Builds Over the Hills, and Far Away

[Irish11]

We have a pretty large Cruiser community in the greater Seattle area, the Seattle Cruiserheads (really covers Tacoma to Stanwood, but it Started in Seattle.). With a facebook group and Google group you can join and get any info/help you might need when you get here. There is a South Sound cruiser club too, but I am drawing a blank on the name right now. So if you need help with anything Cruiser related there are a bunch of us around. Good luck with the journey!

(on a side note, when you get to Olympia, try out Wagner's European Bakery & Cafe, and get the cinnamon bread, its awesome)

 

[Sundowner]

We have a pretty large Cruiser community in the greater Seattle area, the Seattle Cruiserheads (really covers Tacoma to Stanwood, but it Started in Seattle.). With a facebook group and Google group you can join and get any info/help you might need when you get here. There is a South Sound cruiser club too, but I am drawing a blank on the name right now. So if you need help with anything Cruiser related there are a bunch of us around. Good luck with the journey!

I actually had someone suggest the Seattle group to me, but: I haz no Facebooks.

(on a side note, when you get to Olympia, try out Wagner's European Bakery & Cafe, and get the cinnamon bread, its awesome)

And here's me, belated realizing - again - that I didn't make something clear: the first three posts are a retrospective! We left in late January, and have been here for awhile now; the initial posts are just an attempt to bring everyone up to speed with the absolute chaos of the last twelvemonth, as framed within the story of a week-long cross-country haul. Man, I'm really out of practice with my writing...so sorry about that; I'll go back in and add time and date stamps wherever possible.

Also: Coincidentally enough, we were talking about going to Wagner's this weekend.

 

[Tennessee Jed]

Easy answer, call Cruiser Outfitters.

Or start here as an option: Land Cruiser Light Bulbs, Interior Lights for Guages, Levers and Switchs - https://www.sor.com/catbulbc.sor

 

[Sundowner]

Easy answer, call Cruiser Outfitters.

Still waiting to hear back from them; I've found that an email response takes about three or four days, usually. I had separate questions on bulbs, wiper arms, a window regulator and a fuel tank, and I've noticed that I usually get more complete information when I make a written list.

Or start here as an option: Land Cruiser Light Bulbs, Interior Lights for Guages, Levers and Switchs - https://www.sor.com/catbulbc.sor

Oh hell yes... that's exactly what I was looking for!! Why can I never seem to come up with that kind of page when I'm searching for it? Why do I keep ending sentences with prepositions?

I notice that they don't have a single bulb referenced for a 70-series, but I already sent an email asking about the different wattages that I'll need. I'm inclined to just order about ten of all four of them, and possibly some new green bulb covers as well, which I'm sure I can find somewhere. Whiny Aside: I wish the dash cluster was a different color; the green is kind of harsh on my eyes, at night.

On a different note - and I'm about to cover this in Post #3 up above - I'm getting serious about fixing the fuel capacity situation. If there's one thing I've started to understand about traveling outside of our very comfortable US Interstate Highway System, it's that even when fuel supplies should be present, it doesn't mean that they actually are present.

 

[cruiseroutfit]

Still waiting to hear back from them; I've found that an email response takes about three or four days, usually. I had separate questions on bulbs, wiper arms, a window regulator and a fuel tank, and I've noticed that I usually get more complete information when I make a written list.

PM me your email address. I don't see any open emails from you. Your email either isn't in our inbox or has already been replied too.

Fwiw, we average under 3 business hours for the standard email reply. Obviously if there are more questions than answers and/or we have to beg customers for their vehicle or parts info, that delay is longer.

 

[Tennessee Jed]

Yep you better have that VIN or frame number ready!

 

[cruiseroutfit]

Yep you better have that VIN or frame number ready!

Exactly...

95% of customers come at us with all the details, parts list, etc, ready for is to help. The 5% that take 75% of our customer service bandwidth go about like this:

Emailer: Hey, I need a fuel filter for my Land Cruiser. Please quote best price with rush shipping.

Our Reply: We'd love to help, what is full model code and month/year or frame number/VIN of the vehicle? Additionally, we'll need your full shipping address in order to quote shipping options.

Emailer: It's a 1994, I'm in California. Please hurry, I need this to ship today!!!

