Anyone recognize this 80 (8 Viewers)

[Godwin]

As the title states, does anyone recognize this 80 and have any history on it? 1997 Lexus 450 with TJM front bumper, Superwinch X9, IPF lights, Slee (?) rear bumper, Wagongear tailgate storage, pipe rail under rocker panels, dual batteries, ARB compressor in rear, metric butt load of USB ports, Iron Man lift.

It has some quarter panel and front inner fender rust but nothing significant otherwise.

 

[thatcabledude]

With Rocket City sticker maybe @Zjohnsonua has seen before.

 

[McDowra]

I don't recognize it but that don't mean much. I would suggest going to a Heart of the South cruisers meeting if your near Huntsville.

 

[Godwin]

It's been in Alabama for a couple to three years, I'm wondering about it's history prior to that as it looks like it may have spent time in a western state.

 

[Zjohnsonua]

Was this one of Clay's trucks?

 

[Godwin]

Was this one of Clay's trucks?

Yes

 

[oilbrnr]

It's been in Alabama for a couple to three years, I'm wondering about it's history prior to that as it looks like it may have spent time in a western state.

From the looks of the frame, it didn’t spend enough time in a western state…

 

[Godwin]

Found paperwork that it was purchased in Birmingham, AL and later went to Nashville, TN. Anyway, with the first full tank of fuel I had a leak somewhere and gave @slow95z a call. Picked up a good tank from Chris but when dropping the old found I needed fuel tank mounts and straps also. The mount between the body and framerail twisted when trying to remove the bolt, I was using an impact on it.

Body mounts had to be loosened in order to lift the body to remove and install the mount. Second pic is the space between the body and frame rail where the mount resides.

Good used tank with new OEM hoses and clamps now installed. I do not recommend doing this solo but it is possible.

 

[mudgudgeon]

The mount between the body and framerail twisted when trying to remove the bolt, I was using an impact on it.

Go easy on the ugga duggas!

 

[NeverFinis]

Found paperwork that it was purchased in Birmingham, AL and later went to Nashville, TN. Anyway, with the first full tank of fuel I had a leak somewhere and gave @slow95z a call. Picked up a good tank from Chris but when dropping the old found I needed fuel tank mounts and straps also. The mount between the body and framerail twisted when trying to remove the bolt, I was using an impact on it.

View attachment 3871723

Body mounts had to be loosened in order to lift the body to remove and install the mount. Second pic is the space between the body and frame rail where the mount resides.

Years ago, I replaced all my fuel tank mounts but that one. It is still waiting to be installed...

 

[Godwin]

Working my way through stuff to bring this back to reliability and improve functionality. It has dual batteries but there is a parasitic electrical leak somewhere. Instead of trying to isolate the leak I'm going back to stock electrical system and add on from there if I want. Today I pulled out a huge glob of electrical accessories. ARB compressor and two inverters had been installed in the rear compartments. Fat cables running from the engine compartment to the rear. Also other plugs and USB connections scattered about.

ARB compressor will be going into @cruiserinsanity FJ60 1985 3FE Swapped FJ60, a Refresh - https://forum.ih8mud.com/threads/1985-3fe-swapped-fj60-a-refresh.1309046/

Next up will be deleting the security system and doing the 7 pin mod; CDL switch already installed.

 

[Godwin]

Interior back together and 4X4 Labs cargo basket installed. Picked up the cargo basket from @bonestock .

 

[Godwin]

White Knuckle rock sliders installed, well driver side at least. This 80 had rails bolted on the bottom of the rocker panels, the rails are pipe with a length of angle iron welded on. They added just enough lower height to interfere with bolting up the sliders. An application of sockets, cut off wheel, and hammer took care of the rails. A little muscle and we had the driver side mounted.

Passenger side has been more of a challenge. First had to run a tap through the threaded frame holes, three anyway, an exhaust mount took up the fourth and that bolt snapped. We also encountered interference from an exhaust clamp with the slider mount. Exhaust clamp is a V band and we broke it trying to loosen it. Of course none of our near useless auto parts stores (Advance Auto, Auto Zone, O'Reilly had the same type of clamp. In the old days we also had Napa and Carquest and they were good). Will pick up a clamp this week and roll back under to finish up the slider install.

 

[BILT4ME]

White Knuckle rock sliders installed, well driver side at least. This 80 had rails bolted on the bottom of the rocker panels, the rails are pipe with a length of angle iron welded on. They added just enough lower height to interfere with bolting up the sliders. An application of sockets, cut off wheel, and hammer took care of the rails. A little muscle and we had the driver side mounted.

Passenger side has been more of a challenge. First had to run a tap through the threaded frame holes, three anyway, an exhaust mount took up the fourth and that bolt snapped. We also encountered interference from an exhaust clamp with the slider mount. Exhaust clamp is a V band and we broke it trying to loosen it. Of course none of our near useless auto parts stores (Advance Auto, Auto Zone, O'Reilly had the same type of clamp. In the old days we also had Napa and Carquest and they were good). Will pick up a clamp this week and roll back under to finish up the slider install.

View attachment 3873424View attachment 3873425

As a suggestion, remove the rubber flare extender on the rear door. Mine would drag on my WKOR sliders and in the recent severe cold, the rubber became so stiff that I opened the door OK, but when I closed the door, it ripped off my flare from the door because the rubber didn't want to give up and was too stiff.

My truck had visited a body shop or two in its past, so there was some very creative hardware up from the bottom to hold those to the flares.

 

[thatcabledude]

Those pipes look like a product @LandCruiserPhil used to sell years back.

 

[Godwin]

Those pipes look like a product @LandCruiserPhil used to sell years back.

Want them?

 

[Godwin]

Fresh oil change and new Toyota filter, cranked it up and a few quarts were puked out at the filter. May be a torn gasket, dirt on the gasket, or an old gasket stuck to the mount. I’ll check it out in a day or two

 

[thatcabledude]

Want them?

No, I already built a new exhaust for my 40

 

[Godwin]

Buy quality oil filters. The o-ring from the previous, cheap, no-name filter stuck to the oil filter mount. Carelessness on my part that I did not check closely. This old o-ring prevented a good seal for the new OEM filter and about 7 quarts of oil were pumped out in about 30 seconds. All I wanted to do was check that the removal of the security system went well so I cranked up the engine, revved it a couple of times, allowed it to return to idle, and shut it off. The shortest drive would have led to catastrophe.

 

[Godwin]

Started on brakes today. The plan is to replace old parts with new OEM, calipers, rotors, pads, and soft lines. I almost completed the front brakes except I now have to replace 3 hard lines that either broke at the fitting, or will have been rounded off, or just because it's out, it's available and cheap. Two of the lines I'll be fabricating.

@cruiserinsanity helped with the installation of the passenger side rock slider. This one was a challenge in needing to clean bolt holes on the frame, and added mass. I hung the slider from canoe cross bars and that helps with manipulating and aligning the slider to accept the u-bolts.

This 80 has a Scion head unit, don't know if that's good or not but it seems to work. It came with a gift that's up for grabs if anyone wants it. If not, maybe I'll throw on FB and some 90 year old guy will buy it.