Amy's Build/Repair thread (LC100 XVR - Pic Heavy)

[Chris Sandstorm FJ]

What is the likely hood that I will have to reindex the torsion bars to achieve the desired lift? Is it a random thing...you don't know until you get into it or is it more rare? I am doing the standard OME lift and leveling, no bumper or winch, yet...

 

[hks3sgte]

hopefully you haven't sold the princess

 

[Gunney]

Hi guys.

on re-indexing, I think its an age issue, the older the car the more they sag and the more likley you will have to re-index them.

Yes im afriad the pricess was sold. Ill still be arround, may look for a newer 100 or a LX to replace Amy, she was worth every cent and every experiance, but it was time.

I still have loads of pics on installing the spot lights and a few other things so I will still do a few updates.

 

[petrotk40]

 

[hks3sgte]

Yes im afriad the pricess was sold.

 

[Gunney]

yup Im afraid so.

On the hunt for a new car.... maybe its time I act my age and get an FJ

 

[Gunney]

let the de-chrome, lift, wheels and tyres begin.....

 

[petrotk40]

 

[pfran42]

I have to admit that I do like the look of the H2. I just wish it wasn't a re-skinned Suburban.

I am sure it will turn out great with you at the helm.

 

[stratus]

Amy's Build thread (LC100 XVR - Pic Heavy)

Amy's Build Thread

Introduction:
I moved from South Africa to Qatar early 2011, the job situation in SA was poor when I left and it was either Afghanistan, GOA for some MARSEC work or Qatar. Considering my old man was already living here and could pull some strings I decided to take the easy road and get a cushy high paying office job. (and this place is cruiser HEVAN!)

So I moved over and had to move back in with the parents (not ideal) until my work permit, residence and visa where all sorted out (5 months down the line and they still haven’t been fixed!) and I bought my self the appropriate toys, a 450 enduro for the dunes and a land cruiser.

This is the story of my cruiser… I call her Amy.


A 1998 LC100 Middle East Spec VXR, 4.7A with stock
- Subtank
- Fridge armrest
- Winch (broken)
- Telescopic steering (broken)
- HID hi beam
- NO AHC
- AUX AC system
- A442F tranny (factory rear lockers, push button center locker)
- Cyclonic air filter
- Sunroof
- Aftermarket TV screens and head unit
- Aftermarket solar tint
- Stock wheels, suspension and tyres
- Crap after market headunit

THe Plan was to build her up into the cruiser i have ALWAISE wanted by doing the following:

Initial List
1. Drop running boards (done)
2. 2" Old Man Emu rear Suspension lift (done with build instructions in this thread)
3. Crank torsion bars (done with build instructions in this thread)
4. 12mm body puck lift (not needed)
5. 35" BFG AT's on 17” steelies or Lexus rims (done with build instructions in this thread)
6. Custom bumpers front and rear (banned by Qatari law)
7. GX spare wheel carrier
8. Roof Rack with Spots
9. HID low beams to compliment the high ones
10. Clean up interior (done with build instructions in this thread)
11. New steering wheel (done with build instructions in this thread)
12. Seat covers (done)
13. Clean up Exterior
14. Grease prop shaft (done with build instructions in this thread, I over greased it)
15. Flush radiator (done)
16. Flush tranny (done)
17. Cabin air filters (done with build instructions in this thread)
After a few months however the list had evolved into the following…

New List
1. Fix night time work light wiring issue (done with pics)
2. Clean out throttle body
3. New diff fluid (I know I STILL haven’t gotten around to it)
4. 1 x Front wheel lug replacement
5. Rear door rattle
6. Rear door weather strip
7. Squeaky driver’s door & Door panels, fix with sound deadening
8. Squeaky door panels
9. Check Retighten all suspension components (done)
10. Clunk from RHS when turning right… haven’t been able to diagnose (Fixed= loose body mounts)
11. Extend sway bar links and reinstall sway bars with new bushes (done)
12. Front carpets
13. Bowl of vinegar trick (done)
14. Head light clean out (considering 04+ upgrade)
15. New halogens for fog lights
16. Orange out of rear lights
17. LC100 Dakar style recovery points
18. Buy new winch bracket, wire and install winch (new bracket arrived!)
19. Front pinion seal
20. Finish rock rails
21. Additional 12V outlets
22. New head unit
23. Install Tranny Cooler

still to be done from the intial list

24. Roof rack
25. Roof rack spots
26. Paint
27. HID low beams
28. GX wheel carrier with spot
29. Front interior Refurb (Half Done)

and it all started here, the day i got her

She has had an interesting life with an unknown amount of arab owners, no service records and 168 000 kms on the clock, which in the is car market was the BEST combo I could find.

