Hello,
I have not posted much and this is my first mod post on IH8MUD. I bought my 1997 Landcruiser in December of 2018 after losing my 1989 4Runner in the Tubbs Fire here in Santa Rosa in October of 2017. It was in the garage when the house burned down, may it rust in peace.
My son and I have been building the '97 as our pandemic project (we actually started in December). It started out bone stock with 172k miles on it, second owner, never off road, dealer serviced. It it is now on 37's with a 4" suspension lift (Slee), 1" body lift, 4.88 gears, ARB air lockers, Wits End turbo kit, 3.11 transfer case gears, shift kit in the trans, Slee armor all the way around. It will be a mild rock crawler / expedition rig, mostly for use in the Sierra's.
As part of the mods we put some lights on it. 13" light bar on the bumper, 40" light bar on the rack, pods on the bumper, mirror mounts, and rear mounts. These all need relays, fuses, etc. I had been eyeing that space in front of the battery for a plate that would mount 10 relays and a 12 position fuse block.
This first pass is kind of a prototype. I used a piece of plastic decking material as the plate, as it would not rot and would be very fast to place screws, or move them if need be. I used a Simpson bracket to attach one end to the side of the engine bay and drilled holes in the radiator support for screws on the other. Right now you have to take the battery out to remove it. A better design would be for it to slide in from the top in guides and somehow lock into position.
But, it came out pretty clean and is functional. Pictures below
I have not posted much and this is my first mod post on IH8MUD. I bought my 1997 Landcruiser in December of 2018 after losing my 1989 4Runner in the Tubbs Fire here in Santa Rosa in October of 2017. It was in the garage when the house burned down, may it rust in peace.
My son and I have been building the '97 as our pandemic project (we actually started in December). It started out bone stock with 172k miles on it, second owner, never off road, dealer serviced. It it is now on 37's with a 4" suspension lift (Slee), 1" body lift, 4.88 gears, ARB air lockers, Wits End turbo kit, 3.11 transfer case gears, shift kit in the trans, Slee armor all the way around. It will be a mild rock crawler / expedition rig, mostly for use in the Sierra's.
As part of the mods we put some lights on it. 13" light bar on the bumper, 40" light bar on the rack, pods on the bumper, mirror mounts, and rear mounts. These all need relays, fuses, etc. I had been eyeing that space in front of the battery for a plate that would mount 10 relays and a 12 position fuse block.
This first pass is kind of a prototype. I used a piece of plastic decking material as the plate, as it would not rot and would be very fast to place screws, or move them if need be. I used a Simpson bracket to attach one end to the side of the engine bay and drilled holes in the radiator support for screws on the other. Right now you have to take the battery out to remove it. A better design would be for it to slide in from the top in guides and somehow lock into position.
But, it came out pretty clean and is functional. Pictures below