As some of you will know I was itching to get another manual 80 series Landcruiser.
I’ve been searching and had a look at a few “poorly” described trucks. The other night I noticed a 100 series for sale. I had not really considered a 100 thinking an 80 was the thing for me as it thought I “must” have a front locker and all that articulation on the axles and I love the simplicity of the 80 and its ability. The more I thought about it perhaps a 100 would work for what I now have in mind, and I had always wondered what they were like, having never driven one nor lived with one. The 80s are pulling very strong money and from what i have seen folks have some interesting thoughts on value versus condition and so many have lots of tin worm damage.
The other day I started to consider having a 100 series, and even an auto. To cut to the chase, rather than lead you down the meandering path of my cogitations and decision process, I came across an interesting 2004 100 series 5speed auto for sale in Devon. Black with grey leather. The seller indicated it had been used to drive to Spain for over wintering, and when back in the UK was parked up under cover and SORNed. always fully serviced before each trip, and wire brushed and waxoiled underneath every 2 years. due again this summer but he had not done it as he did not want folks to think the waxoil was being used to cover a multitude of sins (seen plenty of that recently haven’t we). He had decided to sell the truck because they want to emmigrate to Spain and the hassle and expense of taking the Landcruiser with him did not make sense.
Previous to him it had been owned by someone in London who had used it to drive to Portugal and back, and then park it up and not use it between trips and had run it on 20 inch rims, but that’s another story and thankfully the truck is not on 20 inch rims any longer. The downside with the truck was that there was no service records with the man I was talking to, but having met and talked with him, taken note of his engineering knowledge and his self-employed work for more than 20 years on mechanical stuff, including farm equipment, various vehicles he had built and restored, was building, and looking at the overall condition of the cruiser I felt it was worth a punt and I am confident in his mechanical ability and knowledge. I thoroughly enjoyed talking to him. Truck is sat on 173 odd thousand miles.
The MOT history suggested it had been well cared for with just 2 fails in the MOT history and those for minor things. One recently for an interesting wiring fault to the rear fog lights that I will be asking you about in a future post. No mention on any previous MOT of corrosion.
23,000 miles back all fluids including brake and suspension, coolant, diffs and transfer case were dropped and replaced. Cam belt, tensioner and waterpump for good measure. Filter in the autobox more recently. Aircon pump was noisy so he replaced the pump, alternator failed this year and was replaced this month with a 120 amp unit, power steering rack started weeping and was replaced along with 2 new batteries (that to me look a touch smaller than the ones on my 80, we shall see how they fare). Has airbags in the springs at the rear on a compressor (he towed a 6m twin axle tall trailer with a plane and motorcycle in it to Spain and back).
Underneath is in good order - will be wire brushing and then applying lanoguard this next week or two so I can have a better look. Arches are fine with just a little rust starting in the corners, I can attend to that. Sills look good. The tapping stick (my small rust finder hammer) revealed nothing untoward so far. A couple of scuffs on body work, looks like it has had a little body work on driver rear passenger door, back bumper a little loose on same side. minor stuff as far as i am concerned. windows a little slow, folding mirrors are temperamental. heated mirror switch stuck. rear diff lock not working - i suspect it has never been used so i will dig into that and see what needs to be done. I will start with the detent, (hopefully it is that) and then on into the motor, with worst case I’ll stick a new motor on it.
The 18 inch rims are shod with Nankang AT’s (275/65 R 18) that will suffice for now and are about half worn. I will stick some Cooper AT3s on it next.
Has the spare on a carrier, with a second fuel tank underneath. Carrier is galvanised.
The AHC works as it should for now. As and when it plays up I will convert it to springs and shocks. for now the ride is really nice.
The drive home was long, end of Easter holiday traffic with the world and his bothers, aunts and uncles and cousins leaving Devon and clogging up the motorways (that’s how it looked to me) where a 4/5 hour drive became 6 hours with lots of almost stationery sections before Bristo). The aircon belt got eaten on the way home. Inspecting it in the dry yesterday the tensioner bearing next to the aircon is shot and wobbling (was not noisy when i was in the engine bay looking). So i have ordered a new tensioner for under the water heater device (cant think of the right name right now) on he right of the engine, and a new SKF bearing for the tensioner next to the aircon, and a couple of new belts from Toyota.
Have ordered new interior mats to replace the existing dirty and worn ones. Need to get a carpet cleaner in there for the carpets. Before I left yesterday spent 3.5 hours washing the truck twice, then 2 lots of polish so it looks nicer, plus vac the inside, clean the dash, windows and leather etc. The leather needs reconditioning so I will get to that. Does anyone have any links for coloured leather balm or similar for the toyota grey leather?
Had to replace a leaking valve on the drivers rear tyre yesterday before heading to the lakes, loaded with jacks, tools, summer wheels and tyres for my daughters Mark 4 golf.
Have not yet tested the rear heater controls in the roof.
The electric motor on the steering works ok up and down but not in and out. ill disable it (need to read up on how to do that).
Needs a wiper blade for the rear, the aero blade rubber is fine but it does not sit flush to the glass at the upper part of the rear screen.
Need to fix the horn - only a single rather funny beep, not the dual tones it should have.
Drivers side headlamp washer is loose on the bumper.
Need to change out the white leds on the interior for normal bulbs (I do not like the white leds).
Want to remove the plug on the transfer case (presume I can do this on the 100) to allow low range without the centre diff lock.
Want a snorkel for a 100.
Want to extend the breathers into the upper engine bay
Want a new cover for the spare on the back carrier
I need the owners manual for a 100.
Does anyone have copies (electronic) of the fsm for the 100 series?
Should have taken some pics yesterday as it was a pretty day. so once the weather dries up I’ll post pics for you all. I’ll update this thread with things as we go, and things I have forgotten.
