Vehicle "Build" Thread...

You Aussies do some pretty amazing stuff with LC's. I'm loving your build. Here are a few I revisited last night. Not to derail your thread mind you, more to point out what we're missing out on LC wise stateside.



I really wish we had access to 79 series utes here!

Or their Black Truck...whole build series is awesome!



Or a simple 79 tourer...



But I'd be perfectly happy in something like Shauno's 79!



This should keep most of you occupied a fair amount of the day!

 

Yes those Patriot trucks are spectacular !!! I only just watched that last one last night. Like anything the $s can get stupid however !!!!! Mine is a step back from those but of course if I had the $$s....

 

Lol yeah I keep applying for that lottery job...no call backs.

 

My Godson has a single cab 79 Series, he will no doubt end up with one of the dual cab versions once he starts making better $s, he has just finished his building apprenticeship so his rates go up

 

So early in the week I dropped the truck off to my favourite workshop and handed him a list….got the call yesterday to come collect it but only if I was happy with the seat after a drive. The bulk of the jobs were done by Thursday, but the seat adaptor bracket held it up. So I shall start at the seat…





….it will take just a little getting use to but it has a bit extra rear travel on the runners (along with being about 200% more comfortable then the OEM one) and given my height and that the 70s are known to be a little short on leg room for some (for me with the seat fully rearward it was fine, but only just). Have a set of custom canvas seat covers on the way from the guy I got the seat from. They normally come as a set of two for specific vehicles but the maker did one for those seats he was selling so he ordered up a set with one to suit the OEM passenger side and one for the new drivers side.

As sad a fact as it is, a phone is a part of my life and I was sick to death of the suction attached one I had in the old truck detaching regularly, so I ordered a purpose built one for this vehicle and phone. I have used the same brand and design products in my work cars for the last 5yrs and have been happy with them so it was an easy choice..





One of the smallest mods with the greatest return so far was the arm rest mounted on the drivers door !!!! Saw them in South Africa and have been meaning to get one since I got home (they made them for my old 80 Series as well as they were big in South Africa too), the maker there would not ship to me here but I found a local guy who specialises in 70 Series trucks who did an almost identical (better executed I think) product in stainless steel and with a pad that match my interior….





Sorry about the badly focused pic, should have used a smaller aperture setting but was being lazy. That is the iDrive throttle controller head unit…





…..It does not increase power !! What it does is allow you to custom tune the throttle response, there is Off (which leaves the truck as OEM) an Auto Economy mode and Ultimate (settings 1-9). Ultimate 9 means the right peddle causes an immediate response !!!!!!! It was an astonishing change when I drove away from home after fitting it (set to Ultimate 9 of course … !!! ) After a bit I found U4 was to my liking here in the city. My reading tells me the Economy settings are best for either fuel savings or on rough tracks where you don’t want lots of jerk from too quick of a peddle response, this will need some experimentation..!!


In the Cargo Bay..





…..a couple of things here, the old sockets were replaced just to be safe and they were swapped around, the lower was on heavier wire with a relay and the top a simple 12v lighter type wiring. Simply swapped the heavier line up high and added a switch for it on the dash, this is to run my fridge, my guy made me a short adaptor cable for my particular fridge. I think the socket style and adaptor will need to change but I will give it a run. Swapped these two around as I will build a split deck/false floor in this one like I had in the other, it will basically cover ½ of that rear speaker height wise so I wanted the switched fridge outlet high. What is also visible here is the cargo bay flooring, I removed the carpet and replaced it with a made to order vinyl floor with a sound and waterproof underlay. I wasn’t going to do the wheel arches but probably will now. I was disappointed with the underlay as I assumed (mistake one) that it would be cut to shape of the bay but it wasn’t. one long piece I had to cut it in at the font when I was making the incisions for the rear seat bases. I need to add a little more each side at the back to level it. I will express my displeasure about this to them Monday.


Talking of switches….





….custom fridge and driving light (Zombie) switches in the dash. They only illuminate when on. I do laugh at myself every time I look at the Zombie Light one…!!!


Talking of lights…





…..installed the pair of Koala cooking LED driving lights, the winch and controller and he hooked up he LED fog lights while he had it.


Toying with the winch…





…it has both a cable and wireless controller, I need to test if the hand unit will work on cable with a flat batter, I suspect the battery is just for the wireless function but need to find out, I forgot to do so today. That hook will be gone the moment the Factor 55 flat link shows up !!


And under the bonnet…





….hard to tell the differences here but there is an oil catch can added (with a tapped drain line routed down under the vehicle) and a heavy duty power cut-off switch for the winch. I was going to go with an illuminated one like the others but I was advised against it. Also can’t see the return to centre steering damper.


I think that is it so far, he was going to fit up the cargo barrier but didn’t have a specific tool required and a mobile guy gave a ridiculous quote, my local Toyota place is doing the job for less than I ever expected, but they do lots (it’s done in pre-delivery Department so they don’t charge normal workshop rates and as they do so many they have it all templated up and it’s over in an hour).


