Rebuilding Rebecca (1 Viewer)

[Samuel642000]

How she started:

As she sits today:

About 4 years ago I got the itch to start traveling and camping again and decided that the truck I had wasn't going to handle what I wanted to do. So I sold it,

and started the hunt


It was about this time I was introduced to a concept named, "Overlanding" and thought that's exactly what I want to try. Having a family that consists of a wife and 3 younger kiddos I knew whatever vehicle I got would need enough seating for everyone to go. At times I thought I wanted an Xterra or an FJ but those just didn't seem to be exactly what I was looking for at the time. Then I found 4wd/24-7 on Youtube and discovered Sooty and knew a LC would fit the bill.

 

[Samuel642000]

Started looking, Covid happened, prices soared which pushed the purchase off for a bit until I found one pretty local and scooped it up and trailered it home and it sat while I started baselining and checking things over

About 6 weeks went by and I got invited to go camping so I decided to see what happened, got it registered and inspected and went off on its maiden voyage.

After making a 200 mile round trip without blowing up I had a little more confidence it the 'ole girl and started driving it to work about once a week as I was baselining. Made a few orders and got everything from the valve cover up, injectors, gaskets, plugs, plug grommets, wires, cap, rotor, and went to work

While putting the new injectors in I thought I found a concerning problem:

But after repairing it, there was no change in how it ran, so seemingly good to go.

This was the process over the next year, read and try to figure out what others had done replace/repair issues if I had one or haven't put a new part on yet, repeat.

 

[Samuel642000]

While baselining and figuring out which direction I wanted to go down I eventually settled on I've done enough trying to find this noise, ill change the oil frequently and drive it until it dies and then swap it.
Started on some inexpensive mods I could handle myself.

It didn't have a radio when I bought it so I tossed in the Sony XAV-ax100 that everyone here seemed to like. Also shown is the Midland purchase from a night when I was under the influence. Don't drink and Amazon....

Stole Boxrockets idea of painting the stock wheels

I stumbled on Summit Cruiser Jr's thread and discovered his swingout. Really wanted one but with him being slammed with life I decided to make my own off his and a few other threads I found

 

[Samuel642000]

Being a bargain shopper I didn't have a solid plan of what mods I wanted to do in what order, but just grabbed items as I found good deals and kept adding on.
Found a 12k warn and snorkel for cheap on FB marketplace, and because I couldn't, and still can't, find a used full front bumper I went down the @TRAIL TAILOR path of a winch plate behind the stock bumper.

You have to relocate the control box for this install so I chose here for easy access if I needed to plug in the controller and I wanted it up pretty high as well.

If anyone ever needs help with a snorkel install please don't call me. I think this was the worst mod on the 80 I've done to date

All done I also swapped in an earlier grill as I like those more.

 

[Samuel642000]

Finally snagged a Bowfin after looking at the site almost daily and just happened to finally get it ordered

 

[Rusty Marlin]

A well thought out, purpose built rig.
Nicely done, Sir.

I keep looking at the Bowfine rack. Every damn time I have enough saved up for it, something else is required with greater urgency. Sigh... maybe next year .

 

[Samuel642000]

About a year in I started thinking of a trip I could go on. It was to be 2-4 weeks long and I wanted to see a lot. A lot of what I didn't know but I started searching. Narrowed it down to either going over to Baja and back or the Continental Divide. My oldest wanted to go, so we chose to stay in the US and do the Continental Divide.

Never having done a trip like this I thought I needed a lot more than I ultimately did, but hindsight being what it is I ramped up the build pace.

I got tired of baking in the fish bowl so I got 5% around the back and 20% tint on the front.

Ordered a light bar from Colight

And the factory speakers were worn out so I tossed in some new for the front doors.

Still have the factory grills

 

[Samuel642000]

Few more orders to round out baselining and maintenance items

 

[Samuel642000]

Finally built some drawers, got a fridge, slide, and table

 

[Samuel642000]

I knew I wanted a table and typically storing one seems like a chore. I opted to include mine in the drawer design and it worked out really well.

Table tag

Final output

 

[Samuel642000]

Grabbed one of Joey's cup holders mounts

Then hardwired the Overlander

Also grabbed Joey's switch pro mount for the ashtray replacement and a switch pro

 

[Samuel642000]

I liked how Delta's mount located everything under the hood. However, I hard a hard time turning loose of the cash for it. So I gave it a shot myself

 

[Samuel642000]

Earned some stripes

Read a lot about the high idle cables, my a/c would struggle a tad in the heat while idling so I figured I would see if the cable and a few extra rpms would help the cause; it did

 

[Samuel642000]

A well thought out, purpose built rig.
Nicely done, Sir.

I keep looking at the Bowfine rack. Every damn time I have enough saved up for it, something else is required with greater urgency. Sigh... maybe next year .

Thanks brotha, it's been a labor of love for sure!

The rack is def worth it, it held up the tent, plano case, and a jerry can for the whole trip we went on and I feel the latches are better than the other options

 

[Samuel642000]

Added Slee's bracket for a second battery, ARB compressor, Blue Sea dual battery isolator, and a breaker for the fridge wiring.

Solve function dual 12v mount for the third row seat for fridge power with dual USB for power to the RTT

LED for the HVAC

 

[Samuel642000]

I was able to scoop up a used RTT, tires, and some suspension pieces

 

[Samuel642000]

Had to change the vapor canister and master cylinder at the last second before the trip, but better to do it before I left than coming down a mountain pass.
I just went with the ac Delco canister that seemed popular in my searches

For the MC I'm pretty sure I got this one from Trail Gear. It's the 1 inch bore "upgraded" MC

That was roughly it until we set out on the trip

 

[Samuel642000]

Co-pilot lasted 37 miles

First stop was dinner headed to Merus Off-Road park

Stayed at Merus the first night

Did some splorin

 

[Samuel642000]

Stayed there until about lunch and headed towards badlands

 

[Samuel642000]

Camp spot in badlands

We were on the CDT for a bit by this time

I wanted to visit Silverton, Ouray, and Telluride while in the area so we detoured to Silverton for the 4th of July. This was a lot of fun

Spent the next 4 days around this area