Time to share, with pics

[rsmith19]

I am the original owner and have been on the site for a while. Time to share.

As reported by the dealer’s window decal: 1994 LC series 80 with 1FZ-FE engine 4.5L 6-cyl DOHC EFI Engine with 24V 4-spd Electrical controlled Auto Transmission, full time four wheel drive, towing package with transmission cooler, power tilt/slide glass moon roof, third row seats. The truck was loaded except for the factory lockers and included a Toyota security system and running boards; even had a Toyota phone. Out the door price in 1994 was $42,496.00.

I waited to buy a series 80 LC. The 93 seemed underpowered and when the new engine came out in 94 I rushed to pick one up. So did everyone one else, every body wanted the 94 truck. They only made about 10,000 in 94 and only a few were available in the San Diego area. They were selling at a premium to the factory recommend price. The roof rack was a dealer add-on and I was just not sure about the holes in the roof…so I never put one on…glad now.

The California series generally came with everything but lockers. You could special order the vehicle with the lockers but it would take almost a year to get the truck delivered. I found two LCs at two different dealers in San Diego and walked into each with cash in hand. Out the door the same day paying extra for replacement leather seats over the standard cloth. Color is dark green with grey leather interior.

After a few months driving the truck I knew it was a keeper for life. The truck has been a part of the family ever since. Everyone in the family has driven it at some time including my daughters (one needed to drive a truck just to intimidate everyone else to stay out of her way). We provided regular maintenance and never had a problem with it. It has 160,000 original miles.

Over the years we have used the truck off-road to camp and fish and just for off-road fun. I found that it is a little big for some of the off-road mountain action here in SoCal (Indian Reservations have some nifty trails) but the truck has never let me down, even without the factory lockers. A few times I have towed others out…even pulled one guy in a Ford Bronco out of the Colorado River rough, up an incline, with his trailered boat attached….pretty amazing. Since the LC came with the runners I soon found out that they seemed to take the brunt of off-road rock damage and after 10 years it began to look tired.

Last summer I found this outstanding site and elected to restore the truck. I started with the mechanical checks. The local Toyota guys told me the truck was in great mechanical shape but recommended a new water pump, radiator, and belts and hoses throughout. After the 150,000 mile service, air cleaner, tune up and brakes, the old cruiser came back to life again.

I read through this site many times and found the experience of others very helpful. So I came up with additional improvements to the truck. I visited a good body/paint shop. This work included some body work for dents (mostly at the corners), striped everything down and removed all trim and then primed and painted the truck (kept the original green color and used factory paint). I added several coats of clear to deal with the potential brush scratches. I also replaced the front wind screen and replaced the seals around all the windows and doors. I added new rain gutters, and rebuilt the moon roof and replaced the electric side mirrors. The interior needed only a few things besides several cleanings. I did replace a few of the interior leather seat panels, but for the most part the interior is in good shape.

While working on the inside I added a new sound system including a Nav system. I picked the Pioneer AVIC-Z2 with Sirius and Bluetooth and replaced the old speakers with new JBL speakers throughout and a 12” JBL sub-woofer located in the same location as the factory woofer. The two rear ceiling speakers are disconnected…some day I’ll figure out what to do with them.

I also added:

• ARB bull bar in the front with a Warn 12000 winch. Put some PIAA road lights on the bar
• Upgraded the factory driving light wiring harness using the Slee kits
• OME 850 front and 860 rear replacement lift suspension recommended by Slee (wish Christo was located in San Diego), and N73 shocks in the front and N71E in the rear. Also added the damper and caster kit
• Sway Bar drop chocks for the front and sway bar brackets for the rear
• Stepped up the tire size to BFG AT 295/75R16 and added new Mickey Thompson Classic II Beadlock wheels
• ARB air lockers with switches located on the center console
• The CDL switch and made the pin 7 mod
• Hanna Rock Sliders with 2” diameter rounds instead of the smaller diameter
• Replaced the O2 sensors to get rid of the CEL but kept the original exhaust system

I used the local Toyota and Off Road Warehouse (ORW) dealers for the heavy work. The ARB dealer in San Diego is ORW …so they did the air locker and OME suspension work. Not sure I’d recommend ORW for working on a LC…they appear to know their jeeps thought.

After six months of work… awesome results. The truck has never driven so well and it looks brand new. I’ve driven the new cruisers and although they look similar they are not the same vehicle. For sure, the V-8 provides faster acceleration on highways but there is no doubt about the torque and flexibility of the old six series 80.

Next stop is to decide (finally) on a roof rack…just can’t bring myself to do it. The ARBs are nice enough but appear to be heavy; perhaps the Hannibal. Also can’t make up my mind to replace the back bumper; I like the looks of Christos’s new design. With the tire down below I always seem to drag the bottom but haven’t really pushed it now that I have the 2” lift.

I hope the pics load OK...first time.
Rich

[calfj60]

WOW!!!! That truck looks great...someday my 94 Green 80 will get some new paint...but she will never look as good as yours...thanks for the pics..

[rmcmanus8a]

Great job. Don't know too many origanal owners! Like the diff lock switch locations. Run 295/75 R16 myself and are very happy with them.

[96r50]

Welcome

There's some interesting 80-series history there! Also, that wheel and tire combination looks great on that truck.

[HomersCanyonero]

Very nice. You need to hook up with CruiserDan and start an original owners club.

What happened to your original alloy wheels? I like the original alloys myself, but your new ones look cool.

Also, how did you fit a 12" subwoofer in the stock location? Pictures please and more details.

[voorland80]

Awesome truck! Maybe you can do a ROTW sometime and share more photos.
You may want to consider the ceiling lights,
http://forum.ih8mud.com/80-series-te...ml#post1605325

[Beowulf]

Originally Posted by rsmith19

Next stop is to decide (finally) on a roof rack…just can’t bring myself to do it. The ARBs are nice enough but appear to be heavy; perhaps the Hannibal.

The ARB roof racks are stout but they are extremely heavy and consequently will effect your COG. For a much lighter rack you should look at the African Outback that Slee carries. It is very well made and is solid aluminum. Keep in mind that any "safari" style rack will hit you 1-2 MPG and they create substantial wind noise, especially if you open the sun roof on the highway.

-B-

[maybe_a_80...]

Thanks for sharing! That is a great story and a very clean vehicle...it looks good without the roof rack!

[NorCalDoug]

welcome

[SunTzuMD]

Any pics of the subwoofer?

[jfz80]

Great looking rig!!!! thanks for sharing. Are those functioning beadlox? or simulations?

[knorrena]

Thanks for sharing your cruiser history.

Karl

[Brentbba]

Wow - another original owner of a '94! Welcome to the Original Owners Club.

[veeLC]

SOLID!

Hope to have my "Green Meanie" close to what you have. Again GREAT JOB! Mahalo for sharing.

[ERG80]

very nice.

[Bikeman]

ROTW? Nice rig!

[KurtKuhn]

Originally Posted by rsmith19

OME 850 front and 860 rear replacement lift suspension recommended by Slee (wish Christo was located in San Diego), and N73 shocks in the front and N71E in the rear. Also added the damper and caster kit

Rich-

Great story. You seem to be one of the few on mud with a set of "soft" OME shocks...at least in the rear. And if I'm reading your post correctly, it was Christo that recommended this set up. My questions are: What requirement(s) or desire-ment(s) drove you to the soft shocks for the rear? Why not soft shocks on all four corners?

Thanks for the great write up.

-KK

[richj11]

Welcome Rich! Great story and a true tribute to the longevity of the Landcruiser!

Rich J