- Location
- United States
SOLD
This story started as the classic “Little Old Lady Down the Street” vehicle. I live in a nice, older neighborhood with a bunch of original home-owners now in their 70’s. There are a few vehicles in people’s driveways that I have a standing agreement with my wife that I can buy at any time if they come up for sale. This was one of them.
It was originally owned for a couple of years locally, but not in my neighborhood. It was then purchased by a doctor in my neighborhood and used for weekend duties, small boat launching, etc. It never saw snow, never saw dirt. When he died, their next door neighbor picked it up as a third vehicle to travel out into western virginia on weekends. These folks then bought a Highlander and preferred long trips in that, so the LC was sitting covered and unused.
I bought it here in Virginia, it is titled in Virginia, but I had it shipped to Maine as I intended to do an LS swap over the winter with my brother’s help in his shop up there. It is not in any way a northern truck, but it is currently on the Maine coast.
All that said as background, here are the details:
1991 FJ80 with 127k original miles.
This is truly a time capsule and a genuine survivor. I bought it on principle, and meant to give it a complete refresh and a modern engine.
What have I done to it:
My plan and goal for this truck was to update the parts of the 1991 that are inferior to the later 1993 and up. That means larger front brakes and the rear axle (plus the Vortec swap). Here is what I have acquired for that and will be included in the sale but uninstalled:
Why sell and not complete the project? Excellent question, and I am still asking myself. It’s a long distance project, which is challenging. I already have a built 2006 Jeep LJ for rock crawling duties, so after thinking about this for awhile I am leaning toward building a 100 series instead of this 80. In reality, I would like to do both.
In the end, this is a true rust-free, southern, low-mileage survivor. With a little labor and no need to source parts, it becomes the equivalent of the later model vehicles with the bulletproof though admittedly underpowered 3fe. Drive it another 200k miles. Or, it’s an outstanding LS swap contender without OBDII or the need for any body or paint work. You could sell the 3fe and A440f and get more than enough cash to buy the late model LS gear.
All inclusive price, $8000. The axle is still crated from its California journey, so if you flew and drove I will include fastenal shipping anywhere Conus to get it home for you. The rest would fit in the truck. Since it is a great survivor, if you wanted to keep it all original, I also have the 15” wheels that I’ll include in the asking price.
As it came home on purchase day. Current wheels and tires as above in the first pic
More Pics: 1991 Land Cruiser - navydivedoc
This story started as the classic “Little Old Lady Down the Street” vehicle. I live in a nice, older neighborhood with a bunch of original home-owners now in their 70’s. There are a few vehicles in people’s driveways that I have a standing agreement with my wife that I can buy at any time if they come up for sale. This was one of them.
It was originally owned for a couple of years locally, but not in my neighborhood. It was then purchased by a doctor in my neighborhood and used for weekend duties, small boat launching, etc. It never saw snow, never saw dirt. When he died, their next door neighbor picked it up as a third vehicle to travel out into western virginia on weekends. These folks then bought a Highlander and preferred long trips in that, so the LC was sitting covered and unused.
I bought it here in Virginia, it is titled in Virginia, but I had it shipped to Maine as I intended to do an LS swap over the winter with my brother’s help in his shop up there. It is not in any way a northern truck, but it is currently on the Maine coast.
All that said as background, here are the details:
1991 FJ80 with 127k original miles.
- 3FE runs flawlessly, no smoke on startup.
- Auto trans shifts smoothly and works without issue. New pan seal and fluid change.
- No body or frame rust. In the pics, there is some minimal rust of the hitch receiver, as I believe boats were occasionally launched.
- AC was converted to r134, and recently had a complete vacuum and refill, works without issue.
- Windows all function but are slow, tracks will need a cleaning.
- Interior is in great shape, minor foam height loss and a split seam on the side of the driver’s seat. Carpet is great. Third row seats are there and bagged up, perhaps unused, I never pulled them out.
- All gauges work as they should.
- Paint is in excellent condition, with 2 exceptions. There is a single spot on the rear passenger roof where the paint cracked and the po attempted to seal with epoxy. The paint is not raised or bubbling, but this should be addressed. There is a new dent on the rear upper hatch, done within the last year so no rust.
- No factory roof rack to worry about rust.
This is truly a time capsule and a genuine survivor. I bought it on principle, and meant to give it a complete refresh and a modern engine.
What have I done to it:
- Changed out the engine oil, trans, transfer case, and front/rear diff fluids
- Complete coolant flush, all works without issue including the heater.
- New Alternator
- Replaced the original coils with OME stock height kit and fresh OEM shocks
- Replaced the 15” original wheels with a refreshed and repainted 1994 16” set in preparation for larger brakes (see below)
- Currently has near-new 285/75 Goodyear Duratracs x 4.
- ARB roof rack, not installed in the pics but included with the sale
My plan and goal for this truck was to update the parts of the 1991 that are inferior to the later 1993 and up. That means larger front brakes and the rear axle (plus the Vortec swap). Here is what I have acquired for that and will be included in the sale but uninstalled:
- All new OEM components for the larger front brakes, 1997 part numbers. This was acquired from Onur (Beno on the site, if unaware search and you will see he is the master). Longer soft center line in case the lift increased, soft brake lines, backing plates, rotors, brake pads. No brake calipers, available at Napa as the eclipse brand or Onur has either toyota reman or OEM.
- Complete front axle major rebuild kit from cruiseroutfitters, all seals, bearings, etc to do the knuckles and birfs. Around $250 for this.
- I have a completely rust free rear axle from a 1997 Lexus. This was shipped from southern california. This is complete, hub to hub with calipers, good slotted rotors, and the complete e-brake cable. Everything to convert to the full float/disc axle. I have a new rear bearing set for this as well.
- Larger diameter drag link for increased strength offroad
- Battery box and hold down from a 1994 to install dual battery set-up.
- Some miscellaneous parts like an e-brake handle (current is worn), driver door hinges (current have some wear at the pins), other stuff I’m forgetting.
Why sell and not complete the project? Excellent question, and I am still asking myself. It’s a long distance project, which is challenging. I already have a built 2006 Jeep LJ for rock crawling duties, so after thinking about this for awhile I am leaning toward building a 100 series instead of this 80. In reality, I would like to do both.
In the end, this is a true rust-free, southern, low-mileage survivor. With a little labor and no need to source parts, it becomes the equivalent of the later model vehicles with the bulletproof though admittedly underpowered 3fe. Drive it another 200k miles. Or, it’s an outstanding LS swap contender without OBDII or the need for any body or paint work. You could sell the 3fe and A440f and get more than enough cash to buy the late model LS gear.
All inclusive price, $8000. The axle is still crated from its California journey, so if you flew and drove I will include fastenal shipping anywhere Conus to get it home for you. The rest would fit in the truck. Since it is a great survivor, if you wanted to keep it all original, I also have the 15” wheels that I’ll include in the asking price.
As it came home on purchase day. Current wheels and tires as above in the first pic
More Pics: 1991 Land Cruiser - navydivedoc
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