New member LC100!!!

[toyotalexus420]

Greetings!
Im chris from Dallas, TX. You can also find me around Breckenridge, CO, Los Angeles, CA, or NYC (Williamsburg/Bushwick).

I am lucky enough to have received my Dads 2002 LC100 in great condition. I have had 3 4runners and most recently an RX330 which my mom now drives. My first 4runner 1990 2nd Gen in 1997 purchased by my parents when I was 17 was totaled while parked at a friends house, next to tennis courts. The girl was looking towards the tennis courts as she rammed the back of it onto the curb. Only one of the 4runners was 4x4 and was also Limited which is pictured. A handful of mods were done. Occasional mudding, college and nightclub cruising, and Ski Resort lifestyle living. The RX330 was a dream for the highway although it drove like a sports car I would stare at anything lifted like i felt less of a man. And in TX and CO we are privileged enough to drive street legal tanks basically.

Now I travel just as much and do long road trips. I plan on trips to Moab and the Grand Canyon this year hopefully. I am an entrepreneur and broadcast professional also working in charity, fashion, and the arts. It would be great to network! Regardless I have not owned anything other than a Toyota or Lexus Suv and Hopefully I will always have one around. It seems most people who own them are practical but headstrong.

First I got limo tint thanks to Groupon on sale around christmas for $160 full job by a reputable shop called Moonshadow, next I had my amp and 12" Rockford Fosgate P1 in a single truck Probox installed and new JBL 6.5s were replaced in the front doors by an ok shop which is close to my old college who installed on 2 of my other cars called DFW Audio, newish owners and I am not sure if i can recommend them although they were cheaper than best buy where I got the JBL's on sale from $99 to $60 with a 4 year warranty for $16. I removed the rear badges and I am in the process of removing the old trim. With the help of this forum I also repaired my rear 6" sub by duct taping it after removing all of the old speaker trim I can post pictures later. I also installed my Yakima Snowboard and Bike Racks and found some great all weather mats comparable to weather tech at ross for 16.99! I have WeatherTech Digital Liners in the RX which is amazing for the mountains in the winter and mud season! I was going to buy them for the LC but it can wait. After a few friends having Fj's I am considering putting rubber bedliner spray all over the carpet.

SO -
I am dreaming of the full off road bumper to bumper package with custom vinyl wrap hopefully done before the end of the decade, but maybe ill beat that. I will wait on full lift, snorkel, and 17x9 wheels for 2016.

Any input on your preferences or budget busters for the following would be greatly appreciated!!!!!
Hopefully I have some knowledge for the 4runner dudes which I will check out shortly.


1. Clear corners? have they lasted or leaked or not fit? Go with 06 headlights instead?
2. Custom Grills- Painted with mesh insert? aluminum billet? 06 OEM? All chrome one piece? Painted entire old setup? I need to replace the emblem and I figure I might just get a new grill if its the same price as oem.
3. Tundra Wheels with Spacers? I would like the spacers for the wider stance although I am told not to because they are bad for off roading? I have seen the tundra wheel thread for which fit and have seen a handful on craigslist. But any other updated info on owning them for a while would be nice.
4. tail light covers/guards? where are they.
6. Exhaust? i want American exhaust, is it ok to just use a Flowmaster muffler? Magnaflow?
5. Any other cheaper mods?

 

[RND1]

Congrats Chris and welcome to MUD! Looks like a great platform to modify. My '03 is stock and I've been focused on maintenance and simply enjoying driving it so can't help you with the cosmetic / exhaust questions.

 

[Sandroad]

Welcome! I also had a 1990 4Runner. Mine was "totaled" by rust. It was the last vehicle I've owned with a manual transmission and I sure miss those. Hard to find manuals now. With regard to your exhaust question, run yourself a search on this forum because lots of others have had lots of ideas on exhaust systems over the years. I suggest not doing spacers until you've decided on tires and wheels because you may get the look you want without them. Suspension geometry is tricky enough as it is! Enjoy the modding.

