Mr. Leary's 80 Series

[Mr. Leary]

Looking to get another 80. I would like to get a 96 or 97 for the onboard diagnostics. Lockers are not really that important.

I understand that I will be evetually getting a long block for it, but would like to get a few years out of it first.

We have been missing our 80 since we sold it, and would like to have another.

We are also planning on starting our brood here in the next few years, and need a Mommy mobile that can also carry us away from the grind on weekends.

My question is... how many miles is high enough to rule out a possible purchase?

I like on board diagnostics. Would a non OBDII 80 series be impossible / expensive to outfit with a diagnostic system?

EDIT: Stock pic:



As she sits now (still stock):

[Grease Cruiser]

I have a 1993 with 348,XXX miles and it runs/drives great. I would not hesitate for a moment to drive it cross country.

I picked it up cheap for a diesel conversion. It was so cheap because no one wanted it as it had such high mileage. It even has lockers.

[Schattenjager]

I've heard that Toyota recommends the timing chain be serviced every 300K miles. Not shabby.

[Bill Beers]

Looking to get another 80. I would like to get a 96 or 97 for the onboard diagnostics...I like on board diagnostics...

You can extend your search to 1995 models as well. Apparently that was the phase in year for OBD II on the FZJ. I don't know if all '95s had it, but mine does: I use the little port in the indside fuse panel.

-Bill

[Nay]

You can extend your search to 1995 models as well. Apparently that was the phase in year for OBD II on the FZJ. I don't know if all '95s had it, but mine does: I use the little port in the indside fuse panel.

-Bill

Not all 1995's, but mine is a Feb '95 manufacture date and it has OBD II, so at least half the model year had OBDII.

My view on mileage is more related to cost. If could find a well maintained (baselined) 80 with 200K-250K for $3K-$4K I think that is a great deal, because you really don't have much to lose.

When people still want $8K-$9K and you are probably over time another $3K+ in baseline maintenance, then there is no way.

That's the thing about 80's at this point - really low mileage pristine stockers sell for as much or more than fully baselined nicely modified ones. An average exterior/interior condition high mileage 80 can be a great deal or a terrible one because at some point maintenance requirements exceed the value of the vehicle unless you can do everything yourself.

Just updating the leather for the front seats can run you a grand, all the rubber suspension bushings at $45 each, the head gasket if not done has a $2K probability attached to it, front and rear axle service done in a shop is over a grand total, you'll probably need a new stereo unless you don't listen to music, the window motors are probably close to toast...

If the PO has done all of these things, you'll get them largely for free. I bought mine 5 years ago with 105K miles and headgasket plus fr/rr axle service all done at Slee at 90K along with a ton of other basic baselining. I knew I had 4 years before I had to touch anything but fluid changes, which has worked out perfectly. I paid a bit high at the time, but it was a fantastic value.

There are gems out there - I wouldn't pass one up purely on drivetrain mileage.

[GarnerFJ40]

Don't forget the pesky heater hose to changeout so you don't lose coolant.

Got mine with lockers and 128K for $5500....

Do the temperature module modification, so you can keep a better eye on the actual temperature of your engine, rather than a too-late moment.

[CA-RJ]

That's the thing. You can buy one with 250k miles but a lot more than just the drivetrain is going to be worn out (or close to it). Look at Streakerfreak. The one he just bought for $5500 seems to need a lot of work done to it. If you are fine with paying $5000 and dumping another $10,000 to revive it then go for it! You'll have a $15,000 Land Cruiser which is still less than buying a new anything.

[pskhaat]

I've posted this before but years ago I had the opportunity of flying with (I'm forgetting his name now) one of the principal Toyota automotive engineers flying out of LAX with whom I shared my LC fascinations.

It is important to remember that the LC platform had a design purpose of 30 off highway service years with 50k+ km/year and something about 3 rebuilds to the engine (don't know if the recent 4.7 & 5.7 applies there?).

Yes, a proper rebuild is not cheap, but inexpensive for an additional 300k miles. Failing that R&R of injectors and O2 sensors alone can revive engines for many thousands of miles. Even on a high-mileage 80, you're still on the lower half of intended lifetime.

[Momrocks]

Good question. A guy I know was asked by friends the same thing after he showed them the 96 w/245K that he just bought. He said "I don't know, nobody has really worn one out yet."

Maintenance is of course the key but you will probably get bored or tired of a well maintained 80 before it wears out on you.

[ashooter]

I don't know that much about FZJ80's (other than headgasket problems), but with FJ80's about the only things likely to take a dump are things that you should assume are going to need to be fixed, serviced, or replaced anyway. Examples of what I'm talking about are: AC compressor, starter, radiator, alternator, birfs, bearings, brakes, u-joints, etc.

I haven't heard of a lot of Land Cruiser engines having catastrophic problems. Not sure about transmissions, but even if that needs a rebuild, it's not the end of the world.