So, I saw this posting on a LC 100 online. The owner sent me some pictures of the underside. Can you let me know what your thoughts are on the rust...It is in a rust-belt state but not sure what to expect...what is common, etc. Would this scare you away? Not that big of deal, etc. Any thoughts would be much appreciated. Thanks again, Mike
LC 100 underbody...
- Thread starter mph
- Start date
spressomon
Expedition Leader
Well it is definitely not from one of the desert/SW states based on your photos;-). But having said that I bought my '99 from Rochester NY where it spent most of its life until late 2004 and it had significantly more rust on the undercarriage than what you have shown in the attached photos.
The muffler looks like it might need replacing, due to rust, soon...but ultimately hard to tell 100% from the one photo.
You, should you purchase this rig, just be prepared to be able to drill and tap as necessary. Almost all the smaller bolts/nuts on mine were rust frozen. No volume of PB Blaster can work them loose if they are past the point of no return as mine were. Not a huge deal but it does explain why rust belt states generally are about 10% less to purchase than desert type states' rigs.
FYI: Even though I didn't get the chassis blasted and coated once the rig got to me the rust pretty much stopped advancing. Might have something to do with our < 9" of average annual precip :ylsmoke:
The muffler looks like it might need replacing, due to rust, soon...but ultimately hard to tell 100% from the one photo.
You, should you purchase this rig, just be prepared to be able to drill and tap as necessary. Almost all the smaller bolts/nuts on mine were rust frozen. No volume of PB Blaster can work them loose if they are past the point of no return as mine were. Not a huge deal but it does explain why rust belt states generally are about 10% less to purchase than desert type states' rigs.
FYI: Even though I didn't get the chassis blasted and coated once the rig got to me the rust pretty much stopped advancing. Might have something to do with our < 9" of average annual precip :ylsmoke:
LandCruiserPhil
Expedition Leader
The days of breaking the nut or bolt loose and removing it with your fingers will be over with. Enough reason for me to say no at any price but to be fair Im from AZ where others from the east will say looks great.
iigs
Observer
It certainly doesn't look bad enough to be a safety hazard or a severe maintenance problem. I suspect that the rust on a lot of the bolt heads is just surface rust, and while some of the smaller ones might break, a lot of them will still have rather clean threads inside, so they should be serviceable in the unlikely event you actually need to disassemble something underneath the vehicle.
When a vehicle is too perfect I feel bad about using it -- which is a reason why I'd never be comfortable buying a new car. From my perspective this much pre-existing rust is just an excuse to use the vehicle without remorse: someone else is preserving one for a car museum, drive yours!
When a vehicle is too perfect I feel bad about using it -- which is a reason why I'd never be comfortable buying a new car. From my perspective this much pre-existing rust is just an excuse to use the vehicle without remorse: someone else is preserving one for a car museum, drive yours!
Spresso is the expert here, but in my opinion, I would not touch it.
Your pictures show more rust then my FJ60 does which is 25 years old. Every little job you do on that truck is going to turn into a nightmare of broken bolts and drilling and tapping. You will spend a life time of smelling like PBBlaster, Kroil and EdsRed. It's not worth it.
There is no reason to buy a Cruiser this new with rusted fasteners. There are tons for sale that lived in the Southwest or the Central Valley of California where rust almost doesn't happen. Let someone else take on the headache and buy yourself a pristine truck.
Your pictures show more rust then my FJ60 does which is 25 years old. Every little job you do on that truck is going to turn into a nightmare of broken bolts and drilling and tapping. You will spend a life time of smelling like PBBlaster, Kroil and EdsRed. It's not worth it.
There is no reason to buy a Cruiser this new with rusted fasteners. There are tons for sale that lived in the Southwest or the Central Valley of California where rust almost doesn't happen. Let someone else take on the headache and buy yourself a pristine truck.
hieronymus
Adventurer
Not everybody lives in a desert....these pictures don't scare me. I guess you won't have any troubles for another 15 years with a car like that!
pint
Adventurer
Too me, it totally depends on the price, overall condition of the rest of the vehicle, and what your plans are for it. FWIW - I just sold my 2000 100 series with 145K on it that spent its entire life in CO. ZERO rust anywhere. You live in UT. You should be able to find plenty of clean, rust free 100's in CO, UT, NV, AZ, etc. Unless it's a steal, I would personally wait.
pcampbell
Adventurer
Price is definitely a factor but I wouldn't let it be the only one. I do always give weight to a seller who is willing to reveal everything very clearly, and undercarriage pictures like that are a good sign.
However, after owning a vehicle that spent 8 years up north east before making its way to TX, I avoid them where possible. Mine looked pristine, with similar "surface" rust on some bolts. But try to take something apart, fuggitaboutit. You only hoped it broke in such a way that it fell off and you didn't have to drill/tap. After doing all of the suspension, armor, etc it was fine, but I had touched almost every bolt at that point. It was a royal PITA and after I sold it I told myself I would not do that again.
If you are from areas where all the vehicles around are like that and you are used to it, maybe it is fine. But in TX, I wasn't used to it at all and it royally sucked. You are fortunate to live in the western US where vehicles are usually pretty clean. I would keep looking.
However, after owning a vehicle that spent 8 years up north east before making its way to TX, I avoid them where possible. Mine looked pristine, with similar "surface" rust on some bolts. But try to take something apart, fuggitaboutit. You only hoped it broke in such a way that it fell off and you didn't have to drill/tap. After doing all of the suspension, armor, etc it was fine, but I had touched almost every bolt at that point. It was a royal PITA and after I sold it I told myself I would not do that again.
If you are from areas where all the vehicles around are like that and you are used to it, maybe it is fine. But in TX, I wasn't used to it at all and it royally sucked. You are fortunate to live in the western US where vehicles are usually pretty clean. I would keep looking.