97 3x Locked - Restoration & Build

[NKP Garage]

A lot of folks were asking what I paid for this 1997 Triple Locked Land Cruiser last month. It leaks everywhere, it smells, it needs a lot of cosmetic and maintenance work, but it's a good solid starting point. If you want to skip forward to the actual price I paid, skip to 5:15 on the video!

 

[NKP Garage]

I gutted the interior over the last couple days. I got all 3 rows of seats out. Got all of the carpet out. And it is finally not stinking like a homeless camp anymore. I was pleasantly surprised to find that there is ZERO RUST in the interior and floor boards. And the interior underneath the nastyness is actually not terrible. I think I am starting to have more faith in what this rig can become after the BaktashT treatment !!

Here is the full step by step video of how to remove the carpet, and how to remove the seats. It may be useful if you are thinking about doing the same.

-

 

[NKP Garage]

Since the carpet is in good shape physically, doesn't have any tears, and isn't worn through in any areas, I am going to try and save it. Not sure if it will all be salvageable or not, but figured I would give it a try. I started with the trunk area carpeting. Here's the process I went through incase you're doing the same:
* I removed the foam backing
* Pre-treated it with enzyme cleaner
* Used a carpet brush on a drill to loosen up all the stains that I could
* Soaked it down, then used the carpet brush again to get the deeper stains out
* Pressure washed

Check out the pressure washing on the video. It's crazy how much brown and red stuff kept on coming out of the carpet. I think I pressure washed for a solid 10-15 minutes and until there was finally nothing else coming out but clean water.

Here's the video if you're interested in doing the same:

-

 

[NKP Garage]

Here is the before and after:

 

[Broski]

Here is the before and after:
View attachment 2944658

Wow, really nice work

 

[SaturnAscends]

Here is the before and after:
View attachment 2944658

Hmm I should really get around to this. Do you have an idea of the cost of all the materials and equipment needed for this?

 

[NKP Garage]

Hmm I should really get around to this. Do you have an idea of the cost of all the materials and equipment needed for this?

Yup. You'll just need the enzyme cleaner and the carpet brush. Or you can use a different cleaner if you like. I put the links in the video description. But here they are as well:

The scrub brush that I used on the drill can be purchased on Amazon here:

https://amzn.to/3sL9Bzf

The AmazonCommercial Enzyme cleaner. It can be purchased here:

https://amzn.to/35WrN05

 

[NKP Garage]

Got some time today to degrease what I could. Pressure washed the under-side and axles. And then started disassembling things in the engine bay.

If you're following along, here's today's video.

-

 

[NKP Garage]

Started getting some of the intake components off, and got 99% of the hardware off of the upper intake manifold. It's loose, but I started second guessing myself and decided to go back to the FSM and photos to make sure I'm not yanking anything off that is still connected when pulling the upper manifold off.

Video of this round's progress is below. Next video will be the actual lift-off of the upper manifold and then moving onto the the valve cover first and heater core valve/lines. Or maybe the water pump, oil pump, and front main seal. Anyone have a preference of which I do next?

-

 

[NKP Garage]

I put CPACruiser's crank pulley tool to good use this week. And it worked like a charm! I've never had such an easy time removing a crank pulley bolt on a 1FZFE. And now when I am ready to install the crank pulley again I will have a great way to hold things in place to torque the bolt down correctly without risking damage to the rubber in the pulley.

Awesome simple tool, Thanks again CPACruiser!
-

 

[NKP Garage]

As I'm getting older, I don't really like crawling into the engine bay of a lifted truck just to do simple things. So I was thinking today how I could get it lower. I had the extra set of wheels/tires that the seller gave me. I ended up swapping out the the good/new tires with the old junky ones. Then aired them down all the way to ZERO PSI, and WOW. I was really surprised by how much lower the truck sits now. I can easily ready half way across the engine bay now very easily.

If you have an extra set of wheels with junk tires on them, I highly recommend doing this.

