Good Times' 2000 Land Cruiser Build

[Good Times]

Just about a year ago to the date I bought an used 2000 Toyota Land Cruiser. Not the cleanest one I've seen but one that has been very well maintained (even comes with a few battle scars on the driver panel) but the interior was probably one of the best so I couldn't resist. :) Some of ya may have seen it at the last Pismo event but those of ya that didn't see it, I'll post up some photos for ya tomorrow when the sun is out.

I told myself I would keep this stock since I still have the 4runner but obviously I lost that battle.. Don't ask why I'm such an idiot... (boys will be boys)

Here's what I'm working on. Pix to come.

Power me up!
* IBS Dual Battery System + IBS Relay Boost Module
* Slee Offroad 2nd Battery Tray
* Diehard Platinum Group 34M Battery
* Blue Sea Systems SafetyHub 100 Fuse Block
* Cooper Bussmann Resettable Circuit Breaker

Family friendly armor...
* Slee Offroad SlideSteps

Family friendly geek toys
* ARB Fridge Frezer 63qt (this thing is a monster!) (with the tie down and transit bag)
* Adding a drawer system that I'll build based on some clever designs I found online
* trying to find a creative way to mount my ipad so I can use it for navigation of the city.

I would love to mod it like a madman but I really need to keep this one tame since I already have the 4runner for the crazy stuff.

[Seanz0rz]

shoot! finish the 4runner first!

let me know if i can help ya with anything. i will soon be making that daily slog back to pomona.

[4x4mike]

Sounds like fun. Can't wait to see pictures and what you have up your sleeve.

[Good Times]

4runner is on hold due to time constraints on working on the project and also cost of getting all of the parts together. As much as I want it done personally speaking, I just can't find the time to work on it to get it done. So I'll just let it sit for a bit until I have some free time to work on it. At least the Land Cruiser project won't be too time consuming since it's all mostly bolt on stuff and doesn't require me to fabricate my own stuff (though I know that's part of the fun). Guess I'm getting either too old or lazy to work on it. ha

[Crinale]

what is actually wrong with the runner again?

[Good Times]

it's missing a rear axle and a the whole exhaust system along with the bottom half of the headers for both sides. much of the interior has been stripped out too now so it' a bit "empty" so to speak.

got a bit ahead of myself on removing stuff and now it's just a pile of ****. Stuff I want to do is gonna be a bit more expensive than I originally anticipated so I had to put it on hold. Plus work has been eating away much of my free time so I haven't been able to just work on it.

I started working on it in the office warehouse but the office needed the space back for merchandise inventory so I had to relocate it back into storage. Kinda hard to work when it's stored so until I have some room to work on it I just put it away for now. Thinking of reviving the project in the winter when it's a bit cooler to work on.

[DHC6twinotter]

Awesome! I love the 100 series Land Cruisers and wouldn't mind building one up myself.

Looking forward to seeing this build! :thumbup:

Lance, if you need an extra hand with anything while I'm out there, let me know!

[Good Times]

http://www.chaosedition.com/photogallery/images/Land%20Cruiser/LTK_20120909_12615.jpg
Side profile with a bit of carnage on the driver side panel. Not a biggie otherwise the rest of the panel are in great shape!

http://www.chaosedition.com/photogallery/images/Land%20Cruiser/LTK_20120909_12617.jpg
As clean as it gets for a 2000 LC (well the cheapest that I can find in this great of shape!)

http://www.chaosedition.com/photogallery/images/Land%20Cruiser/LTK_20120909_12616.jpg
Roar! the power of that v8 is just too hard to give up. Only if it came with the 5 speed auto vs the 4 speed auto. Definitely a big difference in comparison to my 2003 4runner but at least now I have interchangeable parts!

http://www.chaosedition.com/photogallery/images/Land%20Cruiser/LTK_20120909_12618.jpg
Few dings on the rear bumper but it's not a biggie.


http://www.chaosedition.com/photogallery/images/Land%20Cruiser/LTK_20120909_12619.jpg
Had to add the Pismo Jamboree stickers... hehe

http://www.chaosedition.com/photogallery/images/Land%20Cruiser/LTK_20120909_12620.jpg
Front seats / interior was pretty sexy!

http://www.chaosedition.com/photogallery/images/Land%20Cruiser/LTK_20120909_12621.jpg
Can you believe this is a 2000 LC? The previous owner did a great job maintaining this in such a great condition.

http://www.chaosedition.com/photogallery/images/Land%20Cruiser/LTK_20120909_12622.jpg
O my, looks like a new toy :chair: Just need to start working on the drawer system. If you look closely you'll see the drawer slides are behind it and the moving blanket has the wood waiting to be cut and finished.

