Advice on buying a rusty 80 Series

[Strand4x4]

I'm looking at this 1991 FJ80 it has under 80,000 original miles. However, it is rusty underneath. The body looks ok and the interior is very good. Price is around $1,000.

The engine, interior and transmission should be fantastic. What do you think about these options.

1. Swaping parts with a rust free 80 series

2. Parting it out

3. Fixing it

4. Passing on it.

1991 FJ80 Land Cruiser

• Strand4x4
• Apr 10, 2016

Rusty 80 Series

• Strand4x4
• Apr 10, 2016

Rust on undercarriage of FJ80 Series.

 

[Strand4x4]

Rusty 80 Series

• Strand4x4
• Apr 10, 2016

Rust on undercarriage of FJ80 Series.

 

[Strand4x4]

Here is the Rust

Rusty!

• Strand4x4
• Apr 10, 2016

Rusty!

• Strand4x4
• Apr 10, 2016

Rusty!

• Strand4x4
• Apr 10, 2016

 

[sea bass]

Rusty 80 Series

• Strand4x4
• Apr 10, 2016

Rust on undercarriage of FJ80 Series.

Where is the cruiser located ?

 

[120mm]

For $1000, I'd jump all over that.

Dunno what I'd do with it, but might drive it a bit to see...

 

[tampacruiser95]

For 1000 you really can't beat that, but for how rusty the undercarriage is, I would check under the hood. Don't just assume that low miles means no issues.

 

[iou180]

That looks like the under side of mine. With that came leaky brake lines and rear coolant pipes, holes in the gas tank, and frozen e-brake cables. I got mine for free so I'm trying to fix it. I'm searching for parts from down south that I'm going to swap in. Good luck.

 

[Qball]

1000 bucks is very expensive for expensive headaches, hell even free is too expensive for expensive headaches. But to each their own.

 

[george_tlc]

For $1000, I'd jump all over that.

Dunno what I'd do with it, but might drive it a bit to see...

Drive it?? Unless it's just the angle/view, it would appear that the DS rear upper control arm no longer attaches to the axle...

Looks like it was often parked axle deep in the ocean...

cheers,
george.

 

[landtoy80]

Run Forest, run!

 

[jonheld]

You posted the same picture 3 times. There looks like some bracketry has been eaten away. I have a very high rust tolerance and that looks pretty severe to me. I would need more pictures to make a determination.

 

[trekker9]

It really depends on what $1000 means to you. I bought my 94 with 80,000. Being a newbie to old vehicles I had no idea what a pain it would be with the rust. If I could go back and start over I woulda bought something with 200,000 and no rust. Runs like a champ but 20 hours to change the rusted out radiator just sucks.

If you got an xtra grand to play with..... why not.

 

[ewillis]

That looks like some Katrina funk..negative ghostrider!

 

[landtoy80]

Rust is the reason I am no longer maintaining like I use to and the one in pic doesn't look safe to drive.
Nothing wrong with a $1000 rusty beater but from the pic, the suspension is gone on that one.

You could try and pull the drive train out but you most likely will break every bolt removing them.

 

[Strand4x4]

Ok, thanks everyone for the advice. I'm going to pass. If anyone else is interested, Pm me and I can send you the info.

 

[sea bass]

Ok, thanks everyone for the advice. I'm going to pass. If anyone else is interested, Pm me and I can send you the info.

Where is the cruiser located

 

[sea bass]

I'd buy it for 1000 just so I can have a spare motor transmission and parts

 

[Golgo13]

If you have space for it, buy it and tear it apart. Throw away the rusty bits and sell what you dont want.

 

[Hornd]

Take 2 Uglies and Make 1 Pretty.
Your gonna need an angle Grinder to do anything to that underside.
If you have the time and space part it out.
I guarantee you won't lose $.