by "That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms" (thatbastardkurtis5)
Published 03/23/2017 at 13:45
by "That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms" (thatbastardkurtis5)
Published 03/23/2017 at 13:45
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STARS: 3
Look, is my Land Cruiser gorgeous and awesome? Of course it is. But there are some less than awesome things about it that I’m aiming to fix, so I just spent a couple hundred bucks on eBay.
One of my least favorite things about the truck is the dreaded Toyota ‘gold package’, gold badges all around. So I bought a pair of chrome Toyota badges, and I’m going to replace the gold 4wd badge with either nothing or an FJ40 style badge.
The main key I have for it is marked ‘for Daihatsu’, which is neat but wrong. So I bought a pair of Toyota key blanks for it.
I also don’t have a keyless entry remote, and I know the truck had them from new, so I bought a pair of those.
My power antenna doesn’t work, the belt (?) broke on it so the antenna is up all the time though the motor works fine. Bought a Toyota replacement one.
I was distressed to learn that I a) don’t have trailer light wiring even though I have a hitch, and b) it wasn’t as simple as just wiring in a four pin plug. So I bought a vehicle specific adapter by Hopkins that’ll give me a flat four plug so I can tow.
Let’s see, what else? Oh, I bought a new set of lug nuts (the all-locks kind by Gorilla), a new lower dash panel because mine is all scratched up.
I also bought this:
From Blue Ridge Outfitters, they call it a Land Cruiser Attic and it’s brilliant. Right where the sunroof ends, above the rear seat passengers heads, the headliner goes up a few inches. The Attic attaches to the grab handles for the second and third rows and adds some cargo space for soft items...coats, shirts, etc. Right now I’ve got a Carhartt hoodie and a Duluth shirt jacket up there (in a pretty big size because I’m a fatass) and there’s plenty of room for more. It seems like a small thing, but they’re bulky and that’ll save a lot of room in my rear boxes.
I’ve also decided to take a whack at Plastidipping my wheels black. I really want black steelies, so this should hold me over for now. With the black wheels and nice new chrome lugs, I think it’ll look really good.
Lastly, I’m going to take off the running boards...I want to see how it looks. The flares can stay though, they’ve grown on me.
Gonna be a good Land Cruiser weekend.
"Stapleface" (patrickgruden)
03/23/2017 at 14:02, STARS: 1
Thank you for de-golding the vehicle. The gold package has always bugged the shit out of me. It always looks half assed to me.
"CalzoneGolem" (calzonegolem)
03/23/2017 at 14:02, STARS: 3
I’d ditch the 4WD badges completely and the Daihatsu key is awesome.
"vicali" (vicali)
03/23/2017 at 14:09, STARS: 1
Any reason you’re planning to use plastidip? I mean besides the obvious where you want to be able to peel it off - from what I’ve heard it’s a pain on something like a wheel unless you get the coats right.. It’s also not the toughest finish for a wheel.. and can fade after a year or so.
I used matte gunmetal on my trd wheels;
It’s been 5 years now and they are still perfect, they don’t disappear like black wheels do, and they look different than every kid with a spraycan. Also hide brake dust like crazy - big win for me.
Steel offroad wheels look great, my friend Dave’s is a prime example;
But for respraying stock alloys I went for something different.
"Nibbles" (nibbles)
03/23/2017 at 14:19, STARS: 1
Ditch the 4WD badges and put these on:
"That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms" (thatbastardkurtis5)
03/23/2017 at 14:26, STARS: 1
It’s even worse on mine because it’s a champagne colored truck, really makes it look even more like a soccer mom car.
"benjrblant" (benjblant)
03/23/2017 at 14:26, STARS: 1
80 series has a plug in the rear passenger quarter for trailer wiring. You shouldn’t need to cut or splice wires for your 4-pin connection.
"CalzoneGolem" (calzonegolem)
03/23/2017 at 14:27, STARS: 2
"That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms" (thatbastardkurtis5)
03/23/2017 at 14:28, STARS: 0
That’s a pretty good point. I kinda want a satin sort of color, not a high gloss, and I wanted to be able to remove it...but if it’s going to be a pain in the ass to remove I’ll just paint the things.
