My FJ80 - the one I kept

[onewhippedpuppy]

My wife commented today that of all the cars I've owned in the last few years, this one is the one I kept. Considering my preference towards sporty, fast cars, it is a bit odd. I guess it's the ability to go anywhere and haul nearly anything with the confidence that it will get me home. I initially bought this thing because I needed to be able to haul 4x8 sheets and have a back seat, but didn't have the budget for a crew cab pickup. Today it would take something pretty nice for me to give it up. Anyway, I've never posted any pictures of it, so I snapped a few.

Basics: 1991 FJ80 Land Cruiser, 195k, stock except for smog equipment removal and 15" steel wheels with 33" BFG AT tires.

[kaisen]

Looks like it's in great sjape Matt!
No locking diffs, eh?

[nostatic]

what's all that white crap on the ground. Milk truck crash?

[onewhippedpuppy]

E, no diff locks, they weren't available until '93. Thus far I haven't done anything hardcore enough to need them.

Todd, that's 250,000 lbs of powered sugar. The kids wanted a white Christmas. Plus I can dip my donuts in the front yard.

[nostatic]

Originally Posted by onewhippedpuppy

Todd, that's 250,000 lbs of powered sugar. The kids wanted a white Christmas. Plus I can dip my donuts in the front yard.

Sweet!

[kaisen]

Ahhh... I know just enough about them to be stupid.

A good friend of mine lives, eats, and breathes them. He lives in Idaho and takes them places mountain goats dare to go. Even writes articles on them for magazines and webzines. Anyway, every time I think of buying one, I ask him, and he tells me to pass... of course I'm always thinking of the cheap ones.

But a cheap '93 with the locking diffs is available here for $1000 which he tells me is worth it just for the parts to retrofit.

They are truly unique rigs and are as well-built as any other production vehicle including any Mercedes I've ever owned. I'll own one someday, I'm sure.

Anyway, thanks for posting the photos! Good luck

[craigster59]

Originally Posted by nostatic

Sweet!

Nominated for cheapest post on PPOT

[herr_oberst]

Nice truck. Built when Toyota had the el ñumero uño customer satisfaction rating.

[onewhippedpuppy]

E, you can sell the locking axles for more than $1k. That's a no brainer if you don't mind the effort of parting.

I paid a whopping $3800 for mine. Except for the mileage it is mint. Well maintained, records since new. I'm an anal SOB so I'm slowly going through everything that could go bad and replacing. Thus far I've replaced all fluids with synthetics, rebuilt the power steering pump that was leaky, replaced the belts, replaced all the coolant hoses, replaced the water pump that had a slight leak, adjusted the valves, and a bunch of other misc things. It's incredibly well built and easy to wrench on.

[EarlyPorsche]

I love the FJ's, Gwagens, Defenders, and CJ's more than most other vehicles. I am been seriously considering buying an FJ for simple trail riding but I would want it to come with lockers. Anything in particular I am looking for when looking for an FJ with lockers?

[onewhippedpuppy]

Originally Posted by EarlyPorsche

I love the FJ's, Gwagens, Defenders, and CJ's more than most other vehicles. I am been seriously considering buying an FJ for simple trail riding but I would want it to come with lockers. Anything in particular I am looking for when looking for an FJ with lockers?

Behold the best FAQ I've encountered on technical forum: FAQ for 80/LX450 - October 2009 - Added OBD I Code link - IH8MUD.com

Short of Pelican, Mud is the best technical forum I've been on. Lockers are on the '93+ FZJ80, which also has the 1FZFE motor featuring an extra 40 HP over my lowly 3FE. Other than the usual maintenance stuff, the only real weak point of the 1FZ is the head gasket. It's not a major issue, but they do occasionally go. Also look for the birfield axle rebuild (front axle). Axle rebuild is supposed to be an every 30k item, parts are only $300-ish to DIY but over $1000 at a shop, therefore lots of folks don't do it.

[kaisen]

IH8MUD is where my buddy 'lives'. He knows them inside out and is constantly wrenching on them, building engines, rebuilding axles, doing swaps, etc. It's a great site and they help each other out.

