So im getting my first car soon, its gonna be a 1999 LX 470. The first thing I want to do with it is add some type of lift probably 2"-2.5" lift. I'm 15 and no next to nothing about cars and was told to join this thread. So im hoping someone could help by recommending some budget but good lift kit. Thanks
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- #2
Also I plan on off roading in the future but for now im probably just gonna use on streets and maybe camping and easy off roading trails.
Assuming your AHC is in working order I would say leave it alone. If its not in working order I would recommend one of the ironman kits but it depends on your budget. 100 series land cruisers arent like Tacomas and 4Runners or even Jeeps where you can easily lift it and roll. You should be looking at investing in a diff drop and potential upper control arms too. Oh and lifting an LX is more work than lifting an LC due to the AHC system.
You have a lot to read up on. Get familiar with the search button.
I'd forget about the lift at first. Get the car, baseline it (a term that normally means you're spending another $5-10k fixing stuff that the last owner left broken) and then enjoy it as it is.
It's extremely rare that a lift is the first functional thing anyone with a 100 needs - especially if this LX still has functional AHC which is literally a 2" lift on demand.
I'd forget about the lift at first. Get the car, baseline it (a term that normally means you're spending another $5-10k fixing stuff that the last owner left broken) and then enjoy it as it is.
It's extremely rare that a lift is the first functional thing anyone with a 100 needs - especially if this LX still has functional AHC which is literally a 2" lift on demand.
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- #5
Thanks for the info very helpful. Is there anything I should spesifacally look at first thats normally an issue with these cars? or is it normally just random things the are specific to the previous owner?
We would need more info like the miles, maintenance history. Common things are timing belt, heater Ts, CV axles, steering rack, radiators (brown radiators are a bad sign), leaks from various areas.
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- #7
Oh ok, im hoping to get it saturday, that is if I can manage to find someone to come with me to drive it back because I dont have my liscense yet. All know I really know is that it has about 200,00 miles on it and that its from alabama so it doesnt have much rust on the bottom. Also the owner bought it from his father in law who bought it new and the current owner doesnt drive it and has no reported acidents.
I think you'll need to do some reading up here. The list is long. These are extremely reliable overall, but they are luxury vehicles and at 200,000 miles and 20 years old there are a lot of wear items that might be due. Bushings, CV boots (or axles), driveshafts, engine pulley bearings, heater tees, fluids, muffler, etc...
Just start with the basics.
Depends on how you need the car, too. If you need this to get to work and school, go on dates, etc... then having a reasonably reliable ride is more enjoyable than a lifted rig with 10 different worn out parts ready to leave you stranded somewhere. If this is purely for fun and you don't need to get to work/school then you can afford to be more focused on the fun stuff, haha.
Agreed.
Kinda surprised you would be interested in a Land Cruiser/LX as a first car and a teenager. They are slow, heavy, bad on gas, require a lot of maintenance and money. I sure hope you're ready for it. I'm all for Land Cruiser ownership but I wouldnt recommend it for a new teenage driver.
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- #10
Honestly I wasn't sure about it at first lol but I really like the thought of going off roading and camping. My dad also loves cars and has many friends helping us with buying and can help us with fixing it. Unfortuatly my dad knows next to nothing about these specific cars but defenitly can still help with it. I've also been working a lot and when I turn 16 I will be able to work more and I plan on spending a lot of my free time on working on it and doing research. I also live in Ohio and find it very boring here with not much to do so this is gonna give me plenty to do so I dont get bored. Thanks for the help aswell!
Sounds great. Auto DIY work is probably one of the best bang for buck skills out there.
Congrats kid! My 100 is my first vehicle as well so I'll put some advice out. avoid the lift at first and put that money towards good tires and plenty of gas! If it's your daily driver expect to be at the pump a lot, so save up and be smart with costs. Aside from that, the 100 series is an excellent first vehicle! If the LX's AHC is still functional i would keep it unless you plan for major off roading. But if you decide to lift it IMO the ironman foam cell pro shocks are the best bang for the buck. Expensive (especially on a teens budget) but worth every penny. First thing to do with it in Ohio is to get the frame fluid filmed/rust protected to prevent rust from forming
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- #13
Will do thanks for the help!
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