90 Build

[Jack_Prado]

Said it’s about time I give you all a little introduction to my 1996 Landcruiser Prado,
It’s a Swb 90 and has the 3.0 1kzte earlier engine.

I bought her in February 2022 in off farm condition, the jeep needed a lot of love but it had the right potential and spec I was looking for. I decided to go for a jap import as it had much more factory extras compared to the Irish base models and I always liked the round headlights.

Once I got her home safe and sound it was time to start getting it road worthy and rust free.
And that was where the journey began..

 

[Jack_Prado]

First job was to get it looking reasonable for a bit of inspiration, so a deep clean and polish was done.

Next removed the front Bull Bar and Spotlights

Removed the metal plates inside the rear windows and got them unbolted and working properly.

And a set of fresh Number Plates

 

[Jack_Prado]

Once the jeep was respectable looking it was time to tackle underneath, she got sent away for rust repairs underneath, chassis was welded in many places from the axle back inside and out, new body mounts made, new rear shock brackets, galvanised tank straps and a few other small places.

When all the welding was complete I spent a fortnight of evenings and weeks lying on my back with a wire wheel cleaning down the chassis for paint, full chassis was painted using Wurth Rust Convertor on the bare steel, followed by Wurth Red Lead Primer and two coats of Hammerite Black Paint.

 

[Jalfa]

Great truck. I bet that polishing was satisfying!

 

[Jack_Prado]

When the chassis painting was finished I installed a new Radiator, Aux/AC Belts and 30mm Hub Centric Wheel Spacers.

 

[Jack_Prado]

Decided the small tyres didn’t suit it but was afraid to splash out on a new set of oversized tyres incase they wouldn’t fit, after a lot of research/forum reading, I bought a second hand set of 285/75/16 BF Goodrich, after a trial fit and driving for a month or so I invested in a new set of 285/75/16 West Lakes, they are a budget tyre but come in the exact same specs as the BFG’s, have had them on the jeep over 12 months now and I’m very impressed with their capabilities

Small road tyres and lack of mudflaps looked awful

Second hand set of BFG 285/75/16 filled out the jeep a lot better with the spacers, more aggressive stance.

Brand New Westlake 285/75/16 fitted, I had to remove the front mudflaps due to clearance issue, massage the lip on the inner arch and I heated the plastic arch liner in order to gain the correct clearance, it could still be better but only rubs slightly now under big articulation off road.

 

[Jack_Prado]

After a few months of using and enjoying the jeep I decided to purchase a Roof Top Tent.
I bought a Roof Cabin canvas Tent.
Very impressed with it, spacious, good water tightness and little to no condensation.

 

[GeekOKent]

Amazing stuff, and really well done. But but this is much better than a jeep please don't call it that.

 

[Jack_Prado]

The next challenge I set myself was to sort out the storage issue in the rear of the jeep, got sick of camping gear sliding around in the back and having to climb over stuff or remove everything to find things.
So a plan was made for a drawer setup.

Pretty simple setup, two full length drawers, roller bearings mounted on 1” channel, side infills and covers to create extra pockets and essentially a raised floor.

Finished on top with grey marine carpet and black fixings

Even made some counter tops which sit across the drawers while open to create a workspace, which also store inside the drawers.

 

[Jack_Prado]

Amazing stuff, and really well done. But but this is much better than a jeep please don't call it that.

Irish colloquialisms at their finest, everything 4wd that’s not a tractor gets called a jeep

 

[Sam]

Looks like you've had a lot of fun. Very nice

 

[Bob]

Nice job, and another one saved. The chassis work is the most important of all. I've been chasing rust out from under mine for a while.

 

[Shayne]

Nice to see a man with a plan and mission accomplished in short order well done you

 

[Lancashire Cruiser]

Turned a sows ear into a silk purse, great work on the chassis, will last for years now.