Finally got a LC v2.0!

[subzali]

Love it Ian! What's involved with adding the DRL module? Something a DIYer could do and look factoryish? Care to share which one you went with?


...via IH8MUD app

 

[IanB]

Love it Ian! What's involved with adding the DRL module? Something a DIYer could do and look factoryish? Care to share which one you went with?


...via IH8MUD app

Thanks guys!

I picked up a DRL module from Daniel Stern Lighting, but didn't end up using it. Opted to tap into an ignition hot circuit, and ran one of the two filaments in my corner lights as my DRL's. I had my command start guy do it, and that's what he came up with.

 

[IanB]

Snapped a quick pic last night, this big lug actually gets the best mileage of all my current vehicles, yikes!

 

[gnarlynick2072]

Imagine how much better your mileage would be if it was a 5 speed!

Truck looks awesome, always look forward to the updates on this thread.

 

[IanB]

Been a while since my last update, got the pin 7 mod done tonight, and a bunch of the interior trim pieces put back in place. I'm mostly waiting on some parts at this point, looks like we're going to the US for the weekend at the end of the month, so I'll be able to grab my stuff then.

I've been keeping busy though, this was dropped in my driveway last Tuesday evening, and I've been learning and working on my 1st Euro, they are not as simple as the 80's, and OBD2 is a PITA, lol.

 

[IanB]

Got to spend some time out in the garage last night, started with installing some new rear hatch lift struts from McMaster Carr, no more banging your head on a low hatch, but you better watch out it doesn't catch you in the chin on the way up, MUCH stronger than the original stockers!

Then moved on to a diesel filter change, with a new filter housing with fuel heater as the truck didn't have one from factory. Filled the new filter up with Seafoam, hoping it calms down the smoke a bit.

 

[ForealBoreal]

nice wheels,
A part of me wants to play with importing a bit more.
Did you end up getting a power rod mod at ateb?

 

[IanB]

No power rod mod. I'd like to drive it back out to the lower mainland with the family in a few years, maybe at that point...

 

[IanB]

Been a while since my last update, but I've been keeping busy! Got the Benz safetied and insured, so that's out of the way now. The Land Cruiser was down for nearly a month with a bad brake master cylinder, initially ordered the wrong one so that sucked.

Tonight I got to install my new head unit, a Pioneer DEH-80PRS with bluetooth, dual rear USB's, autoEQ w/ mic, and some pretty nice internals from a sound quality standpoint, seems like a real nice piece so far. BIG upgrade from the stock JDM deck that only picks up JDM band FM, and won't play CD's, lol. I was using a tape adapter with my Iphone which got me by.

 

[4G63 POWER]

Awesome LC, i feel bad that it has to be exposed to salt

It's now been 19 months since I lost my '91 HDJ81 in a garage fire. This weekend I get to pick up it's replacement!!! It's a '93 HDJ81, 3X lockers, winch, center console fridge, 82,XXXkms, and in very tidy shape. It arrived in Vancouver on Jul.31, finally cleared customs and was removed from the container, and shipped over to ATEB for some service yesterday afternoon. I'm having them do some maintenance before the drive home, for peace of mind.

We have a nice leisurely trip through BC planned, spending a couple nights in Kelowna, lunch at the Eagle's Nest in Golden, and taking the Forest Trunk Service road north from Crow's Nest Pass to the #1 and into Calgary for a wedding next weekend. Then a long, terrible day to blast from there back to MB to wrap up the trip (sorry to any gappers on here, lol).

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Here's a link to all the pics of the new truck:

http://www.braveautointernational.jp/vehicle-2/575/toyota-land-cruiser-vx-ltd-4-2-turbo-diesel.html

 

[IanB]

Awesome LC, i feel bad that it has to be exposed to salt

I do my best to keep the salt cleaned off it, lol. Trust me, I'd prefer they skip the salt as well, spread sand if you must.

My 2nd row weathertech digital liner showed up yesterday as well, turns out it also is LHD specific as the center console is offset for the ebrake in the opposite direction of mine, so I had to trim a corner to make it fit. Still very happy with the purchase despite having to cut it.

 

[IanB]

Got to spend some time in the garage tonight, did my 1st oil change on this truck since I picked it up in Vancouver in August. Used Rotella T6 Synthetic 5W40 and a Toyota filter, hopefully it will make the cold starts a bit easier, it's been frigid here lately!