"That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms" (thatbastardkurtis5)
03/23/2017 at 14:29, STARS: 1
The Daihatsu key will remain as a second spare. I think you’re right about the 4wd badge, it’s a Land Cruiser, 4wd is implied.
"That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms" (thatbastardkurtis5)
03/23/2017 at 14:30, STARS: 0
Apparently this kit I bought plugs into that, shouldn’t require any splicing. I’ll have to see what I’ve got in there, I’ve got wiring underneath but it’s non-standard for a 4-pin and it’s cut back a ways.
"benjrblant" (benjblant)
03/23/2017 at 14:31, STARS: 1
That sounds correct.
Carry on!
"CalzoneGolem" (calzonegolem)
03/23/2017 at 14:34, STARS: 2
I’m firmly in the less badges is more better camp.
"That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms" (thatbastardkurtis5)
03/23/2017 at 14:48, STARS: 0
I’m actually kinda disappointed I needed to replace the rear one rather than just remove it. I had heard that Land Cruisers just had a stuck on rear Toyota logo where the LX450 had holes in the hatch for alignment pins. Apparently that was wrong because my truck has alignment pins, so it’s either fill and paint match the holes or install a new Toyota logo.
I was going to get an FJ80 style grill if that was the case, with ‘TOYOTA’ written out instead of the sombrero logo the FZJ80s got. Oh well.
"benjrblant" (benjblant)
03/23/2017 at 14:48, STARS: 0
Looks nice! I 2nd the off-black / dark grey camp. Was this powdercoat, paint, or a rattle-can job?
"Jack Does Cars" (jackdoescars)
03/23/2017 at 14:56, STARS: 0
My neighbor has an FJ80 rotting in their front yard and I’m really thinking about asking them a few questions...
"That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms" (thatbastardkurtis5)
03/23/2017 at 15:03, STARS: 0
I would. They’re starting to appreciate in value, and mine is probably as solid a vehicle as I’ve ever owned. It feels overbuilt basically everywhere, or as I’m fond of saying, it’s built up to a standard and not down to a price.
"vicali" (vicali)
03/23/2017 at 15:07, STARS: 1
Rattlecan,
To be fair these are probably my 10th or 11th set of painted wheels, including polishing and clearcoating vw teardrops, painting wrx take-offs gold, and my white FJ steelies..
By the 10th time I’ve learned that it’s mostly prep that makes the job last, and not rushing it.
"CalzoneGolem" (calzonegolem)
03/23/2017 at 15:24, STARS: 0
That’s a bummer. On Forest’s back hatch, PZEV and SUBARU didn’t have pins but FORESTER for reason did.
"Jack Does Cars" (jackdoescars)
03/23/2017 at 16:04, STARS: 0
The story is that the woman who currently owns it got in the will after her father died, she drove it home, parked it, and it’s been sitting since about 2010 or so. It was white but it’s slowly turning green as it’s parked under trees. I want it.
"That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms" (thatbastardkurtis5)
03/23/2017 at 16:23, STARS: 0
Any idea what year? If it’s got the current Toyota badge on the grill it’s likely a 95-97. If it says Toyota, it’s a 91-94. I prefer the earlier grill, but the later ones have the better engine.
"Jack Does Cars" (jackdoescars)
03/23/2017 at 17:35, STARS: 1
It’s parked with it’s back to the street but I know it’s an early one due to the wheels, bumpers, non-tinted windows, etc. White on gray cloth.
"HammerheadFistpunch" (hammerheadfistpunch)
03/24/2017 at 13:54, STARS: 1
interested to see how the dipped wheels do, I am in need of some cosmetic refurbishing on my wheels. The Rs2000 is pretty easy to program, but be advised the range SUCKS. Like, you have to be pretty much right next to it for it to work. Taking the running boards off is a big aesthetic improvment in my view, but watch what you hit with the mudflaps now, as they will be less supported. (my uncle tore off a fender doing this)