GCRad1's 1992 ADV-FJ80 LAND CRUISER

[GCRad1]

1992 FJ80 Toyota Land Cruiser - Purchased July 18, 2008

Hello fellow FJ owners! I finally got my own! I've been an FJ fan from long ago and just never thought that I personally would have the opportunity to own an 80-Series. Thought I would have wound up with a 60 or 70 Series. Love those 50/55's TOO!

But before this FJ80 came a few off-road adventures with a '85 Toyota built full desert pre-runner style with widened A-arms, fiberglass, caged, 4:88 gearing, LockRight locker and DAILY DRIVEN.

Then came the 2WFD rally car with welded/locked front end - AWESOME!

Then I built up from salvage a 2002 Subaru WRX Fam'Wagon and that became the family outing car and we took it to the mountains quite a bit! Then the KTM 950ADV and then the real adventure's began! But, I have family and such and my selfish adventures needed to included the family. The wifes vehicle switched from the Subaru WRX wagon to a nice Jeep 2WD Commander and I learned long ago to not mess with the wifes car from long ago, so no messing with this new Commander!

Just out of the blue, it was time to get tires for the wifes car and while at the shop I noticed this FJ80 sitting behind the shop and a FOR SALE sign in the window so I inquired about it. The price - RIDICULIOUS!!! Something must be wrong with it! Well, yea, it has minor issues like front axle leak + no lockers. But, I will get over that as according to the bank, I have plenty of additional spending room before I go over the bank value!!! SWEET! This is going to be a worthwhile ADVENTURE!!! And an adventure it will be as we love to get out and the wife, two kids and dog all do not fit on the KTM 950ADV.



So, I get the RIG and first things - get to get it off the tarmac!

Living in Southern California's OC is a bit dirt deprived but we do have this little spot: Trabuco Creek Rd is the quick escape road that goes up to the Holly Jim Hiking Trail. Nothing major at all, but when you got to touch dirt, you have to touch dirt! And our beloved Saddleback is closed!!!

On the first to repair list, this is a big-ticket item to tackle:

[89s rule]

Looks like a good base. Do the front axle yourself, save a ton and learn more about your cruiser.

[Elijah]

Also looks like the coil spring is not fully rotated to the stopper. Congrats on the purchase. I 'heart' my 80.

[GA Trevor]

Congrats and Welcome.

[GCRad1]

Truck is a week old in my possession and it's time to hit the dirt!


ADV-FJ80 First Quicky Adventure July 26th, 2008

Sorry, no tech stuff yet, but it's coming! But in the mean time, you can check out the little ride report - just hit the link above "ADV-FJ80 First Quicky Adventure"

[ThePookieBear]

Congrats from another owner of a '92. (By choice!!) Some don't appreciate these, but they are great. I love mine. And believe me, that front axle leak is not as bad as some. And for sure do the work yourself. You will be more mindful of maintenance when you do it yourself. Anyway, congrats again and welcome to the Mud addiction.

[GCRad1]

Have some service that is going to need be performed so doing my local shop research in / around Orange County:

Costa Mesa - South Coast Toyota

Long Beach - Cabe Toyota with TLCA "good guy" price.

San Juan Capistrano Toyota of San Juan Capistrano

Laguna Hills - Laguna Viejo Auto Service

Corona - Yota Masters

Gardena - Jim Dickey Land Cruiser Specialist

[cruiserruf]

Welcome! where abouts in the OC are you?

[GCRad1]

Costa Mesa. You in San Juan Cap?

Originally Posted by cruiserruf

Welcome! where abouts in the OC are you?

[GCRad1]

UPDATE: Water Leak

My ADV80 getting it's first service and coming at a time when time is not possible - the day we are leaving on the FAMILY TRIP!


The adventure-machine decided to pee on the ground just as we where about to leave the ADV80 behind as we where about to leave out of town on our family get-a-way. Yes, the day of departure, I discovered water on the ground! Guess the ADV80 was feeling left out, but it has not been gone through yet and did not trust making a big trip with it and lucky as this does not look good!

Worst of all, this is just rusty looking water, not coolant! So it looks like we will be tackling coolant issues before oil leak issues and front axle wiper issues.