So far the fridge is working but I'm a bit fearful of keeping it connected with only one battery. It has a shut off system built in and it has shut off a few times already so I gotta hurry up and get that second battery installed. Waiting for the IBS system to arrive.

And the waiting begins...

[paddlenbike]

Nice! I like how the interior is trimmed. I am also a fan of gray leather as opposed to black or tan.

I saw a 100-series the other day that had a simple spacer lift and larger tires and it looked excellent.

[Good Times]

Ken,

Don't get me started... I want to do so much but the parking garage where I live is very low so I can't add a lift and/or taller tires. :( If I do it'll hit... talk about *!(@*#&!@&^!@(&# haha guess that's one way to keep me from going bonkers on this truck too!

I too like the gray leather as opposed to black or tan. I specifically hunted the white/gray combo for a few years (quietly) so I was very happy when this one came across in such great condition (especially the interior).

[Obi..]

1. Buy property and make your own spot? :D
2. Call Christo.
3. Figure out how to hide it from the wife.
4. LOL

I'm oficially kealous, I saw this shot on T4R and although not yours they do look VERY nice. Shane [WANT].
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8299/7925349272_a454723aee_b.jpg

[Crinale]

Holy crap.. the 5th gen 4runner is the same size as a 100 series?!? :yikes: :yikes:

/off topic

Nice lookin cruiser Lance :thumbup:

[YotaFun]

With no 3rd row seat...

Lance, you have me itching to get a 100 series of my own, been looking around and seeing built ones and letting my head wander way to much, you have some awesome will power not to mod it!

[04 Rocko Taco]

WE almost picked up a 100 series the other day, great price, but we passed on it, still holding out for a nice 80 series in fact.

[paddlenbike]

Holy crap.. the 5th gen 4runner is the same size as a 100 series?!? :yikes: :yikes:



To my eye it looks bigger. Maybe it's the pudgy headlights and taillights, I dunno, but I parked next to a stock 5th gen the other day and it looked like a fat pig...the top of the roof was several inches taller than my lifted 3rd gen yet the ground clearance was considerably less.

Not that there is anything wrong with fat.

[p nut]

Looks great. I've had mine for 3.5 years. Miss the 4Runner/Taco at times, but the plushness soothes all of that away. I've got 33's, but need to call up Slee for sliders, bumper(s), roofrack, etc.

[Marc P]

Those are great trucks, and if I found a good deal on one I would get one too.

[paddlenbike]

What is the realistic fuel mileage of one of those?

[p nut]

MPG wise, at 100% stock, you're at ~17 highway. That's keeping it at 65-70MPH. I was getting 21 with the 4Runner (V6, auto) just for frame of reference. So it's not that great, but not horrible. With 33's, I'm down to 15. It's a second vehicle for me, so MPG doesn't really matter much. BTW, this is about on-par or better than FZJ80's with more power.

If I were doing more hardcore trails, I'd go back to a 4Runner, as it is smaller. But for most of the stuff I do now, this is more than adequate. Wife and kids love the extra room and comfort, too.

[paddlenbike]

17 isn't as bad as I thought it would be considering its size. The FZJ80s had pretty dismal mileage.

[Good Times]

I believe the 5A/T that rolled out in 03 gets much better mpg (14-17 I've read). I have the older 4A/T (98-02) and I'm happy to get 15mpg but honestly I get around 12-13mpg. Definitely a pig but the interior refinements are well worth it like p nut quotes. In comparison to my 4runner (03) the interior is much larger so it feels better for the occupants. The extra room and comfort definitely makes it well worth it for me.

I have stock GY A/T tires so that probably doesn't help w/ the rolling resistance. Compounded by the stock roof rack probably eats away a good 1mpg or more due to wind resistance.

If this was my primary car I would absolutely go bonkers on the mpg pain but since this is my recreational vehicle I look at it as a "perk" vehicle to have. :) This truck will never see any hardcore trails so it fits the bill on what I plan to do with it. I've got the 4runner for the hardcore stuff!

[Bob98SR5]

lance, i think its your lead foot and the stop / go westside traffic that's decreasing your mpg. blaming it on the roof rack? lol! so when is the 4runner repairs gonna start?

[Good Times]

yeah the skinny pedal probably kills my mpg but even with the granny driving it's still crappy. But hey it's a LC so whatcha expect!

the 4runner is on vacation... maybe after my work project that keeps me traveling way too much. we can chat more to catch up.

[fenrisx]

Wow.. I've only got 21mpg in my '00 4Runner when traveling through Kentucky during my MN to GA trips... avg around 17.5'ish during my weekly commutes.