 

[yotasavg]

Welcome, I'll give some input on a few questions:

1) You can go with clear corners, and I believe there are OEM units available from other markets. Or, you can pm @ranma21 and see if you can still get in on the group buy for the DEPO one piece lights. Check out the recent thead, a quick search should bring it up. They're gonna be bad ass!
2) I've seen lots of people plastidip their grills. I did that to mine, but now I'm leaning toward a redo where I'll cut out the slats and do mesh, a la Satoshi style. The good news is that our grills don't look like they'll need fiberglass like the Tacoma grills require, or at least that's what I'm hoping.
4) I'd not recommend these if you're anywhere near trees... I had them on my old 4Runner and destroyed both of my quarter panels (not replaceable, obviously, same with the 100) by having them bump into things and then transfer the blow directly to their mounting points. What I found out is that I'd rather break a tail light and not have a bunch of body work and bondo to deal with. Then again a branch could just take out the panel along with a tail lights. Just a thought, do as you will with your truck. Another idea might be building guards into a rear bumper that you mentioned wanting at some point. That's a better idea IMO.
5) Cheap mods? Not so common on the LC, but there are some. I just did the Pin 17 mod to make my fogs stay on with brights, and I made my 12v sockets hot all the time (3 of 4 anyway). Both were free with stuff I had laying around (wiring, crimp on terminals). Another free mod would be removing running boards, but I'm not one to talk, as mine are still in place getting dented nicely.
6) I want to just hack mine off and throw a Flowmaster on there too, haven't done it yet, interested to see what you do.

Enjoy!

 

[krice118]

welcome!

in regards to exhaust, I recently put on the flowmaster 40 series delta flow. it sounds really nice if your sitting on the tailgate while driving around. It is noticeably louder but not loud. I suggest the flowmaster 44 if you want a louder exhaust.

throw some 285s on there. Best mod ever is deleting running boa
Here is a list of my mods: Added OME 865 rear coils- gained about an inch- inch and a half of lift in the rear plus running 285s it sits a lot taller than stock. Flowmaster 40, LEDs in the front grill, PFRAN LED reverse bulbs- they are an improvement over stock but this past weekend I installed some amazon 2x3 LED "cubes" that I love and completely overpower the PFRAN Bulbs but the bulbs look nice...

I also plastidipped the chrome around the grille. I also put in LED lights through out the interior

 

[coldwiz]

Congrats and welcome! I also ended up with my parents LC after having a couple of 4Runners.

 

[toyotalexus420]

welcome!

in regards to exhaust, I recently put on the flowmaster 40 series delta flow. it sounds really nice if your sitting on the tailgate while driving around. It is noticeably louder but not loud. I suggest the flowmaster 44 if you want a louder exhaust.

throw some 285s on there. Best mod ever is deleting running boa
Here is a list of my mods: Added OME 865 rear coils- gained about an inch- inch and a half of lift in the rear plus running 285s it sits a lot taller than stock. Flowmaster 40, LEDs in the front grill, PFRAN LED reverse bulbs- they are an improvement over stock but this past weekend I installed some amazon 2x3 LED "cubes" that I love and completely overpower the PFRAN Bulbs but the bulbs look nice...

I also plastidipped the chrome around the grille. I also put in LED lights through out the interior

what else did you need to replace the muffler?

thanks for the info! ill look into those springs and the bulbs.

 

[toyotalexus420]

Welcome! I also had a 1990 4Runner. Mine was "totaled" by rust. It was the last vehicle I've owned with a manual transmission and I sure miss those. Hard to find manuals now. With regard to your exhaust question, run yourself a search on this forum because lots of others have had lots of ideas on exhaust systems over the years. I suggest not doing spacers until you've decided on tires and wheels because you may get the look you want without them. Suspension geometry is tricky enough as it is! Enjoy the modding.

yeah id love to see another 2 door 4runner remade one day i think that was the same year they made them. i hope to find one garage kept and chop off the back area roof like the generation before it.