Over the holidays, I had the truck parked outside in the brutal cold, -33C overnights, for a couple days at my brother's. We thought we'd be cute and pulled it into his heated shop to warm up prior to starting it, happened to check the rad and found it was full of slush! Went outside and where it was parked there was some of my coolant on the ground! Thinking for sure I'd split the rad or worse, I let it thaw out, and drained what I could overnight from the lower rad hose. Came out in the morning and put it back together, filled it up, and went around the block a few times, it didn't appear to leak sitting for half an hour or so. I topped it up, loaded the truck with a couple bottles of coolant, and headed out on the highway. Stopped at my parents about 1/3 the way there, unloaded the kiddo and dog and hung out there for a bit. Confirmed it wasn't leaking anything, loaded everyone back up, and went the rest of the way home with no drama.

It took in a bit more coolant when it was allowed to fully cool, and it's been running like a top ever since I'm happy to report. Bit of a scare though, mother nature is powerful.

So a coolant system service is in my future, coolant flush, new t-stat, Toyota Red coolant. Hoses look to be in great shape. I need a coolant heater, badly. On my last truck I used a 1500W circulating heater, and had some issues with it being power hungry and popping breakers. I'm considering a 1000W version of the same unit, unless someone can convince me of a better alternative.

I installed Prans 7W reverse bulbs, which I had in my last truck, but they were a pure projector style bulb at this time, and the bulbs I received this time around have LED's around the shaft as well to throw light to the sides, which is what I needed for the wife's GX. Might have to get another set.

And something I'm very excited about, I picked up some FOX 2.0 IPF shocks! Can't wait to see what they can do with the roads around here!!!

Back outside for the Cruiser tonight, wife did not dig her truck being outside last night, lol. The Benz is just not ready for the harsh winter, needs a coolant system flush and block heater as well. Ugh. I hate coolant. Needs more garage.

 

[IanB]

Got the Fox IFP V2.0 shocks installed, and the truck drives like a dream! What used to be jarring, is now just another irregularity in what resembles a war torn wasteland that we call our roads here in Winnipeg. The truck doesn't pitch and bob around nearly as much, and I didn't think it was bad in the 1st place, but it really did make an appreciable difference. Very happy with the results!

 

[danakittilsen]

i'll be setting up this solution tomorrow! that wand for the parkade is the best thing I've learned about driving RHD off of 'Mud yet!

 

[IanB]

I had a scare over the Christmas holidays where the coolant was slush in my rad due to extreme cold, and there was some coolant on the ground under the rad. I pulled it in the shop and thawed it out, dropped what I could drain from the lower rad hose, refilled with 50/50 mix, and made the 2 hour trip home with my daughter. I had to top off the reservoir as the system heat cycled a few times after that, but it has stabilized and the truck shows no symptoms of damaged components other than the smell of coolant, and a musty smell in the vents.

I fear my rad has a split in it somewhere that is holding together for the time being, but could be an issue when summer rolls around. I picked up a rad pressure tester w/ Toyota adapter, got it installed, and something is definitely leaking the pressure off, you can hear it. I can't tell where I'm leaking, what's the best method of tracking something like this down?

 

[ppc]

I think the preferred method is to add a dye to the coolant that is sensitive to UV light. Shine the UV light around and the source of the leak should be very apparent. I think you can "rent" a tester kit from the likes of Autozone.

 

[acolella]

Love this thread

 

[IanB]

I think the preferred method is to add a dye to the coolant that is sensitive to UV light. Shine the UV light around and the source of the leak should be very apparent. I think you can "rent" a tester kit from the likes of Autozone.

Hmmm, that's the thing though, it's not losing coolant per se, there's no drips on the garage floor, and the level isn't going down so I'm not sure this would show anything. I think I'll get a spray bottle and start spraying soapy water around with the system pressurized, at least I could rule out the pressure tester fittings being my leak source that way.

 

[gnarlynick2072]

I hear the rear heater lines tend to go on the HDJs. Though that would probably unload your coolant pretty quickly...

 

[IanB]

Well I pressurized the system with the coolant pressure tester to about 15psi, and sprayed soapy water all over the tester fittings, the top of the rad, etc. No bubbles that I could see. Pressure bleeds off to zero in a couple of minutes, so it's getting out somewhere, but I can't tell where.

Put it back together, I guess if it's not leaking, and it's not overheating, I'm chasing a problem that may or may not exist. Probably just get a new rad cap and see what happens come warmer weather.