Ironically, here is a twin to your rig here on local CL, just listed tonight for $1500:
Landcruiser 1991

....must...resist...

[JavaBrewer]

Nice Landcruiser - love the wheel/tire combo. We would have gone that route if only the interior wasn't so 'truck' like.

We just got back from a 5 day trip to SLC. Lots of snow and wind...outstanding! This shot was the beginning of the storm - had 6" of white and closed mtn roads the next morning.

[onewhippedpuppy]

You can't go wrong for $1500. These things are awesome in the snow.

David, you know well how tempting the Disco was for me. For her car, my wife nixed the idea because it wasn't big enough. For me, the truck-like Land Cruiser was a better fit for my beater.

[JavaBrewer]

Originally Posted by onewhippedpuppy

David, you know well how tempting the Disco was for me. For her car, my wife nixed the idea because it wasn't big enough. For me, the truck-like Land Cruiser was a better fit for my beater.

Roger that. I'm glad to have helped swayed your pick away from a LR. The Landcrusier is a great vehicle - way less maintainence than the LR. We are grounded with 2 kids so the Disco is plenty big for our needs. The 7 seat option works in a pinch as long as there is no need for baggage other than what fits in your lap. That said the Disco was nothing short of miraculous in how it handled the extreme conditions loaded with 4 adults and 4 'loud' kids without a hiccup.

[onewhippedpuppy]

Regardless of the conditions, I would feel perfectly safe in either of those vehicles. We drove the Land Cruiser over Christmas through blizzard conditions to visit family, never a worry.

[m21sniper]

Originally Posted by onewhippedpuppy

Behold the best FAQ I've encountered on technical forum: FAQ for 80/LX450 - October 2009 - Added OBD I Code link - IH8MUD.com

Short of Pelican, Mud is the best technical forum I've been on. Lockers are on the '93+ FZJ80, which also has the 1FZFE motor featuring an extra 40 HP over my lowly 3FE. Other than the usual maintenance stuff, the only real weak point of the 1FZ is the head gasket. It's not a major issue, but they do occasionally go. Also look for the birfield axle rebuild (front axle). Axle rebuild is supposed to be an every 30k item, parts are only $300-ish to DIY but over $1000 at a shop, therefore lots of folks don't do it.

So a typical owner could expect to have to replace that $1000 axle 4 times in the span of the vehicle, for $4000 just on scheduled axle repairs...and this is what is considered a "great" truck?

Hmmmm.

[speeder]

Landcruisers are w/o question the toughest, most durable and dependable vehicles on earth plus they are great in snow/mud/off-road. My brother is a relief worker in the 3rd world and the rig of choice is always a diesel LC w/ a huge fuel tank and lots of extra fuel cans. They take day trips for hundreds of miles/kilometers in places where there are no service facilities or even fuel stations and breaking down or getting stuck is not an option. Think Africa or South Asia, he currently lives and operates from Pakistan.

When did the V-8 LC come out? They all get horrendous fuel mileage so it seems like that would be the one to get.

[LWJ]

Hey Puppy,
I owned the twin sister to your rig. It was a single color tan. Fantastic design on these. Really a delight to work on. I had the feeling that Toyota made them to be worked on by some guy back in the bush with a pair of vice grips and a screwdriver. Also, great support on Ih8mud. I have read many posts by Kaiser's friend in Idaho, he really does drink the Toyota Kool Aid.

Sadly, my rig was a real POS when I bought it. I bought it cheap. Sold it for a bit more. Loved it the whole time. Replaced it with a Suburban that gets similar if not better mileage, does the same things for me with more room. Not nearly as classy of a rig as the Cruiser, but a bare bones 3/4 ton Burb is a pretty great rig as well. (just my opinion)
Larry

[m21sniper]

Originally Posted by speeder

Landcruisers are w/o question the toughest, most durable and dependable vehicles on earth plus they are great in snow/mud/off-road.

Ever rode in an M-113?