Always want a LC but…

Hello there,

I just bought an AC 2002 SR5 with 205,000 miles. The engine bay has some sweating on the lines but nothing is “leaking”. It starts right up. Runs pretty smooth. I do feel like the suspension is in need of love. I will start by ordering upper/lower front ball joints. After that, I have to find a new bumper!

the frame was replaced 2012 and there’s no rust. The exhaust has some rust but seems fine. It was a painter’s truck and it’s beat up but I like it.

I just came back from living in Japan for twenty years. I have wanted a LC since HS but they have always been out of my budget. I did have a Jimny Sierra in Japan and it was a fun little LC40 series wannabe. I sold that before I came back.

when I found out the Tundra was running the same engine and similar frame for a fraction of the cost of LC100, I started looking and this is what I found.

 

Truck looks pretty good minus that front bumper. Make sure those ball joints you order are OEM from a reputable source, not Amazon.
You may be OK with just doing lower joints but always good to check.

Dealer parts sales are going on right now too.
https://autoparts.worldtoyota.com/

If you need help finding ball joint part numbers (and bolts) check this thread LINK. It is a bit of a mess, we can dig up some numbers as well.

Make sure you have record of a timing belt change or be planning to get it changed soon.

Welcome to the Forum!

 

Thanks!

According to the seller, the "chain" was replaced 30k ago. He told me this variation of the engine (2000-2002) runs a chain instead of a belt internally. Does that seem right? idk enough about the engine to know that. The belt externally looks good with no wear showing yet.

 

No this engine has a timing belt. It is a "light" interference engine so if it breaks it is possible for major engine damage to occur so you always want to make sure it's in good shape and that the info provided isn't someone lying to you whether it be intentional or not.

You can pull back the timing belt cover on driver or passenger side and inspect the belt but that isn't always a definitive way to determine belt health.

We have had at least one member be told the belt had been replaced by the PO only to pull the belt and see it cracked and almost broken.

 

Beware of the first gen crowd around here. Pretty sure that’s @bmf4069

 

Welcome aboard! Nice find. The front lower shock bushings are collapsed also. Probably one of the contributors to the feeling that things aren’t right up front.

 

Knabores
I’ll get those put in when I do the ball joints. Thanks for the heads up!

 

On another note, if you go with a factory bumper again, good luck finding that lower plastic piece for a good price after shipping cost, the upper and lower ones on my truck look terrible but I haven't had much luck finding a set where the shipping doesn't make the price crazy.

You can get the bumper itself pretty reasonable though. LINK Maybe @KNABORES can give you a link from his post about bumper replacement, though a Google search will probably give quite a few decent results.

 

Welcome from NY.

 

I purchased a full bumper replacement kit with brackets, crash bar and new fog lights from Carparts.com for around $430 or so.

out of stock currently
https://www.carparts.com/details/Toyota/Tundra/Replacement/Bumper/2000/KIT-110217-06.html

 

Nick, yeah if I can’t find a junkyard bumper, I may go aftermarket. Unfortunately, I don’t weld (maybe I could learn) and all the prefab bumpers are $$$$. I might just get some tubes and a front skid welded up but I can’t find anyone in west TN that does that.

 

Welcome from LA (Lower Alabama)!

 

Thanks for the love y'all.

I have decided that I should probably go ahead and get new front shocks too. The ones I have now are rancho, which seem to have a bad rep and theshock bushings are trash.

Now, I hope y'all don't say I need control arms also bc it will take most of my paycheck to do what I want now.

 

Read this - https://www.tundras.com/threads/so-you-wanna-buy-just-bought-a-1st-gen-tundra-eh.115928/

OEM only LBJs. Prolly don’t need uppers. Replace the timing belt using the AISIN kit from Rock Auto.

post some engine bay pics and we can see what you mean by sweating.