Still here is the vinyl floor overlay for the front and rear floors, I have not felt like doing that yet as I have to pull the seats and floor console out entirely then make the cuts to suit. Still feeling like shit post-surgery so that is on hold for the time being. I can’t start on the deck till the cargo barrier is in (16 July) and my credit card went into hiding when it overheard me listing the next parts on order (Kaymar rear bar with twin wheel carriers and a long range fuel tank – at around $5K they will be the biggest expense !!!!!!) beyond those I will add the side rails and sliders and a custom floor console that will also hold my UHF radio. The console will be my Christmas gift to myself I suspect !! I have also been giving my old ARB roof rack a bit of a mid-life refurb, nearly took it in for a new powder coating but snapped to my senses when I realised it was about 1/3 the replacement cost of a new more modern rack and a rattle can would get me out of trouble. Replaces all the bolts and washers while I was at it. I will need at least two large able bodied assistants when time comes to get it adjusted and mounted.


My next few weekends will be occupied with a job application I have to pull together so I can’t see much more getting done for a bit.

 

How you gonna live with UN matched seats!?! Good looking build there.

 

....same way I did for the last 23yrs it was worse in the old truck as the driver's seat was brown and the rest of the interior was blue/grey. Amazing what as set of match seat COVERS will hide from the eye/mind

 

Coming along rather well,The steering wheel on the wrong side would leave me handy-capped?

 

You get use to it in about two days, that is about how long it feels REALLY unnatural to me when I have been in the US. And I have done LOTS of driving there !!

Just been experimenting with things. Really want that cargo barrier fitted up as once that is done I can build my deck and all the "essential gear" that lives in my truck can find a home again. Had to move it out of the man cave and pile it in the back of the truck as I needed to do other jobs. Also did some experimenting. I LOVE the idea of the wireless control for the winch but I realised that it of course runs off a small battery in the handset. That will of course flat when I need it most. I was happy to discover (as I suspected) that when hard wired to the control box it needs no battery to function, I love redundancy in things !!!

 

Yup, wherever you are the steering wheel is to the inside of the road. Feels strange to switch sides, but after a bit you adjust.

 

Seems like the running joke Down Under is that LC's come so bare bones that you can hardly ride in them. Literally everything to make them a decent ride is an aftermarket extra. Especially in the 79's which I guess are more considered work/industrial usage rather than as a daily driver for the average Joe. Or whatever yous Aussies call the average bloke.

 

Yep, the 70Series is considered the Military/Industrial line and are fitted out as such. That said mine in standard guise (it's a GXL) would be fine for most and you could (with a change of rubber) take it about anywhere here in reasonable comfort. But where would the fun be in that. If you want something nicer in Landcruiser flavour you buy a 120 (Prado) or 200Series. They have the soft and weak covered for their needs...

 

Just received a Factor55 Flat Link in the post....what an improvement over the standard winch hook that is !!!!!

 

Got a chance to fit the Factor55 jobbie over the weekend...

 

Those are PNW prices. When I was looking for my Jeep, I noticed that down South vehicles were cheaper. CO is the same as PNW, expensive & junk.

 

@Andy the Aussie have you ever installed a grille guard? My radiator is really exposed due to the design and I was thinking of installing one to save my radiator from rocks. Some say they make your vehicle overheat but most say grill guards make little difference to the temp. Need an opinion from other then a comment on a product site.

I have been looking at something like this-
https://www.amazon.com/d/Grille-Inserts/Hooke-Road-American-2007-2018-Unlimited/B06XRWN5S7

 

Found a First Gen Four Runner for $1000, running, but it looks like it needs a bunch of work, still, would make a neato little rig to get all bloody while out hunting! Might be worth it, might be total waste of time!

 

no I haven’t. None of my trucks have had a radiator that is exposed as that. Generally they have slat type from grills from the factory that being angled keep rocks out and allow air in. Here we have more trouble with bugs and grass seed especially when travelling in the interior. To deal with that there are commercial products but most of us just cable tie some shade cloth across the bull bar in front of the grill. Means you can’t run the driving lights but everything is a balance. I can see where the overheating concerns would come from and will probably vary individual vehicle to vehicle. Lots of slow hard (off-road ) travel means your engine would be working hard with less forced airflow than on a highway.

 

I need to do something because it is a horrible design and one rock could do some damage.

Also @Andy the Aussie have you driven your vehicle much? That is the cleanest engine. Can you splash some mud on there or something. I looked at that picture of your engine and think I should go home and power wash mine.

 

They make stone guards for your Jeep, several different options! The best are the stainless steel perforated plate that goes behind the grill, will catch most every thing and are super easy to clean! Or you could go gorilla style and mount it in place of the grill! I would add a bull/brush guard as well!