1996 Land Cruiser FZJ80 Build

[pokerDawg]

1996 Toyota Land Cruiser FZJ80
Acquired October 2018 with 170k miles
Factory Triple Locked
Color: Green
Interior: Tan Leather
California Vehicle

Mods/Upgrades
Front Bumper: ARB Deluxe Winch Bumper
Tires: Cooper Discoverer XLT AT/3 315/70 R17
Wheels: 17" ICON Alloy - Rebound
Suspension: OME 2.5" Medium
Aux Cooling Fax: Spal 30100399 Pusher Fan
Front Aux Lights: Lazer Star HID
Rear Aux Lights: generic Amazon LED pods
Rear Light Mounts: yodateq.com
Aux Light Switches: Toyota Aux Light Switch from Wits' End
Interior lights: Amazon LEDs
Center Console: Tuffy 012-01 Series Ii Console
Electrical Relay/Fuse Bank: Amazon relays and fuses on DIY bracket
Fridge: ICECO VL60 Dual Zone Fridge Freezer with Cover
Fridge Slide: Custom DIY project
Aux Battery: Interstate Deep Cycle Battery with generic inverter
Floor mats: WeatherTech Custom Fit FloorLiner
Spare Tire Carrier: DIY Hitch Mount Spare Tire Carrier
Roof Rack: Ironman 4x4 Steel Hybrid Flat Top Roof Rack - 7.2'
Radio: Alpine Alpine ILX-W650 with Apple Car play (DIY)
OBD II Scanner: ScanGauge II
Comms: Uniden PRO520XL Pro
Recovery Points: Ironman 4x4 Rated Recovery Points

Maintenance/Repairs
Knuckle rebuild: CruiserOutfitters - FA9097KWB (DIY)
Driver's seat gear replaced - Gamiviti - https://www.gamiviti.com/ (DIY)
Transmission Flushed
Front and Rear Differential fluid replaced (DIY)
Belts replaced with Toyota OEM from Wits' End (DIY)
Carbon Canister Replaced replaced with generic canister (DIY)
PHH replacement from Wits' End (DIY)
PHH "neighbor" replacement from Wit's End (DIY)
Brake Fluid replaced/full bleed (DIY)
Spark Plugs replaced (DIY)
Spark Plug wires replaced (DIY)
Cap and Rotor replaced (DIY)
New OEM Toyota fan shroud (DIY)
Front Driveshaft U-Joints replaced with CruiserOutfitters - UJ35031 (DIY)
Both O2 sensors replaced with Denso
Headgasket replaced by RPM Offroad Garage

 

[OffRoadScott]

Good looking rig and a great building block

 

[FMC80]

Sweet ride, love the color. I don’t know why so many people dislike it but I think it’s the best by far.
Are you done building it? Looks very capable

 

[Bludozer]

Sweet ride, love the color. I don’t know why so many people dislike it but I think it’s the best by far.
Are you done building it? Looks very capable

It's not my least favorite color either but people love to compare it to cringeworthy 90s Eddie Bauer catalogs and that kind of thing

 

[pokerDawg]

Good looking rig and a great building block

I'd buy another 80 if I could. I enjoy working on it and wheeling it.

 

[pokerDawg]

Sweet ride, love the color. I don’t know why so many people dislike it but I think it’s the best by far.
Are you done building it? Looks very capable

I'm far from done.

I'm sending it in for a new head gasket. It hasn't blown but I just want to get it out of the way. Need to get the seatbelts redone. Door lock actuators replaced. I want heavier springs. I'll also get it painted someday.

It never ends!

 

[pokerDawg]

Decided to get my head gasket done.

Why?

I purchased this 80 a couple of years ago with ZERO maintenance records. Throughout my ownership, noticed it drinks oil and coolant. I probably lose a quart every 1000 miles. It's also very smoky at start up. My engine temps range between 193 to 198 in mixed street and highway driving with the AC on. I hit 200 on the freeway going up hill with the AC on just yesterday. For some, this isn't that bad. People have also told me they simply live with the oil consumption and top off every so often. The coolant issues might have been resolved after I put in an OEM radiator cap. I haven't driven enough miles to prove it to myself but, it looks better than usual.

Plan of action

Friend of mine warned me that a head gasket change is not the end all solution to oil and coolant consumption. He said if my rings are bad then, I have bigger problems. Valve stem seals are also a cause for oil consumption. The shop will do a leak down test and get back to me. This should determine the health of my head gasket, rings and valve stem seals. If my rings are bad, I'm not sure if I have the budget to rebuild the block or get a used block. New Toyota blocks for this Land Cruiser are rare at this point but do exist. I saw one with my own eyes at another shop.

If my rings are fine, we will proceed as scheduled with the head gasket change. I'm also open to changing the valve stem seals. I've scoured IH8MUD for a list of what to do with a HG change. This is the list I put together for my mechanic. I've also bought all the Toyota OEM parts ahead of time.

Fuel Filter
Part Number: 23300-69045

Valve Vacuum Switch
Part Number: 90910-12079

Oil Cooler Gasket
Part Number: 15785-66010

Distributor o-ring
Part number 90099-14118

Engine Oil Pump Gasket + O Rings
Toyota 15188-66020, Engine Oil Pump Gasket QTY 1
Toyota Part No.: 96761-24022 RING, O For oil Pump QTY 1

Wrap wiring harness near EGR using thermo tape

Completely drain green coolant and replace with Toyota Red Coolant.

Replace thermostat
Toyota OEM Thermostat (90916-03117)
Toyota OEM Thermostat o-ring (16346-66020)

Misc coolant hoses including the PHH neighbor:

1FZ-FE Engine Little Hose Kit

1FZ-FE Engine Little Hose Kit (SHK-1)

absolute-wits-end.com

Other things people have mentioned are:
Replace the PHH
Clean out injectors
New belts
Replace or delete Heater Control Valve

My mechanic will be using a HG kit from Stone and will replace the head studs accordingly.

So I am waiting to hear on the leak down test results. We are being optimistic that the rings are not bad since I only have 180k miles on this '96 FZJ80.

Will keep you posted!

 

[pokerDawg]

Picked up a used Rhino-Rack Foxwing 270 Degree Awning. Mounted it to the Ironman 4x4 rack on the 80-series. I bought this used a few years ago. Although I haven't used it much, it has provided shelter from 100 degree heat and rain. With the wall attachments, it is plenty of covered space for a kitchen and eating area. It's an older 270 Degree Awning compared to new products which make legs optional. The legs on this are in a separate case while new versions have the legs within the awning. I would consider getting a new version for my other vehicles as prices have come down.

The grandmother's approve!!