Cali to Maine

[Lumpskie]

What is the coating like? I am planning on going there too but I was wondering if the coating gets scraped off as you go off roading? I do not really know what would be a better alternative though.

Like @cruiserhound said, it's kind of a messy undercoat, once it's applied. For me, when it was freshly applied, it was easily 1/8" thick everywhere. (It looks like a clear gelatin) Over the course of winter, the coating got thinner and caught some dirt in it. By now, it's a thin coating that is full of dirt but still totally intact. Over the course of the winter, I don't think any rust developed on my vehicle. I'll reapply in fall!

 

[PDoyle]

I would line-x sliders or get them powder coated. They will last much much longer.

 

[Lumpskie]

I would line-x sliders or get them powder coated. They will last much much longer.

Until you use them for the first time!

 

[PDoyle]

Geez I line-x'ed a front bumper on my Jeep in 2005. Still looks new. Although the White Knuckle sliders I bought I was told were powder coated and the plating is showing a little rust around the bolts. But I think maybe that is to be expected around the bolt holes.

 

[Lumpskie]

Geez I line-x'ed a front bumper on my Jeep in 2005. Still looks new. Although the White Knuckle sliders I bought I was told were powder coated and the plating is showing a little rust around the bolts. But I think maybe that is to be expected around the bolt holes.

True but the first time you scratch them on rocks, you'll have to reapply the Line X... which isn't cheap. If you get a little rust, it will creep below the Line X just like with paint or powdercoat. The fluid film will prevent that cancer from spreading. I use my front bumper as a ramp sometimes so that wouldn't work for me. So I rattle can and fluid film instead.

If you dont beat up your bumper, I can see it working well though.

 

[PDoyle]

Gotcha. I go to the mall.

 

[Broski]

UPDATE: So, I'm about a month and half in and the honeymoon is over. Don't get me wrong, I'm loving this cruiser, but there was a ton of s*** that wasn't right and she is slowly starting to tell her story. The PM was severely lacking. The PO's before me either gave up on the upkeep or just didn't have much knowledge about vehicle maintenance. I also suspect, for a couple different reasons, that decent parts were scavenged and replaced before it was shipped from Cali. Of course this is just speculation but some things I've discovered don't add up. So I've been base-lining her and replacing parts with OEM whenever possible. Right now she is idling really well and I am now pretty confident driving it around. I'd like to thank @Notch from Back Bay Customs in Portland for great advise, giving me confidence to do work that I would have a garage do otherwise. If you need any high-end custom work done in New England go see Notch at Back Bay Customs. Thanks to @jonheld and all the other folks that have responded to my threads. I can't say enough about IH8MUD, it's an awesome forum!

Base-lining accomplished to date:

OEM Air Filter
Coolant Flush/replaced with Toyota Red
Wix Fuel Filter
Oil and Filter
Oil Fill Cap Gasket
PCV Valve, Hose and Grommet
Front and Rear Axle Fluid
Transfer Case Fluid
OEM Plugs and Wires
Distributor Cap and Rotor
Distributor Base
All New OEM Vacuum Hose
Diehard AGM BAttery
OEM Vacuuum Modulator
Fuel Pressure Regulator
Thermostat

Some other maintenance was done before I got her and there is much more to do! If you see something missing that you think should be done, for a vehicle with 243,000 miles, please feel free to chime in! I'm all for good ideas.

From what I see it's be a lovely Honeymoon, Many new 80 owners do not make it home before they realize that they purchased a blown head gasket, Mine included three day after I got it [ OUCH ] All of that & and a complete base line has be done plus most of the fun stuff bumpers sliders lift 5.29 37" tires and more. With lots of help for Mud.

With most of us it a labor of love that never ends but yield lot's of joy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[DaWoodMan1]

I got my 97 LX450 almost 1 year ago to the day but got lucky in the sense of not having to put any money into her at first, partially because she was running fine and partially because I didn't have the money to put into her. Now however, she needs brakes amongst other things and after having lived with her for a year, the laundry list of to-do's is a mile long; luckily nothing major like a head gasket or tranny rebuild; maybe when she hits 240k.

Your most recent post on the recently fixed items is perfect though as I've got 175k on my baby and I think she sat for quite some time in TX and FL, before arriving in CA and then in LV to me. Since she's probably pretty gummed up inside even after driving her sporadically for a year, changing things like the PCV valve are probably a great idea for my girl too. Strangely, the recommended service intervals in the CruiserFAQ aren't very detailed so I'm using your recent parts/fixes list in combination with the FAQ to get ready for the 180k-ish huge service job!

 

[JOFS]

Welcome

I am up by Augusta. Be careful with reconranger

I swear by fluid film but now I clean the truck in the spring and apply then as well as the fall

I feel it gives a little leeway if I miss a spot and also rust happens faster at warmer temperatures

I think the Maine mud contingent should buy the 55 gallon drum of fluid film and have a party