Which means its going to need some serious work and preventative maintenance!!! PERFECT

The first thing to go was the pin striping
(I have never liked it and EVERY LC here has them)

DAY 1 - Rear Interior Refurb

I went for a short desert ride with my old man and a few buddies on the 450’s this morning, except our short ride turned out to be 130km through the dunes so when I got home I was pretty knackered.

I therefore decided to tackle the interior thinking it would be nice and easy…. Pha so much for that!

When I got her she was very grubby inside and the carpets where hammered,

I stocked up on all the cleaning products i would need after hours during the week (Friday is the religious day here so nothing is open).

Everything came out the back. When I saw the carpet out the car I seriously considered just heading down to the upholstery shop to get a new one!

It may not look it but the floor was covered in dirt and sand that had tuned to concrete, so it was going to need some good scrubbing. The interior panels were also very grubby so they came out.

The whole inside got a good vacuum and then a scrub
Look at the colour of the water!!! it was bad.

Then it was time to tackle the carpet but it was 50 degrease so I had my industrial fan set up to keep me “cool” while I worked… (like a good desert survival guide, I went through a litre of water an hour.)

Carpet scrubbed with vanish carpet cleaner, some spray on foam, and a deck scrubbing brush (like you use on yachts) and hosed down took 30min to dry in the heat with my fan 

While waiting for the carpet to dry I started on the side panels, the first thing to sort out was the elastic for the first aid kit and chevron. It had become very stretched over time.

Once the panel is off its an easy fix, just pull out the old staple, take up the slack and re-staple. (I love easy fixes with great results)

Then each panel got a scrub with a light scowering pad, sponge and Mr.Muscle, then a polish with some interior silicone polish, with a great result.

While I was on a roll, the seat pockets needed to be done so the panel came off (just pull the top hard and it pops off an lifts up)

Flipped it over and cut off the press stud,

Then shortened the elastic as you can see in the above pick. Tied a small knot in the end and had to use a screw driver to force the knot into the place where the small plastic lug used to be.

I realised that the trim was coming off it, but that was an easy fix with some contact adhesive and sandpaper to roughen up the edges.

With the carpet just about ready to go in I scrubbed all the plastic fasteners and gave them the same polish as the side panels.
(before pic)

Thank you, interesting thread, but the pics (as you can see) are not working (at least not for me).

Also, very important for me, in your list of the jobs to be done, you reference to some other threads where you took inspiration from - well those links are dead now? at least I can't see any hyperlinks when you refer to other threads. Without them, it will be difficult to follow your story.

 

[ClassyJalopy]

Thank you, interesting thread, but the pics (as you can see) are not working (at least not for me).

Also, very important for me, in your list of the jobs to be done, you reference to some other threads where you took inspiration from - well those links are dead now? at least I can't see any hyperlinks when you refer to other threads. Without them, it will be difficult to follow your story.

You sir amaze me! The last post was 8 years ago!

 

[stratus]

You sir amaze me! The last post was 8 years ago!

And?...my TLC didn't require less love and attention because it became 8 years older since the last post in this thread

 

[uHu]

Thank you, interesting thread...

BTW, @Gunney was last seen on this forum in 2016.

 

[stratus]

Shame really...

I do understand that this thread is considered a discussion and that makes it strange that I "asked" in a discussion 8 years old. But if you look at it as at a source of information about the featured truck of this forum, then it is not strange anymore. A lot of information and DIYs shared or mentioned here are still of interest and relevant, even 8 years on.

 

[FLWookie]

It is likely that the place the original thread starter used to host his images 8 years ago no longer allows direct linking. The same thing goes for the thread cross-linking, the forum servers have likely been updated since their original standard in 2011 and thus those direct links have been lost. Your best bet is to search for key terms in the specific forum/sub-forum you are looking for information.

It is not the job of the forum moderators nor the original poster to continuously update their threads.

In all likelyhood, @Gunney probably doesn't even own his VXR anymore.