Builds Lauren Cruiser Build Thread (1 Viewer)

[troutbum]

Picked up a new cruiser last week from @DuckCruiser. Very excited! My old one was tired and got my family through a lot, but it was the end of an era. Here's to new beginnings.

1996 Toyota Land Cruiser
Dark Emerald Pearl/Moonglow Pearl
225k miles
No lockers
285/75R16 Yokohama Geolander AT g015
AC!!

Currently have head unit and speakers removed until I purchase a new head unit. My old head unit from my 97 bit the dust. Still have my 3 way Kenwood KFC-1694PS speakers for when I install the new head unit.
Seats are in good condition, threw some old seat covers on them for protection. Very clean inside.

My plans for now:
Yakima Roof Rack
Storage System
Double Din Head Unit
Baseline maintenance

Long term:
3" lift, shocks
Slee Short Bus Bumper
315s with regear
RTT
LED dome lights
WeatherTech mats and a mat for the trunk

Currently a junior in college so I'm ballin on a budget, but I still want to do this the right way no matter how long it takes. This is a good base for me to build on.

 

[Malleus]

Gem!

 

[fz1boxer]

nice see ya up in the mtns someday

 

[BigAxeJack]

Very clean! Congrats.

 

[toyotaaddict83]

Glad to see that I am not the only 2X year old that appreciates cruiser! Cheers and welcome to the addiction!

 

[troutbum]

nice see ya up in the mtns someday

Looking forward to it! I'm in Dahlonega, but my family is from Cumming. I see that you're around lanier. Let me know if you need an extra hand with anything.

 

[troutbum]

Glad to see that I am not the only 2X year old that appreciates cruiser! Cheers and welcome to the addiction!

What's not to appreciate! My old one was our family vehicle since 03 so I got lucky early!

 

[Mdej3]

25yo and loving this thing!

Glad to see that I am not the only 2X year old that appreciates cruiser! Cheers and welcome to the addiction!

 

[LS1FJ40]

Holy Sh!t! Your green paint is still intact!

Nice, clean rig.

 

[DuckCruiser]

Waaaaahooooo!!!!!

 

[DuckCruiser]

Hope it gives you many years of great service, @troutbum. I'm very glad for you to have it, and I look forward to adventure and build pics and reports!

 

[LINUS]

Holy Sh!t! Your green paint is still intact!

Nice, clean rig.

Haha - That was my exact reaction (thought my small phone screen was lying to me)

That's both a classy color combo & a nice survivor for clearcoated 80's, you got a sharp one buddy!

All the monotone green 80 owners should look at these 2-tones if they are sick of the green they have, the grey makes it a new rig.

:::Mind blown:::

 

[LS1FJ40]

Haha - That was my exact reaction (thought my small phone screen was lying to me)

That's both a classy color combo & a nice survivor for clearcoated 80's, you got a sharp one buddy!

All the monotone green 80 owners should look at these 2-tones if they are sick of the green they have, the grey makes it a new rig.

:::Mind blown:::

It ALMOST makes me not hate emerald green. Almost.

 

[fz1boxer]

Looking forward to it! I'm in Dahlonega, but my family is from Cumming. I see that you're around lanier. Let me know if you need an extra hand with anything.

thanks i will,i've been wrenching on cars,motorcycles,and race cars for 40+ years,hardest thing is figuring out what someone else did.
i've got wires all over from previous stereo installs that i am slowly purging.
gonna do the 7 pin then add gauges,oil and temp.
gonna pull the flares not sure if i will paint them or just leave them off.
definitely need to do something about the paint though.
got a seat ext kit coming from wits end,my money pit projects never end.

 

[troutbum]

Just wanted to update the thread on what I've done. Mileage is at 230k. About 3 weeks ago, I received the Spector Off Road front axle rebuild kit for the 80 series and installed it. Took about 20 hours to do the thing by myself. On my drivers side, I had a bad axle seal and got the birfield soup and it started to ooze out the back of my birfield.

Not the best sight!

 

[troutbum]

Here's what I started with the night before.

One thing I needed was an axle seal puller. I had to get one from Advanced half way through the job.

The soup

Driver side birfield pulled

Packed in with moly grease.

I didn't take any pictures during the otherside because I was such a mess, covered head to toe in grease and diff oil. Definitely a dirty job. I think I ended up using 3 rolls of paper towels.
New seals on each side, replaced trunnion bearings and wheel bearings.
Worth it though. Now I have clean birfs and don't have to worry shouldn't have to about this for a while. Amazed at how clean this truck is underneath. Trying to keep it that way as long as I can. Next on the list is OME lift with 850J and 863 springs.

 

[troutbum]

Also replaced heater control valve as it had rotted out.

While Lauren was up on the lift, I noticed what the clunking noise from the driver's side wheel was. The bottom of my shock stem had completely snapped off. Replacing this ASAP.

Btw, anyone know how to make my pictures smaller?

 

[DuckCruiser]

Also replaced heater control valve as it had rotted out.
View attachment 1591804
While Lauren was up on the lift, I noticed what the clunking noise from the driver's side wheel was. The bottom of my shock stem had completely snapped off. Replacing this ASAP.
View attachment 1591803
Btw, anyone know how to make my pictures smaller?

Way to go, friend! I would never have tried to take on the axle job. You are the man!

 

[TomOsborne]

Also replaced heater control valve as it had rotted out.
View attachment 1591804
While Lauren was up on the lift, I noticed what the clunking noise from the driver's side wheel was. The bottom of my shock stem had completely snapped off. Replacing this ASAP.
View attachment 1591803
Btw, anyone know how to make my pictures smaller?

How many miles did you log before you noticed this? Good catch.

 

[troutbum]

Way to go, friend! I would never have tried to take on the axle job. You are the man!

Thanks Andy! It feels good having it under my belt. Now I know have a better understanding on how the knuckles work.