Our Reply: Thank you for the year. We will need the full model code and month/year or frame number/VIN to verify however we can assume you have a US spec 1994 FZJ80 with the gas 1FZ engine. You would use part# xYzrfff or we have a Japanese aftermarket, part number# yzzxdwfr. Here are the links to order those directly from our website at your earliest convenience. Add them to cart, enter your address and you can select from shipping options. Or, you're more than welcome to call and order when ready.

Emailer: It's not gas, it's diesel. Can you please hurry, I need these to ship today for delivery yesterday. How much are they???



you get the point of why we ask that all inquires start by including such simple vehicle information.

 

[Sundowner]

PM me your email address. I don't see any open emails from you. Your email either isn't in our inbox or has already been replied too.

I'm glad that you reached out; I just checked, and I got a bounce-back that went directly to Trash, for some reason...and that's odd, because we'd been emailing about a set of bumpers just earlier that day. Sorry about not catching that.

Fwiw, we average under 3 business hours for the standard email reply. Obviously if there are more questions than answers and/or we have to beg customers for their vehicle or parts info, that delay is longer.

Apologies on my part are in order; I realized how my statement could be interpreted after I went back and re-read it. When I said "about three days" I was giving that as an average for vendor replies; I will absolutely back you up on the quick reply that you guys sent regarding my bumper inquiries. I think you actually wrote back in under two hours, and our subsequent e-mail conversation was all very prompt. I'll shoot you a PM momentarily with the text of the later e-mail copied over directly.

Also, for those that aren't in the loop on what I mean about "bumper inquiries" - which is pretty much everyone - we were determining whether or not it was possible to get one of their bumper sets in an unfinished state, because that seemed like a possible solution for what I'm looking to do: a trim-color-matched bumper set with a single rear swing-out ,and front geometry that will work with both a winch and some Koito fog lights. Sadly, that's not going to be possible; manufacturing agreements just don't allow it. This being said: I really do like their bumpers, so to get what I want I may just have to buy a set of them and then - - strip them, remove the pieces that I don't need and which won't work for me, and re-finish them entirely. That...isn't ideal; I'd be paying for a lot of work and finishing, only to ruin it...and that's on me. So, the other option...figure it out for myself: if I'm so picky that I can't find a pre-made solution, then it's on me to solve that problem on my own.

Yep you better have that VIN or frame number ready!

HZJ730001693; I decided to just go ahead and memorize it...and boy, has that been helpful.

 

[Rigster]

I'm glad that you reached out; I just checked, and I got a bounce-back that went directly to Trash, for some reason...and that's odd, because we'd been emailing about a set of bumpers just earlier that day. Sorry about not catching that.



Apologies on my part are in order; I realized how my statement could be interpreted after I went back and re-read it. When I said "about three days" I was giving that as an average for vendor replies; I will absolutely back you up on the quick reply that you guys sent regarding my bumper inquiries. I think you actually wrote back in under two hours, and our subsequent e-mail conversation was all very prompt. I'll shoot you a PM momentarily with the text of the later e-mail copied over directly.

Also, for those that aren't in the loop on what I mean about "bumper inquiries" - which is pretty much everyone - we were determining whether or not it was possible to get one of their bumper sets in an unfinished state, because that seemed like a possible solution for what I'm looking to do: a trim-color-matched bumper set with a single rear swing-out ,and front geometry that will work with both a winch and some Koito fog lights. Sadly, that's not going to be possible; manufacturing agreements just don't allow it. This being said: I really do like their bumpers, so to get what I want I may just have to buy a set of them and then - - strip them, remove the pieces that I don't need and which won't work for me, and re-finish them entirely. That...isn't ideal; I'd be paying for a lot of work and finishing, only to ruin it...and that's on me. So, the other option...figure it out for myself: if I'm so picky that I can't find a pre-made solution, then it's on me to solve that problem on my own.



HZJ730001693; I decided to just go ahead and memorize it...and boy, has that been helpful.

If you are looking at unfinished products, you could possibly check these fellows out:

70 Series Archives - Coastal Offroad

www.coastaloffroad.com

You would need to be decent with a welder as well (or know someone that is and willing to help) for this option as they ship the unfinished pieces to you ready to weld, but the nice thing is if you had any customizations you wanted to do, then you can do them prior to finishing.

