F(Z)J80 v8 (1 Viewer)

[SNLC]

I just picked up a new 80-series over the weekend. I traded Georg this truck and some other stuff for my old Ex-racing 6x6 Pinzgauer. It was a good trade, Georg is stoked and I am stoked.

This is a 1991 FJ80
-L31 v8 from a 97 Chevy
-4L60e trans
-FJ60 split case, fresh rebuild on it
-f/w hubs
-FZJ80 e-locker axles
-recent paint
-OME lift
-35" rubber
-recent dark window tint
-cloth interior in decent shape

Overall it is a real clean truck. The interior is not trashed but does show it's age a bit here and there. This truck for now is just going to be my DD, I have no big plans for it right now, just little stuff.

I picked the Cruiser up on Saturday. Met Georg in Elko, NV and it was just about perfect. We both arrived within 5 minutes of each other and we found a great little spot right off the HWY that had some dirt to test the trucks out on. The FJ80 is impressive. The motor is no speed demon but has plenty of power for this heavy truck and the engine is pretty much stock, ie I can get more out of it fairly easily if I want. Georg installed a set of e-locker axles under the truck, he rebuilt the knuckles, ect. I need to wire up the lockers and I think I will be using the Marlin e-locker kits. The trans is nice and tight and shifts very smooth. I also really like the FJ60 t-case and no full time 4wd. I was pleasantly surprised at the top of a few hill climbs off-road when I took my foot off the gas and the brake. The truck just sat there. Since the truck I traded was an old school truck with a 5spd and drum brakes this was something I found to be pretty sweet.

So far I have driven it about 150-200 miles on pavement, up and over the rocky mountains. It is awesome on pavement. I have also off-roaded it a few times now. Currently the lockers are not operational but I was really surprised how easily it climbed stuff. A few climbs we did I expected to fail without lockers but the truck walked right up the obstacles and didn't even spin a tire. Off-road, I barely even need any throttle, the torque is super sweet!

Being 23yrs old the interior does show it's age but is also in solid condition. It rained a lot yesterday here and no leaks at the sunroof, windshield or anywhere else so I am stoked on that. Some of the power windows are definitely tired so I plan to deal with that before to long, clean them up or perhaps some good used motors is my plan.

Best part was, we traded. So when I titled, registered, insured and all that jazz yesterday it cost me a total of $35!!

Stoked!

 

[Brentbba]

This didn't happen w/o pics!

 

[jeffro109]

Look at the window runs (the rubber part inside the upper portions of the door frame), they get old and really slow the 80 series windows down.

You can get new ones or try to clean/lube the old ones. There is usually more success with this than replacement motors, etc.


Agreed, we need pictures...and since you don't need that Nissan diesel engine now I'll offer to at least pay its shipping fee down here.

 

[jcardona1]

 

[nukegoat]

Pretty awesome setup. It may be hard to find the right parts for it, but theoretically you could rig up a transfer case doubler, no?

 

[retrofive]

Enjoy. Pics or you know.....

 

[SNLC]

Alright pictures....

Like I say interior is fairly clean for the age.

Not all that rare but cool none the less...

Seems it has lot's of Dynamat, no wonder it is so quiet inside.

My buddy gave me this FZJ80 console so I tossed it in.

My buddie's 70k original mile $900 82 FJ60.

I will take some more pictures of the exterior and post them up before long.

Cheers

 

[SNLC]

Look at the window runs (the rubber part inside the upper portions of the door frame), they get old and really slow the 80 series windows down.

You can get new ones or try to clean/lube the old ones. There is usually more success with this than replacement motors, etc.


Agreed, we need pictures...and since you don't need that Nissan diesel engine now I'll offer to at least pay its shipping fee down here.

Thanks for the tip, I figured I would start with cleaning and seeing how gummed up things are.

And no sir on the engine. I just scored an NV4500 and Atlas to bolt to it.

 

[SNLC]

From this morning....

 

[SNLC]

Well, here are some more pictures. Not a dent or scratch on this truck anywhere.

I really dislike the wheels. They are 15's (which I hate) and yes the calipers have been ground. On the first ride in the dirt the rear started rubbing so we took it back to my buddies garage and pulled both rear wheels. There were 1/4" spacers in there which I yanked out and tossed and then just ground the calipers down more. That fixed any rubbing but I still don't like 15s! These are 15x10 and I will be going 16x8 and probably a KM2 or similar.

The truck has OME heavies in the rear and has a slight stink bug when empty. I don't like that to much but to solve it will either be adding weight to rear in the way of a drawer ~ sleeping set up or raise the front with coil spacers. I do like the HD coils just not the stink bug.

This makes me happy!