I’ve been searching and had a look at a few “poorly” described trucks. The other night I noticed a 100 series for sale. I had not really considered a 100 thinking an 80 was the thing for me as it thought I “must” have a front locker and all that articulation on the axles and I love the simplicity of the 80 and its ability. The more I thought about it perhaps a 100 would work for what I now have in mind, and I had always wondered what they were like, having never driven one nor lived with one. The 80s are pulling very strong money and from what i have seen folks have some interesting thoughts on value versus condition and so many have lots of tin worm damage.
The other day I started to consider having a 100 series, and even an auto. To cut to the chase, rather than lead you down the meandering path of my cogitations and decision process, I came across an interesting 2004 100 series 5speed auto for sale in Devon. Black with grey leather. The seller indicated it had been used to drive to Spain for over wintering, and when back in the UK was parked up under cover and SORNed. always fully serviced before each trip, and wire brushed and waxoiled underneath every 2 years. due again this summer but he had not done it as he did not want folks to think the waxoil was being used to cover a multitude of sins (seen plenty of that recently haven’t we). He had decided to sell the truck because they want to emmigrate to Spain and the hassle and expense of taking the Landcruiser with him did not make sense.
Previous to him it had been owned by someone in London who had used it to drive to Portugal and back, and then park it up and not use it between trips and had run it on 20 inch rims, but that’s another story and thankfully the truck is not on 20 inch rims any longer. The downside with the truck was that there was no service records with the man I was talking to, but having met and talked with him, taken note of his engineering knowledge and his self-employed work for more than 20 years on mechanical stuff, including farm equipment, various vehicles he had built and restored, was building, and looking at the overall condition of the cruiser I felt it was worth a punt and I am confident in his mechanical ability and knowledge. I thoroughly enjoyed talking to him. Truck is sat on 173 odd thousand miles.
The MOT history suggested it had been well cared for with just 2 fails in the MOT history and those for minor things. One recently for an interesting wiring fault to the rear fog lights that I will be asking you about in a future post. No mention on any previous MOT of corrosion.
23,000 miles back all fluids including brake and suspension, coolant, diffs and transfer case were dropped and replaced. Cam belt, tensioner and waterpump for good measure. Filter in the autobox more recently. Aircon pump was noisy so he replaced the pump, alternator failed this year and was replaced this month with a 120 amp unit, power steering rack started weeping and was replaced along with 2 new batteries (that to me look a touch smaller than the ones on my 80, we shall see how they fare). Has airbags in the springs at the rear on a compressor (he towed a 6m twin axle tall trailer with a plane and motorcycle in it to Spain and back).
Underneath is in good order - will be wire brushing and then applying lanoguard this next week or two so I can have a better look. Arches are fine with just a little rust starting in the corners, I can attend to that. Sills look good. The tapping stick (my small rust finder hammer) revealed nothing untoward so far. A couple of scuffs on body work, looks like it has had a little body work on driver rear passenger door, back bumper a little loose on same side. minor stuff as far as i am concerned. windows a little slow, folding mirrors are temperamental. heated mirror switch stuck. rear diff lock not working - i suspect it has never been used so i will dig into that and see what needs to be done. I will start with the detent, (hopefully it is that) and then on into the motor, with worst case I’ll stick a new motor on it.
The 18 inch rims are shod with Nankang AT’s (275/65 R 18) that will suffice for now and are about half worn. I will stick some Cooper AT3s on it next.
Has the spare on a carrier, with a second fuel tank underneath. Carrier is galvanised.
The AHC works as it should for now. As and when it plays up I will convert it to springs and shocks. for now the ride is really nice.
The drive home was long, end of Easter holiday traffic with the world and his bothers, aunts and uncles and cousins leaving Devon and clogging up the motorways (that’s how it looked to me) where a 4/5 hour drive became 6 hours with lots of almost stationery sections before Bristo). The aircon belt got eaten on the way home. Inspecting it in the dry yesterday the tensioner bearing next to the aircon is shot and wobbling (was not noisy when i was in the engine bay looking). So i have ordered a new tensioner for under the water heater device (cant think of the right name right now) on he right of the engine, and a new SKF bearing for the tensioner next to the aircon, and a couple of new belts from Toyota.
Have ordered new interior mats to replace the existing dirty and worn ones. Need to get a carpet cleaner in there for the carpets. Before I left yesterday spent 3.5 hours washing the truck twice, then 2 lots of polish so it looks nicer, plus vac the inside, clean the dash, windows and leather etc. The leather needs reconditioning so I will get to that. Does anyone have any links for coloured leather balm or similar for the toyota grey leather?
Had to replace a leaking valve on the drivers rear tyre yesterday before heading to the lakes, loaded with jacks, tools, summer wheels and tyres for my daughters Mark 4 golf.
Have not yet tested the rear heater controls in the roof.
The electric motor on the steering works ok up and down but not in and out. ill disable it (need to read up on how to do that).
Needs a wiper blade for the rear, the aero blade rubber is fine but it does not sit flush to the glass at the upper part of the rear screen.
Need to fix the horn - only a single rather funny beep, not the dual tones it should have.
Drivers side headlamp washer is loose on the bumper.
Need to change out the white leds on the interior for normal bulbs (I do not like the white leds).
Want to remove the plug on the transfer case (presume I can do this on the 100) to allow low range without the centre diff lock.
Want a snorkel for a 100.
Want to extend the breathers into the upper engine bay
Want a new cover for the spare on the back carrier
I need the owners manual for a 100.
Does anyone have copies (electronic) of the fsm for the 100 series?
Should have taken some pics yesterday as it was a pretty day. so once the weather dries up I’ll post pics for you all. I’ll update this thread with things as we go, and things I have forgotten.
