My first 100...good and bad.

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kevine

kevine

10 Year
Joined
Feb 21, 2013
Threads
33
Messages
143
I've been on the forums for a few years. I've had a couple Tacomas (pre-runners) and had a 1980 FJ60 that I sold after a year of owning it. I ended up with a 1973 GMC Jimmy K5 blazer, full conv, 350, 6" lift on 35s. LOVED IT. But it was not the most practical for camping and with the wife wanting a usable third car, I wanted something with at least some updated safety features. I just picked up a 2000 LC this week. Had 210k miles, but no offroading. The last couple years it was barely driving and owner put in back up cam, disc changer, DVD, billet grill and 18" chrome Lexus rims. Getting rid of the rims and disc changer. New head unit is being installed as I type, with back up cam installed.

I had my mechanic do a safety inspection and motor/trans in great shape. Interior looks great and a/c blows cold. It passed smog 3 weeks before I bought it w/o issue. However, a few seals need replacing...about $3,000 worth of seals...here's the list:

front axle CV boots
rear center diff output on left;
rear axle on left
needs new power steering pump
new rack and pinion (with 4 wheel alignment)
new oil filter gasket

I'm getting all of this done next week. Just don't want to hassle with it since I'll be camping with my kids in it. The other things I noticed are:

1 bulb out on rear license plate
temp screen on rear view mirror has everything lit up instead of numbers
very small (1/4") tears on leather on the back of the rear seats and a couple on fronts
paint is beat to hell (especially on bumper corners) but no real dents
several small dings

Hoping to sell or trade the 18" chrome Lexus rims w/new tires for about $600-$700. I'm gonna replace with 16" black rims, and probably 285s, maybe something a little bigger, but I will not be doing any serious off roading, maybe some dirt roads, camping trails, desert (Joshua tree), etc. I'm hoping within the next 6 months, doing a 3" OME lift. May consider 2" but seems like a lot of money for just 2" (that sounded perverted).

MAYBE, if wife doesn't mind the look, I'll replace the front and rear bumpers with some armor. I'll explain that it would eliminate the need to paint!!! Since I won't be doing any serious off roading, I'm considering a roof cargo basket for the factory roof rack. Any opinions on this???

Thanks in advance, and looking forward to learning more about 100s.

image.webp
 
btw, when my headlight switch is in "off" position, i still have DRL's on. is this normal or another project for me?
 
kevine said:
btw, when my headlight switch is in "off" position, i still have DRL's on. is this normal or another project for me?
Click to expand...

DRL's s are on all the time. there's no factory switch to turn them off.
 
Only way to turn off DRL's is to turn the truck off, engage the parking brake, then start it back up. Everything will remain off until you disengage the parking brake.


Official Jeep Recovery Vehicle
 
DRLs can't be turned off in a 2000LC via techstream? You can definitely turn them off in an 03LX. Maybe being able to turn them off was added to later MYs? Dunno.
 
hmmm, thanks for clearing the DRL issue up. went to the local car audio shop (owner ran a shop where I grew up and installed stuff in my first car....30 years ago), and had a new head unit put in (Kenwood bluetooth) The one that was there was not working. The existing back up cam was scratched, so I replaced that, including a mount for a more optimal location. removed the disc changer as it was not compatible with new head unit. also, removed about 15 pounds of excess wiring that was put in by PO for god knows what. he had so many phone and tv cables. apparently, his kids had every brand of phone and did nothing but play x-box.

DVD player had a bad output, but the shop was a distributor for that brand. he pulled it out and is sending it in for a warranty repair/replace. If not, I'll get a new one since all the wiring is there.

While the shop was doing the install/clean up of old wiring, I watched as seats and other plastic was removed. Now I'm going to remove everything to detail the inside. That's tomorrow's project.

so $750 later, all the electronics are cleaned up, junk removed and i have a dead battery....ugh. charged it. if it doesn't start tomorrow, new red top.

next week, all the seals get done. bye bye money...hellooooo LC!!!
 
Sounds like you have a good project going. Welcome to the world of the 100 series.
You mention safety features, and family... One important safety feature is to keep the CG low, so the lift doesn't quite go with that. If you go with 285s, you have already lifted 1", and as the 100 is quite capable from factory, you should be OK for your intended use. Replacing front and rear bumpers will help with the angles, and in particular with the result of going beyond those angles.
Just my 10 c.
And for battery - bigger is better, when camping. Better with more capacity than higher cranking amps, as the big batteries wil have a high enough cca anyway.
Pics wanted.
 
As for roof racks there are a million choices out there! The one I recommend is Gamiviti, @nakman (Tim) is awesome to deal with!
 
Thanks for the tips/info. IF I do the lift, I read someone else's post about adding about an inch (30 mm) with spacers. Kinda like that idea, and it was only $50 for the parts. May have to look that up again. Not looking for anything aggressive, but a little extra clearance compared to minimal height/CG change would be nice.

Bumpers are definitely in the cards. It'll allow me to add lights, spare tire and gas can rack. As far as the roof rack, any tips on how to remove the stock roof rack? For now, I'm gonna just mount a cargo roof basket, but would like to eventually add a different rack. Since I'm not going to be using it that often, any thoughts on JUST using a roof cargo basket? Just using U-bolts to hold it on?
 
So two days in a row, calls from mechanic (who I still trust). Couldn't find good aftermarket power steering pump, so a couple hundy more for OEM, done; since rack and pinion/axles being replaced, new bearings/race, etc. done. So far, $3500...ugh. But it'll be a very good and dependable truck once I pick it up tomorrow morning.
 
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