This view is shot from the ground looking up at the motor. Water seems to be coming from the water pump just above the crank.

So it's time to get on the horn and start calling and did not want to go to the local Toyota Dealer. So I narrow the list down to Laguna Viejo Auto Serivce as these guys are sorta' close to my work and they are willing to take the ADV80 in and should be able to button it up while we are gone on the trip!


The wife following behind in the Commander - it's loaded and ready to go, but a quick side trip to drop off the ADV80. The Commander is 2WD and better gas milage and A/C is working and you know how important that is for the wife and kids! Yea yea yea, more task items to add to the ADV80 TO-DO list!


Called Harry to make sure I could drop it off and made way down to their location.
Harry - Head dude with all the 80-Series Friends
Mark - head FJ80 mechanic
Laguna Viejo Auto Service
27140 Cabot Road, Suite A
Laguna Hills, CA 92653
949.582.7262 - tell'em Rodney sent ya!!!


Milage as of Aug 14th [Thursday] as dropped off with Harry & Mark at Laguna Viejo Auto Service. I've only managed to put about a thousand miles on it since purchased July 18th.

OK, I'm back on Monday and itching to see how bad this is going to be.

Mark getting into the nitty-gritty of what should be a simple issue but looking to be a can of worms right out the gate!

1] There is a rigged device in place of the bracket for the alternator to stay in place with tension on the belt. new bracket needs to be purchased and replace rigged-device.
2] chiseled bolt on the adjustment pulley from what seems due to either not having metric socket/wrench and or not enough leverage to break the bolt loose previously. That issue needs to be sorted as well as pulley bearing replaced!
3] idler pulley bearing is shot and needs replacing.
4] Then we can start talking water cooling issues and will learn more on that soon!

SO - the list of TLC-DO's is now starting to come to life!
Cooling issues to be sorted and some 14+hoses need replacing.
A/C not cooling
front main seal leaking oil.
Front Axle wipers leaking.

I know a few of you say I should be tackling these issues myself and yes I should... BUT, I have a two-car garage in a town-home!!! Wife's car goes in the garage and all my toys are on the other side making it currently IMPOSSIBLE for any work in the garage and the TH-association will not allow me to be working on the car outside the garage. Time to start sorting the toy collection:

[GCRad1]

Stopped by Laguna Viejo Auto Service after work yesterday to look into what is really going on as Mark had dug further into the cooling issues.

Where is all starts - the radiator and the old saying "what goes it, comes out" or "bad stuff in, bad stuff out" comes to mind...

It's RUSTY looking down in there! Basically the radiator is CLOGGED! So the radiator will be replaced and system will get flushed, flushed and more flushing!


You can see rust everywhere. Basically, when I purchased the truck, it only had water in the system - no coolant! Not even Distilled Water, just plain ol'tap water.


This is the area where the water pump is attached. You can see the rust in the block and you can just imagine it's throughout the block. Cast Iron block and water is not the best of friends. So we will do several flushes over the next few months and include agents to help remove rust from the block.


The tensioner will be replaced as it's spun a few laps too many!


This pulley, the previous owner must own a chisel and hammer instead of vice-grips.



Backside of the water pump. The water was escaping from the backside as the gasket gave way and begain the dribble session. Will be replacing this whole unit and will see if this unit is reservicable.


This pulley did not have the seating cover so the washer was off-center and wiping the bearing and not centered. So a new bearing cover will get installed.


Engine bay needs some house cleaning! Lots of PM's to be done here!!!

So, hopefully the next images will be good news and wheelin again stuff!!! I hope to have the ADV80 back in the dirt by the weekend!!!

[hfd crusher]

Do a search on the PHH, it will likely need to be replaced as well.

[Grench]

Originally Posted by hfd crusher

Do a search on the PHH, it will likely need to be replaced as well.

Its a '92...

[hfd crusher]

My bad, sorry.

[cruiserruf]

Originally Posted by GCRad1

Costa Mesa. You in San Juan Cap?

Yessir....


that's some heavy duty rust you have on. how much is this costing you? if you don't mind me asking.

Laguna viejo is pretty good. harry helps me out every time I take my cruiser or my van but i mostly let him take care of the big stuff.

[landtank]

what in the world is an ADV80?

