Builds Supercharged FZJ80 Adventure Build

[mdeane]

I forgot to post pictures of plastidipping my hood and painting my wheels. I opted for the quick cheap methods because i will most likely get new wheels one day and paint the entire truck... for now the cheap and quick looks way better. I also plastidipped the badges

 

[mdeane]

One big issue with the Land Cruiser that has been bugging me was the cracked and broken trim on the fender flares. I found some super cheap trim on ebay and it fit perfectly. All the fender flares look much better for only $8! I also put in the weathertech floor liners in the front today. You can see in the third picture the new trim on the left and old on the right

 

[mdeane]

Ok, so this past weeks projects have been installing LEDs for all the interior lights, installing my Ultragauge, putting in my Seat Covers, and importantly treating the rust under the vehicle... SO the truck came from Virginia and had a good bit of rust in the undercarriage... Not holes in the sills of fenders, just nasty surface rust mostly in the back. I'll post a picture of the worst part, the rear axle. This was a nasty job. I brushed down the truck with a wire brush for about 4 hours, then soaked every nook and cranny with OSPHO... This s*** ruined my shirt, killed my grass, and burned my skin. But it turned all the rust black by using SCIENCE! I washed the undercarriage with the pressure washer twice, then let it dry a few days before a few coats of Rustoleum Satin Black...

 

[mdeane]

Lots of Rust before, after most is scrubbed off and painted, notice the screws of diff reappeared

 

[mdeane]

Also here are my LED interior light off of ebay. They are awesome! and my Ultragauge. In my opinion the best automotive gauge on the market for $70. Also some nice synthetic leather seat covers...pics to follow

 

[mdeane]

 

[mdeane]

So I finished up painting the undercarriage after my intensive Ospho rust treatment. It turned out great! I used flexseal on the wheel wells and rustoleum rust stop satin black on everything thing else! 9 can of rustoleum total.
I did run into trouble removing my steering dampener for an upgrade to OME. I tried hammer, torch, and pickle fork to no avail :/ might just upgrade the entire steering rod

 

[jfz80]

Welcome to Mud and the Cruiser addiction. Congrats on a stock find in decent shape and the supercharger to boot.
Coolant system first as people have said... all the plastics and hoses as well. Then some PM and some fun.

As for towing the disco id say flat ground with a light brake equipped trailer maybe. I wouldnt head for the hills with high hopes.
Youve got a couple great clubs nearby. Check clubhouse tab at the top of the page for other nearby clubs but up in clemson area you have upstate cruisers and down by you there is the low country land cruisers. Olde north state cruisers and georgia cruisers clubs not too far away either.

ONSC is hosting 3 day affair at Uwharrie if you want to come out and meet lots of folks and check out different builds. Reg is open now online

 

[mdeane]

Welcome to Mud and the Cruiser addiction. Congrats on a stock find in decent shape and the supercharger to boot.
Coolant system first as people have said... all the plastics and hoses as well. Then some PM and some fun.

As for towing the disco id say flat ground with a light brake equipped trailer maybe. I wouldnt head for the hills with high hopes.
Youve got a couple great clubs nearby. Check clubhouse tab at the top of the page for other nearby clubs but up in clemson area you have upstate cruisers and down by you there is the low country land cruisers. Olde north state cruisers and georgia cruisers clubs not too far away either.

ONSC is hosting 3 day affair at Uwharrie if you want to come out and meet lots of folks and check out different builds. Reg is open now online

Thanks, I joined Low Country Land Cruisers and I will look into Old North State. I will be heading down to the cars and coffee event in Charleston this Sat, and hopefully Logan's run in sept

 

[btslaser]

One big issue with the Land Cruiser that has been bugging me was the cracked and broken trim on the fender flares. I found some super cheap trim on ebay and it fit perfectly. All the fender flares look much better for only $8! I also put in the weathertech floor liners in the front today. You can see in the third picture the new trim on the left and old on the right

Can you post the ebay link to the trim you used?

