New 100 owner

[86Scotty]

Greetings, I'm not new to Toyotas or off roading but just sold an 03 T4R for a 2000 Land Cruiser. I wanted something bigger and really I just wanted a Land Cruiser.

The specifics:
2000 LC 100
2 owners and all dealer maintenance
274k (not really worried)
That silver/champagne color that most of them are
Never smoked in and the best paint I've ever seen on a vehicle this age
Never in an accident except a minor front left fender bender, so instead of replacing with stock parts they added a sweet ARB bumper!
Came with a used (old) Ramsey 9k winch not installed
3rd row seats have been stored and never sat in. They are like new.


Issues:
Worn front seats but no tears
Badly worn steering wheel
Badly needs tires and wheels (lots of cooked on brake dust). I'm looking on CL at a few sets of Tundra 18"s
Probably BFG KO2's E-rated. I've bought several sets and am a fan
Interior trim is faded and generally craptastic. Hmmmm, what to do.
HAD that gold crack dealer badging.....for about an hour. Painting black.
Bank 1 O2 sensor code

Parts on order:
Bank 1 02 sensor
new hood lift struts
fuel, air, oil filters

Issues I could use some guidance on:
Truck drives great except for seriously bad tires. Truck has sat for a good while, probably while they hemmed and hawed about not selling their trusty old LC!
However, the tranny seems to be overfilled on the dipstick and leaked after I got home and parked it. I haven't driven since I was busy with holidays. Could it be that the seller overfilled the tranny and it's just overflowing? I'm not really sure why this would be since it's had dealer maintenance. Tranny was rebuilt at 150k. It shifts perfect and fluid is nice and red, not burnt. I'm a pretty good wrench and this is all I can figure. I do not have communication with the previous owner to ask them.

I have a lift and will get her up in the air by this weekend to investigate further. Thoughts?

Plans:
Wheels and tires post haste
Mount the winch and probably get synthetic line and new fairlead since it didn't come with one at all
Mild suspension lift
Pull those **** running boards
Detail including under the hood
Tint (sooner or later)
Pull and paint interior (door/console/vent) trim

Eric

 

[86Scotty]

So, it was a productive day yesterday. I found some 2013 Tundra wheels with Nitto Terra Grapplers on CL. Already mounted them up. Great life on the tires, 275/65-18"s. I used the old centercaps from my OEM wheels which popped on just fine. I also pulled the running boards while I had it up on the lift.

Also, complete wash and exterior detail. I'll get to the inside more tomorrow I hope. Tomorrow my parts should be in as well.

While up on the lift I found that this thing is in even better shape than I thought. Absolutely no rust and I can't believe the condition for 274k. It does have some BADLY leaking valve cover gaskets, both sides. Looks like I'll be tearing in to that very soon.

 

[86Scotty]

Valve covers ordered and all other parts in. Yay.

 

[TXSunDevil]

Welcome to Mud. Please post pics

 

[86Scotty]

Thanks Sundevil. I'll get on that tomorrow.

Tonight, seafoamed and had a big smoke show, new wipers, pulled rear mud flaps. All this small stuff is pretty mundane I know but I love this thing.

Can someone link a post that will tell me EVERY bulb that should light up in the interior? Seems like about half mine are out. Only one of my rear vent window switches lights, only one heated seat, I get nothing on overdrive on/off, and no lights in my doors for the window switches. I'd really like to find out what SHOULD light up before I pull everything apart looking for bulbs.

 

[trainrech]

Valve covers ordered and all other parts in. Yay.

I found the valve cover bolts on my ‘00 were very loose (just this morning). I tightened them back up and will see how that goes. If it doesn’t work I have a kit in hand.

 

[nissanh]

If the heater line "T" joints are still factory, replacing those are your priority number ONE. The heater T's are located near the firewall next to the brake master pump.

Some mechanics just don't care and add too much of fluid. If you get your car/truck serviced at a shop, they'll fill the P/S reservoir more than full.

Post some pictures!

 

[86Scotty]

Thanks guys. I'll be in the shop under the truck today and tomorrow and will get some pics up.

Yeah, I'm hoping some knob just overfilled the tranny.

As for the valve covers possibly being loose it is pretty obvious that they've been seeping oil for quite some time. It's a big mess under there on both sides and it smells once it's warmed up. The truck was taken care of really well but I think this is just one maintenance item they just let go, especially since it's not real obvious unless you pull the plastic off the top and/or look closely underneath. I've got oil all over the headers. I already got new VCG's and am going to pull it all, clean it up and start fresh with them properly installed and torqued.

Here are some shots right before I bought it:

LC 100 by 86scotty, on Flickr

LC 100 by 86scotty, on Flickr

 

[aging fleet]

Welcome to mud.

Regarding the transmission, did you check the fluid level when the truck was cold or warm? If cold, that may be why it appeares overfilled. Mine is a later model without a dipstick so checking the fluid level is a bit more involved, but step one is getting the transmission up to operating temp. Assume it would be the same way with the earlier models, but the others can confirm.

You’ll likely be able to find what you need in the faq or by searching “drain and fill”

 

[Julian Stead]

Engine hot and up to temp and driven for about 20 minutes. Then dip the transmission fluid with the engine idling and in Park, read the dipstick.

Sorry, Welcome.

 

[Ayune]

Valve cover bolts are probably just loose. Tighten 'em up and keep on truckin'.

 

[nissanh]

Nice truck!

Stay with OEM parts whenever possible. I replaced the valve cover gaskets on my 97 4runner with aftermarket and it lasted only 6900 miles! Yes, so I had to do it again. This time went with OEM. Be careful when tightening the valve cover bolts. Sometimes the valve cover can crack if you put too much force. This issue is very common on 5vzfe engines (4runner/tacoma). A few good places to buy OEM parts for less are Camelbacktoyota in AZ (shipping is free above $150: use TWPartz to receive additional 3% Link Camelback Toyota Parts - Genuine OEM Parts - Free Shipping, or McGeorge Toyota Parts | Toyota Online Parts | Genuine Toyota parts | Toyota Parts Online

Good Luck!

 

[suprarx7nut]

Looks good! I'm anxious to see how your interior painting goes. I think removing my existing faded wood trim and painting the pieces a dark brown could look really nice. Perhaps you're thinking something similar.

Welcome!

 

[86Scotty]

Did the valve cover gaskets today. Quite a job because all of my vacuum lines are brittle and crumbling. I spent way too much time patching up problems but need to replace pretty much all of them. On the idea of tightening my VCG's, no way, they were the originals obviously. They had turned to plastic. All of the spark plug seals were shot too. It was bad.

As for my tranny issue I'm familiar with the proper checking procedure. The problem is that it's puking fluid all over the place. It's way over filled. Now that the VCG's are done I can move on to that.

Also today, installed my ScangaugeII, oil and filter, and new bank 1 02 sensor. Here are some pics in the shop of the new wheels sans running boards and mud flaps.

If it's warm enough tomorrow I'll be attempting to pressure wash all the oil sludge off the block and underside.

Untitled by 86scotty, on Flickr

Untitled by 86scotty, on Flickr

Untitled by 86scotty, on Flickr

 

[leveeguy]

Any update on the puking tranny fluid issue you were experiencing?