Hi
I did the front knuckles after 1.5 years; new seals and also bearings once I was in there. Just the normal stuff once the soup seeps out. Guess the seal went out due to clogged breathers. Haven't been into the rear axle or diffs since I own the truck. Brake job all around, but rather to be on the safe side. New radiator hoses and -after 4 years- new handbrake cable. TLC, that's it. Also painted the frame and conserved the body with cavity grease.
The PO who had it sitting in the barn was an LC enthusiast, who was in his late 70s already. (I was told only later). When I assessed the truck later, I came to the conclusion that the PO certainly restored it to sell it, but did a good and honest job to provide a reasonably restored and maintained vehicle, for what the base was. Not perfect, but in good working order. But, apparently, at some point, he ran out of passion, time or capabilities, as there are some aspects on it (e.g. the paintjob, the side steps and the fender flares), which do not match the standard of the rest of the vehicle.
I certainly knew it was a gamble to buy this rig. And yes, experts may call it overpriced (I won't tell $$) But I don't have the facilities to restore a truck myself. I got a sound foundation that enabled me to do the rest by myself and learn on it. I got what I was looking for and I'm happy with it. I know, I was lucky, though.
Cheers Ralf
Hello,
Great story.
Sometimes you have to pay a little more for your truck but you get a better foundation to work with.
The front axle soup you describe is normal after 20+ years. It is possible the PO replaced the rear axle seals and bearings, which, again, are likely to give up the ghost after 20+ years.
One good thing about Land Cruisers, 70 Series in particular, is that you can work on one system/subsystem at a time.
Juan