[little_joe]

Originally Posted by landtank

what in the world is an ADV80?

Evidently it is an FJ80 that has never had any service done on it and repairs made by or with commonly available household items. Attention Deficit Vehicle? Acutely Disregarded Vehicle?

Good luck with that one! Looks like the PO/POs didn't do anything to it except drive, makes me wonder what other surprises you're in for - maybe some Canola Oil in the diffs?

[GCRad1]

Nothing to hide - I paid FULL RETAIL!!! Not proud of it, but it is what it is... I'm $2,554 into it so far with Laguna Viejo Auto Service. And going the truck is back for three more hoses of the 14-total hoses that I will have to replace. I've replace about 8 or 9 so far. Keep ready, story has a twist against my weekend plans...

Originally Posted by cruiserruf

Yessir....


that's some heavy duty rust you have on. how much is this costing you? if you don't mind me asking.

Laguna viejo is pretty good. harry helps me out every time I take my cruiser or my van but i mostly let him take care of the big stuff.

[GCRad1]

ADV80 = ADVENTURE EIGHTY
It's off to a wild adventure so far with the cooling system!!!

But it's the nickname for my truck like the KTM950ADV that I ride, I wanted to have a little flavor for my simple FJ80... adventure its going to be, after the adventure woe's I'm in now with the PM's.

Originally Posted by landtank

what in the world is an ADV80?

[GCRad1]

I WILL NEED L.U.C.K.

Learning Under Correct Knowledge

Yes, while the vehicle itself body-wise and interior are in overall good condition, but its is going to need a lot of service. But for the price I paid for it, I got what I got and once I go through the whole truck, it will be up to par.

Originally Posted by little_joe

Evidently it is an FJ80 that has never had any service done on it and repairs made by or with commonly available household items. Attention Deficit Vehicle? Acutely Disregarded Vehicle?

Good luck with that one! Looks like the PO/POs didn't do anything to it except drive, makes me wonder what other surprises you're in for - maybe some Canola Oil in the diffs?

[GCRad1]

So it's been a week and itching to get the ADV80 back so the kids and I can go wheelin on Saturday - YEA, A WEEKEND OFF!!!

Laguna Viejo Auto Service gave the call on Friday and said come get it!!! $2,550+ dollars for a bunch of hoses, water pump, pulleys, brackets and a new radiator and I am ready and out the door!!! The decision was made to just change, I think 8-9 of the 14-total coolant system hoses that will need be changed. I went in thinking is was going to be like $600.00 so the budget got ambushed!

Pop in the rig and drove home - nineteen miles one way from the shop to my house.

Popped open the hood to show the wife the spiffy new radiator and hoses and such.


new water pump and belts.


New hoses.


Got some new pulleys, some new belts.


Telling the wife we have some more hoses to change and that the shop showed me why the A/C might not be cooling.


Tell tell sign of why the A/C is not working - See how the dirt is caking up on the condenser... All that is going to be another very expensive expense...

As we are talking, we here a HHHHHIIIIIIISSSSSSSSS...

and a drip drip drip drip drip drip drip drip drip...

and some steam..


The next culprits to ooze the anti-freeze and make that funky smell that is no good to smell...
burning radiator fluid dripping onto the header tubes below.

Seems the little rubber tube that goes into the firewall just decided it was jealous of all the new hoses moving in and he wants to move out. Best way I know to get kicked off the team!

These old dawgs are FIRED!!! I'n my best Donald Trump impression. Now if I could just impersonate his Black AMEX!!!

YEA, I'm WAY UPSET!!! Just trying to maintain "cool" hahahha as I knew I would be getting into some mess!

[91Cruizer]

Well I got my 91 with new hoses and radiator but blew a head gasket, so it could be worse.... That hose is just 5/8 heater hose. Just get a piece and 2 clamps and for less than $5 it's fixed. Mine was leaking too.

[Sc0-]

Remember American Toyota and MUD discount..... and make room in the garage for PM and maintenance as you will more than likely go broke if you keep taking it to the shop for repairs.... Might be easier to drive to a remote location or parking lot to do the work, maybe a fella mudder's palace?

Welcome aboard.

[jvazquez53]

Mostly is vehicle maintenance neglection. All that 80 needs is TLC.