NOTE: this is not to take away from the offerings Kurt has at cruiser outfitters! Just give the poster another way to try to achieve their personal goal. I would love to save up the pennies for one of Cruiser Outfitter's rear bumpers, but that could take me a while, lol.

 

[Sundowner]

If you are looking at unfinished products, you could possibly check these fellows out:

I've looked at the Coastal option; I'm just not a fan of the high-angle prerunner front on the earlier 70-series trucks. I think it looks very good on the later ones, however. I'm also not super-fond of the ARB style, although I do think it's a better fit for my rig's front end than the prerunner bumpers...but the semi-angular design of the front option from Cruiser Outfitters is definitely a clean, crisp design that has a lot of potential. I may still go with that one, although right now there's no option to get one without a winch hoop...which I can't use, because Koito-Reasons.

In the rear, the Coastal bumper again looks pretty good on the later trucks, but I'll have to modify those corners to work with my 73...and it doesn't give me a lot of room to slave the tire carrier to the rear door, à la Cruiser Outfitters. I designed and built a system like that several years ago for a Jeep, and I don't want to not have it; working two latches to get into the rear of the truck is such a First-World Problem, but I'm willing to die on that hill.

All that being said: you can't beat the price...and I think the Coastal front bumper is actually a pretty good starting point if you want to build a clean stubby for use in the rocks.

You would need to be decent with a welder as well (or know someone that is and willing to help) for this option as they ship the unfinished pieces to you ready to weld, but the nice thing is if you had any customizations you wanted to do, then you can do them prior to finishing.

I'm not bad with one, but the gods know I need practice; it's been awhile since I've gotten behind a torch. And you're correct: any customization is much less expensive when all of that finishing work hasn't yet been done. Honestly, that's my biggest hang-up; I just don't want to pay for and then destroy a finished product to get what I want...but the old saying holds true: you gotta pay to play.

NOTE: this is not to take away from the offerings Kurt has at cruiser outfitters! Just give the poster another way to try to achieve their personal goal. I would love to save up the pennies for one of Cruiser Outfitter's rear bumpers, but that could take me a while, lol.

Understood and appreciated by me, for sure. I've looked at so many options for bumpers, racks, fuel tanks, etc, and basically drawn a huge blank on them, thus far...but that's because I know exactly what I want and I'm being admittedly hard-to-please. And that's also why I'm very appreciative of any and all suggestions; just like what happened a few posts back with the bulbs; someone knew of a solution that I had not yet found...and that can happen at any time. So: please keep all the suggestions coming! Both individually and collectively, everyone knows far more than I do; I'm just struggling to keep up (and properly interface with my email, apparently) on most days.

 

[cruiseroutfit]

I'm glad that you reached out; I just checked, and I got a bounce-back that went directly to Trash, for some reason...and that's odd, because we'd been emailing about a set of bumpers just earlier that day. Sorry about not catching that.



Apologies on my part are in order; I realized how my statement could be interpreted after I went back and re-read it. When I said "about three days" I was giving that as an average for vendor replies; I will absolutely back you up on the quick reply that you guys sent regarding my bumper inquiries. I think you actually wrote back in under two hours, and our subsequent e-mail conversation was all very prompt. I'll shoot you a PM momentarily with the text of the later e-mail copied over directly.

Also, for those that aren't in the loop on what I mean about "bumper inquiries" - which is pretty much everyone - we were determining whether or not it was possible to get one of their bumper sets in an unfinished state, because that seemed like a possible solution for what I'm looking to do: a trim-color-matched bumper set with a single rear swing-out ,and front geometry that will work with both a winch and some Koito fog lights. Sadly, that's not going to be possible; manufacturing agreements just don't allow it. This being said: I really do like their bumpers, so to get what I want I may just have to buy a set of them and then - - strip them, remove the pieces that I don't need and which won't work for me, and re-finish them entirely. That...isn't ideal; I'd be paying for a lot of work and finishing, only to ruin it...and that's on me. So, the other option...figure it out for myself: if I'm so picky that I can't find a pre-made solution, then it's on me to solve that problem on my own.



HZJ730001693; I decided to just go ahead and memorize it...and boy, has that been helpful.

Using your bumper inquiry question, I was able to search your email from afar and see if I can find the missing wiper/bulb inquiry, no luck on that email.

