installed the stereo?

 

[Kagin]

I hate to admit I forgot to disconnect the battery. Thanks for the suggestion. I will try a new fuse today.

 

[Kagin]

Not sure why this worked but I reconnected the amp and it started. I am using the gray wire harness that bypasses the amp so I am not sure why it needs to be connected but I have a running truck now.

 

[landtoy80]

I hosed the area down where the amp is and it blew the radio fuse but didn't affect starting. I removed my amp but PO had aftermarket stereo.
I find it strange that the amp controls the starting.