Rusty 100

[BigBlackLexus]

Hi, I’m new to this site, though I have “spied” on it over the years prior to buying my first 100 Series LX470. I’ve owned a couple of FJ40’s, that scared the s*** out of me going over 45mph, and most lately have owned a fully restored Defender 110 with an LS3 motor. I have finally made the move into what my best logic has told me for years, an LC100/LX470. I couldn’t decide if I should pay a premium for a seemingly nice one, or find a little rougher one. So, I chose the cheaper route and was dumb enough to buy a coastal cruiser sight unseen that I knew had some rust. I’m chalking this up to an educational lesson, and maybe I’ll learn how to cut out rust. First things first, to get it inspected I need two new exhaust manifolds, two new converters, and two new 02 sensors. Exhaust is leaking from the manifolds. Total to fix at a Lexus 3rd party repair shop is around $6k. I found a muffler guy across the tracks that will do it all for around $1800. So I’m going to try that route. I took some pics and will post but I had a question about what some of the rust pictures were of, especially the one with the wires (looks like one might be hot).
Thanks!
Jason

 

[hickuptruck]

Besides needing $1800 in exhaust work, it's not that bad. Its not close to good, but it looks sort of like mine. Rusty cruisers need love too so as theres not enough pristine non rusty 100 series to go around for everyone.

 

[BigBlackLexus]

I do like some of its character, like the crunchy sound of crumbling rust when I grab for the lift gate handle. But no, I love the gold plating and the “aged” nature of it and I can work on it, and try some things with it and not worry about hurting its value. Rust free ones are very hard to find. I think it will be fun.

 

[namsag]

Invest in a case of spray Kroil!

 

[planomateo]

There is one place in OKC that regularly brings in rust buckets. Plenty of places in Dallas that do the same thing.

There are plenty of rust frees ones, the problem is folks in the rust belt are buying them

 

[nissanh]

It got lots of rust. You might have to invest a lot to treat rust. Cant you return it for a full refund?

 

[planomateo]

So the AHC has been replaced?

 

[Pucker5]

Don’t let anyone scare you or make you feel bad about your purchase. The purchase is made...just plan on buying a few extra surrounding parts and nuts/bolts when you have to fix/replace
Things. Camelback Toyota parts and partsouq will be your friend. Good news is you’ll have a truck that will go 500k and you likely still won’t have a crazy insane payment like a new vehicle.

 

[97 AZ LC]

Coastal where? Just curious.

 

[BigBlackLexus]

It came from South Carolina. I’m driving it 12 hrs to CO today. Drives relatively well, other than the exhaust leak sound, which is faint. Yes the AHC has been replaced with coils. It rides smooth but is very bouncy on highway rollers, and has hit the bump stops a few times. I bought a pioneer head unit that I’m going to install and add a backup camera. Not sure what, if anything, I’ll do to the suspension but open to suggestions.
I will be testing it’s abilities at 10k feet of elevation over the next few weeks. Oh yeah, 4Low won’t engage either.

 

[CLEcruiser]

If your gas tank skid hasn't turned into a pile of dust yet, then it's a clean truck. At least in the Northeast it is...

 

[SICARIO]

get a pneumatic needle scaler and some rustoleum rust converter. Also might want to get some metric taps and drills for broken bolts. A stock of Rivinuts are handy too. Mine was a NY transplant.....

 

[Alibaster]

I don't get all the rustophobia around here. 99% of what people do to their cruisers is bolt on cosmetics that will easily transfer to another 100 series. Buy a rust bucket for a penny, get the next 10 years out of it, then move all your stuff to the next one. You don't need to spend hundreds or thousands correcting the rust. Use it, have fun and move on.

 

[Pucker5]

I don't get all the rustophobia around here. 99% of what people do to their cruisers is bolt on cosmetics that will easily transfer to another 100 series. Buy a rust bucket for a penny, get the next 10 years out of it, then move all your stuff to the next one. You don't need to spend hundreds or thousands correcting the rust. Use it, have fun and move on.

Lot of show cruisers on this forum that’s all

 

[BigBlackLexus]

I tend to agree. That’s why I went with the cheaper version. Gives me more money to play with add-ons. Just drove it 12 hours from under 1k feet elevation to 10k feet. Handled like a champ. However I lost a headlight piece somehow. Any leads on one of these would be great!

 

[BigBlackLexus]

Previous owner must have damaged it somehow(can tell on the bumper too). It was taped in. It must have flown off on the drive.

 

[hickuptruck]

I don't get all the rustophobia around here. 99% of what people do to their cruisers is bolt on cosmetics that will easily transfer to another 100 series. Buy a rust bucket for a penny, get the next 10 years out of it, then move all your stuff to the next one. You don't need to spend hundreds or thousands correcting the rust. Use it, have fun and move on.

I have an LX thats maybe 75% as rusty as OPs. Getting everything off and doing any sort of work on rust is a major PITA, blood, sweat and tears. That said, when my LX crumbles to the ground, I'll be transferring all the mods over to the cleanest 100 series I'll be able to find.

 

[brownfox]

Air needle scaler. Air needle scaler. Oh, air needle scaler. Will SAVE you an INSANE amount of time knocking the crumbly rust off and you can get in all the cracks with it. Wire wheels are a waste of time on any of that. I used the scaler and sanding blocks/paper.

Doesn’t look as bad as some others that have been posted lately. Rear axle seems to get it the worst. My rear axle was the worst part of my truck as well. Check front diff crossmember bolts.

 

[slowpok3]

Mine is not quite that bad, but it's cost me a bunch in premature failures. AC lines, AHC, exhaust, sway links, spare tire hoist, etc. I had mine sprayed down with Krown in an attempt to halt rust.

I've invested in a nice tap and die set and cutting wheels. Guess I need to get a needle scaler too.

My plan has been to slowly tackle the underside, scrape off the rust and apply POR15 or rustoleum.

Or maybe I won't.

 

[Trunk Monkey]

Why all the exhaust work? I get it if it has cracked manifolds and bad O2 sensors from a CEL, but it's rare for both cats to be bad, all the o2 sensors, both manifolds, etc.