Builds My $1k rig build

[Zantier]

On a rainy day last week I installed PFran's LED lights inside, license, reverse and parking. Looks like I can order a few others from superbrightleds by searching later models ('97). Nice little upgrade. One comment is the parking/side lights should be red or amber to match the light cover otherwise the color gets washed out. For example, my back side parking lights look a little pink now. My recommendation is to go with PFran for the interior and grab your markers/parking from superbrightleds

Much brighter!

Old bulb on the left, new LED on the right. Oh, and I need ideas for a personalized license plate. Anyone? Missouri doesn't have 7 character license plates otherwise ZANTIER would be a done deal.

Since my last post I've also removed the 3rd row seats and seat belts (anyone want these?) and started cleaning up the center console.

Oh and my winch arrived yesterday!

 

[Zantier]

As time allows I have had a little time to work on small projects. The interior front is now completely cleaned, shampooed, and put back together. I removed the center console and a few trim pieces to make for easier access and deeper cleaning. It was kind of like a treasure hunt--I've found about $3.00 in change and 3 guitar picks.

All of the old wood trim has now been removed. It all comes off fairly easy with the exception of the front console. With the help of a heat gun, scraper, several plastic knives (they kept breaking) and a LOT of elbow grease I got it down to the plastic.

I really liked the rubber mat idea from Accidental Eighty but sanded and painted I think the console looks nice.

I made it to my buddy's shop again and traded sausage biscuits with grape jelly for an AC vacuum and recharge. The weather here has started to turn cold so I may not have a chance to give it a good work out but it now blows cold!

In preparation for painting the flares and back bumper, I got one side removed.

 

[Zantier]

Prepping the flares for painting...

Found this on the inside of the front flare. Apparently not the first time they have been repainted and by Ceasar no less!

 

[Zantier]

A couple of late cranking nights, resulted in getting the wheels blacked out, installing new brake pads, filling the birfs and some nice lubing. Pro tip, lube goes on better at night.

I also dropped the soccer mom running boards!

 

[Zantier]

Next up, get rid of the nasty pin striping.

 

[Zantier]

The flares turned out pretty good after sanding.

Since there really is not much damage I went with flat black instead of the typical textured bed liner. We will see how long it lasts. I can always repaint.

 

[Bama4door]

What grit and process did you use for sanding the flares? I like the black wheels with your green paint. I just picked one up almost exactly like yours.

 

[incogrhino]

Like the wheels. Same plan here....

 

[the intern]

Big day!


Last but not least I replaced the steering column cover. My old one was wrapped about forty times with electrical tape by the PO:

The thing was in at least three pieces and as expensive as the things are, I had to spring for a new one (part # 4528660953C0).

Mine clamshell is currently off - $140 from the Toyota dealership...ouch. Looks nice though!

 

[Zantier]

What grit and process did you use for sanding the flares? I like the black wheels with your green paint. I just picked one up almost exactly like yours.

I started out with 100 to eat through the failing clear coat and to remove any dings and scrapes. I started out by hand but quickly switched to an electric sander. Just go lightly and mind the curves. Then I switched to two finer grits until I couldn’t see any sanding marks.

Thanks and congrats on yours!

 

[Zantier]

Mine clamshell is currently off - $140 from the Toyota dealership...ouch. Looks nice though!

Shop around a bit. I picked this one up for $90.48 at evanstoyota.com not including shipping. My local dealer is crazy over priced on parts. It’s still expensive but the original was beyond what you can fix with epoxy.

 

[Zantier]

Painted flares and back bumper are back on. I go back and forth on the front mud flaps.

 

[Red Merle]

When you removed the flares did you break any of the screws that held them on? I want to pull mine off to do a little body work on one of them and in a couple areas on each front fender but I tried removing a couple of the screws and both broke off. I am OK with that if there is a way to remove the busted off part later on and then reinstall with new stainless screws. I just have no idea what the clips look like behind the flares.

 

[Zantier]

I have scoured my photos for pictures and it looks like I only have the one in this thread and the one below. Here is a picture of the fender fastener attached to the inside bracket.

On my flares these were in various condition probably from past repairs. Some brackets allowed you to install a new fastener (like your interior panels) but the one above was all one piece. The brackets are all plastic so rebuilding/repairing would be possible. I've gotten pretty good at epoxy.

In addition to the plastic fasteners, the front and rear flares also have screws (at each end) and then bolts through the fender. Mine had two bolts in the back and three bolts through the front fenders (I think one may have been added). The bolts are all reached either through the back side panels or fender access (remove the front marker light) from the engine compartment.

Once you get the end screws out and the bolts off, the flare should just be hanging there by these plastic fasteners. At this point you can run a panel tool down to the fastener and pop it out without much damage.

 

[Zantier]

Tailgated next to this FJ62 last Fall at a Mizzou game!

 

[Zantier]

My rear Toyota Land Cruiser emblem was cracked and finally half fell off so I was looking for a replacement. These OEM are around $100. I picked up a knock-off on eBay for about $40 with shipping. The sale was squirrely--seller was from Florida but shipped from South America. You can see the difference. The letters are little more crude and not as 3D. Installed it looks great and only a trained eye (i.e. IH8MUD user) would notice a difference.

 

[Heckraiser]

Nice project! I also had to part with a clean, shiny, rust-free 60-series because I was too afraid to actually drive it

 

[Zantier]

In November, @SteveJackson offered to buy my 3rd row seats. To make a little more money, save him shipping and to get a tour of Land Cruiser Direct, I volunteered to drive down to Ozark, MO. A serious road trip meant I needed some serious tunes. Back in October I bought a new head unit and speakers but had not yet buckled down to get it all installed. Here's a list of what I installed:

• Pioneer AVH-X391BHS DVD Receiver with 6.2" Clear Type Resistive Display and Dual Backup Camera Ready
  
• 2 of Pioneer TS-G1645R 250W 6.5" 2-Way G-Series Coaxial Car Speakers
  
• AUTO-VOX Cam 6 Rear Reverse Backup Camera License Plate Parking Rearview System of 170-Degree Wide Angle
  
• Metra 70-1761 Radio Wiring Harness
  
• MicroBypass ALL AVH-X Video In Motion Interface

There are plenty of threads with options and directions but here's my feedback. The head unit is by far amazing with way more options than I will probably ever use. I almost solely use Bluetooth from my phone. Dash removal, specifically disconnecting and reconnecting all the switches is a pain. While I had it apart, I installed a flush mount USB and 3.5mm aux in one of the blanks next to the cigarette jack. So now I have the option to plug a device directly into the head unit. I disconnected the factory amp and connected the head unit harness directly into the alternate radio harness. Speakers were easy to install with mild alterations--the front doors are under the factory grills and I used the Pioneer grills in the back doors. The speakers might be the weakest part of the upgrade. The sound is SO MUCH better than all the factory paper speakers and can jam over the loudest road noise but they are still just good, not great. I also installed the backup camera. I tapped into the backup light (so the camera is not always on) but I cannot get the head unit to switch automatically when in reverse. In reality, out of the last couple of months, I have maybe used it once.

 

[Zantier]

Nice project! I also had to part with a clean, shiny, rust-free 60-series because I was too afraid to actually drive it

Ha! Glad I'm not alone in my guilt and the I get from others. I'm having a blast though with my new project.

 

[Zantier]

My cruiser buddy!