The freshly rebuilt split case

It has the Saginaw pump on the engine but this cooler is nice anyways.

I really hate these drop brackets. Going back to stock brackets and a cut & turn on the front axle is in my future.

The Cruiser runs super smooth. Everytime I drive it I just grin. Like I say it is no speed demon but feels like it has plenty of power, I can do 60+mph up a 10% grade at 10,000ft in elevation. So that makes me happy. I have driven 80s with the stock motor and while not horrible they just felt weak to me, this 80 on the other hand feels like it should. Dare I say Toyota should have put a similar motor in these from the get go!? The truck is super quiet, hardly even feel it idling and just real nice. The exhaust is nice and quiet too until you stomp on it and then it has a bit more throat but still pretty quiet.

Overall I am real happy with it and my list of things I want to do is growing.

Cheers

 

[Tapage]

nice .. welcome aboard .. !

Which are stock engine numbers .. ?

 

[SNLC]

nice .. welcome aboard .. !

Which are stock engine numbers .. ?

Thanks bro!

L31 5.7L Vortec from a 97. Conversion done in 2002. Not that I care but it is California legal so smog tag thing on door with engine year and conversion date.


I do believe the L31 puts out 255hp and 330ftlbs in stock form. Wiki states that the Ramjet is a sup'ed up L31.

Cheers

 

[SNLC]

 

[SNLC]

 

[SNLC]

Our line on the left, my buddies on the right. Very sketchy, I had to decide fast what to do. The plan had been to run across the top of this dune until the transition was less farther down and then drop in. However, the sand was very soft and we started sliding sideways at 40mph! Talk about pucker factor!!

Cheers

 

[SNLC]

Well, I just finished an 1800 miles round trip jaunt in the Cruiser.

I need to go through my receipts to know what my mpg were on the whole trip but was tracking mpg on the way out to Oregon. A strong head wind for most of it screwed my mpg, ie 12-13mpg but I did get 17.5mpg for about 200 miles when the wind died off and the speed limit was 55mph.

I found an issue too while on the trip. In heavy rain the windshield leaks. It then drips on the ECU and causes the truck to have a throttle blip of 200ish rpms. So it looks like the windshield needs to come out and be re-done. Already know a dude who can do it for me for a good price.

Overall the truck did awesome on the trip. It has tons of power and is fun to drive down the highway or on back country roads. I noticed a substantial power increase too at sea level. The seats are more comfortable than they were in my 04 Tacoma simply due to the seating position but being 23yr old seats, I feel the need to upgrade them. A bit of fatigue did set in after 10hrs in the seats. It also needs cruise control badly. My plan is to set it up with a pretty plain jane after market kit. My last complaint is range. Also the stock fuel gauge seems a touch sticky. So I would like to do an aux fuel tank and also drop in a new fuel sending unit. Other than this no complaints at all and the truck did fantastic on the trip.

Oh ya, I just got my new JVC deck today! Plan to install that in the next day or two. No more lame CDs for me!!

Cheers

 

[SNLC]

New JVC stereo installed - goodbye lame cd's, hello ipod with remote.

Purchased:

Inchworm e-locker kits
MetalTech 2" front coil spacers
SOR dash cover
Wheelskin steering wheel cover

Next up:

OEM radius arm bushes
OEM inner axle seals
Procomp 16" alloy wheels
KM2s 345/75R16

Front axle cut & turn is coming for me soon. Yup you heard me right! Drop brackets are going, c&t is happening.

 

[SNLC]

I thought to keep this thread from being so boring with blah'ing on that I would post up some pictures of previous trucks I have had.....



2004 Tacoma

1964 Nissan Patrol

1984 FJ60 v8 Land Cruiser

1975 712m Pinzgauer

1983 Nissan Patrol

1977 Nissan Patrol Ute

1964 Nissan Patrol soft top - currently under frame off restoration for a client

Cheers

 

[SNLC]

Just bought some more junk for the Cruiser....

clamshell
OEM radius arm bushes
OEM windshield gasket
OEM inner axle seals
new 2nd overhead light assembly, mine is pretty wasted.
new fuse box cover, mine keeps falling off.
new windshield washer nozzles, mine are pretty toasted
and a few other bits...

Going to measure and figure out if my current front shocks can handle 2" more lift. I sure hope so, new shocks are not really in the budget. Planning to sipe the 345 KM2s. 5-6 months of snow and ice where I live. I bought a tire siper a few years ago and did up a set of Maxxis Creepies. Made a huge difference on the ice.

Cheers

 

[SNLC]

Snow wheeling is always fun!

I need my lockers wired up for this kind of activity. Seems the Inchworm harnesses are on back order.

Cheers