Build Savirc Aircruiser build

[savirc]

After a year and half of owning my first LC I figured its time to document my progress and build.

2001 LC bought in March of last year with 64k

First things I did.

1. Removed bug deflector
2. Replaced T's with brass T's
3. Replaced gas cap

Here she is when purchased and shortly after on her first trip to the beach:

 

[savirc]

Shortly after purchase I took a sharp U turn on the way to my sisters house and my ABS, A-track lights lit up. After investigation I found the ABS sensor chewed up by the inner axle gear:

 

[savirc]

And a bent panhard

 

[savirc]

Not sure how this all happened since the truck was brand new to me, I had to do some investigation. I did find that the inner axle where the sensor was chewed was new and had been replaced, looked up the records and found out it was dealer replaced because of a leak. Looking at the alignment of the shaft I found it was never seated properly and not in place the entire time causing the sensor to be chewed and caused another leak. As for the panhard based on the straight down angle bend I believe it was was caused by improper towing at some point by a strap wrapped around the axle and panhard.

So I was stuck with the dilemma of

A) buying new panhard, sensor and re-install inner axle $$$
B) Locked 99 axle swap $$

Just so happens a locked axle was in the classifieds at the exact time this happened..... easy decision.

 

[savirc]

Axle arrived from up north, and with all the attributes of that. Rust....

Spent a good week grinding on this thing....

Ok I did have some help....

 

[savirc]

Primed/Painted with 5 coats of each.

 

[savirc]

Rebuilt the locker

 

[savirc]

All buttoned up

 

[savirc]

Transplant surgery in progress, old axle out.

 

[savirc]

All buttoned up.

Lessons learned, for anyone wanting to do this.


1. 99 locked axle to 2001 LC unlocked axle is a direct drop in the only change is you have one ABS bracket that is not in the same place, you can use a tie wrap or be creative but otherwise direct drop in.

2. I did not want to use the stock locker wiring from the donor because of several dumb limitations, so I purchased the Slee CPU which is a simple on/off switch driven that can be wired right into a locker switch from the donor. Although I've not wired this in place yet.. I'm familiar with how the locker works now because I tested all the terminals when rebuilding the locker and its a relatively simple wiring setup for the locker and the sensor.

 

[savirc]

The next upgrade was the sound. The cruiser CD player was not functional and I was getting bored of radio stations. I went with the NEX4000 wired a backup camera and replaced speakers. There are several threads on where to find the backup switch and found some threads to claim there being one at the ECU, I did not find it. I purchased both volumes of the Service book and the wiring schematics and found one at the driver side kick panel.

 

[savirc]

Finally, MP3s, Ipod, DVD and Rear view. Took a trip to Garner that week after the install. While I was in there I replaced all glass bulbs in the center console to LED. MUCH MUCH betta.

 

[savirc]

ARB Deluxe. The only thing to add here is yes you can put a later model ARB on a 01 LC. Only thing is you have a bigger gap between the lower front trim and the bumper, and you have to cut off a 1/2" hanging lip of the bottom of the frame on each side..didn't bother me at all.

 

[bucfl]

You are my hero! I really want to do this in the future. Do you keep the atrac to? So it's a direct fit with cutting anything?

 

[savirc]

OPOR Sliders was next. Primed and rattle canned with rustoleum

 

[savirc]

You are my hero! I really want to do this in the future. Do you keep the atrac to? So it's a direct fit with cutting anything?

Direct drop in no cutting at all. You keep the A-Trac, best of both words with out spending a fortune on ARB lockers.

 

[savirc]

I also built a stock jack extension/stabilizer out of an old disc brake from my Acura

 

[savirc]

Touched up some trim with matching OEM spray paint.

 

[savirc]

I purchased some x-vision fog lamps that have Hi's and Lows and could not find any switches that I liked. They all seemed cheap I bought a couple and once they were in my hand I threw them in the trash they were just not very good. I usually like purchasing blue sea systems but nothing they had fit nicely where I wanted. After browsing through the wire schematics I found that I may be able to use a heater seat switch to do just that.

 

[savirc]

Ordered a used heater switch off ebay and rewired the button to for my fogs hi's and lows.