Builds The Trail Snail Build | Above Average Overlandish (2 Viewers)

[SmokingRocks]

And when done it will be a ___________

Well I was keeping that a surprise!

It spawned from my experiences with german sports cars. Most all 2000+ bmw's and audi's have full time cabin over-lighting usually provided by red or amber LED's. It's not too much light but enough to see what you are doing. I added recessed amber LED's to the map light area in my honda back in highscool. I had wired them to the interior dash lights so when the headlights were on so were the LED's. It was great and you couldn't see the LED just the light it was casting.

Well I had thought about doing that on the LC as well but figured it would be easier to just get a red LED for the map light and create a shield to block the light source from the drivers eyes. May seem like a lot of work for something simple but I really like having cabin lighting while off roading and the Red LED is dim enough that its not annoying or distracting.

 

[LandCruiserPhil]

Well I was keeping that a surprise!

It spawned from my experiences with german sports cars. Most all 2000+ bmw's and audi's have full time cabin over-lighting usually provided by red or amber LED's. It's not too much light but enough to see what you are doing. I added recessed amber LED's to the map light area in my honda back in highscool. I had wired them to the interior dash lights so when the headlights were on so were the LED's. It was great and you couldn't see the LED just the light it was casting.

Well I had thought about doing that on the LC as well but figured it would be easier to just get a red LED for the map light and create a shield to block the light source from the drivers eyes. May seem like a lot of work for something simple but I really like having cabin lighting while off roading and the Red LED is dim enough that its not annoying or distracting.

Good idea and I agree both my hatch light and headlamp have dimmable red LED lights

 

[SmokingRocks]

Got the map light hood installed. It works great, however I think I will get rid of the radius and just make it a straight line.

I cut an inch an a half off of my man-a-fre UCA's so that I could actually use them.

Got the angle to within .1 of a degree.

 

[SmokingRocks]

Forgot to mention, my T case output shaft measured .1 degree, my rear pinion flange was at 3.6 degrees prior to adjustment.

Can I remove my ABS sensors back here? My ABS has already been disabled.

 

[autobon7]

What make/model wheel you running? Where did you get them?

 

[SmokingRocks]

they are american legion rims i think? got them from discount last year because the PO blew out the lug seats on the stock rims by using the wrong lug nut.

 

[SmokingRocks]

So I felt like a kid on christmas when I saw these packages at the door.

This is part of my new APRS set up.

The Bad news........
My wheel bearings are nuked. On seemingly every corner of my truck. FML

Ordered new front bearings... still thinking about the rears.

 

[SmokingRocks]

Juuuuust washing my rig at lunch time!

 

[Rainen]

Great thread, love the progress so far.

 

[bmwjnky]

YES!!!!!!!
OMG I HAVE FIGURED IT OUT!

I have finally pinpointed the problem causing the engine stutter and cruise control failure! Thank the baby jesus!

So I am selling the Mall Crawler to my good friend Ben on saturday, so I knew my time was limited to be able to cross check parts. In a last ditch effort I swapped the last 10" of wire and connector going from the fuse harness to the ignition coil. This is the taped up wire seen here.

The Mall Crawlers wire and connector is in great shape, so I soldered that one into the trail snail and put the trail snails questionable one in the mall crawler. Well last night after our club meeting I was headed home when I got the EXACT SAME stutter! And when I tried to engage cruise control it faulted out and blinked 5 times. THESE ARE THE EXACT SAME SYMPTOMS I WAS SEEING ON THE TRAIL SNAIL!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hallelujah! The Mall Crawler is mechanically perfect and has NEVER exhibited any issues what so ever, so I am confident that I have found the culprit. Now I just need to track down a replacement connector and get the mall crawler back to perfect.

Good lord it feels nice to know that I have finally found it!

I'm having similar cruise control failure and my engine doesn't run as smooth as my last cruiser or my friends. Where exactly is this connection?

 

[SmokingRocks]

I'm having similar cruise control failure and my engine doesn't run as smooth as my last cruiser or my friends. Where exactly is this connection?

@bmwjnky It was the two wires supplying the ignition coil (follow the center HT lead on the distributor back to the other end, thats the coil). The insulation was broken and allowed water to short the system out. PM me if you want some further help.

 

[SmokingRocks]

Cruise Moab 2016 was a blast, hard to imagine that its over already!

My rig did well, wheeled hard and still drove 6 smooth as silk hours home. My only real damage (that I know of at this point) is a broken fairlead (it was the leading edge and got dragged up rocks) and a slightly bent SPC lower control arm.

I do know that the following are needing replacement soon:

• Front Driveshaft needs to be replaced with a double cardan unit
• Alternator / fuse box / headlight / ignition coil harness needs to be replaced
• Panhard bars need to be modified for adjustability and bushings replaced
• Steering tie rod link needs new ball joints
• Kickdown Cable needs to be replaced
• Need to get rid off these springs as they slackout
• Leakdown Test Needs to be preformed (compression test suggested that Cyl 6 was getting oil intrusion)

Here are picts of my rig at CM16. Later I will post the slew of repairs I did just prior to leaving (the list was extensive). Trails were ; Golden Spike, Hells Revenge and Kane Creek.

 

[cwwfj60]

Wow! That looks intense! I'd like to see the departing shot of that crack, bet there was a lot of ass dragging coming out of there!

 

[SmokingRocks]

Oh yea tons of ass dragging! Made some horrid sounds similar to that of nails on a chalk board!

 

[greentruck]

Great thread, an enjoyable read, I feel your pain on that electrical gremlin army, glad you've got it in the past.

Oh yea tons of ass dragging! Made some horrid sounds similar to that of nails on a chalk board!

Yes, the one great weakness of LandCruiser wagon body design (45/55/77/78/80...) Too much caboose down low. The only sorta solution is a bumper wing that will help it slide.

Is that "Student Driver" sign a CM thing or are you just having some fun?

 

[SmokingRocks]

The student driver magnet was negotiated into one of my other land cruiser purchases. It has become my clubs mascot I guess you could say. Whoever breaks something, gets stuck or earns it on the trail gets the magnet. I brought it to CM because I thought it was comical.

 

[DickM]

I brought it to CM because I thought it was comical.

And it was. Great job gunning on Kane Creek, Reese........wait, I mean Reid

 

[SmokingRocks]

reed

 

[DickM]

At least I was closer than Steve.

 

[SmokingRocks]