Brought another 100 series to the East Coast

[lrowe_csp]

I first started modding land cruisers in 1980, and drove a great FST FJ40 in CA for about four years during that time period. I was still in the Marine Corps at the time and deployed overseas frequently, so I eventually had to sell it as the storage costs for two cars was too much. In 2002, my wife and I are driving through southern Idaho, and I spot a great FJ40 for sale outside of Nampa, ID. I stop and look at it, and to my surprise, my wife says, why don't you buy one of those. I did not buy that one, but when we got back home to Yosemite National Park, I started looking around. I eventually paid too much for a rust free but already slightly modded 1976 in Prescott AZ and trailered it home and started work. I tell you this to document the resumption of that obsession some of you are familiar with, where you need to have a couple of Landcruisers in the garage, of which one or all are in various stages of projects.
Fast forward to November, 2011, a noted Landcruiser fabricator that many of you are familiar with in CO (no, not Slee), calls me to see if I am interested in purchasing a 1999 100 series that resides in his garage. I think pretty hard on it for about 30 minutes and regretfully respond "yes". This thread documents that Silver Landcruiser.

 

[lrowe_csp]

I drove the 100 series back to my home in Northern Va after spending a great Christmas and New Year's vacation driving around southern Nevada in my Slee'd FZJ80 4.7L V8, and then began making the mods that always seem to occur.
As you see in the photos above, the cruiser came with a beautiful BIOR front bumper. I have a big ARB on the front of my 80 series, and this cruiser must be closer to wife's expectations of an urban cruiser, more to follow on that later, so I sold the very excellent front bumper to Saillaw here on mud, and threw on a Slee Blueberry bumper. The truck came with a winch, and it looked fine, so I kept the winch, but put some synthetic rope on promote safety and coolness. It also has the BIOR sliders, and they are excellent, so they stay on until such time as my wife slips off them or gets mud on her pants and I start looking for step sliders. The truck had 87K miles on it when I purchased it, so I had the timing belt, water pump, and cam seals replaced before I drove it back to VA. It also has the rear OEM e-locker, and that makes me happy, and the radio had already been pulled and an excellent AVIC dual din with sat radio and nav sits in the dash. The leather was good and the paint is shiny.

 

[lrowe_csp]

The Bluberry bumper was a special order anthracite clear coat powder coat from Slee. I watch guys stop and look at it, and I think you either love the BB, or you don't, but nobody walks away without an opinion. I personally like the understated look, and the color seems to be good contrast with the 1B1 color code on the truck. I also decided I needed to do something about the stiff ride and front wheel travel so I called MetalTech for RadFlo's front and rear, and the Total Chaos Upper Control Arm. The ride fixed, I decided to work on the motor. I think the V8 is great, especially since I was used to an 80 with the 1FZ-FE, but the 100 series is also heavier than than the 80, so I started looking for the TRD Supercharger. I came across one on Craigslist, still in the box- had to have it and put some IRS refund to work.

 

[00N8]

Nice, welcome to the NoVA 100 club, Where in the area are you?

I've got my eye out for a supercharger as well, have you received it yet? Where do you plan to get it installed at?

 

[lrowe_csp]

I'm in Woodbridge, near Montclair. TRD SC is installed and I am very pleased with the smooth power roll-on from idle on up. I took it down to IPOR and left it with my favorite mechanic. Cam and Vince did a great job, and of course, Jack, Nathan and Lance are always on the ball. I wanted to get some more photos posted but the rain never let up today.

 

[Trunk Monkey]

I've got my eye out for a supercharger as well, have you received it yet? Where do you plan to get it installed at?

See that 3rd pic - that's an installed SC. Jealous. Had one on my 80 and loved it. Can only imagine how the V8 would be with one.

lrowe - was it for the LC or did you use the Unichip piggyback?

 

[pfran42]

I am so envious of that SC. I just started seriously looking for one. Also, did you do the drawers yourself? If so, would you mind posting some more details on them?

 

[lrowe_csp]

See that 3rd pic - that's an installed SC. Jealous. Had one on my 80 and loved it. Can only imagine how the V8 would be with one.

lrowe - was it for the LC or did you use the Unichip piggyback?

Trunk:
It was for the LC, so I used the Toyota supplemental ECU and directions. It was looking grim for finding a set of the instructions for the supplemental since Toyota pulled everything related to this from the internet, but Carl at JT's found a set of instructions and pdf'd it to me. This is a big shoutout for Carl- thanks!

 

[lrowe_csp]

I am so envious of that SC. I just started seriously looking for one. Also, did you do the drawers yourself? If so, would you mind posting some more details on them?

PFran:
The drawers came with the cruiser. I will get some better photos posted today with the build details. I am a woodworker and replicating the drawers would be pretty easy. If you are coming up the east coast to VA anytime this year, and want me to build a set for you, just PM me. I will probably build two sets this year (since it is just as easy to build two as it is to build one), one for a friend and one to sell.
Louis

 

[00N8]

I'm trying to budget for a SC, how much was the install and how much did you spend on the SC?

I might need to take a trip down to your area, I'm only about 45 mins away in Warrenton.

 

[lrowe_csp]

I should be around various times this next weekend. Send me a pm and we can meet for coffee and landcruiser conversation.

 

[lrowe_csp]

I needed to beef up the 2 pinion front diff so there is now an ARB loaded in the front, and the rear e-locker, arb compressor and arb front locker are all controlled by an 80 series rotary switch. There was a light in the 99 dash for the front, rear, and center diff lock, and the rotary switch is now connected to the dash lights, so I have all three lit up when triple locked. The compressor also gives me some air when I need to air up, but I do carry a 10 lb bottle of CO2 in the back of the truck. The PO had previously installed the Hell Roaring Dual Battery kit and I have the dual batteries in the engine compartment. I also decided to upgrade up to 18's because I will do the BigBrake Upgrade ala Spresso sometime in the next year or two. Threw Nitto TG's in a 305 60 18 size and they are quiet and feel great on the road. I will mount some Duratrac or GY MTR Kevlars in a 285 75 16 on the original 16" wheels shortly.

 

[lrowe_csp]

Hellroaring switch and batteries, another photo of the supercharger

 

[Layonnn]

I miss my supercharger i had on my FJC.

100 looks great!

 

[lrowe_csp]

I miss my supercharger i had on my FJC.

100 looks great!

Thanks Layonnn;
I follow your posts pretty regularly and with great interest, so your comment is appreciated.

 

[OGBeno]

This is a serious, badass, big money build.

Bravo.

 

[lexi4darin]

...so I started looking for the TRD Supercharger. I came across one on Craigslist, still in the box- had to have it and put some IRS refund to work.

Really? Really?!? Really, really?!?!?!!!!!

Is that how it 'ing goes? You just want one, look on CList and bing, bang, boom; 14 minutes later done?? !! !!

 

[lrowe_csp]

Yeah, "blind hog and the acorn"

 

[lrowe_csp]

This is a serious, badass, big money build.

Bravo.

Beno:
I'm a New Mexican native currently transplanted to the east by work. I will come in and introduce myself to you and CDan next time I come through visiting my brothers in Santa Fe. I have ordered frequently from Dan and saved enough on parts that I should buy both of you a great new mexican lunch with red and green.

 

[Chris Sandstorm FJ]

Super nice build... It also looks like new rear rotors...So shinny.. I have new rotors also.