New 100 owner saying hi

[Jokester]

Hi everybody!
A few months ago the wife started saying she needed a new vehicle as her subaru was getting a bit tired. We kicked around ideas of minivans and crossovers until I stumbled onto this site. After lurking here for a while you finally had me convinced, a land cruiser was the truck for me. I looked for an 80 at first but finally accepted the fact that the only offroading I do is park on my lawn....

So I found a cheap, local 2000 with 176k and have started bringing it back from the brink. We live in Maine, so rust is a way of life here. I've always bought my cars down south before this, but this one was cheap enough to take a chance on.

So far I've:
- replaced the shocks with OEM, sway bar bushings/links/ made a new bracket
-replaced trans cooler lines/hoses behind the grill
-patched the DS rocker panel (they need replacing, but I'd like to test this particular truck for a while before investing that much time/energy)
-replaced the PS rear cab corner
-replaced the rear bumper step
-replaced tie rod end

That got me to pass inspection, so I could try the truck for a few miles.

Now I've also lubed driveline, changed fluids in diffs/transfer case. cleaned and flushed power steering and opened up 3 of my 4 sunroof drains.

I've also spent far too long scrubbing carpets and pulling out mouse nests. There is still a musty smell to get out... arrg...

but on the bright side... I have a land cruiser! and it's smooth and quiet and comfortable and will soon be ready to work as a family hauler again!

 

[Riviera]

Welcome aboard! We can't wait to see some pics of your new Land Cruiser!

 

[geanes]

Welcome to the cult. Funny thing is, I "discovered" my LX (Lexus Landcruiser) for the exact same reasons you discovered yours.....Subaru was tired and wife was considering a minivan or......GASP!....a Honda Pilot We got our LX in March and it's been pure love ever since. Never really worked on any cars before, but, thanks to this forum and all the help within, I've become more mechanically adept than I thought I could have. I never thought I could "love" a vehicle this much. Good luck in your LandCruiser journey.

 

[SmoothLC]

Welcome to the cult

. . . or the addiction, depending on how you look at things.

 

[geanes]

. . . or the addiction, depending on how you look at things.

Well, an addiction involves less Kool-Aid and Nike shoes than cults.

 

[Jokester]

Thanks for the welcome guys, now that I'm officially a part of the club I'll start asking all my questions! I've been searching, but feel free to direct me to either a better search or a better place to ask. Thanks!

I've got a rear sunroof drain that I'm pretty sure is disconnected, when I pour water in it just flows out over the rear passenger door. Do I need to drop the whole headliner or are these things accessible with just taking the trim off? (I already stripped the screws holding on one grab bar) Do I need to pull the seat belts off? Because I can't see how to get a wrench behind the trim to access them.

I still need to replace the rear a/c lines (or cap) and fix the passenger seat as it just wiggles back and forth slightly, but I think I saw threads on those already, so I'll keep reading. This forum is a fantastic resource.

geanes-- I'm not sure what my wife had to complain about... just a few rattles and blown head gaskets....

My dad had a diesel cruiser back in the early 90s so I knew they were awesome, but it was a much more utilitarian vehicle than the luxurious 100. This is definitely an upgrade from a forester, and I feel the addiction starting... I'll get some pics loaded after I get it cleaned up a bit more.

 

[uzj100]

Welcome. Glad u landed on the best general purpose 4x4 around!

 

[geanes]

Thanks for the welcome guys, now that I'm officially a part of the club I'll start asking all my questions! I've been searching, but feel free to direct me to either a better search or a better place to ask. Thanks!

I've got a rear sunroof drain that I'm pretty sure is disconnected, when I pour water in it just flows out over the rear passenger door. Do I need to drop the whole headliner or are these things accessible with just taking the trim off? (I already stripped the screws holding on one grab bar) Do I need to pull the seat belts off? Because I can't see how to get a wrench behind the trim to access them.

I still need to replace the rear a/c lines (or cap) and fix the passenger seat as it just wiggles back and forth slightly, but I think I saw threads on those already, so I'll keep reading. This forum is a fantastic resource.

geanes-- I'm not sure what my wife had to complain about... just a few rattles and blown head gaskets....

My dad had a diesel cruiser back in the early 90s so I knew they were awesome, but it was a much more utilitarian vehicle than the luxurious 100. This is definitely an upgrade from a forester, and I feel the addiction starting... I'll get some pics loaded after I get it cleaned up a bit more.

My '12 outback was a great car and so is the '16 which is the 3.6r. The head gasket issue was the 4th gen outback I believe...the body style prior to the 2011 when the CVT was introduced. My '16 limited is as rock solid a car as they come. But.............it is NO LandCruiser I can't imagine any new car being as rock solid 20 years from now as my 98 LX is today. People who ride in it still can't believe it's a 98.

 

[sammybones]

Pics or it didn't happen.