Well I should say the green side of the off road "force."
The name is Kurt and I'm a retired motorcycle racer and retired range Rover classic enthusiasts turned landy junky. For my first round of punishment, I thought I'd stick to what I know and that's abused rigs from MN (even though I now live in CO).
My career allows me to travel across the nation on someone else's dime and that's what I did 4 weeks ago up inow MN.
I located the 98' cruiser that my girl from high school picked me up in for graduation. 178k on the clock and plenty of door dings (7 total) but what was not clear was the rust spots on the gate and the sides of the windshield. I know what to look for with these andays knew going into it that I'd find the best "deal" I'm my old stomping grounds but leave it to MN to slap a nice rain/sleet storm on me for inspection.
I brought it in for an alignment before the 970 mile drive home and she was straight and true. Timing belt, brakes, lube fittings all done at 169k miles and I averaged 17mpgs all the way home on 30k mile michelin ltx 2's.
Mods so far...
-Destination AT's (265-60/18 on after market wheels)
-Ground down rear frame surface rust, coated, installed Curtis hitch.
-Removed crusty spare wheel (extra spare 18" will come with for camping.
-Removed running boards.
-Removed 3rd row.
-Purchased used Thule bike/snowboard hitch mount kit.
-Replaced sunroof gasket, traced and clean drain tubes.
-Oil and different fluid change before I left MN.
Plan...
-Torque torsion bars for a smidgen more lift in front.
-Replace nasty upper and lower A's
-Replace sways (front and back)
-Replace and many bushings as I care to get to.
-Install my C-list find OME front shocks (thank you ih8mud member with a sick LX470)
Pics to come soon.
Even if I decide to let this go in the next year, I commit to doing the repairs right. I outsource what I can't do myself or have time for. I come from a world of door it right or its your life.
Thank you to all of the contributions to this site, I feel like I've read them all!
See you out there and keep the rubber side up!
The name is Kurt and I'm a retired motorcycle racer and retired range Rover classic enthusiasts turned landy junky. For my first round of punishment, I thought I'd stick to what I know and that's abused rigs from MN (even though I now live in CO).
My career allows me to travel across the nation on someone else's dime and that's what I did 4 weeks ago up inow MN.
I located the 98' cruiser that my girl from high school picked me up in for graduation. 178k on the clock and plenty of door dings (7 total) but what was not clear was the rust spots on the gate and the sides of the windshield. I know what to look for with these andays knew going into it that I'd find the best "deal" I'm my old stomping grounds but leave it to MN to slap a nice rain/sleet storm on me for inspection.
I brought it in for an alignment before the 970 mile drive home and she was straight and true. Timing belt, brakes, lube fittings all done at 169k miles and I averaged 17mpgs all the way home on 30k mile michelin ltx 2's.
Mods so far...
-Destination AT's (265-60/18 on after market wheels)
-Ground down rear frame surface rust, coated, installed Curtis hitch.
-Removed crusty spare wheel (extra spare 18" will come with for camping.
-Removed running boards.
-Removed 3rd row.
-Purchased used Thule bike/snowboard hitch mount kit.
-Replaced sunroof gasket, traced and clean drain tubes.
-Oil and different fluid change before I left MN.
Plan...
-Torque torsion bars for a smidgen more lift in front.
-Replace nasty upper and lower A's
-Replace sways (front and back)
-Replace and many bushings as I care to get to.
-Install my C-list find OME front shocks (thank you ih8mud member with a sick LX470)
Pics to come soon.
Even if I decide to let this go in the next year, I commit to doing the repairs right. I outsource what I can't do myself or have time for. I come from a world of door it right or its your life.
Thank you to all of the contributions to this site, I feel like I've read them all!
See you out there and keep the rubber side up!
Last edited:
('Mud Salute)