 

[toyotalexus420]

Welcome, I'll give some input on a few questions:

1) You can go with clear corners, and I believe there are OEM units available from other markets. Or, you can pm @ranma21 and see if you can still get in on the group buy for the DEPO one piece lights. Check out the recent thead, a quick search should bring it up. They're gonna be bad ass!
2) I've seen lots of people plastidip their grills. I did that to mine, but now I'm leaning toward a redo where I'll cut out the slats and do mesh, a la Satoshi style. The good news is that our grills don't look like they'll need fiberglass like the Tacoma grills require, or at least that's what I'm hoping.
4) I'd not recommend these if you're anywhere near trees... I had them on my old 4Runner and destroyed both of my quarter panels (not replaceable, obviously, same with the 100) by having them bump into things and then transfer the blow directly to their mounting points. What I found out is that I'd rather break a tail light and not have a bunch of body work and bondo to deal with. Then again a branch could just take out the panel along with a tail lights. Just a thought, do as you will with your truck. Another idea might be building guards into a rear bumper that you mentioned wanting at some point. That's a better idea IMO.
5) Cheap mods? Not so common on the LC, but there are some. I just did the Pin 17 mod to make my fogs stay on with brights, and I made my 12v sockets hot all the time (3 of 4 anyway). Both were free with stuff I had laying around (wiring, crimp on terminals). Another free mod would be removing running boards, but I'm not one to talk, as mine are still in place getting dented nicely.
6) I want to just hack mine off and throw a Flowmaster on there too, haven't done it yet, interested to see what you do.

Enjoy!

yeah i wanted to do a mesh grille with a trd emblem and no logo. or find a way to get the red toyota name like the fj's. im just paranoid someone might just rip off the stuff in nyc. well see if i find some tail light covers at all. leave it up to fate. i may change the tail lights to 06 tail lights but im fine with them. its the lx470 lights i wish i could get. im considering removing the running boards temporarily and maybe change it back and forth. and ill let you know how the flowmaster mod goes. ill do a iphone video if so for the sound.

 

[krice118]

I bought the muffler online, I wish I would have bought one that was a little bigger than stock. Stock inlet and outlets are 2 1/4 It would hVe been louder at 2 1/2 but I just bought the muffler and paid an exhaust shop $60 to weld it on. It was quick

 

[hankinid]

Greetings!


View attachment 1025686

Chris, welcome to mud...nice Cruiser.

Chris...am I correct in thinking the picture might be near Flower Mound?

Steve

 

[toyotalexus420]

Chris, welcome to mud...nice Cruiser.

Chris...am I correct in thinking the picture might be near Flower Mound?

Steve

lake ridge in cedar hill actually. but i know some of the areas up there look the same. i have a lot of family northwest dallas not far to lake lewisville. you should check out the new wakeboard park in little elm, pretty nice.

 

[hankinid]

lake ridge in cedar hill actually. but i know some of the areas up there look the same. i have a lot of family northwest dallas not far to lake lewisville. you should check out the new wakeboard park in little elm, pretty nice.

Thank you for the tip. We're usually there in March for the bluebonnets and to see friends.

Steve

 

[yeti in ga]

welcome , It is always nice to see new ones added and someones journey in land cruiser land begin. Keep us posted on how things come along with pictures.

 

[TRDOffroad03]

yeah id love to see another 2 door 4runner remade one day i think that was the same year they made them. i hope to find one garage kept and chop off the back area roof like the generation before it.

Great idea. The newer 4Runners would look so cool with that mod. A manual 2 door model would be unsurpassed in excellence .

 

[toyotalexus420]

I bought the muffler online, I wish I would have bought one that was a little bigger than stock. Stock inlet and outlets are 2 1/4 It would hVe been louder at 2 1/2 but I just bought the muffler and paid an exhaust shop $60 to weld it on. It was quick

Can you take a picture of it?

Im bringing mine back although it sounds pretty good because of the pipe seems low in the front.

Please check it out and see what you think. Im going off roading tmrw. Hopefully theyre open.

 

[toyotalexus420]

Northwest OHV Park: Bridgeport, TX

Learned the 4 wheel drive a little. Pretty fun. Felt great. New Flowmaster 44 muffler sounds proper around a gang of I6/v6 Jeeps driven by some girls and covered in led's. Considering two super 40's with delete resonator someday after this gets lifted.