 

[mdeane]

Can you post the ebay link to the trim you used?

Its called "8mm auto decorative strip"

8mm Auto Decorative Strip Hood Tail Light Handle Stereo Trim Black Moulding 20ft

 

[Lefty19]

MDEANE,

How do you like the Patagonia tires? Interesting looking- the lugs look really big especially with only one row in the middle...

-David

 

[shmabs]

Does that trim molding you used actually go in between the flare on the body, or does it just adhere to the outermost surface?

 

[mdeane]

MDEANE,

How do you like the Patagonia tires? Interesting looking- the lugs look really big especially with only one row in the middle...

-David

I like the tires, mainly for the price. I got them off of ebay for around $600! I've only had them on the road so far, ride fine for an MT. Theyre not my favorite looking tire, but they're cool. I expect offroad they are excellent, the lug gaps are huge. They remind me of something between a Maxxis Bighorn and a Super Swamper.

 

[mdeane]

Does that trim molding you used actually go in between the flare on the body, or does it just adhere to the outermost surface?

It just goes on the outside, the 3m adhesive isn't great. But it looks much better, I expect i'll need to redo it in a year or two

 

[mdeane]

So it's been a few weeks since a post, because I've had a few set-backs. #1 My PHH blew 20 miles from home... I didn't even know what a PHH was at the time, so after a week of research I tackled it in a BiLo parking lot one afternoon.... To explain why I didn't tow it home, My HOA doesn't allow me to do auto work at home (I live in a condo) and also I am too cheap for a tow truck/shop being a full time college student. I won't go into it, but my first PHH was a hot greasy pain in the ass. That day in that parking lot was hell.

After the PHH job, the passenger seat decided to get "stuck" in the fully forward position ugh, i have yet to fix this.
My plans over the next few weekends are to wash the truck, check all the fluids, replace all coolant hoses, and get the exhaust done (it is rusty/leaky from cats all the way back). After that I will have to take a break for a few months to give my 1996 Land Rover crawler some needed TLC. I'll be back in future weeks with new ideas, pictures, and tall tales hopefully

 

[mdeane]

Ok, so over the past few weeks I have done a few small things and one major upgrade. I have...
1. Fixed my passenger seat, so it now moves forward and back
2. Did one "quick" flush of the coolant system with distilled water (Then drove 300 miles on a trip and never went above 194F) I plan on doing one more flush in the upcoming weeks
3. I checked all my fluids, and added some Lucas oil conditioners/stopleak/fuel injector cleaner afterwards
4. And got some awesome Steelies with 33" Nitto Terra Grapplers on Craigslist for $150! I just got new MTs but will rock the Terra Graps for a few months... I love the steelies, they were off an older Tundra... Pictures to follow

 

[mdeane]

Ok so its been a few weeks since my last post. With my Mustang, Land Rover Discovery, and girlfriends LR3 wanting my attention, the Cruiser has taken a back seat. My dad drives it around town to get groceries, and I use it to carry stuff. I have to say that what I LOVE most about this truck is how much stuff I can fit in it!. In the past few months Ive filled it with lumbar, a queen mattress, a refrigerator, and multiple sets of 33" tires, I haven't even used my roof rack! Freakin love this work truck.

Anyways for Christmas I got myself a TrailGear Tube Bumper for the Cruiser, I love it. It was cheap, it is sturdy, and it ties in well with my ugly roof rack. I'm going for the Trail Beater look, what do yall think? I Love it

 

[mdeane]

So before Spring I plan to....
Install Winch
Replace Rusty Shocks with Bilsteins and 1" Man-e-fre spacers (already ordered)
LED Headlights
Coolant flush
Tranny/t-case flush/diff fluids

 

[LX450JC]

View attachment 1301777

Hey the lights look great! Do you still have the link where you bought them?
Thanks!