PFRAN's UZJ100 (2002 Land Cruiser 100 Series)

[pfran42]

Hello all,

Been watching the action over here for quite some time and thought I'd officially introduce myself.

I have been working on building up my 100 mainly for overland/expedition travel for the last 6 months and as I near the completion date, I find myself on this forum more often to get insight on trip planning, provisioning, and the like. Looks like you guys have a strong community and I look forward to participating!

It all started with a white 99 w/ 130k miles that I purchased in 2009. After one month in that vehicle, I knew the the 100 series was going to be a keeper so I started looking for a low mileage model in my favorite color (Riverock Green Mica - 1C3):

After searching around for a while I finally found what I was looking for. A 2002 UZJ100 with 82K on the clock. It had been owned by a doctor and had been garaged full-time both at home and work. Here is my 02 Land cruiser as she sat the day I got her (please excuse the terrible quality of the photos):

Note: I removed the gold pin striping on the drive home!

It has been a fun 6 months learning the ins and outs of automotive maintenance. Previous to this vehicle, I had never taken a wrench to an automobile. Now I can replace an axle on-trail!

And here is the latest incarnation of the build:

I have done a fairly good job at documenting progress along the way so if anyone is interested, I could show the build at different stages while describing anything notable during the modifications.

I have met a handful of you in person and look forward to seeing many more of you in the future!

Mods to date include:

• Remove running boards
• Remove gold pin striping
• De-bling (remove gold emblems and replace with chrome. Plasti-Dip emblems in black)
• Remove vibration dampener
• Remove bug/sunroof wind deflector
• 03-07 Land cruiser 18" wheels (painted in Duplicolor Mazda graphite)
• 295/70/18 Nitto Trail Grapplers
• 1.25" front wheel spacers (Just Differentials)
• McMaster-Carr SS smooth band w/ rolled edge CV boot clamps
• TJM T-15 (steel) front bumper (sourced from ih8mud member in OZ)
• White Knuckle Offroad DOM sliders w/ kickout
• Slee single swing-out rear bumper
• Hi-Lift Extreme 60" trail jack
• Titan TW12 12,000 lb 6.6 hp winch w/ wireless - 3/8" Dyneema (Amsteel Blue) synthetic line
• Viking safety thimble/rock guard
• Slee fairlead aluminum hauze for synthetic line
• 4.88 Nitro gears (Just Differentials)
• ARB front and rear air lockers
• ARB high capacity on-board air compressor
• OME (Old Man Emu) 303001 torsion bars
• OME 863 rear springs 3" lift @ 300-500 lbs.
• Slee differential drop
• Carl's UCAs (Just differentials)
• King 2.5 shocks w/ remote reservoirs
• Fog light switch mod
• Slee dual battery tray
• SpressoFAB 80/100 series frame recovery brackets
• Yakima rail grabs w/ 50' cross bars and boatloader
• Lightforce Blitz 240 modded to 100W HID w/ blue combo filters
• 55W 5000K DDM HID low beams
• Philips HIR 9011 high beams
• 5W Q5 CREE high power LED reverse bulbs in OEM sockets
• Full LED interior (11 OEM locations)
• 500W power inverter
• Catch-All Xtreme front floor mats
• Catch-All middle row floor mat
• WeatherTech Digital Fit cargo liner
• Window tint
• Mobile 1 synthetics all around
• Mobil 1 M1-209 oil filter (60% greater capacity that OEM)
• TJM AirTec snorkel
• Timbren front and rear bump stops
• DT stainless steel headers
• Front Runner Slimline 2.2m roof rack
• 50" LED light bar
• 2" LED work/backup light (mounted on Slee rear bumper)

 

[pfran42]

Planned Mods:

• 16 mm body lift
• extended panhard rod
• aftermarket rear lower control arms
• sway bar extenders
• extend diff breathers
• skid plates
• sound system
• drawers
• fridge
• dual batteries

 

[phsycle]

Awesome build.

 

[LexusAllTerrain]

Great job.

 

[3rd Cruiser]

Great looking truck and an extensive list of mods. What shocks are you running?

 

[Pskhaat]

Good stuff.

 

[jluck]

keep the pic's coming! there's never too many in a build thread.

 

[spressomon]

Nice Paul! But we need to do a trip together so our 100's can swap stories :coffeedrink:

 

[pfran42]

Great looking truck and an extensive list of mods. What shocks are you running?

As of today, I am running some fairly new Monroe Reflex shocks that the PO had installed right before selling it. I have heard that OME shocks are made in the same factory so I didn't bother replacing them right away. I do however have these being built as we speak and should have them at my door in about 2 weeks:

Nice Paul! But we need to do a trip together so our 100's can swap stories :coffeedrink:

Thanks Dan! Steve (YetiInGA) and I are planning a 1-2 week trip out West in the spring/summer. I'd like to meet up with you at some point during that trip.

As for the Cruiser, The only thing I have done lately is install a 20 inch LED light bar. Here are the latest pics from my last outing with 2000UZJ and YetiInGA:

 

[cruiseroutfit]

Great looking 100

 

[AKcruiserfreak]

Very nice! I also really like that color! Your mods look great!

TK

 

[4Rescue]

That is one SWEET looking 100-series. That's exactly how I'd build a 100 if I owned one, maybe some skinnier tires, but it looks TOUGH the way it sits now. THe Stance is great and I really like the flat color wheels (or are they just muddy ???)

Cheers

DAve

 

[pfran42]

That is one SWEET looking 100-series. That's exactly how I'd build a 100 if I owned one, maybe some skinnier tires, but it looks TOUGH the way it sits now. THe Stance is great and I really like the flat color wheels (or are they just muddy ???)

Cheers

DAve

Thanks!

For the wheels, I purchased a set of OEM 03-07 LC wheels while I still was running my '02s, so I would have time to paint them over the course of a week. Here is what they looked like when I got them:




All it took was a couple thick coats of aircraft paint thinner and the original paint bubbled up and came right off.





Wheel completely stripped



Next came a few coats of Duplicolor primer and finally about three coats of Duplicolor Graphite (it was a Mazda color).



I really wasn't trying to match the body. I just wanted graphite colored wheels. Surprisingly, it ended up matching the paint a bit. Also, re: the flat color, I knew I was not going to baby the truck and that the wheels would get their fair share of nicks and scrapes so I decided a flat color with no clear coat would be the best option as it is extremely easy to touch the wheels up when they get dinged up.

While I was painting the wheels, I ordered a set of 295/70/18 Nitto Trail Grapplers. These are officially a 34.6" tire but they measured just a hair shy of 35". My wife said I was acting like a 10 year old on Christmas when they arrived at the house (it was my first time ordering tires of any sort, not to mention ones that would look at home on a military vehicle).



They looked huge standing next to the 285/75/16s they were about to replace



And here is one mounted. I was in love.



Lastly, here is a before/after comparison of the BFG A/Ts vs. the Nitto Trail Grapplers

BEFORE



AFTER

 

[Sempertoy]

That is a beautiful hundy!! I am digging the colors on it.

-Jon

 

[yeti_in_ga]

Looking good ! We need to set a date for that trip out west.... I am switching to a mud tire after our last outing..