Fwiw, you emailed on the bumpers at 8:23AM on 10/9, we replied at 9:09AM the same day, 9 minutes after we opened for business that day. While I can't claim we're that responsive on all emails, I'm pretty comfortable with that response time

We'll get you some answers on the other inquiry asap

 

[Sundowner]

Using your bumper inquiry question, I was able to search your email from afar and see if I can find the missing wiper/bulb inquiry, no luck on that email.

It's a screw-up on this end; I found another two emails from the same time period later that day that didn't send. Clearly an issue on our side; apologies again.

Fwiw, you emailed on the bumpers at 8:23AM on 10/9, we replied at 9:09AM the same day, 9 minutes after we opened for business that day. While I can't claim we're that responsive on all emails, I'm pretty comfortable with that response time

As well you should be! I think I checked it a bit after that, but I know I was surprised to hear back that quickly. See, the problem is that I'm used to emailing the Australians...and I'm pretty sure that they're too busy staying alive in Australia to get back to me inside of 72 hours. And that's a valid reason for delay, in my book.

We'll get you some answers on the other inquiry asap

I'll be emailing the shop directly in just a few minutes; hopefully, they can solve that issue, along with The Mysterious Wiper Situation.*

* - I need new wipers and arms on the front. For some reason, this has been difficult.

 

[cruiseroutfit]

It's a screw-up on this end; I found another two emails from the same time period later that day that didn't send. Clearly an issue on our side; apologies again.



As well you should be! I think I checked it a bit after that, but I know I was surprised to hear back that quickly. See, the problem is that I'm used to emailing the Australians...and I'm pretty sure that they're too busy staying alive in Australia to get back to me inside of 72 hours. And that's a valid reason for delay, in my book.



I'll be emailing the shop directly in just a few minutes; hopefully, they can solve that issue, along with The Mysterious Wiper Situation.*

* - I need new wipers and arms on the front. For some reason, this has been difficult.

Check you're email. They copied me on a new email with bulb info, etc they sent a few minute ago.

 

[Sundowner]

Check you're email. They copied me on a new email with bulb info, etc they sent a few minute ago.

Just did, and they most certainly did. Got them the follow-up info they needed and we're proceeding on; thank you.

Princess Mode: Engaged

Now hurry up and get those bumpers in weld-together kit form!

Princess Mode: Disengaged. Normality Restored.

Just kidding about that, obviously...but it would be a perfect solution. That being said: I don't recall the exact phrase that I want to use here, but it's something like "necessity and invention's mom" or whatever...but regardless, it's exceptionally apropos.

 

[FJBen]

I'm glad that you reached out; I just checked, and I got a bounce-back that went directly to Trash, for some reason...and that's odd, because we'd been emailing about a set of bumpers just earlier that day. Sorry about not catching that.



Apologies on my part are in order; I realized how my statement could be interpreted after I went back and re-read it. When I said "about three days" I was giving that as an average for vendor replies; I will absolutely back you up on the quick reply that you guys sent regarding my bumper inquiries. I think you actually wrote back in under two hours, and our subsequent e-mail conversation was all very prompt. I'll shoot you a PM momentarily with the text of the later e-mail copied over directly.

Also, for those that aren't in the loop on what I mean about "bumper inquiries" - which is pretty much everyone - we were determining whether or not it was possible to get one of their bumper sets in an unfinished state, because that seemed like a possible solution for what I'm looking to do: a trim-color-matched bumper set with a single rear swing-out ,and front geometry that will work with both a winch and some Koito fog lights. Sadly, that's not going to be possible; manufacturing agreements just don't allow it. This being said: I really do like their bumpers, so to get what I want I may just have to buy a set of them and then - - strip them, remove the pieces that I don't need and which won't work for me, and re-finish them entirely. That...isn't ideal; I'd be paying for a lot of work and finishing, only to ruin it...and that's on me. So, the other option...figure it out for myself: if I'm so picky that I can't find a pre-made solution, then it's on me to solve that problem on my own.



HZJ730001693; I decided to just go ahead and memorize it...and boy, has that been helpful.

I know people like to just email/text etc…but I always just call cruiser outfitters. At worst I’m on hold for a minute or 2, usually answered first, then all Gets sorted out and ordered within 5-10mins.
Being in colorado I usually get my order within 2-3 days max.

