'98 LC 100 Series slow build....well my definition of slow

Bought this from a super nice, honest guy. His wife used it to haul 4 kids around to school/sporting events. 212k (less than the local yearly average), center and rear diff lockers, champagne pearl with tan interior. For a 20+ year old vehicle, I was blown away with the shape this thing was in. The paint is a 10/10 for the age. The interior is probably an 8/10. Some spill stains and the infamous driver seat wear. Needs steering wheel recovered. But other than that, it is in incredible shape. First thing I did was buy it, then drive it straight to a trusted mechanic who is a friend of a friend with a stellar reputation for his work and attention to detail. He baselined it, replaced the fan clutch, valve cover gaskets and spark plugs. He was amazed at the condition of the engine, he told me I "did good", that it was a very well taken care of vehicle. Timing belt, water pump and radiator are brand new, done by the seller within the last 2k miles. What I have done so far is replace hood and rear hatch struts, front sway bar links, DS wheel flange (had excessive play, would have done passenger but it arrived at a different time, will do it this weekend), replaced all lug nuts with OEM,removed mud flaps and running boards and just buttoned up some exterior trim pieces that were loose. Still to do, replace passenger side wheel flange, replace DS and PS cv axles, new front and rear shocks, new coil springs, new torsion bars, install SPIDERTRAX wheel spacers, fix DS window regulator (a little slow and I'm getting a "pop" when I roll it back up), tint DS and PS Windows and front windshield, new 265/75/16 KO2s (white letters out), touch up paint on OEM roof rack (will prob just plasti dip it for now, gonna eventually go with a Gamiviti), recover front DS and PS seats, arm rest and console, Canvasback rear cargo area liner, WeatherTech floor mats, repaint OEM wheels back to original "silver" (like the look of the factory wheels on these LCs), then see what else Tandem Offroad in Haltom City, TX recommends needing fixed. Holding of on a lift for a while, really like the look of how it sits now, might just upgrade to better shocks and coils that retain this factory look. My Tacoma is bordering on too much lift, so keeping the LC around an 1.5" seems perfect. My days of beating the hell out of my Tacoma are behind me I think. Fire roads and mild trails are much more enjoyable to me these days. I'll do my best to document the changes and findings to my LC in order to help others who might be on the same journey. I am thoroughly pleased with my decision on buying this particular vehicle. I hope I get another 212k out of it. Last thing, if anyone is wondering, so as to have an idea, I paid $8750 cash for this LC, and in my opinion, I got a HELL of a good deal.

 

Whoa I had a similar deal on my 80 series, what part of Texas are you
In. Looks like a great start by the way

 

Right in the middle of Dallas.....unfortunately

 

Looks like a good deal.

 

Haha crazy, I got my 80 series with 248k from rowlett and she used it for her 4 kids and gave me a heap of records for 3k. When's its first trip out?

 

Well, it's off to Tandem hopefully next week to get new cv's and to have them look it over for whatever they deem necessary to replace. I have the "clunk" from "R" to "D" I was thinking it was worn axle drive flanges, replaced the DS today, as it seemed to have some play, but didn't get to the PS. Did seem to lessen it a bit. I was hoping that might be it, but not so sure now. I'm gonna do the PS this weekend to see if that solves it. If not, gonna leave it in the hands of the pros to see if they can track it down. As for the maiden voyage, it will probably be the wife and I doing our annual October anniversary trip to Santa Fe and Taos. Then we are planning to get out to Expo East in Asheville in November. Hoping to take the Cruiser on both of them. I wouldn't be a bit hesitant to take it now, but it's just my OCD wanting to get it looked over and hopefully rid it of the "clunk". I have been working overtime like crazy just so I can dump some money into it up front to get it mechanically sound so I can get the most out of it long term. Then later I will start the aesthetic and functional mods. Stay tuned, I have big plans

 

Today I replaced the Rancho 5000 garbage shocks with Fox 2.0. Wow, words can't describe, what a difference. The Rancho's were done, the ride was horrible, the bushings were shot, I felt and heard every bump. I could move the shock body by hand in the lower mount. It rides like a new one now, what a plush ride. Allthe rattles from the garbage shocks are gone. They must have been in really rough shape. I'm gonna run these until Jason, a vendor for them, gets in some 41mm ToughDogs with the dual rate coils. But I'll be honest though, I might just run these for a year or so, I like the stock height of it now, and now with these Fox 2.0's, it has me just wanting to run it like this until I get some other mods done.

 

Ok, I have done a ton of stuff to the cruiser to get it to the point where I won't have to worry about the typical problems. I'll try to list everything I've done since the above post, but might forget a few things.

Dropped it off at Tandem for the following:

CV's rebuilt
New front passenger rotor
New PS and DS brake pads

They had to order some parts and I'm dropping it back off on Wednesday for:

New SPC UCA's
New OEM LCA's
Open up and essentially rebuild RR DIFF lock actuator (PO never engaged it, so it's likely just seized)
New steering rack bushings

Friday I dropped it off for a full interior detail including shampooing the carpets, and a full exterior detail. Today I clay barred and waxed it. Tomorrow I'm gonna mask off around the roof rack and touch up the rails and cross bars with plasti dip. New front seat leather is getting ordered within the month, just trying to find a reputable installer that is close. I'll probably have the front pass and driver windows tinted to match the rest. The Texas sun is brutal. Also did a LONCKY steering wheel wrap myself. I think it came out great.