-

 

[NKP Garage]

I got the intake manifold off finally today. I also removed the water pump, thermostat, and thermostat housing. Now I am thinking about what I should do next. Should I do the headgasket and timing belt cover/guides while I'm in here?

Thoughts?

-

 

[NKP Garage]

For those of you with missing power seat knob button for the recline function, I found another one that fits finally! It's from a 4runner.

Also found out that the LS400 knobs do NOT fit. So don't bother buying those like I did

Video is up with more detail

-

 

[cc93cruiser]

Been commenting on youtube, I'll start following here too! Great vids

 

[bicycleagent003]

That's great you're putting all that content up on Mud and YT. There are a lot of people buying these right now who are new to the 80 and want to do some DIY but are intimidated by it. You're having fun and helping others, that's great.
And kudos to you for doing and building what/how/why you want with it and the one you sold. The only opinions that matter are yours, your wife's (budget issues are real), and your two boys who get to enjoy the process and final product with you. Keep it up.

 

[RC51]

Hey baktasht, thanks for these videos and this thread. I just bought an 80 series recently (in good mechanical condition luckily, but unluckily with some body rust that I need to address)...I am pretty much following your videos as I go and will be using your interior stripping video this weekend as a guide to get to the rust spots. I recall seeing a excel file some where from you with all the parts that you had replaced, would you mind sharing that list with me? I don't have alot of mechanical knowledge, and I'm kinda stuck in a position where I am working with a situation where if I can quote Rumsfied dealing with "unknown unknowns", where I don't even know what needs to be fixed or replaced! Thanks again!

 

[NKP Garage]

Been commenting on youtube, I'll start following here too! Great vids

Thanks bud!!

That's great you're putting all that content up on Mud and YT. There are a lot of people buying these right now who are new to the 80 and want to do some DIY but are intimidated by it. You're having fun and helping others, that's great.
And kudos to you for doing and building what/how/why you want with it and the one you sold. The only opinions that matter are yours, your wife's (budget issues are real), and your two boys who get to enjoy the process and final product with you. Keep it up.

Thanks! I wish I started uploading videos 20yrs ago on all my projects. I average about 2-3 projects per year (boats and cars). I figured it was would be fun to do and share some of the fun with the community. And my boys get a kick out it. The younger one is a gearhead in the making. And the older one is such an artistic perfectionist that he doesn't hesitate to tell me when I screw up

Hey baktasht, thanks for these videos and this thread. I just bought an 80 series recently (in good mechanical condition luckily, but unluckily with some body rust that I need to address)...I am pretty much following your videos as I go and will be using your interior stripping video this weekend as a guide to get to the rust spots. I recall seeing a excel file some where from you with all the parts that you had replaced, would you mind sharing that list with me? I don't have alot of mechanical knowledge, and I'm kinda stuck in a position where I am working with a situation where if I can quote Rumsfied dealing with "unknown unknowns", where I don't even know what needs to be fixed or replaced! Thanks again!

I hope they're helpful for others. I tend to go a little over the top with my projects. But they are always fun.
Here is the spreadsheet on my Google Drive. I update it about once a week with things I order. It's a little unorganized, but definitely a good point of reference.

 

[NKP Garage]

Next video is up. I got the valve cover off. One of the donut gaskets was. disintegrated, so I need to fish out the pieces. Most of the hardware from the exhaust manifolds to the head came off okay, but the manifold to y-pipe nuts are pretty rough. I soaked them a few times with PB Blaster and will give them a go again tomorrow. The timing chain and guides look good, and the cams and gears look good. No unusual scoring or heat blemishes. I think I may leave the head gasket alone. I'm about 90% on that decision, we shall see.

-

 

[NKP Garage]

I didn't have much time to spend on the truck the last few days. Just a little spare time here and there. I got the exhaust manifold off today, and also added a few more things to my list of parts to order and replace.

Video uploading now. Enjoy!

-

 

[FMC80]

Solid videos Bak. What are you recording with?

Funny how your spark plug tube seals just fell right out of the VC. Mine had to be pried out.