Cuts all the extra questions or email replies if I’m not paying attention to email.

 

[Sundowner]

Big props to Cruiser Outfitters for absolutely wrecking the curve on Average Vendor Response Time, this morning. I'll have to factor in their minute-by-minute e-mail and PM responses when I calculate the averages in the future. Naturally, The Australian Team will have an equally heavy impact on my figures because all of their sales reps are probably fighting off box-jelly-wielding wombats at any given moment, but that's a concern for another time. That being said...

Slight Update: There's good news, bad news and even-worse news. The good news is that the boffins at Cruiser Outfitters have come through on some part numbers and stock numbers for the bulbs I need, and they have plenty of them in stock...at least, the 1.4W and the 3.0W. There's also a 1.8W (but no 1.6W, that was a transcription error on my part) but the meter diagram is a bit confusing because it suggests that the 3.0W or the 1.4W could be used in place of the 1.8 W version...because reasons, I guess. The good news is also that they have a power window regulator in stock, which should solve my overtravel issue on the driver's side window.

The bad news is that the wiper arms are discontinued entirely...and the part numbers don't pull up anywhere online. Google seems to like to associate similar part numbers for those, and it actually directs me to several shopping options that look correct and have my model as a fitment, but most certainly are not the right pieces; that's probably how I ended up with the wrong parts twice, now. The even-worse news is that there's no modern wiper arm conversion that they know of...which definitely contradicts what I was previously thinking.

So...

I'm not sure where to go with this; part of me wants to keep looking, and the other part of me wants to just refinish my stock wiper arms and try to find the correct wipers - which is also an issue for whatever reason - and another part of me wants to figure out some other way to convert to a more commonly-available wiper.

I know people like to just email/text etc…but I always just call cruiser outfitters. At worst I’m on hold for a minute or 2, usually answered first, then all Gets sorted out and ordered within 5-10mins.

...and for those of us that don't suffer from hearing loss, phone calls are a better option. On phone calls, I'm hit and miss with comprehension depending on what's happening on the other end of the line; sometimes the other party is perfectly clear, and at other times there's no amount of processing equipment that can allow me to pick up tones and frequencies that my ears can no longer process (thanks, gunfire). I've just resorted to texts and e-mails; that way there's always a written record, and I can refer back to it later with clarity.

 

[Sundowner]

Question: Why do these seem to discontinued for every series that could use them?

I am 63.7% certain that there used to be a J-hook kit that allowed any common wiper blade to be used on the factory arms...but I can't find them. Is that still a thing? If not: 3D printers...you are officially on notice.

 

[coldtaco]

I’ve bought new ones a few years ago. I ended up looking up part numbers from newer years, 1999 and up till the wide nose (2007?). Both the normal wiper arms and the folding windshield wiper arms. The latter I bought this summer

 

[cruisermatt]

We can get new you the new arms Brendan…

 

[Sundowner]

The latter I bought this summer.

I must be missing something, then; I've been looking for new OEM arms, J-hook adapters, conversion arms, etc. and still just drawing a blank.

We can get new you the new arms...

Then I'm definitely missing something. I'll take a set of those as soon as possible; blades too, if you have them. Olympia in the winter is no joke when it comes to rainy days; same goes for fog, which is why I wanted to go ahead and jump on a front bumper solution and get the Koitos mounted.

Speaking of rain: I need to source a tiny leak. In heavy downpours or day-long soaking rains, I'm getting a small amount of water in the front footwell, right underneath the accelerator pedal; I've actually had a drop fall and hit my foot, there. Additionally, there's a matching leak on the passenger side; neither is severe, but I want to address them before they get worse. If this was a Jeep I would immediately say "cowl vent drain" and clear it, and then replace the gasket for the fresh air intake box...but it isn't, so I'm going to have to go looking. And that means I'll likely start looking at my HVAC fresh-air/recirc diverter at the same time, because I know it's not in good shape. It also tends to clatter and move when one of the doors gets shut; I think there's something amiss in the linkage, or there's a spring missing. I know I need to replace the door itself - corrosion - so I'll have to look and see if I can get that piece...or, more likely, how much the entire assembly costs.

Edit: I'll be the entire assembly, there...and ouch, it's not cheap.